COURSE SYLLABUS - What Will I Learn?

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1:  An In-Depth Knowledge of Techniques and Positions for Massage in Pregnancy, Birth, and Postnatally :

COURSE MANUALS:  Part 1: THEORY.   Part 2: PRACTICAL.

• Different positions and techniques for different stages of pregnancy, including massaging on a padded floor, chair, and ball.
• Awareness of back and abdominal care for mother, including positions and techniques to avoid.
• Energy work and shiatsu techniques and specific acupressure points.
• How to teach the mother and partner simple massage techniques to encourage bonding with the baby.
• Techniques for labour, including involvement of partner, and ability to teach massage to the partner.
• Massage for the postnatal period.

2:  An Understanding of the Anatomy and Physiology of Pregnancy, particularly in relation to Massage and Exercise :

COURSE MANUALS:  Part 1: THEORY.   Part 2: PRACTICAL.

• Physiological and pathological conditions in pregnancy.
• Which conditions are amenable to treatment with massage and which need to be referred on and to whom, including both orthodox (i.e., NHS) health professionals and complementary practitioners.
• Effects of hormonal changes on ligaments and joints.
• The role of abdominal muscles, pelvic floor, perineum, spine and implications for massage and exercise.
• Changes in the cardiovascular and respiratory systems.
• The development of the foetus, including different fetal presentations, how these occur, how they can be changed, and how this affects labour.
• Changes in the postnatal period.

3:  A Holistic Model of Pregnancy and Birth and the Postpartum Period :

COURSE MANUALS:  Part 1: THEORY.   Part 2: PRACTICAL.

• Viewing pregnancy as a healthy expression of the journey into motherhood and understanding how massage supports this.
• Introduction to some Eastern models of pregnancy.
• Practical ideas and suggestions to support the work of the massage session (i.e., simple exercises, breathing, massage for mother and partner to do for themselves).
• Awareness of the baby during the massage.
• Encouraging the development of the mother and father's relationship with the baby and their confidence in the pregnant body's wisdom.
• Role of diet and other complementary therapies.
• Awareness of relationship to medical model of care and the integrated health approach.

4:  Practical Tools for Self-Development and for Supporting Massage Therapists Work in this Field :

COURSE MANUALS:  Part 1: THEORY.   Part 2: PRACTICAL.

• Touch sensitivity skills.
• Work on preparation for massage, breathing and stretching.
• Developing your own style.
• Feeling confident about working during pregnancy, confronting anxieties around massaging pregnant women, and looking at our own attitudes toward pregnancy.