Infant and Child Massage Workshops: Learn to massage your family!
By Betsy Webb BA, RMT

Infant Massage: Nov 22, 2 pm
Julie Kells

Massage for Kids
By Christine Alyward BA, RMT

While there are times to have your child or infant massaged by a trained massage therapist, there are also many benefits to massaging them yourself. Many people know that oxytocin is released during breast-feeding. Oxytocin is a hormone that does many things, including promoting bonding and inducing the “rest and digest” response; this is one of the reasons women often relax so much as they start a session of breast feeding. Oxytocin is also released during massage.* When parents are massaging their babies and children, this oxytocin release promotes bonding between them, as well as helping the one being massaged to relax, trust, and be curious.*

Benefits of Family Massage

• Promotes bonding within the family
• Can be done frequently, even daily
• Can be done right before sleep
• A bit of massage can be done in many stressful times

Holiday Gift Certificates Available Now! Here at Be. Massage we do workshops in infant massage and in child massage. The infant massage workshops are 4 sessions of 1 hour each. Parents bring their baby and extra diapers, and wear comfortable clothing for sitting on the floor. The classes are organized for the babies and their caregivers, with an understanding that babies need to sleep, eat and cry, and do not always follow their parents’ agendas.

Betsy Webb, RMT, is the instructor, and demonstrates the massage on a doll.

The next course starts November 22, 2006.

Did you know that children of all ages can benefit from massage too?

Children love touch and respond very well to massage. Massage can help relieve muscle pain and tension, heal injuries, reduce stress, improve circulation to areas of restriction, reduce behavioural problems, and reduce sleep disturbances.

Often teenagers will seek out massage on their own but younger kids will need your help and consent to access treatment. It is always important to obtain the child’s consent too, even if they are too young to talk. Massage should always be a pleasant and fun experience!

Some conditions common to children that can be treated with massage are:

Sports injuries and falls
Car accident related injuries
Back or neck pain from backpacks or computers
Headaches
Growing pains
Scoliosis
Spasticity due to neurological conditions such as Cerebral palsy
Asthma related symptoms
Rheumatoid arthritis pain and inflammation
Autism
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) helps kids relax and focus
Stress related to school, friends or family relationships

What to wear?
Kids can wear shorts and a tank top/t-shirt or just their underwear. They will be covered up with a sheet during the massage.

How long is an appointment?
Ages 1-10:can have a half hour
Ages 11-15: could use 45 minutes
Ages 16 and up: can have a full hour

Will it be covered by my insurance?
Kids over the age of 1 year are often covered under the families extended health plan

When is massage not appropriate?

If your child has:

• a fever or a flu
• a contagious condition
• had a recent surgery
• is undergoing treatment that causes inflammation or nausea and may require rest
  

Check with your family doctor if you are unsure!

If your child has been complaining about aches and pains, don’t brush it off! It is never too early for them to enjoy the wonderful benefits of massage.

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