The Benefits of Pregnancy Massage


Massages are not only relaxing and pampering. Massage decreases symptoms of pregnancy and decreases the pain and length of labor.

 

2 Common myths and preconceptions of pregnancy and massage: 

1. Massage during 1st trimester causes miscarriages

*Reality: Only extremely deep and vigorous lower abdominal massage could possibly cause a miscarriage. If a woman experiences a miscarriage after a massage, it is not the massage that is the cause. 

2. Massaging the feet and ankles will cause a pregnant woman to go into labor.

*Reality: There ARE acupressure and reflexology points on the feet and ankles that are contraindicated (should avoid stimulating). However it takes prolonged specific pressure directly on those points to activate them.  A general foot and ankle massage does not do this and is safe to perform. 

Benefits of Prenatal and Post-Partum Massage: 

Prenatal 

• Helps mother cope with emotional and physiological changes in her body
• Reduces morning sickness 
• Relieves headaches 
• Reduces insomnia and fatigue, promotes deeper and better sleep 
• Reduces musculoskeletal pain and postural imbalances 
• Reduces sciatic paining hips, low back, and legs 
• Relieves cramps, spasm, and myofascial pain 
• Improved flexibility, releases tight muscles 
• Promotes blood and lymph circulation, reducing toxins in system
• Reduces edema (swelling) in hands, feet, face, and ankles 
• Reduces blood pressure due to improved circulation 
• Reduces varicose vein development and pain 
• Helps maintain efficient breathing patterns 
• Promotes secretion of hormones that are beneficial to mother and fetus
• Helps prepare mother for labor 
• Release endorphins which helps with pain management 
• Reduces stress, anxiety, depression, and emotional swings 
• Increases mothering instincts 

Post-Partum 

• Speeds up physiological recovery
• Helps balance physical and emotional challenges of motherhood 
• Reduces post-partum depression 
• Lightens stretch marks 
• Relieves stress
• Reduces fluid retention 
• Exfoliates skin 
• Improves sleep 
• Boosts milk production 
• Improves circulation 
• Improves tone and flexibility of muscles and stretched nerves 
• Helps reposition the pelvis 
• Relaxation!

Benefits for Baby

• Positivity affects health 
• Helps mother and baby bond
• Releases happy hormones 
• Improves outcome of labor
• Less complications 
• Lowes rate of premature labor
• Helps facilitate natural childbirth (less interventions)
• Can make labor shorter, easier, and less painful 

*If at any time during massage you experience any discomfort, please tell the therapist immediately

This is an excerpt from my  client Savanna’s pregnancy massage experience. [You can read more here]

International Women’s Day, March 8th, 2017

I’m so honored to be a part of Stauntons LARGE group of women business owners. 

I thought I would share a bit about my experience as a woman business owner and why I choose to work on women: 

I am a massage therapist and I work from my home here in Staunton. 

My business is called PlanetJoy because people say they feel like they’re transported to another planet when they are on my table. 

PlanetJoy is set up specifically for women because women tend to stay busy giving and giving to others without allowing themselves time to fill their energy back up. They feel guilty allowing themselves the “indulgence” of self-care. 

My intention is to make women feel as safe as possible when they are on my table. 8 out of every 10 women have experienced some kind of abuse throughout their life: physical, emotional, sexual, mental….so, when women get on my table I want them to feel like they can actually relax. 

I’ll never forget the first time I had a woman come back to me when I was helping out in a spa downtown. She had called to specifically request me because when she had been on my table it was the FIRST time she had been able to relax during a massage due to past abuse. When she told me told me a little more about her past experiences, I made sure to make her feel even MORE secure during her next massage and she actually fell asleep. When you get a massage you are in a very vulnerable position so sleeping is the ultimate sign of feeling safe. I’m proud to say all of my clients have fallen asleep on my massage table at some point. 

I also want all women to feel beautiful and be able to understand and respect their bodies. Self-love, self-respect, and body-confidence are so important. I have had the honor of being an art model for Beverly Street Studio School for the past 9 years and I have learned from the fabulous women artists there that every body is unique and interesting and full of radiant beauty. 

We as women need to use our strengths to support other females in our lives. We can always do a little something to make other women feel loved and safe. And we should always encourage each other to take care of ourselves. We simply cannot love others as efficiently if we are not taking time to love ourselves. Strong women lift each other up. Together, we can rise higher. 

A Joyful Year of Massage 2014

It’s finally here!!

Useful links:
YOM Mission statement

FAQ page

Client testimonials

If you know any cool ladies who want to sign up have them send me an email:
JoyBoardman@gmail.com

FAQs about Year of Massage 2014

for women only: no boys allowed, sorry!
FAQs:

Are the prices for a year?
The prices are for a year, yes. When you sign up you’ll be responsible for completing a year (ex: march 2014-march 2015– I try to get everyone to start around the same time so it’s easier to keep up with you guys)

Can I pay month to month?
No. But, you can make up to 6 payments (2 months at a time, minimum.) It is honestly best to pay as many as you can at a time so you don’t lose track and also to encourage you not to miss a session!

