Postnatal Massage
Restorative, deeply nurturing bodywork for mothers. A warm, unhurried 90 minutes to be cared for, in southern Canberra.
Postnatal Massage Canberra | Restorative Postpartum Bodywork
You have been holding, feeding, carrying, soothing, and going without sleep. Your body has done something enormous, and somewhere in the round-the-clock care of someone very small, your own body became the last thing on the list.
This is 90 minutes where someone tends to you.
Postnatal massage is bodywork designed for the mothering body. For the tension that builds across your neck, shoulders, and lower back from carrying and feeding. For a nervous system that has been on alert for weeks or months. For the simple, profound need to be cared for after giving so much.
You do not have to be newly postpartum. This is for mothers in the early weeks, and for mothers whose youngest is now walking, talking, or at school. The body remembers what it gave, and it is never too late to receive.
What the Session Involves
Your session is 90 minutes, unhurried and shaped around where your body is on the day. It moves gently from massage into wrapping and rest, so your whole system has time to settle.
I work first through the back, shoulders, and glutes, where so much of the tension of carrying and feeding a baby settles, then move to a gentle abdominal massage, supporting the area that carried and birthed your baby. Where relevant, I can include gentle caesarean scar work once your scar has healed, easing and softening scar tissue with care. My touch is gentle rather than forceful. Many women are surprised by how much releases without heavy pressure, as the body lets go when it finally feels it can.
To close, I wrap you in a rebozo, a traditional practice of being held, while I play the drum. This part is drawn from my training in Closing the Bones and Womb & Fertility Massage, and it is the part women remember most. It is deeply grounding, and it lets your whole body drop into a kind of rest that is hard to find anywhere else right now.
“The rebozo wrapping was a standout, deeply grounding and helped me feel safe, held, and supported. Kate is incredibly thoughtful in how she creates space… a beautiful combination of nurturing touch and a calm, supportive space to simply be.” ~ Ellen
Why the Gentleness Works
If you are sore and tight, you might assume you need strong, deep pressure. Postnatal massage works differently. A mothering body that has been giving and on alert for months doesn’t need more force. It needs an invitation to let go. Gentle, attentive touch tells your nervous system it is safe to soften, and that is when the tension actually releases, and when the deeper rest becomes possible. Women consistently leave lighter, looser, and calmer than they expected, and notice the ease continuing in the days afterward.
“My muscles were incredibly sore and tight before the session. Afterward, I felt deeply relaxed… While the touch was lighter than I expected, it was incredibly effective at melting away tension. Even if you think you need heavy pressure for sore muscles, don’t underestimate this session.” ~ Sarah
The Care is in the Details
The room is warm. The oils are beautiful. Everything is prepared before you arrive, so you can simply lie down and be looked after. I talk you through everything beforehand so there are no surprises, and from there, nothing is required of you except to receive.
Timing and Whats Safe
Postnatal massage can begin earlier than many women expect, often within the first weeks after birth, with the early sessions kept gentle and adapted to you. For caesarean births, we go gently and begin abdominal and scar work only once your scar has healed, usually from around six to eight weeks. If you’re unsure whether the timing is right for you, check with your care provider and send me a message.
Book Your Appointment
90 minutes · $180
Sessions are held at my studio in Chisholm
Please note: Your session is offered in a dedicated, private treatment room within my family home. While most sessions unfold in peaceful quiet, you may occasionally hear brief sounds of daily family life – including voices, footsteps, or doors closing. These are typically infrequent and last only a few moments. For some clients, these sounds add to the homely, nurturing atmosphere. For others, particularly those who are sensitive to noise or feel vulnerable during bodywork, occasional sounds may feel disruptive to relaxation. Please consider your comfort level with this environment when booking.