Infant Massage at St. Ann Center

Who doesn't like a massage?

I wanted to share with you some photos from our recent Infant Massage workshop.  Sandy Anderson, CMT, is sharing her techniques with some students.  The babies in the Ladybug room just LOVE the massages, they coo, smile and calm down. 

 

With the best interest of parents and caregivers in mind, Sandy Anderson, CMT, provides workshops throughout the year.  Participants learn the nurturing hands-on techniques of infant and child massage.  The workshops are designed for parents, grandparents, caregivers and siblings.  Within the 1-2 hour workshop individuals will discover how a caring touch can enhance the bond between child and caregiver.

Why Infant Massage?  The benefits are more far reaching than they may at first seem. Massage is a tool for maintaining health and well-being on many levels for both caregivers and children.  It helps parents and caregivers feel secure in their ability to do something positive for and get a positive response from their baby.  This special bonding time between parents and their babies teaches parents to read baby's cues such as body language and types of cries.

Infant massage provides psychological and physical benefits to the baby too.

Physically, infant massage can;
Accelerate development of premature babies
Increase circulation.
Strengthen the immune system.
Aid the digestive system and can help calm some of colic's characteristics.
Calm the nervous system by stroking which may lead to better sleep times.

Psychologically, infant massage can:
Promote parent and baby bonding.
Provide stress reduction for the baby.
Help babies develop body awareness.
Create a positive reaction to touching.

Being touched and caressed, being massaged, is food for the infant.  Food as necessary as minerals, vitamins and proteins Dr. Frederick Leboyer

Mary, Mary...Oh How Your Garden Grows

Mary is a massage therapist and "gardener extraordinaire" at St. Ann Center. Although Mary is an amazing massage therapist she also works as the landscape gardener. Each spring, summer and fall the grounds at St. Ann Center are full of beautiful blooms thanks to Mary and her many client helpers!

There are different types of flowers and colorful explosions sprouting up all around the center. Mary is very happy to let us know that the majority of plants and flowers were shared from other’s gardens. Most of the plants are perennials and they spread each year. Mary spends time digging and transplanting and weeding each day. She’s always happy to share a helpful gardening tip.

Mary has a great ability to bring the outside in. Throughout the year Mary cuts blooms and brings them into the Center to add a special caring touch and sometimes lovely flower aroma to the clients. Many clients also help Mary do different gardening activities. Pam (pictured at right) is a client at St. Ann Center who helps Mary cut blooms and makes them into lovely flower arrangements.

Mary was also most recently named winner of the St. Ann Center Employee “Maggie Cary – Recognize a Winner Award!” Here are some of the wonderful things Mary’s co-workers said about her:

• “She is filled with warmth and love.”

• “She keeps St. Ann Center a beautiful place in various ways. Not only does she tend to the atrium, garden, and grounds, her decorations during the holidays are lovely too.”

• “She is always ready to listen to concerns you may have and has an attitude to help out whoever needs it!”

• “The beauty that is gifted to us truly creates a peace filled environment.”

St. Ann Center is very blessed to have Mary McCanna care for it’s grounds as well as its clients, staff and visitors!

‘M’ Is For the Many Things She Gave You

This Mother’s Day, Give the ‘M’ Back, with the Gift of Massage. The Wellness department is the one-stop shop for all your spring gift giving needs. St. Ann Center has four massage therapists on staff to meet your massage therapy needs. They would be happy to fit you into their schedule. Just give them a call 414-977-5056.

Gift certificates and gift baskets to order are available at all times. In addition to massage therapy, St. Ann Center offers manicures, pedicures and hair care in the full service beauty salon. All services offered by the Wellness department are available to individuals in the community by appointment.

For a complete listing of services offered, check out our website at www.stanncenter.org or stop by at the front desk to pick up our Wellness brochure.

Massage costs: 20 minute massages are $20.00, 30 minutes massages are $30.00 and 60 minute massages are $60.00

Think Spring! Think Mother’s Day!

Written by, Sandy Anderson, St. Ann Center Massage Therapist, 414-977-5056