Child's Pose Massage (because. things.)

If you watched last night's debate, you may feel like curling into a ball and hiding in an unspecified location with pillows and chocolate.  There are also ever more convincing arguments for permanent relocation to Canada.  If neither of these options is a possibility for you, then, after voting, I suggest the following:  Child's Pose.  With accompanying massage.  It's about as close to curling up into a ball as yoga gets and, in addition to allowing you to shut out the world for a few minutes, the massage sequence I detail below will help melt away a bit of stress and tension, preparing you (pregnant or not) to face the world again, maybe even with a smile on your face. SONY DSC

Child's Pose Massage Sequence

  • Get comfy in child's pose.  A bolster or pillow can be helpful, especially if you're pregnant.  If child's pose is uncomfortable, don't let that stop you.  This can also be done leaning forward on a chair.  Hand your friend this sequence.  (Tip: it can often be easier to receive a massage if you offer one in return.  If you are pregnant, this statement is null and void.  Hand over the massage sequence without guilt.)
  • Place your hands on your partner's sacrum. Lean into palm pressure on the sacrum. Hold for at least 10 seconds.
  • Walk heavy palms up the back on alternating sides of the spine.
  • Squeeze trapezius muscles (neck to shoulder muscles)
  • Use circular thumb pressure on rhomboids (muscles between the shoulder blades and the spine)
  • Continue circular thumb pressure down the erector muscles, those that border the spine, all the way down to the sacrum and back up to the neck.
  • With both hands, squeeze and release the trapezius on the right.
  • With both hands, continue to squeeze and release, massaging down the entire right arm to the hand.
  • Gently shake out the right arm.
  • With both hands, squeeze and release the trapezius on the left.
  • With both hands, continue to squeeze and release massaging down the entire left arm to the hand.
  • Gently shake out left arm.
  • Squeeze and release muscles at the back of the neck, massaging up to the base of the skull.
  • Give a scalp massage with fingertips all over the skull.
  • Walk heavy palms back down to the sacrum, on alternating sides of the spine.
  • Finish with heavy palm pressure on the sacrum, hold for at least 10 seconds.

 

Postnatal, PrenatalLaurenchild's pose, massageComment