Awareness is Healing Method
AIH - Awareness is Healing® Method is a modality based in the Traditional Maya Medicine belief that trauma, repeated stress, and unresolved emotions cause an undue increasing pressure within the body - resulting in many chronic physical health conditions such as digestive disorders, reproductive issues, pelvic pain, anxiety and more. Because the abdomen is where all vital organs are located including the respiratory and pelvic diaphragms; one of the main components of the Awareness is Healing® Method utilizes Maya Abdominal Massage to facilitate simultaneous awareness of physical and emotional restrictions, this allows the nervous system to release, reset and restore - thus providing lasting and empowering solutions to chronic, acute and everyday health conditions.
Maya Abdominal Massage - is a Traditional Maya Medicine technique that works deeply into abdominal fascia -- releasing physical and emotional congestion, thus improving whole body circulation, enhancing organ function, stabilizing the nervous system, and optimizing overall health and well-being. It combines up to date knowledge of anatomy and physiology to address current medical conditions and provide a wholistic and intuitive approach for the select needs of each individual.

These sessions are booked in sets of 3 over the span of 3 weeks. The first session is 2hours to include a comprehensive intake and overview of your health needs.

Our Prenatal Massage combines both up-to-date conventional medical knowledge and the wisdom of Traditional Maya Medicine using proven techniques used by Maya midwives for centuries. Extensive training and decades of experience allows us to use this approach to address many common ailments that can occur during pregnancy.These techniques include Maya Abdominal Massage that is tailored for pregnancy. Which means after 21 weeks we can provide a modified abdominal massage during the prenatal session. This abdominal massage helps to get increased circulation and better hormonal delivery to the uterus, lessens diaphragmatic pressure, allowing for easier breathing and provides relaxation and reduced tension for baby and mother.

To provide this level of care it is best to start your initial session as early in your pregnancy as possible. Keep in mind a mother's body is changing rapidly at this time, for this reason we recommend having a prenatal massage every 4 weeks during pregnancy up to 36 weeks. At the 36th week we may recommend every 2 weeks until term. This allows us to provide additional Traditional Maya Medicine techniques that will aid in having an easier labor and delivery.

Length of sessions: 60m and 90m. Your therapist, Shawna, will go over with you the best time range that fits your individual health needs after your initial session. If this is your first Prenatal Massage with Mama Bear Massage please just make sure you schedule the 90m session to allow for time to go over your intake form and discuss your specific needs.

Some discomforts that these traditional techniques can assist with are: pubic symphysis pain, sciatica, morning sickness, swelling, hormone regulation, low back pain, low belly/low back pressure and fullness sensation in the legs, breast tenderness, ribs popping out, pregnancy on-set carpal tunnel pregnancy on-set sinus inflammation, insomnia, headaches, leg cramps, aid in being able to have a VBAC/VBAC 2, Mastitis/clogged ducts, better lactation, heartburn/reflux, aids in breathing/increased energy, round ligament pain.

Postpartum care is an essential part of your pregnancy. Our postpartum massage combines both up-to-date conventional medical knowledge and the wisdom of traditional Maya Medicine (proven techniques used by Maya midwives for centuries). Extensive training and decades of experience allows us to use this approach addressing many common ailments that can occur during pregnancy and can affect the body into postpartum. These techniques include the Awareness is Healing Method and Maya Abdominal Massage that can be adapted depending on the proximity of the birthdate.

When does Postpartum end?

In Traditional Medicine, the postpartum journey last a full year after the birth. During this time the mother is encouraged to rest and nourish her body slowly. Integrating back into a routine while also adopting new supportive routines.

For us, we define postpartum from birth to 5 years after. We chose this longer length of time due to symptoms that persist and may not have been properly addressed or supported for many years as often is the case in our busy modern world and lives.

When can I start to schedule?

3-6 weeks following a vaginal birth
8-10 weeks following a cesarian birth

Sessions are normally 90m and may require 1-3 sessions to achieve optimal results. If you have not had a regular Awareness is Healing session (non-pregnant), Shawna, may require a 2hour initial session to review the intake form and assess your current needs.

Common ailments treated in this therapy: Diastasis Rectus, back pain, pelvic floor pain, tailbone/coccyx pain, Mastitis/clogged ducts, adhesions, scar tissue from cesarian, lactation, depression/ anxiety, digestion, menstruation and more.