Personal Training (back to top)

“Resistance training is defined as the process of exercising the muscles against a resistance to directly improve upon muscular strength, endurance, power or body composition – the intent being to increase one’s over all health and fitness level” Canadian Personal Training Network Manual.

Health benefits:

• better balance of muscles
• decrease in Resting Blood Pressure
• increase calcium absorption and maintenance of bone mineral density
• improved self esteem and confidence
• improved regulation of hormone release
• weight management

Common Myths with Personal Training:

• spot reduction of body fat
• unavoidable increase in muscle size, especially for women
• muscles turn to fat when training is stopped
• strength training decreases joint flexibility
  

Individual Program Design

A personal program design is a long term commitment to clients, allowing variety, which takes the form of new exercises and changes in intensity of effort.

Please contact me for more information and prices regarding personal training sessions at 773-5053.

Massage Therapy (back to top)

What Is Massage Therapy?

Massage therapy is recognized as one of the oldest methods of healing, with references in medical texts nearly 4,000 years old. In fact, Hippocrates, known as the "father of medicine," referenced massage when he wrote, in the 4th century B.C.: "The physician must be acquainted with many things, and assuredly with massage."

Today, massage therapy, often referred to as bodywork or somatic therapy, refers to the application of various techniques to the muscular structure and soft tissues of the body that include applying fixed or movable pressure, holding, vibration, rocking, friction, kneading and compression using primarily the hands. These techniques are used for the benefit of the musculoskeletal, circulatory-lymphatic, nervous, and other systems of the body. In fact, massage therapy positively influences the overall health and well-being of the patient:

Physical and Mental Benefits

• relaxes the whole body
• loosens tight muscles
• relieves tired and aching muscles
• increases flexibility and range of motion
• diminishes chronic pain
• calms the nervous system
• lowers blood pressure
• lowers heart rate
• enhances skin tone
• assists in recovery from injuries and illness
• strengthens the immune system
• reduces tension headaches
• reduces mental stress
• improves concentration
• promotes restful sleep
• aids in mental relaxation

Please call 773-5053 to arrange an appointment time convenient for you.

Doula Work (back to top)

What is A Doula?

The word “Doula” comes from the ancient Greek and is now used to refer to a woman who helps other women. It has been applied to childbirth to refer to “a woman experienced in childbirth who provides continuous physical, emotional, and informational support to the mother before, during, and just after childbirth.” (Klaus, Kennel, and Klaus, in Mothering the Mother)

A birth doula

• recognizes birth as a key life experience that the mother will remember all her life
• understands the physiology of birth and the emotional needs of a woman in labor
• assists the woman and her partner in preparing for and carrying out their plans for the birth
• stays by the side of the laboring woman throughout the entire labor
• provides emotional support, physical comfort measures, and objective viewpoint, and assistance to the woman in getting the information she needs to make good decisions
• facilitates communication between the laboring woman, her partner, and clinical care providers
• perceives her role as one who nurtures and protects the woman’s memory of her birth experience.

The acceptance of doulas in maternity care is growing rapidly with recognition of their important contribution to the improved physical outcomes and emotional well-being of mothers and infants.

Reasons People Want a Labor Support Provider at their Birth

1. Some women are worried about the contribution their partner can make in the “Labour Support” role.

2. The partner may want to help, but feel insecure about his/her ability to meet the needs of the labouring women.

3. The Labour Support Provider may be the only person at the labour who is there solely for the emotional well-being of the women.

4. The Labour Support Provider can enhance the work of the couple by making sure both of their needs are met. ie.getting food, offering reassurance, information and encouragment.

5. With the presence of a Labour Support Person, the partner can be assured he/she is not alone as the support role.

6. The Labour Support Provider can provide information, but is not the decision maker.

7. Statistics indicate that Childbirth Classes may prepare the partner in “theory”, but may not provide enough hands on practice to help them feel totally confident in providing labour support.

8. The partners’ role in Labour Support may be impeded because they are witnessing the process of their loved one in pain, etc.

9. Being the primary Labour Support person may be a high expectation that impedes the partner’s processing of their own feelings regarding the birth of their baby.

