Infant Massage Course

Teaching Positive Nurturing Touch

Course designed by the International Association of Infant Massage (IAIM)

Course facilitated by Katerina Brown (Certified Infant Massage Instructor (CIMI)

Infant Massage is a beautiful way for parents to bond with their babies. The IAIM course offers a wonderful full body massage routine for baby that incorporates Indian and Swedish Massage strokes as well as Yoga and Reflexology. Each week we review what we have learned, then introduce a new body part to the routine. We will learn special techniques for relaxation, colic relief, sensory stimulation, muscle development and much more.

You will:

  • Gain baby massage skills with confidence, learn a specific massage routine, gentle movements, and how to adapt it to your growing child to continue to implement for many years to come!

  • Deepen your connection and communication with your baby. Learn how to read baby’s cues.

  • Have fun and be encouraged to keep it interesting with songs, rhymes, and games.

  • Connect with other families in a comfortable, safe, & non-judgemental space. Each week there will be a little time for parent-led discussions on baby/parenting related matters, share your experience of parenthood, and support each other.

  • Learn the importance of nurturing touch and the many benefits of baby massage.

This course consists of 5 consecutive weekly, 90 minute sessions. This allows for plenty of time so you may settle and feed your babies throughout each session.

Why is a class series 5 weeks long?

We believe in introducing babies to massage at a pace that suits them. We learn how to observe their cues and gradually introduce new strokes over the 5 weeks. Each week, you will learn new techniques and build upon what you've learned previously. These classes are crafted to strengthen the bond between parent and baby, fostering trust and creating positive associations. They also encourage ongoing connections among parents in our group, fostering friendships and continued support.

Price?

$180 for 5 week series - online

*Price may vary for in person classes

Dates coming soon!

Course Content Week-by-Week:

Week 1

  • History

  • Oils

  • Behavior States

  • Ideal Times

  • Positioning

  • Relaxation

  • Strokes: Legs & Feet

  • Discussion

Week 2

  • Cues

  • Massage for relief of Colic/Gas

  • Strokes: Stomach

  • Discussion

Week 3

  • Benefits

  • Reflexes

  • Strokes: Chest & Arms

  • Discussion

Week 4

  • Adaptations for the Growing Child

  • Strokes: Face & Back

  • Discussion

Week 5

  • Full routine review

  • Strokes: Gentle Movements

  • Discussion

Katerina Brown…

is a Certified Infant Massage Instructor through the International Association of Infant Massage (IAIM).

What is Infant Massage and the IAIM Program?

The IAIM's focus on baby massage emphasizes connection, communication, and closeness. While baby massage offers many therapeutic benefits, the IAIM does not position itself as a therapy. Instead, we meet parents and babies where they are, sharing the gift of nurturing touch so they can experience its many benefits together.

Our baby massage program encompasses essential elements of bonding and is supported by a wealth of credible evidence and research, demonstrating its numerous benefits for babies, parents, families, and society at large.

During our sessions, instructors demonstrate infant massage techniques using a doll. In addition to teaching a sequence of massage strokes, we share key theories, such as understanding babies' different states, interpreting their verbal and non-verbal cues, and creating optimal massage conditions for a successful and enjoyable experience for all.

IAIM was founded in 1976 by Vimala McClure, a visionary who recognized the need for nurturing touch, love, and empathy in Western society after her travels in India in the 1970s. Vimala and the IAIM honor our ancestors and the cultural heritage of baby massage while striving to share it worldwide.

Benefits for Baby:

Massaging your baby offers a variety of benefits which we group into four main categories;

  • Interaction

  • Stimulation

  • Relief

  • Relaxation

Benefits for Families:

Massage helps parents develop a deeper understanding of their babies by teaching them to recognize and respect their cues. It also promotes bonding and secure attachment between parent and child.

Benefits for Society:

Increasing positive touch, respect, love, and empathy in our society can only bring about positive outcomes. Research indicates that teaching these skills early in life leads to happier, healthier individuals, and thus a more peaceful home and society.

"Infant massage is not a fad, it is an ancient art that connects you deeply with the person who is your baby, and helps you to understand your baby’s particular nonverbal language and respond with love and respectful listening. It empowers you as a parent, for it gives you the means by which you become an expert on your own child.”

~ IAIM Founder, Vimala McClure

IAIM’s Mission Statement:

“The purpose of the IAIM is to promote nurturing touch and communication through training, education, and research so that parents, caregivers and children are loved, valued and respected throughout the world community.”