"We love to hold them in our arms, enjoy their smile, look into their eyes, smell their scent, tickle their nose, talk to them, rock them, and why not also give them a massage..."
Océane Chavanel, naturopath and wellness massage therapist in Lyon, introduces us to the Shantala baby massage. This traditional art comes from southern India and was introduced to the West by Dr. Frédérick Leboyer in the 1950s.
Infant massage is an ancestral practice naturally passed down from mother to daughter in many countries. In our Western societies, certain taboos have developed around infant massage and touch. Fortunately, since the 1970s, this has begun to change thanks to fruitful scientific research demonstrating the benefits of infant massage. One of the most widely recognized and practiced massages is Shantala. We owe its name to the famous gynecologist and obstetrician Frédéric Leboyer. During a trip to India, he was filled with awe upon seeing a young mother named Shantala sitting on the ground massaging her baby. He later introduced this tradition of neonatal massage to France and named it "Shantala."
Many scientific studies have demonstrated the positive aspects of baby massage, particularly by highlighting a hormone called oxytocin. This "happiness and well-being" hormone plays a critical role in fostering the parent-child bond. It has been observed that oxytocin levels rise when a parent touches and interacts with their baby. As a result, this helps reduce the baby's daily stress, especially after birth, and soothes pain (teething, digestive discomfort, colic, etc.). A relaxed baby is also one who will fall asleep more easily and enjoy more restful sleep.
Additionally, massage supports a child's growth phases by aiding the development of motor skills, coordination of movement, and contributes to the evolution of body awareness. Through touch, the baby gradually becomes aware of the contours, boundaries, and size of their own body. Thus, massage is a very important way to establish a connection with your child, to listen to their perceptions, and, on the other hand, to accompany them in their motor and sensory development as well as in the awareness of their own body entity. Baby massage also helps strengthen the immune system by stimulating dopamine, killer cells, and increasing the number of lymphocytes. In this way, it contributes to their physical well-being by helping them fight off infections.
Océane Chavanel – Yoga Korner, 3 rue Pizay 69001 Lyon – 07 78 90 24 56 – www.therapieetmassage.com
