Bloom After Baby - Postnatal Massage

Having a baby is such a fantastically beautiful and life changing event. From the very beginning you feel your body adjust. After announcing your pregnancy you are flowered with congratulations and questions;  are you going to find out the gender? Have you decorated the baby's room? How are you feeling? What can I do for you? The attention continues as your belly begins to grow. Strangers come up to you and ask when you are due. You begin to feel your baby moving. Your whole identity shifts. You start to glow.  You are entrusted with this precious life and you are on a mission to ensure the best possible environment. 

Then, your new bundle of joy is born. People flock to your house to hold them. They bring gifts and food. They start setting up play dates. They forget your name...well not really, although it feels as if you no longer exist as an individual. You are pushed to the side. Simply the carrier of this cute, tiny human. People eventually stop bringing you food and, often unintentionally, start bringing judgement. You start feeling the unrealistic pressure to be the "perfect" mom. You are left isolated to go through the changes that your body is experiencing. To deal with the stretch marks. To rein in your unpredictable hormones. Pressured to act as if your baby is perfect, and happy, and sleeping all the time. Your light begins to fade. When you think about it, it is surprising that more moms don't experience postpartum depression. Or maybe we just don't hear about it.

Following the birth of your child it is crucial that you make time for self care. But too often mothers feel guilty leaving their baby alone. How in the world are you supposed to find time between diaper changes, feeding and laundry while still making sure they feel loved?!  You are constantly on the move and when nap time comes you are exhausted. There is no way you can carry on like this! You deserve to relax in the midst of all the chaos a new baby brings home with them.  When alone time becomes a thing of the past it is essential that you begin to carve it out once again. It will give you the strength to return home and meet the needs of your baby with more love and compassion.

The benefits of postnatal massage are numerous. It is a great way to soothe sore and strained muscles. If you are nursing, you may be experiencing neck and shoulder tension due to poor positioning. You may be carrying your baby with your dominant arm and begin to notice an imbalance in your spine and hips.  Headaches due to lack of sleep and stress can be subdued. Achiness from sleeping in positions you didn't think were possible can be relieved. We can increase circulation and decrease any residual swelling. And most importantly we can give you the chance to feel whole, valuable and precious once again. We can create space for you to breathe, slow down and even cry if you need to. We know parenting isn't easy and thats ok. 

So how do we make it happen? Ask for help. Talk to someone you love and trust and ask them to look after your little one while you get a massage. Leaving them with someone trustworthy will ensure that you can relax further. Schedule in advance. Book your massage when you know your husband will be home, or when your parents are in town. Talk to them in advance and make sure it works for everyone. Do a trade. Maybe you and another mommy friend can take turns watching each others littles while the other can indulge. Talk to your doctor. If you had a C-section or a difficult delivery, your doctor can provide a timeline that is appropriate for you. This permission may help you feel more comfortable.

If you are uncomfortable with the idea of having a massage right away, know that we are not here to judge. Your stretch marks are beauty marks. You can continue to wear your bra if you are lactating. We will adapt to your needs. We are simply here to help you get your GLOW back. 

Avoid Back to School Burnout - A Teachers Guide.

We all know its coming, you can feel it in the air...and the lineups at Staples. The glorious, holiday filled summer is coming to an end. That means one thing. Back to school. Lesson planning begins, the students pour through the doors and you are learning a whole new set of names. You have to decide if you want to coach the basketball team, volunteer for the drama production and supervise the school dance. On top of all that you have marking, report cards, project planning and parent teacher interviews. It is not an easy job and we commend you for taking on the challenge and raising our youth to be stellar and contributing citizens. Although everyone gets super jealous of your summer holidays, we all know that Teachers deserve a couple months off during the year to recharge and reconnect with their families. But you don't have to wait until the summer to refuel and focus on yourself. All it takes is a few minutes a day and some good planning skills throughout the year. Here are a few pointers on how to avoid burnout. 

1. Acknowledge your passion. You are teaching for a reason, because you love it! If you didn't love it you wouldn't be there. You love seeing your students progress and having the chance to work with the one group of people who have the most potential in the world. Remind yourself of this daily to fuel your days. 

2. Ask for help. Teachers are givers by nature. You want to solve everyones problems yet you resist any offers of help that you may receive. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness. It is a sign that you know your limits and only want to give your best work.  

3. Learn to say No. It is too easy to say Yes to every request. You feel guilty when you say no, like you are letting everyone down. Before you know it you have no room in your schedule to eat your lunch.  Remember that every Yes you say is a No to something else. Choose wisely. 

4. Actively Manage your Time. If this means scheduling in dinner with your spouse, or reading a book or going for a walk, then write it down and stick to it. If someone asks you to take on a new task, it is a simple sorry, I already have plans. If you don't schedule it, it will be pushed aside and forgotten. 

5. Exercise. The effects of exercise on the body are widespread. It decreases stress levels, promotes better sleep, sharpens your mind and prevents injuries.  Find what works for you and incorporate it into your lifestyle on the daily. 

6. Manage Stress. This is a big one. If you don't recognize your limits you won't make it through the year without a breakdown. This year lets avoid rocking back and forth, huddled in a ball with tears streaming down your face wondering how you are going to face your students for another 4 months. Learn to meditate. Book regular massage. Start kickboxing. Whatever your jam is, commit to it and plan ahead for it. 

Teachers are so important to every community and it seems as though they are being handed more and more responsibility each year. It is a tough job. But, whether you believe it or not, you deserve to put yourself first often. If you are not the healthiest version of yourself how can you expect to perform to your full potential. We love teachers at Bloom. We love giving you the space to talk about your daily challenges or simply allowing you to bask in the studentless quiet of the treatment room. We love to see your shoulders drop away from your ears at the end of the treatment and hearing how your headaches seem to be disappearing. We challenge you to take this year and make it yours. Schedule your self-care in advance and feel the benefits all year long. 

Kristy