Daddy-Newborn Relationship - how to increase the bonding

New research has been done that shows there is another benefit specific to fathers for learning and giving infant massage.  This benefit is lowering the father's stress levels.

You can read the pubmed article here.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3210630/?tool=pubmed

When men and women become parents, it is stressful for both parties.  Traditionally it has been the mom taking most, if not all, the responsibility in the early years.  Many fathers feel left out, or don't know what they can do to support mom and baby, and this becomes a new source of stress (besides having a new mouth to feed).  Increasingly, however, men have taken on more parental responsibility earlier in a newborn's life.  Taking a class on infant massage is great for dads.  It helps them to bond with their newborn children earlier in their baby's life and apparently it also decreases dad's stress levels too!.  There is so much more to learn in an infant massage class than just the massage strokes.  You learn how to communicate with your baby.  There are discussions with other parents and you find out what other moms and dads do when situations arise.  The class is an open forum for discussion, and fathers can meet other men who are in similar situations with whom they can relate.

I would love to see even more dads getting involved, and I can help you.  Click here to learn about taking an infant massage class with Luisa at Melrose Muscle Therapy. 

Moon Bounce and Leg Cramps

Yesterday my daughter Luciana had her 3rd birthday party.  Lots of activities for the kids that were there, and my daughter didn't want to stop to rest for long.  There was a moon bounce, and she was in there jumping around for hours.  After a while, she decided she need to go inside and take a nap.   When she woke up, she came outside again, and continued to run around and jump again in the moon bounce.  9pm rolls around, and her legs start to hurt.  She falls in the moon bounce, starts crying that her legs are hurting.  Party is over. =(   I ask my husband to carry her upstairs to "mommy's bed."  He runs to get me a heating pad, and some jojoba oil. 

My daughter is no stranger to massage.  She has been getting them everyday since she was born, heck she liked them when I received massage when I was pregnant with her. 

She knew what I was about to do, and she stopped crying, calmed down, and helped to guide me in my massage.  I begin to apply a small amount of jojoba to her legs, and Luciana tells me where she wanted me to rub out the pain.  As the heating pad warmed up under her legs, and I worked out the cramping, she began to feel better.  It didn't take much time for her to feel okay again.  Bodywork works very quickly with children, especially children that receive massage as often as my daughter does. 

This morning, I rubbed down her legs again, just as a precaution.  She thanked me with a big hug and the words, "you're the best mom!"  =)

Do you have any stories you would like to share?  I'd love to hear how massage has helped you in your life.

Get Better Sleep

One of the benefits of getting regular massage, is being able to get a better night's rest.  Relieving your stress can leave you with a deeper, better quality sleep.

What does better sleep mean for me?

1. Improves your memory.
2. More creativity. 
3. Increase stamina in sports.
4. Improves your grades in school.
5. Greater attention span.
6. Stronger immune system.
7. Reduced stress levels.


Think about how you feel when you don't get a good night's rest.  Can you remember what your day was like?  Do you find it hard to think about anything when you feel fatigued?
 

So how can I get better sleep?

1. Try getting to bed each night at the same time.  Set yourself a schedule.
2. Find a way to de-stress before bed, whether that be meditating, or simple stretching.
3. Avoid very active activities an hour before bed.
4. Keep your bedroom dark, cool, clean, and uncluttered.

Still having trouble falling asleep, or staying asleep?  Book yourself a massage at Melrose Muscle Therapy.  Regular massage can help you to de-stress and remind your body how to relax and let go.

Making a Donation and Feeling Good about it

Yesterday I dropped off a big box of school supplies to School District 89.

I felt very proud of everyone that brought in a few supplies to help out with Melrose Muscle Therapy's supply drive.  Part of Melrose Muscle Therapy's School Supply Drive was a contest. 

There are many winners.  First, the students who will receive the free supplies.  Second, the winner of the raffle (who wishes to be anonymous) has won a free 60 minute Hot Bamboo massage.  Third, the teachers and faculty of Sacred Heart School in Melrose Park, who have been chosen by the winner to receive a day of free massage.

 

I love being a part of my community.  It always feels good to know that we are making a difference, and I hope you feel the same way.  Do you want us to help out a specific charity?  Let us know.

Why use Jojoba for massage?

There are plenty different types of oils that a massage therapist could use.  Here at Melrose Muscle Therapy, we use Jojoba.  For those of you familiar with Jojoba, you know it is not an oil, but a liquid wax ester.

Why do we use jojoba when there are so many other oils on the market that are way cheaper to use?

 1. It doesn't spoil or go bad.  Many other oils expire.  Jojoba does not expire.  this keeps us a bit greener as we are not wasting any product.

2. Jojoba is non-allergenic.  It is perfect to use with all skin types, but especially for sensitive skin.

3. Jojoba does not stain clothing.  You can be assured that after getting a massage at Melrose Muscle Therapy, that you will not have any oily residue on your skin that could stain your clothing.  First off, we dont use that much oil to begin with, and secondly, jojoba easily washes out of any linens with water and detergent.

 4. Jojoba conditions the skin.  It is the closest thing to our natural oil.  It won't clog your pores, and you will feel silky soft instead of oily and greasy.

I feel like I'm melting like chocolate

I love learning about different ways that mothers massage their children.  While at the Taste of Melrose Park this past weekend, I met with so many people from around the neighborhood.  There was one mother daughter team that really caught my attention.  the mother asked me if it would be okay for her daughter to get a massage.  Of course, as long as she was present, and gave permission, it was fine with me.  The little girl was about the age of seven years old.  She loved her massage.  Her mother has been massaging her since she as a baby.  As she would massage her daughter, she would tell her to melt like chocolate.  As her daughter would imagine the chocolate melting, her body would relax completely. 

Would you like to melt like chocolate?