Massage Therapy During Labour

1. POSITIONING
For the comfort of the woman.
Ie. Sidelying, sitting, squatting

2. GENERAL MASSAGE PROCEDURES:

The massage techniques utilized must be adapted to the particular needs of the client. Some possibilities are:

A) full body massage
B) foot, hand, face, head, neck and shoulder massage
C) massage is focused on areas of chronic muscle tension
D) abdominal massage using gentle, light, soothing effleurage.

3. RELAXATION TECHNIQUES such as diaphragmatic breathing, progresssive relaxation, relaxation, pelvic floor relaxation and jaw muscles, visualization, focusing on a particular sound/object.

4. VISUALIZATION TECHNIQUES can also enhance relaxation

5. CONTRACTION-DISTRACTION TECHNIQUES

• can be especially helpful in the second stage of labour
• the therapists uses their fingers, thumbs, knuckles, or elbows to compress muscles in a direction perpendicular to the fibers at the level of T10-L2
• this may help distract the patient from abdominal and uterine pain
• compression at the lumbar-sacral junction or firm compressions applied to the sacrum can be very helpful during labour

6. RELAXING THE PELVIS DURING CONTRACTIONS

• grasping the medial three toes of each foot and hold together tightly
• hold or release during contractions
• squeeze the inner arches of both feet to help reduce shaking

7. HYDROTHERAPY

8. WALKING AND ROCKING DURING CONTRACTIONS

Infant Massage (back to top)

When is the best time to give my baby a massage?

• when your baby is in a quiet, yet alert stage
• this can vary depending on the infant

Where should I do the massage?

• in a room that is warm and comfortable for the baby, with preferably as little distraction as possible

What is the purpose of infant massage?

Infant massage has many therapeutic benefits for babies:

• It increases the bonding between the baby and their mother/father.
• It teaches both the mother/father and the baby how to relieve stress, while helping to increase relaxation through the use of touch
• Massage helps to stimulate the development of various systems of the baby ie/ digestive, circulatory, and musculoskeletal systems
• Helps to regulate sleep patterns

What supplies do I need to do infant massage?

• Any edible oil is the best. Safflower, olive, apricot kernel, grapeseed, etc.
  A towel or blanket to lay the baby on.
• Extra diapers and protective clothing to put under your baby.

THE GOAL FOR MASSAGE IS TO HAVE THE BABY/CHILD LOVE IT!!!!

Benefits of Infant Massage

1. stimulation of all the physiological systems of the body
2. relieves stress through increased relaxation for both the parent and the infant
3. helps increase healthy parent infant interaction—increases bonding
4. a means of communication between the caregiver and the baby

• increases awareness of infant cues
• helps the parent learn how to respond to the baby’s needs
• helps to synchronize interchange between the two
• helps the baby feel increased trust and security when the contact is reassuring and pleaseurable
• provides a time of quiet focus

5. provides sensory stimulation which is necessary for growth and development
6. helps facilitate motor coordination
7. helps relieve gas and colic
8. helps regulate sleep patterns
9. helps strengthen the immune system

What is touch relaxation?

It is a way of connecting with your infant when actual massage strokes may be too stimulating or sensitive for them. It is an excellent way of making initial contact with the infant. It is a soothing, nurturing, non-invasive form of communication.

To do touch relation, place your hand gently on any area of the baby’s body and rest them there. This will allow you to tune in to what you feel underneath your hands, and to convey an intention of love and relaxation to the baby. It is important for your hands to be soft and relaxed. You can convey the words “relax” or you can “let go now” at this time.

What to expect at different ages of Infant Massage

0-3 months

• lots of neonatal reflexes
• many infants hold their arms tightly into their body (similar to utero)
• warmth is very important
• massage is of shorter duration
• often like legs and back massaged

3-6 months

• infant much more aware and interactive
• tension in the body from increased movement
  likes to roll and move about
• massage is flexible-go with what the infant suggests
• like to have stomach, chest and arms massaged

6-9 months

• becoming actively mobile
• fun and playful
• massage becomes more ‘active’ with position changes
• use movement and music interspersed with massage to make it a fun experience

9 months – 2 years

• active, exploring the world
• very ‘busy’
• massage in smaller segments ie/ before naptimes
• baby may not want to ‘stay still’ for massage time
• teach baby to massage self or you

2 years and onward

• will be more able to settle into massage again
• child may request it

Created by FitnessMedias.com
Hosted by Drako Medias.com

© Copyright AmandaWilson.com - All Rights Reserved