Pregnancy is a special time in a women's life deserving specialist services.

At Synergy our team of professionally qualified practitioners offer a variety of gentle and nurturing therapies for pregnancy. We provide tailored packages to support your needs at this special time and beyond.

All our services benefit mother, baby and partner and can be used to promote a healthy pregnancy and prepare you for the birth.

Our team offers Yoga and Holistic Therapies including: Pregnancy Massage, Manual Lymphatic Drainage, Reflexology,

Reiki, Shiatsu, Yoga for Pregnancy and Birth & Post Natal Mother and Baby Yoga

Benefits of our services include:

• Reducing water retention including puffy legs
• Reducing muscular aches and pains
• Easing morning sickness
• Improving circulation
• Improving lymphatic flow
• Balancing hormones
• Boosting energy levels and improving sleep
• Emotional support and bonding with baby
• Preventing/reducing stretch marks
• Breast problems including mastitis
• Birth preparation with yoga

Exercise and support for the partner:

• Recommended exercises can be provided for the partner to support mother and baby during pregnancy and the birthing process

Post-Natal Benefits include:

• Healthy post-natal recovery from the birth
• Easing breast tenderness and increasing milk flow
• Preventing or giving support in cases of post-natal depression
• Toning the muscles of the reproductive system
• Supporting the baby to maintain a healthy immune system
• Emotional bonding for mother and baby
• Supported recovery after any birth trauma
• Get back in shape!

For more information, see below or call 01592 631672

Pregnancy is a time of many physical and emotional changes, and a time when women become more aware of their bodies and the amazing process they are performing in creating a new life. However, these changes can also put a lot of strain on the mother. Pregnancy massage can help to relieve problems such as backache, pelvic strains and heavy or tired legs. Treatments are carried out with the client on their side, using a special 'Body Support' cushion system, which allows the mum-to-be to be truly comfortable and fully supported throughout the treatment. Using a combination of Massage and Shiatsu based techniques as well as light lymphatic drainage, the mum not only gets a proper massage treatment, but also exercises and techniques as part of her preparation for birth. The treatment can be focused on relieving specific areas of pain or stiffness and/or a gentle and relaxing massage to nurture the mum to be.

Birth Partners can be involved by attending a couples ‘Birth Partner Workshop’, where basic massage techniques for use at home and during birth are taught. This is a great way for dads to bond with the bump and gain confidence in their role during the birth. During these sessions, we look at techniques and how/when they might be used both before and during labour. Each session would be tailored to the couples’ needs, but could include – general massage techniques, some appropriate shiatsu focus points, deep sacrum release, abdomen massage (great for bonding), and positions for childbirth.

Many women experience swollen ankles during their pregnancy. A certain amount of oedema is normal during pregnancy, as the body naturally retains more water and the circulatory system comes under increasing pressure.

Tips such as putting your feet up and taking it easy can help to alleviate the problem, however, busy modern-day mums often don’t have time to heed this advice and needlessly put up with this uncomfortable and unattractive condition, which largely affects women in the third trimester.

Manual Lymphatic Drainage or MLD is a very gentle, light touch massage that improves the efficiency of the lymphatic system – the body’s waste disposal system. Specific and gentle movements of the skin stimulate and increase the rate of removal of waste products, toxins and excess fluid from the body’s tissues resulting in reduced fluid retention, swelling and puffiness of the ankles.

 Shiatsu is a deeply relaxing Japanese form of bodywork, based on the principles of Oriental medicine. Shiatsu means ‘finger pressure’ and uses a combination of acupressure techniques, holding, gentle stretching and rotations to balance the flow of qi or energy in the body. Shiatsu helps on a physical, emotional, mental and spiritual level, treating the whole person.

Shiatsu sessions take place fully clothed on a floor-level futon. The body is supported by cushions for optimum comfort. This is a very grounding and supportive approach. During pregnancy, an exercise ball or chair may be used where appropriate.

Shiatsu and Pregnancy

Shiatsu creates a quiet healing space, giving the mother an opportunity to connect deeply with her baby and herself. Shiatsu is safe to receive during the 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd trimesters.

Shiatsu nurtures the core energies and physical systems which are supporting both mother and baby during pregnancy. By helping energy to flow around the body and supporting the lymphatic and circulatory systems, Shiatsu may help to ease physical symptoms such as puffy legs, varicose veins, back and shoulder tension, morning sickness and headaches.

