One of the most common questions I get when I have tables at events is "What is Reiki?"  Many people have heard of it, or know someone who gets Reiki treatments, but they don't really know anything about it. Today, I want to share a little bit more about what Reiki is and what it can do.

Basically, Reiki is a form of energy therapy.  The Reiki practitioner helps to facilitate your healing by affecting you energy and energy centers rather than manipulating muscles and tissue like in a massage therapy session.  Reiki originated in Japan, and has since spread all over the world.  Reiki is pronounced like "ray-kee", and comes from the Japanese Rei- meaning spiritual and Ki- meaning energy.  The kanji pictured at left are how the Japanese write the word Reiki.

Those of you who frequent my site, may have noticed that I have a couple of new services.  One of them is Bengkung belly binding.  Since many people are not familiar with belly binding, I want to talk a little bit about what it is, and why it is good for you.

What is Bengkung belly binding?

Bengkung belly binding comes from Malaysia and is traditionally used to aid women in healing after childbirth.  It is done by wrapping and twisting a long piece of cloth around the abdomen in a manner that helps to provide proper pressure and support. 

Part 4 of the Benefits of Massage Therapy Series is about the benefits of receiving postpartum massage.  Earlier posts have been about how regular massage therapy can benefit your body, mind, and pregnancy, but let's look at why you should receive massage after baby.

I find that while prenatal massage is becoming more popular, many moms stop coming in after they give birth.  While I understand that there are the stresses of recovering from birth while taking care of a new baby which makes it hard to find time for yourself, it is important to remember that those things make it all the more important that you DO take care of yourself.

In an earlier post, I talked about caring for your pelvic floor using exercises like kegels and squats.  Today I want to talk a little bit about how to care for your pelvic floor after birth, or any other event that may leave it in need of soothing such as infection, hemorrhoids, or surgery.

If you are using any of these techniques after surgery or to care for infections, it is a good idea to get clearance from your doctor just to make sure it is okay, especially if you are using any of the herbal remedies.

What is Placenta Encapsulation?

When you first hear about placenta encapsulation, your reaction may be one of disgust.  Some people may look at it as consuming a waste product, or diseased organ like the appendix or tonsils, but that is just not true.  The placenta is an organ not a waste product, and it certainly isn't diseased.  Unlike other organs that come out of our body, the placenta is still healthy and able to provide benefits.  The only reason it is expelled is that it can no longer do any good in your uterus.  Without the baby there, it can cause infection if left in.

During pregnancy, the placenta provides immune support and hormones to your baby.  Many women receive those same benefits by ingesting their placentas, and babies may receive them through breast milk.