Can I combine the 90 and 60 min or do I have to pick one or the other?You can combine them if you’d like! I’ll just mark on my calendar every month what time you’re signed up for!

How do I schedule and what if I miss a month?
I will contact you every month with my available dates and it will be up to you to schedule. First come, first served, once a date is full you’ll have to pick another.
If you don’t schedule, you’ll forfeit that month. (Unless you’re sick or it’s prearranged.) This is not meant to be harsh, it’s just that it is a lot of work to track everybody down and make sure they schedule. I will try my hardest but you have to make sure to keep track for yourself.

Year of Massage is awesome!
You’re investing in your health. You are making sure to give your muscles and your mind at least an hour break, an hour of escape, every month. You can count on it! Your body will thank you. Your sanity will thank you. Your family will thank you! Seriously, it’s really awesome.

Other people think the Year of Massage is awesome, too:
“This is my happy place.”
– LeeAnn

“Thank you for helping me relax. I never get to do that. It’s such a nice feeling.”
– Candi

“Massage makes me stop for a couple of hours and just relax. Life can be so busy and it’s wonderful to have a time for tension release. :)”
-Dawn

What if I’m not sure I can come every single month?
If you let me know ahead of time, we can always add a month or even add more time to later massages. Ex: if you have to miss an hour in September, we can make your next two massages 90-min!

What if I can’t commit to paying that much?
This is an extremely affordable deal because I’m very good at what I do: I’ve made a conscious choice to make massage more affordable for busy Wonder Women who want to make a COMMITMENT to their health.
I usually charge $80 for an hour session or $110 for a 90-minute session. The Year of Massage is a reward system: because you’ve decided you want to come every month, you pay less. It’s simple! I offer payment plans: you can pay as little as 2 massages at a time.

What if I don’t like your style?
If it doesn’t work out, we can stop at any time! No worries.

There’s no need to worry about anything.

This is my clients’ favorite deal because they love that they can count on it every month. It’s so important for your body and your sanity.

What are you waiting for?

Sign up before Jan 1, 2014 and save $5 on every massage, every month!
There’s limited space: I only have room for 8 more clients!!

Let me know if this answers your questions or if you have any more. I’m making a FAQ page so your questions will help others!

Read the mission statement for a Joyful Year of Massage here.

Joy Boardman

Massage Therapist and Collage Art Therapist

Planet Joy: Otherworldly Massages for Women, Planet-Friendly Collages for Everyone

Find me here:

[PlanetJoy’s Blog]

[PlanetJoy’s Etsy Shop]

[PlanetJoy on Facebook]

[PlanetJoy on Pinterest]

Pay-What-You-Can for a Year of Massage

Hi! This is Staunton, Virginia’s massage therapist, again ☺

I am now doing pay-what-you-can with a minimum of $35/month for a year of massage.

I can take a total of 9 more committed clients.

For those willing to pay $45+ or $49+ i have new incentives!

For those who chose to give $45+/ month:
You will receive (4)90-min massages and (8) 60-min massages

For those who choose to give $49+/month:
You will receive (6) 90-min massages and (6) 60-min massages

**((regular price: $65/hour, $99/90-min session
$780 for a year of massage))

At $49 you are still saving $181!!
Thank you so much!

All I ask:
Tell all the ladies you know. Text them, facebook them, twitter this, blog this, share this any way you can.

Lets help make massage affordable!!

Do you have any unanswered questions?
Check out the FAQ Page, first.

Do you live in Staunton? Are you interested? Shoot me an email: JoyBoardman@gmail.com

Staunton Massage Therapist says, “Is it you I am looking for?”

Joy Boardman, Staunton, Virginia’s massage therapist here!

I just set my goals for 2013.

My heart is pounding.
Here’s what I am looking for:

60 women willing to sign up for a year of 1-hour massages: $199 ($16.58/month)

Or 40 willing to sign up for $25/month

Or 24 willing to sign up for $41.58/month

You choose which package you want and I will donate 20% of the proceeds from each sign up to a charity of your choice.

Yep, 20%. Lets do this!!

I want to help women feel happy, healthy, and relaxed. And I want massage to be affordable.

Tell all your friends, tweet this, blog this, share this.

………………………………………………….

I’m also going to be selling awesome sets:

Set of 9 magnets
252 stickers
24 small prints
48 larger prints
6 cards
For $99

Set of 48 mini prints
Set of 24 larger prints
1 book
252 stickers
9 magnets
6 cards
And a journal
For $119

The Works:
48 mini prints
24 larger prints
2 50 page books
252 stickers
9 magnets
A 12″x12″ canvas
6 cards
And a journal
all for: $299 (40 available)

Choice of any 3 (excluding the canvas): $50.

Hooray for 2013!!

Tell all your friends, put this on facebook, tweet this, blog this, share this. Thank you so much.

Hooray for Aaron London who was the first to sign up. His mom will be receiving half a year of massages and he has donated $20.40 to the staunton food bank!