The mother-baby connection is an integral part of Shiatsu during pregnancy. Shiatsu will work energetically and physically to support both mother and baby during a session, and allows the mother space to connect and tune into the baby as it responds to Shiatsu touch. The energetic work helps to prepare the mother and baby for birth. 

The partner can receive bodywork and be supported in their role. Exercises and techniques to support the mother and for the partner to use during labour can be shown in couple sessions.

Shiatsu and Post-Natal Support

Shiatsu helps to promote post-natal recovery by supporting the energetic flows which can help to relieve back and shoulder aches, improve circulation and lymphatic flow, sleep, energy and support the flow of breast-milk and ease breast tension.

Shiatsu offers nurturing emotional support during the hormonal adjustments after birth and the early demands of being a mother. This can also help support cases of post-natal depression or recovery after the stress traumatic births. 

Shiatsu can help with bonding and feeding and gives mother and baby time and space together in a relaxed environment.

Background and Training

Helen qualified as a Shiatsu Practitioner at the Liverpool School of Shiatsu in 2004, after completing a 3 year part-time training programme with Liz Eames, Jude Pereles and Andrew Scott. She completed post graduate studies became a Member of the Professional Register of the Shiatsu Society (MRSS), after further studies with the Shiatsu College and others, including Carola Beresford-Cooke, Cliff Andrews, Laura Davison and Nicola Pooley.

www.shiatsusociety.org www.shiatsucollege.co.uk

Helen is passionate about natural approaches to women’s health and this led her to study with Suzanne Yates, internationally renowned Shiatsu practitioner, birth educator and founder of Well Mother. www.wellmother.org She has recently completed the Pregnancy Module of the advanced Shiatsu practitioner Well Mother programme, and will be studying birth and post-natal phases at an advanced level soon. 

Helen has a degree in American Literature from the University of Sussex, and spent 7 years working in community regeneration with a particular focus on the environment and commissioning artists.
 

 Pregnancy is a normal, natural part of a women's life, and giving birth is what a women's body is created to do. Yoga in pregnancy is a beautiful way for a women to prepare physically, mentally and emotionally for birth and the transition to motherhood. Giving birth, a bit like running a marathon, can be an intense physical activity. Increasingly, women are discovering the wisdom of preparing themselves for birth. Yoga for pregnancy provides tools to prepare a women's body to become birth-fit.

We are fortunate in this day and age to have the support of quality medical services. For most women pregnancy and birth can and should be a natural experience where a women feels confident and empowered to give birth instinctively. Attending these specialist yoga classes helps a woman to rediscover her inner power, intuition, and trust in her own body wisdom, bringing confidence in her body's ability to give birth.

Through the gentle practice of yoga postures, breathing practices, relaxation and meditations at these classes women experience:-

• Improved posture – easing back problems

• Strength and flexibility

• Increased energy

• Improved circulation and help with fluid retention

• Improved sleep

• Reduced tensions and relaxation of body and mind

• Breathing practices to calm the mind and emotions, and for birthing

• Practices that encourage baby in to a good position for birth

• Meditations to support the transition to motherhood and bond with your baby

• Yoga practices for an active birth

• Birth Rehearsals

• The opportunity to meet other mothers, share experiences and make friendships that often last a lifetime.

Classes can start from 14 weeks in pregnancy and are suitable for both those new to yoga and the more experienced yogi.

To book your place contact Maggie on 01592 631672 or email maggiemckeen@btconnect.com

 Yoga can help to get you back in shape after you've had your baby too. Classes are normally suitable from around 6 weeks after your baby's birth. Benefits include:

• recover strength & vitality

• improve posture

• nurturing nourishing time with your baby

• meet other mums and babies

• yoga for you and for baby

About Maggie

Maggie McKeen, as well as the personal experiences of being a mother and grandmother, has enjoyed over 30 years experience of working with women in pregnancy and mothers and babies; as a midwife, health visitor and as a teacher of yoga. 

She has a Dru yoga diploma and 500hr Yoga Teaching Diploma with the Anahata School of Yoga. Maggie is also a tutor with the Anahata School where she teaches anatomy & physiology and therapeutics. She has undertaken two years yoga therapy study with The Yoga Biomedical Trust including the yoga for pregnancy module with Uma Dinsmore-Tully.

For the last 3 years she has attended further education training in Germany on Pranayama & Meditation with Dr Shrikrishna Bushan former head of the Yoga Therapy Centre at Kaivalyadham near Mumbai India.

Maggie is also a Reiki Practitioner/Teacher with over 11 years experience and is also co-founder of Synergy Yoga & Therapy Centre in Glenrothes