Baby Massage (NW London)

[hub2dee]

DW is going to the cinema with a friend this AM and I was all set to take dd (12 weeks) to baby massage at Triyoga in Primrose Hill - thought it might be fun... but I scanned the text and it didn't feel too comfortable for a bear grappler:

"Baby Massage and Post-Natal Yoga
Is an excellent way to give babies the best possible start in life. Specialist teaching cultivating strength, flexibility and breath awareness for new mothers. Post-natal yoga may be useful in returning to practice after giving birth, as and allowing you to gently support your body as it rebalances."

I was wondering if anyone has been to any classes (mixed or otherwise) where the emphasis is more on baby massage and less on post-natal yoga for mothers IYSWIM... or is this virtually inevitably going to be devoid of the hairy-handed ?

There are some infant massage therapists listed in my area on the IAIM's Website - has anyone been to group classes with any of these people by any chance ?

Am sure the Triyoga people would happily chat it through with you - never did the Baby Massage there but they are very informative about the classes generally if you give them a call. Anyhow don't think the postnatal yoga would be especially laydee-oriented - probably just ordinary yoga but a bit gentle. I'd give it a try if I were you. Is very nice at Triyoga and sometimes see celebs there for them as are sad enough to care about that kind of thing... I used to go to pure baby massage in st John's Wood but it was in the mornings (Linnet House Clinic) and full of HVs giving bfing advice etc

Hi, GoN, doubtless the nice people on reception would say it's not a problem, and I might get hold of the teacher to see if they're OK with it, but if they're all on sore boobs and rebuilding pelvic floors / post c-s tummy muscles, I'm not sure other clients would want men around.

Maybe I'm off by a longshot. dunno.

I've been to yoga there a couple of times, it's a fun place.

DW would love the celeb spotting. I wouldn't recognise them, LOL.

PS - If you know her music, Deva Premal and Miten are doing a vocal workshop at Triyoga later this week.

Ah, sadly am an East Londoner now, so never get there, boo hoo. Used to spot Helena Bonham-Carter there all the time but she may just have been stalking me . It's a damn shame if there is no viable baby massage for men - is a lovely thing to do and they sleep so wonderfully afterwards...

If there isn't, I may attempt to start one up. A friend is a qualified physiotherapist, or else one of the IAIM therapists would probably be happy to do something more 'inclusive.' I doubt an 'all male' class is required(or desirable !) just a mixed one that is a bit more PC and doesn't solely target women in its publicity IYSWIM.

I think there's probably loads of scope for more man-friendly baby stuff... I mean, do I really want to go to 'Mother and Toddler' ? I've only ever seen one bloke at the baby-clinic for weigh-ins.

If the labelling was the other way round (ie. biassed against women), I expect it would have been 'sorted' a long time ago... maybe the SAHDs or the men who'd take a morning off work to do something are just so few in number there is no need (from a marketing perspective) to do anything ?

Shame.

PS - Will tell HBC to leave you alone.

I think the problem with baby massage in particular is that lot of it is offered as part of NHS new mum support anyway so it goes on in venues where bfing and other laydee-specific support is also being offered - I think there is probably a role for some segregated provision of that sort but would be great if there was also some more inclusive stuff. There are definitely some facilities in NW London at which dads are welcome. I remember going to various baby/toddler drop-in centres, the names of which are escaping my addled brain. The Rudolf Steiner (on SJW Road???) was nice in a wood and wool kind of way and very popular with dads. I think their group was twice a week - pay a fiver when you turn up.

Try the Active Birth Centre in dartmouth Park.

Will look into that, stilltrue...

GoN... not sure about Steiner... but it's great that the dads are v. welcome / active.