We were grateful to have been invited to the final week of a Tactile Tots Baby Massage course run by Catherine.
Having attended a baby massage course with Boo when she was
small, I knew how incredibly important attending a well run and organised
course is for new parents.
Catherine’s classes take place in a quiet, peaceful room in
St Peter’s Catholic Church on Jewry St in the city centre. She has taken a
thoughtful approach to the atmosphere of the space allowing a calm and
considered feel to her class. The intimate and friendly nature of the group was
felt as soon as they arrived and it took me right back to those early months
with Boo this time last year.
As this was the final class, it was time to bring together
everything they had learned on the 5 week course and complete the full body
massage. After the rousing welcome song, they started with the feet and legs.
Catherine had lots of rhymes and songs to help remember the different moves and
the parents were really listening to their babies and understanding their
different likes and dislikes.
Catherine consistently answered questions and reminded the
class of the medical benefits of different areas of the massage and her
knowledge and passion for her area of expertise shone through at every
opportunity. Parents were encouraged and well supported when their baby cried
or fussed and were given alterations to any moves that they found difficult or
their babies were unsure of.
It was a wonderful class and I was reminded how important
baby massage is for so many reasons. The positive interaction I witnessed
between the participants was magical. Moments that were truly special and
demonstrated the powerful bonding ability of massage, the oxytocin levels in
the room were definitely sky high!
Catherine has added a special touch to her classes by
teaming up with Hannibal-White Photography. In the final session on her course,
a photographer is present to help capture those moments on camera and preserve
the wonderful moments so that they can be treasured forever. This is a truly
unique opportunity and one which undoubtedly provides something wonderful for
the parents to keep at the end of the course.
What struck me most about the session was the positive,
supportive community feel that Catherine had created in her class. The bond
between parent and baby was clear but the bond between new parents had also
been embraced. It took me back to this time last year, when I was attending
baby classes with Boo and reminded me of the importance of these moments.
It also reminded me why I started the Boo & Mummy page.
How important it is in those early days to meet and talk with other new parents
starting their journeys. To have a reason to get out of bed, get out of your
pjs and have a place to go where you aren’t going to be judged and you are
going to feel better just because your day had purpose. Where you could talk
about the fact that you have had a terrible week, you have just had an
irrational argument with a woman at the supermarket, you need more sleep and
you have no idea if you are ever going to get it. Where you can just be you,
and try and figure out how this new ‘mummy’ version of you is going to function
and fit within her new life.
Catherine’s classes are absolutely wonderful and of huge
benefit to new parents in so many ways. I highly recommend that you get in
touch with her and book one of her upcoming classes at St Peter’s Catholic
Church.
Please contact Catherine on Catherine@tactiletots.com and have a look at their Facebook page and
website J
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