The Good Health Guide

by Debra Sequoia of Muswell Healing Arts

It’s never too late to late to learn to relax. But how wonderful for a baby to learn to relax right from the start. Our stress & self calming responses are set in the womb and more relaxed mothers tend to have more relaxed babies.

If you are pregnant or planning to be, & know that you are not as relaxed as you could be, don’t ignore it. Stress can decrease fertility and lead to tension related health problems for both mother and baby, while research continues to show that relaxation can increase success with IVF & improve pregnancy & birth outcomes.

But how to actually switch off your mind & settle into relaxation? It can be hard to make time for relaxation but complementary therapies offer a number of effective & enjoyable ways to relax. Hypnotherapy & self-hypnosis can help you feel more relaxed & positive & access natural pain relief through the power of your mind. Regular massage helps decrease toxins & release muscular tension. Yoga & pilates release tension & tone the body. Acupuncture, homeopathy, reflexology & shiatsu work with the body’s self healing. Cranial osteopathy helps correct imbalances that contribute to back pain, headaches & colic.

Once you have a baby, enjoy resting & relaxing together. Experiment with relaxation through massage, storytime & singing. By regularly returning to a relaxed state of body & mind you & your baby can enjoy quiet & calm. You are helping your baby to relax. Remember, once learned it’s a skill that will last a lifetime.

Muswell Healing Arts has a team of (mostly women) practitioners who can help with all aspects of pregnancy & birth: from preconception, reducing pregnancy symptoms, turning and inducing babies and natural pain relief to baby massage, colic and family health. Call 020 8365 3545 or look at www.birthbody.info for more information. Debra Sequoia is an experienced hypnotherapist & HypnoBirth practitioner & can also be contacted on the above number.