Galway Massage Therapy
Shiatsu, Pregnancy Massage, Gentlebirth, Baby Massage, Holistic Massage

Contact Tissy: 0863836295
Or e-mail: nurturingtouch@live.ie
Get the Nurturing Touch Membership Card (€15) and save 15% on all treatments!

An Spideal Wellness Centre

Posted on September 13th, 2012
I'm so happy to introduce you to the new An Spideal Wellness Centre...

It all started in January when I moved to that lovely place in Spiddal, my Haven of Peace... It has been expending since... I now have great therapists working with me and we recently built a nice Studio upstairs where we will be offering classes and workshops. So here's what you can find in our Centre:

-Shiatsu, Massage, Pregnancy, Baby Massage, Gentlebirth Classes with Tissy - 086 3836295 - nurturingtouch.ie (Tuesday to Friday)

-Homeopathy with Teresa - 087 2282652 - biseach.com (Wednesdays)

-Reflexology, Reiki, Seichem, EFT with Catherine - 087 2026752 - catherineuichadhain.com

-Hypnotherapy, Psychotherapy, Play Therapy with Louise - 085 8376494 - trinitytherapy.ie (Tuesdays)

-Alexander Technique with Fiona - 087 1301283

-Meditation with Pauline - 087 6108518 (Wednesdays @ 8pm)

-Yoga with Josephine - 083 4093828 (Yoga for all on Wed @ 6.30 & 8pm and Friday 9.30am)

Can Shiatsu help promote labour?

Posted on February 18, 2012
I often advise to my mums to start working on the “labour points” from 37 weeks to help the body getting ready for labour. But how does it work?

Research has now proven that we are not just a “Physical Body” – what can be seen: made of bones, blood and flesh, but also an “Energetic Body” – that can’t be seen, but can be felt: the Aura and Energy Pathways called Meridians. Most Meridians are named after the organ they go through (ie. Heart, Liver, Stomach). When there’s an imbalance in the Meridians (ie. Energy stuck), then it creates pain in the body (ie, Sciatica is usually energy not flowing nicely in the Gall Bladder Meridian).

Shiatsu Practitioners and Acupuncturist work with these Meridians aiming at balancing the energy throughout the body. Many factors can create imbalances, they can be either external (ie. Weather: wind, cold, etc.) or internal (Emotions).

When a woman reaches the end of her pregnancy, she often can’t wait to go into labour!!! It might be because she’s tired, in pain (SPD, etc.), worried that baby grows too big … But there’s also the threat of induction…and that’s what worries most of my mums… Induction with Pitocin (the synthetic version of Oxytocin) will usually make contractions much stronger than when Oxytocin is naturally produced by the body, which makes labour a bit more challenging for mums, and they often end up opting for the epidural… Believe me, if you can do without drugs, you’re better off!

It’s important to remember that the due date is only a guess date, so when you are given 10 days after the due date to go into labour spontaneously; it’s still only an estimate. Buy some time! Remember that the World Health Organisation recommends 14 days. Ask your consultant if you and your baby are ok, if yes then ask to wait one more day… The fear of induction can often create an emotional blockage. It’s hard for the body to release happy hormones to go into labour when you feel emotions such as fear. So it’s very important to RELAXXXXXX…

That’s what Shiatsu and Acupuncture work on: releasing stuck emotions, as well as relaxing the mum, releasing tension in the upper body, promoting the production of Oxytocin and strengthening the uterus. To do that, they access the Meridians through gates called Tsubos or Acupressure Points. Usually, a few sessions are needed, however, if the body is ready, mums can go into labour within 3 days following the treatment. I always show to my mums how to locate the points and encourage them to bring their partner. Furthermore, not only these points can be used in pregnancy from 37 weeks but also in labour, so it’s well worth doing a session with your partner.

