Infant massage instructor training

Dates and booking

Course open to massage therapists, shiatsu practitioners, health visitors, nursery nurses and others who work with infants.

Course taught in 2 modules; module 1; 3 days and module 2; 2 days

Option of half day on Shiatsu theory for those who are not shiatsu practitioners who would like more theory. Shiatsu techniques are an integrated part of the techniques taught.

Course validated by the APNT (they validate the Pregnancy Massage).

This course is aimed at those who would like to offer infant massage instruction to parents of infants up to one year old. As the course is open to a range of different healthcare professionals, the emphasis is on supporting each instructor to develop their own particular way of teaching dependant on their level of skills. It is hoped that the range of students will offer a richness in the development of the massage instruction.

Emphasis will be placed on key touch/massage techniques and how to develop and refine these skills and to include them into a massage routine where relevant. These techniques will include both Swedish massage techniques as well as shiatsu-based techniques, including specific points and stretches for specific conditions. Emphasis will be placed on how to modify the massage to different developmental stages of the infant and for addressing specific issues which may be of concern. Time will be given to explore the theory relevant to infant development in an experiential way and from both a western and eastern perspective. There will also be time given to explore working with both with groups of parents and with individuals . An emphasis will be placed on understanding and supporting the role of the person (usually parent/primary caregiver) giving the massage. Parent and baby exercises will also be included.

There will be two infant clinics on the last day of each module.

Written coursework will be required. This will include evidence of teaching infant massage with reflection and a consideration of the issues involved, particularly with emphasis on working within the range of one’s competence.

Anne Badger and Suzanne Yates have set up this course as they want to bring their joint expertise and experience into developing a course which goes beyond a focus on teaching routines for infant massage and which enables practitioners already with a training in bodywork to evolve their work with infants.

Learning outcomes

Module one (3 days) covers healthy infant development and is more focused on working with the healthy baby

Module two (2 days) reviews this work and consolidates and deepens it and also covers work for infants who may have suffered birth trauma, been born prematurely or have medical conditions

You will learn

Aim 1; You will be able to demonstrate a range of practical touch skills for working with infants

This will include; awareness of different types of touch, massage and shiatsu techniques including the use of pressure and holding, meridian stretches and movements, and awareness of different meridians and points working with the breath different positions for receiving the massage

Aim 2 : You will be able to demonstrate an understanding the theory of infant development for the first year from an eastern and western perspectives.

The basics of the theory behind how shiatsu works: Yin/Yang, Ki, Essence, Meridians, Kyo and Jitsu and the specific theories about birth and the first year.

Meridian exercises for your own self-development and understanding and which can be incorporated into your work with parents

Aim 3; You will be able to demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between the caregiver and infant

This will include: Attachment and bonding theories : awareness of importance and how to support the posture and atttitude of caregiver; Ways of touching; Exercises for infant and caregiver to support the work of the massage

Aim 4; Presenting the infant massage

This will include: teaching classes and working one to one.