Massage rebozo
Tissu tissé,bercement lent
An hour with a rebozo, the woven Mexican shawl, used to rock, wrap and hold the body until it lets go. It is the piece of my practice that people are most surprised by, and the one they come back for.
What it is
A traditional Mexican practice. The cloth is passed under the body and rocked, or wrapped firmly and then released. It is slow, rhythmic and repetitive, and it works on the nervous system as much as on the muscle.
During pregnancy
It eases the hips and the lower back, makes room where the weight has gathered, and settles a nervous system that has been running high. Most people sleep better that night.
During labour
Sifting through a contraction, or the hips held firm while you lean into your partner. It gives the people around you something steady and physical to do with their hands.
After the birth — the closing
The body is wrapped point by point, head to feet, and released. It is done to mark the end of the birth rather than to treat anything, traditionally somewhere between three and six weeks afterwards.
What it is not
It is not a medical treatment. It will not turn a baby or start labour to order, and I will not tell you otherwise.
Who should check first
It is gentle and it is not a medical treatment, but if you have a pregnancy complication or have been told to limit activity, ask your midwife or doctor before booking. I would rather you checked.
- People carrying the weight low, in the hips and the lower back
- People who want the birth marked and closed, not just recovered from
- Partners who want something useful to do with their hands in labour
- One hour
- In your home
- Montreal Island
- In English or in Spanish
- Available to package clients as an add-on
The rebozo hour is offered as an add-on for clients booked into the birth package.
Traditionally three to six weeks after the birth, though there is no deadline — people book it months later and it still does what it is meant to do.
No, and I will not tell you otherwise. It eases the body and calms the nervous system; it is not a technique for changing a baby's position.