So mums, remember: It’s very important to relax and to enjoy the last few days of your pregnancy. Meet up with your friends, go to the cinema to watch a fun movie, go to the restaurant, do all these things that you won’t be able to do for a little while. If it’s your first baby, go for a tea with your book on your own, believe me, as a mum, you don’t get much time on your own anymore  Go to the restaurant with your partner and enjoy the time just the 2 of you. Make love (to produce Oxytocin), drink Raspberry Leave Tea, work the Acupressure Points daily (maybe not in that order  ) and forget about Due Dates, Induction Dates, etc.

Just RELAXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX and have a wonderful labour!

Launch of the new Nurturing Touch Wellness Centre in Spiddal

Posted on February 06, 2012
I am so delighted to have finally opened my Shiatsu and Massage Therapy Centre in Spiddal, where I operate Wednesday to Friday. I have been dreaming of working from Spiddal since I opened Nurturing Touch... But having been in Liosban for the past year and a half, I didn't want to transfer all my clients to Spiddal so I still work from Galway every Tuesday until June at least.

The open day has been a real success and I thoroughly enjoyed it... From the Coffee morning and baby massage demonstration, to the seated treatments in the afternoon and finally the launch party in the evening, the day just flew and I enjoyed every minute of it!!! So thank you to all my clients and friends who came in that day to celebrate with me...

The room is really lovely, very warm, and welcoming. It's big enough to do my baby massage and baby yoga classes but yet small enough to feel cosy during a treatment. I have set up a little "mum and little ones shop" where I sell handmade gifts such as trendy dribblers, little taggies, baby blankets but also teething necklaces, baby massage oil, candles and yummy Dragees. Dragees are traditional french sweets filled with chocolate or almond, which can be offered to our loved ones, but traditionally to our guests as memories of a happy celebration (such as Christenings, Communions, Weddings, etc.), a lovely and delicious idea. Everyone thought they were delicious anyway as they were flying out the door that night...

We managed to raise €105 for the Spiddal creche thanks to our raffle and our participants - thank you so much, and thank you to everyone who donated prizes: Andrea Rossi Art Gallery, An Siopa Bui, Bia Iontach, Sushi with Jen from the Moycullen Market, Teresa Homeopathy and Yoga with Josephine. To see more pictures, click here

I'm also delighted to welcome Teresa who will be praticing her Homeopathy in the Centre on Mondays and/or Tuesdays. To make a booking with Teresa, call 087 2282652

I look forward to seeing you in Spiddal!

Why join a baby massage class?

Posted on January 17, 2012
I discovered baby massage about 5 years ago (now I call it “big girl massage”) when I joined a class with my daughter. I really enjoyed that special time I was spending with my little girl massaging her… Her smiles, laughes and all that unconditional love made my heart melt… After the birth of my second child (by then, I was an expert in baby massage ), I decided to train as a Baby Massage instructor, in order to share with other parents my wonderful experience. I really think that every parent should have the opportunity to learn to massage their baby, and to join such a class. Not only you learn massage but also how to communicate with your baby, how to get to know him, how to respect him (as you need to ask permission…), how to react when he’s crying… It’s not just about the massage, it’s a parenting class, you get to learn so much about your baby and yourself…This is what a mum wrote to me recently: “The most important experience has been the eye to eye contact. It’s crazy to think that by listening and looking, you can actually understand your baby. Also, I have learnt to respect my daughter by asking her permission to touch her. I feel so close to her, and she seems to be happier and a really relaxed baby”.

Usually, we start by massaging our babies, then I teach some theory about baby massage (benefits, oils, how to massage your growing child,etc.) and we have a discussion (with a cup of tea!), I love the discussions because we all exchange our ideas. Sometimes, it can be a little emotional, but we are all there to support each other…

I really love teaching baby massage and watching parents bonding with their little ones, having fun, singing, babies cooing… What else can I say? The benefits are great: bonding, body awareness, improves digestion, regulates sleep, boosts the immune system, helps with PND, non-invasive, easy, adaptable, natural, FUN!

Don’t wait any longer…join a class!

Happy massaging…