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Oct. 28, 2011
Massage during pregnancy
Prenatal and post-natal treatments are the focus of Joy clinic.
MICHELLE DODEK
Mothers have the hardest job in the world – responsible for everything that goes wrong and only thanked for a fraction of the things that go right. Wouldn’t it be great if there were more chances for mothers to take an hour to themselves to feel good? Tara Robens, whose maiden and professional name is Romalis, has thought so for a long time, even before she became the mother of two.
Almost 11 years ago, she established Joy Prenatal and Post-Natal Massage Therapy, a clinic on West Broadway devoted to the physical issues surrounding pregnancy and new motherhood. From the time women discover they are expecting to up to a year after having a baby, mothers come to Joy to work out the many physical stresses of childbearing and -rearing.
Coming from a family where pregnancy was often discussed, Romalis felt very comfortable taking on the responsibility of helping pregnant women.
“I was always intrigued by pregnant woman and the changes in their bodies and their lives,” Romalis said.“I love the changes ... seeing the science and the miracle behind pregnancy, watching a couple become a family and watching a child grow and change.”
As a massage therapist who worked with athletes when she first started practising, Romalis was also attracted to the idea that pregnancy is a temporary condition.
“Pregnancy is not a chronic condition. People have the discomfort associated with pregnancy and then they give birth,” she said.
However, there are many stresses on the body in the first year postpartum as well, and Romalis also deals with these. Muscle strain and stiffness associated with nursing, carrying a child or rocking and soothing a fussy baby can make new mothers miserable. Romalis noted, “The baby becomes so much of a focus and having one hour to just focus on the mother helps women be better parents. It’s good for their psyches as well as their bodies.”
The pregnant and postpartum body is not suited to regular, face-down massage and many women experience hip pain, among other aches, because they must lie on their side when they rest. At Joy, all three of the specially trained massage therapists use a specialized set of cushions with cutouts that accommodate different-sized bellies. Romalis described the versatile cushions as enabling women, from the beginning of pregnancy all the way past their due date, to lie face down and receive a proper massage therapy treatment. Even women carrying twins or triplets can lie face down on these cushions.
“I’m able to access both hips equally, have free movement of the shoulders and gain access to a neutral neck as well,” explained Romalis, whose specialized massage cushions also adjust for caesarian-section scars and painfully engorged breasts of postpartum mothers. She said she often begins gentle massage on c-section scars just three weeks after birth.
“It’s Wound Healing 101. Massage is great for breaking up scar tissue,” Romalis explained.
With referrals from obstetricians, midwives, family doctors, doulas, hospital prenatal classes and pre-and post-natal fitness classes, Romalis sees pregnant women with all kinds of issues. She also has a practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine at her clinic, for clients interested in acupuncture, cupping or Chinese herbs to help make their pregnancy more comfortable. Romalis stressed that all of the women who work at her clinic are passionate about women’s health and their goal is to improve the health and well being of expectant and new mothers.
“Women are so joyful coming into the clinic because they are looking forward to their treatment and they are even happier when they leave. I have the best job! I make people happy all day long,” she said.
Open five days a week, the clinic has about 20 patients every day. Many women book regular appointments throughout their pregnancies and look forward to each appointment. Raquel Henry, a former client of Romalis’, came for a massage while in labor: she had called to say she was in labor and would miss the appointment, but Romalis convinced her to come in and enjoy an hour-long massage before heading to the hospital to have her baby. Another client gave birth early and came straight from the hospital with her newborn and husband for her massage.
About the name of her clinic, Romalis said, “It’s short and catchy. Women feel joyful when they come in and when they leave and everyone is making a bundle of joy!”
For more information, visit joymassagetherapy.com or call 604-738-5569.
Michelle Dodek is a freelance writer living in Vancouver.
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