Baby Massage – Learning Positive Touch for Life

Baby Massage was introduced to me by Chris Woollatt, a very experienced baby massage instructor teaching in Walton on Thames from her home. Three years ago when my daughter was just 10 weeks old I joined Chris's course of classes and haven't looked back since. Massaging Sianna brought me such joy and from her smiles and giggles I believe brought her much joy as well. Any new mum would agree that joining a baby class and trying to 'fit back into society' after having a baby is more difficult than people may imagine. Baby massage makes that awkward transition much easier and gives new mums the chance to experience quiet time out from the structure of the day. Baby massage is so gentle, loving, emotional, affectionate and moving. It's near every class I teach my eyes well-up with joy. I can't think of anything greater in this world than watching a mum give love through massage to her new baby - it's pure nurture at its best!

Chris is the most influential person I've met since the birth of my daughter 3 years ago. To say the least, Chris's classes were amazingly beautiful and entirely memorable. Who knew a class like baby massage could create so much love and affection within one hour. I made some great new friends, relaxed to soothing music and enjoyed a number of mummy poems to reflect in the moment. Chris taught us sweet little songs to sing to our babies like 'Mr. Sun' tummy massage song and showed us how to use yoga to strengthen their muscles. I do my best to make my classes as memorable as Chris makes hers.

Now 3 years old, Sianna is a giving, affectionate and very intelligent little girl. I truly believe her sympathetic nature is a gift she learned through my gift of love through massage. She helps me massage her baby brother who's just 3 months old and still enjoys a full body massage around twice a week and sometimes a hand or foot rub when needed to calm the nerves.

Baby massage classes opened a new door for me and encouraged me to think deeper about my influences as a parent. I learned that positive touch is like food for our babies. They need it, they cry for it, they crave it! I believe that regular massage can encourage high self-esteem levels in older children by developing a unique bond of trust between parent and child. Massaging your baby or child is telling them you love them without saying a word. It's one-to-one attention without distractions. And best of all, I'll never forget my babies little knee dimples or leg rolls, their tubby tummies and tiny little toes, nourishing their silky skin with grapeseed oil every night before bedtime for as long as I can. Ahhh bliss!

Spending just 5-10 minutes of my time twice a week to completely surrender and love my babies through massage is a special time for us and I recommend it to any mum.

Lynnea Shrief is a qualified Baby Massage Instructor and teaches classes in Surrey. See website fore more information. www.koalatherapies.com