One minute you’re floating around on a cloud of happy/ emotional/excited (delete as appropriate); the next your hormones are having a tantrum and you need a lie-down. Sound familiar? When you’re dying to embrace calm with open arms, a shiatsu massage is a good place to start.
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1 It can relieve third-trimester tension
Let's be honest: your unborn baby's already in the driving seat, not the other way round. That's even truer for the final trimester. There's not a huge amount you can do about the increasing pressure that growing bump is putting on your body. Shiatsu’s holistic approach is based on applying gentle pressure with thumbs, fingers and palms. This stimulates blood circulation, which boosts your body's endorphins, reducing physical aches and pains.
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2 It targets morning sickness
Music to the ears of any mum-to-be who's suffered from the morning quease. Shiatsu can stimulate specific acupressure points to ease nausea. You might need more than a one-off treatment before you and the toilet bowl become less of an item, but that's OK – regular sessions are safe and effective.
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3 It'll rebalance hormones
You may be very quickly getting to used to your new hormone-induced glossy locks and flawless skin, but there’s nothing like pregnancy to send them haywire. Allow the skilled hands of your shiatsu therapist to restore your hormonal balance so that you feel cool, calm and collected. What baby?
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4 It's safe in every trimester
You're allowed to have shiatsu throughout the whole nine months. In the first trimester, therapists usually target pressure points to relieve nausea. The second trimester is about encouraging blood flow and supporting your body’s Qi (energy). And while you may be slowing down in the last trimester, your practitioner will be gearing up with active work through exercises, breathing and movement to help with the birth. Next.