Thai Massage

is also known as lazyperson's yoga.

It is the assisted way to the bliss you feel at the end of a yoga class, lying in sivasana sweaty and content. This is the non-sweaty, non-strenuous and perfectly restorative variety.

This ancient form was developed in India by the doctor of the Buddha and passed along trade routes to Thailand where it was practiced in temples in the Buddhist tradition. Thai is a dynamic massage that works along the major energy lines of the body, stimulating circulation, relaxation and overall physical, emotional and mental harmony.

The receiver wears loose clothing like pajamas and the massage is given on a thin mat or yoga mat and blankets on the floor. I use my hands, feet, knees and elbows and the weight of my own body with the assistance of gravity to give a powerful massage that will wake you up and at the same time chill you out.


I also use tools I have picked up from studying dance and movement, Chi Kung, yoga, and my own intuition to give you a massage suited exactly for you.

To schedule a session in New York City

between the dates of October 10th and Nov 5th, write to jennthaiyoga@gmail.com. With metta (lovingkindness) -J

How I came to be a Pregnancy Massage Therapist

The following was written for Carriage House Collective in early 2011:

I was trained first at Lotus Palm School in 2006, then studied intensively with Ananda Apfelbaum and was certified in Traditional Thai Massage in 2007. I named my original practice "every buddha body" because of my belief that everyone deserves to receive lovingkindness and because every person's face shone like a buddha after they received a treatment. Being witness to the body's transformation from pain or tension to relief and wholeness was so gratifying and I was happy to connect with others on this very basic level, through touch.

In 2009 I began massaging a pregnant friend regularly, from the first month till just before her labor and in the months following her child's birth. It was amazing to witness the changes she went through physically and to be a supportive presence throughout her pregnancy and after. An ongoing dialogue began about what she was experiencing and where she wanted me to focus in a session. I became aware of how important massage during pregnancy is for reducing anxiety and stress and how it facilitates an overall more relaxed environment for an expectant mother and child. Each massage was individualized and centered around her needs and where she was in the moment. Through these regular massages I learned about the particular needs and vulnerabilities of women who are preparing to give birth, how the hips and pelvis open and change and how to improvise, intuit and listen with greater sensitivity than usual. It was a magical process to be part of and very gratifying to see how much the work nurtured her overall well-being during pregnancy. After she gave birth I continued to be sensitive as her body changed and was flexible to the immediate needs of her newborn during a session. Creating a relaxed and comfortable environment was my goal throughout our process together. From this experience I developed a heightened sensitivity and my practice was transformed to specialize in meeting the needs of pregnancy and after birth.

In 2010 I was given another opportunity to massage a woman during pregnancy right up to the days before she gave birth. Then I massaged another woman just after the birth of her child and another whose baby was present during the session. It became clear that my practice had taken a turn toward specializing in pre- and post-natal massage. It is humbling and powerful to give a massage to someone who is about to bring a new being into this world or who has just given birth. I find great joy in helping expectant and new mothers to feel healthy and relaxed and to facilitate a smooth transition into parenthood. It is an honor to be invited to share and be of support during one of life's most intimate and significant experiences.



Notes/addendum:

Some observations and thoughts I have had about the benefits of receiving bodywork during and after pregnancy:

Learning how to relax through massage over the course of pregnancy means that you will be more sensitive to your own body, connected with your breath and able to be more present and relaxed during labor. Your body will store the memory of knowing how to relax and breathe through things so when you are in the midst of the hardest pushes you can get through it with greater ease.

When you take the time to care for yourself and be touched then you will feel greater joy taking the time to care for your infant and probably give them more nurturing touch than if you had not received massage. Being supported during this transition can ease symptoms of stress and depression and give you a calmer outlook even when you are frazzled from sleepless nights. It can also be that one and a half hours when you actually get some rest.

In India and Bangladesh women are massaged DAILY after birth. In Indonesia the term for a midwife is literally "someone who knows how to massage." This shows just how important it is to be supported through touch during pregnancy, labor and in the weeks and months after.

on specializing: pre- and post-natal massage

It's hard to believe it has been over a year since I last wrote here in this little box on this screen.

Current location: at the kitchen table in Brooklyn, NY off the G train with wilting flowers from the local CSA. I have been in New York now for nearly eight months and three seasons.

It was bitterly cold in January and almost exactly the moment of my return when a friend asked for a session in the very last leg of her pregnancy. She needed to relax and she was ready for the birthing process to begin. I couldn't exactly instigate labor but I pushed some points and worked whatever magic I could conjure with the support of pillows and blankets and my warm hands.

I had just shifted gears and come back to the States from Berlin, and I was very open to questions about what else was shifting. One of those things was clearly my Thai Massage practice. I was becoming less and less interested in giving the traditionally acrobatic "lazyman's yoga" massage and getting more in touch with the quiet, still, listening and improvising that is required when massaging a woman during pregnancy. It is subtle and intuitive and gives me great joy to be present for the occasion of a new life about to enter this world - and after, to be able to provide mothers who are exhausted and stressed with a quiet space to relax and get back in touch with themselves. Though at times the baby wakes up or their toddler needs to be very close by or held, we work with whatever happens. There is always relief from tension and letting go of the stress of the every day even for just one hour in the 24/7 life of mothering.

Through a little bit of serendipity I became connected with Carriage House Collective, a collective of doulas and healing arts practitioners based in and around Williamsburg, Brooklyn. I am very thankful to be part of this group of women who offer support to women during one of the most important of life transitions.



Receiving a continuity of support throughout pregnancy and after birth is beneficial to both mother and baby because it provides:

(pre-natally)

-relaxation and reduced stress (which equals a healthier pregnancy)
-relief from muscle cramps, spasms, pain, especially in the lower back, neck, hips and legs
-increase in circulation and reduction of swelling
-reduction of stress on weight-bearing joints
-improved outcome of labor, easing of pain
-greater pliability of skin and underlying tissues, avoiding stretch marks when massage is done regularly
-stabilization of hormones and emotional balance
-space to tune into her changing body, to be more aware of her baby, supports prenatal bonding
-promotes shorter labor, less difficult and painful labor

(post-natally)

-support for new mothers with the physical and emotional strains of caring for an infant
-decreased symptoms of post-partum depression, improved self-esteem, sensitivity to her child's needs because her own physical and emotional needs are also being met
-eases fatigue, allowing space to rest, promoting relaxation and sleep
-support in making the transition into motherhood and life as a new family unit


What else do you need to know?

I make house calls. All that is needed are lots of pillows, some blankets and a yoga mat and you don't need to leave the comfort of your home. I am also available to give sessions at Caribou Baby in Williamsburg/Greenpoint.


While a single session is of course beneficial, I recommend purchasing a 3- or 6-session package for the sake of continuity. You will develop a deeper relationship with your body as it changes and you'll find comfort in the continuity of support that regular sessions provide. Personally I give a much more effective massage when we have developed a relationship over time, creating an on-going dialogue based around your own specific needs.


Rates:

A single 90-minute session is $130; 3-massage cards are $330 (saving $60) and 6 are $650 (saving $130). Massage cards are valid for a year and a half so you can use them anytime from the beginning of pregnancy up to 6 months after birth. I also offer sliding scale and donation rates based on need and income.


I do still give Traditional Thai Massage sessions upon request; men by referral only.


Contact:


jennthaiyoga@gmail.com
347 549 1807