Closing the bones, what it is and how does it help?

Closing the bones 🧣 Closing the bones is a traditional postpartum and life transition massage ritual. It is most known for its Mexican and South American heritage, but versions of it exist on all continents. 🌍 Depending on the culture, the ritual involves different elements. There is a massage done using scarves, and/or with the hands, then a ritual tightening of scarves around the body. In some cultures, such as the Mexican, North African, and Russian version, the ritual may also include a steam bath. 🛏 The ritual starts with rocking the whole body with scarves (I use rebozos), followed by massaging of the abdomen, hips, ribs, chest, and shoulders, more rocking of the pelvis, and finally wrapping the body tightly with 7 rebozos. What does closing the bones do? 🧣 Closing the bones is a specific kind of bodywork designed to help speed up and enhance the healing process and changes that the new mother’s body undergoes after her baby has been born, as well as support women through life transitions 🪐 It helps healing by providing healing movement in the joints, muscles, tissues and fluids. It provides much needed space to simply rest and be and be held, as well as for emotions to be honoured, witnessed and released. It helps the body remembers what it feels like to be safe, and can support processing trauma. 🏁 It provides closure, and brings the energy back to the person receiving it 🤱 Having massaged hundreds of women for over ten years, I know this ritual provides a space for physical nurturing, but also maybe more importantly, holds a space for whatever needs to be expressed, witnessed and released. For some it is a joyful honouring, for others it is a space to acknowledge and let go of difficult emotions. ✨ It is a wonderful way to honour and support women through life’s transitions, to celebrate milestones, as well as help heal trauma, loss or shock. 🎥 The video a few tiles ago gives you a taster of what this ritual looks like. 🤞I am offering a rare chance to learn this in person with me near Cambridge in November, https://sophiemessager.com/product/2-...