The Benefits of Baby Massage
Massage therapy can be very helpful for babies, and many parents find it a great way to bond with their child. Research shows that gentle touch, like massage, can help babes feel calm and connected to their caregivers. Working with a Registered Massage Therapist can provide extra teaching and support, which can be particularly helpful if a baby is facing specific challenges like torticollis (tight, short neck muscles), plagiocephaly (flat spots on head), feeding issues, sleep problems, or digestive discomfort.
For babies with torticollis, an RMT can use gentle techniques to help relax tight neck muscles and encourage a greater range of motion. This can make it easier for the baby to turn their head both ways. This may aid in improving head shape and reduce or prevent plagiocephaly. An RMT can also guide parents in stretching and positioning to use at home to support progress.
When a baby has tight muscles in their face, jaw or neck, it can affect how well they latch or suck. Massage therapy can be effective in gently working these areas to reduce tension, which may improve feeding and make it a more comfortable experience for both baby and parent.
Sleep and digestion can also be positively impacted by massage therapy. Regular massage increases relaxation and lowers stress hormones, allowing sleep to come more easily and soundly. When it comes to digestion, we know that relaxation is important, but there are also specific treatments aimed at reducing symptoms of gas and constipation that can give very effective relief.
Overall, massage therapy is a gentle and natural way to support a baby’s development and comfort. Whether you would like your baby to be seen for a specific issue, or you would just like to learn how to incorporate massage as part of your caregiving at home, working with an RMT will ensure the techniques are safe and effective. Touch Stone Health offers this treatment option.
If interested, please choose “Baby Massage” when booking with Maggie Seegmiller, RMT.
Psychotherapy now available at TouchStone Health!
Swapna Viswanathan, Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) is now offering appointments at TouchStone Health.
Swapna’s approach to therapy is trauma informed, and integrates different therapy modalities based on each individual’s unique needs to ensure active participation in their healing process. All session conversations are confidential and non-judgmental, providing a safe space to share and heal.
HOW PSYCHOTHERAPY CAN HELP:
- Finding clarity
- Learn coping skills
- Increasing resilience
- Improving sleep
- Increased self-awareness
- Create a new narrative for life
- Improved overall wellbeing
- Enhance emotional regulation
- Validation and empathetic support
- Strengthens relationship with self and others
- Reduced symptoms of mental health conditions
- Helps children express their big emotions and fears
- Changing thought processes and behavioural patterns
- Process emotions, feelings and traumatic experiences
If you’re ready to take the next step, please book a 15 minute FREE consultation or contact Swapna for more information.
5 Ways Osteopathy Can Help with Low Energy
By Leann Mai, (M. OMSc) Manual Osteopath Practitioner
1. Moves the fascia that surrounds our muscles and bones which helps fluid move between the joints, making motion easier.
2. Resets the tone of the nervous system between the sympathetic response and parasympathetic response, giving you a better quality sleep.
3. Aligns the diaphragms, improving each breath and therefore improving the quality of blood being supplied to the liver amongst all our other tissues.
4. Improves barriers to the limbs, increasing coordination and nervous impulse, making our muscles stronger.
5. Improves body mind connection through all of the above, which means hormone improvement with better energy and mood.
How to Build a Hormone-Balancing Meal
By Melanie Reidl, Naturopathic Doctor
Many of my patients struggle to know how to eat in order to support their hormones and metabolism. The food you eat consistently truly impacts whatever hormone-related health issue you are experiencing, from fertility challenges to perimenopausal concerns, fatigue to weight management.
Here are the steps to building a simple hormone- and blood sugar-balancing meal:
1. Non-Starchy Veggies / Greens – Load up your bowl/plate with a combination of any type of non-starchy vegetables (bonus points for the dark leafies like kale!) Cruciferous vegetables contain powerful hormone detoxifying ingredients, and leafy greens provide my favourite mineral, magnesium, amongst many other vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and insoluble fibre!
2. Protein – Add a ‘hand-sized’ serving of high-quality protein (ie leftover chicken, fish, and/or hard boiled eggs) to stabilize blood sugar & insulin and regulate hunger.
3. Complex Carb / Fibre – Add approximately a ‘fist sized’ serving of quinoa, root vegetable, or beans/legumes to pump up the fibre content to keep you satiated, provide a steady stream of energy for the day, and to feed your microbiome.
4. Healthy Fats – Add a homemade olive oil based salad dressing for a dose of good mono-unsaturated fats, and if you wish, add some slices of avocado or raw nuts or seeds as well. Healthy fats help to regulate blood sugar, reduce inflammation, and regulate hunger.
Pro Tip 1: Prepare a larger batch of protein in advance (ie Triple the amount of protein you prepare at Sunday dinner) to ensure that protein is always available when meal time rolls around!
Pro Tip 2: Make sure that you keep your fridge + pantry stocked with healthy essentials (ie a variety of fresh or frozen veggies, eggs, canned chickpeas, extra virgin olive oil)
Now you know the basic steps to creating an easy, hormone-balancing meal that creates a strong foundation for the treatment of most of the women’s hormone health conditions that I see. Bon Appetit!
The “Secret” to Weight Loss is Healthy Hormones & Optimal Body Composition
By Melanie Reidl, Naturopathic Doctor
How do we achieve healthy metabolic hormones (ie insulin, cortisol, leptin) and optimize body composition (increase muscle, decrease fat)?
Here are 3 important points:
1 – Strength Train/Lift Weights 3-4x/Week
Strength training helps build lean muscle mass, which improves metabolic health & improves insulin sensitivity. Guidance + accountability with this piece can be very helpful, and I have some excellent personal trainer recommendations and tips on integrating a strength training program.
2 – Optimize Protein + Fibre intake for your Body
Your age, activity level, and other health factors influence your daily protein requirements. Sufficient amino acid intake signals to the brain that we are full, and helps to prevent overeating. Fibre is also important for its beneficial impact on insulin sensitivity, so we need to mindfully calculate and optimize our daily intake. Guidance + accountability, such as with diet diaries and tracking Apps can really help with this piece.
3 – Assessment/Testing to Determine Your Body’s Unique Biochemistry + Physiology
Through testing + assessment, we can look at individualized factors that influence metabolic health, such as insulin resistance, thyroid health, stress/cortisol, nutrient levels, liver health, inflammation, microbiome health, and more. Your ND could be helpful in this piece in addition to point number 2! 🙂
If you’re ready to feel like your healthiest, most confident, and beautiful self, I’d be honoured to support you.
564-572 Weber Street North, Unit 3A Waterloo, Ontario N2L5C6
