Your baby has arrived. 💞

Oh my. I feel in a dream state even remembering. What a magical time. Exhausted. Elated. Deep in processing this powerful, powerful experience that may have gone as expected or very differently than expected. Traditionally, the first hour or two after birth are referred to as the “Golden Hour” — when you meet your baby for the very first time and baby comes skin-to-skin with the birthing parent to release a cascade of hormones that kick off bonding, breast/chestfeeding, and life outside the womb. 

I’m so excited for us to talk about the first 6 hours because while birth professionals are well versed in these “Golden Hours” it can be a very unexpected time for many families.

In honor of Labor Day… let’s talk labor and birth… and what to pack for the big day!

Before we get into this list, a disclaimer: after a decade of working with birthing people, the truth I know about birth is that the most important thing you can bring to your labor isn’t a “thing” at all. It is the people and care team who love and support you in finding your strength and your ability to surrender in just the right measure for your birth. 

I also want to acknowledge that you could come to birth with absolutely no bags and have a beautiful experience! I’m a creature comfort person so this list features a few things I’ve seen clients love over the years.

I think most of us start summer with some high hopes. We remember the feeling of summer when we were little - even if it was only moments - and sometimes we go chasing that high. Catching fireflies in the backyard. Hours spent making up games and doing everything and nothing with our neighborhood crew. A lake, ocean, or stream that shaped your summer vacations…

Maybe as you read this you know right away something you could do tonight that would make you feel like SUMMER, but for some of us the playfulness of summer can feel far off. If that’s you - follow along in this next exercise. You can have someone guide you with your eyes closed or you can open your eyes along the way and write down what you notice in a journal.

Hello summer heat! How are you cooling off this summer? I’m a Scorpio - which is a water sign - so I head towards water every chance I get! This month, I’m excited to be traveling to spend some time off with family who lives close to water. I’ll take my son to the beach and hope to get in a few canoe rides while we are near a lake. When we get back to Colorado, you will find me seeking all the best watering holes to cool off in the July heat. And no, “watering holes” is not a cool, old-school code for bars.

If you love to splash too this list of my favorite pools, splash pads, and watering holes will keep you cool and entertained this summer.

It’s SUMMER. And that means long hours of sunshine, (occasionally chaotic) schedules of fun activities filling the calendar, and -for me- more time outside with LESS time in the kitchen. So this month, indulge me while I put on my postpartum doula hat and share my favorite hacks in the kitchen to make amazing meals without spending all your time by the stove.

Something to know about me before we begin: I’m one of those people who still thinks Mother’s Day is about telling the moms - and the people in your life who mother you (biological or not) - that you love and appreciate them for who they are and all they. I don’t think it has to be commercial, expensive, or cookie cutter.

Have you ever had those moments where everything just clicks into place, where time seems to stand still, and you're completely immersed in what you're doing?

A few months ago we were here talking about mundane meditation, a practice where you make whatever activity you are doing into your whole focus. In contrast to the stillness of seated meditation, mundane meditation happens during an activity - making coffee, being with your kids, folding the laundry. But just like seated meditation, mundane meditation often takes a little effort. You choose to be present and ask your brain to focus in. But what about the feeling of effortlessly being totally engrossed in what you are doing?

That magic feeling is called flow state—a state of mind where you're fully engaged and absorbed in an activity, experiencing a perfect balance between challenge and skill and it’s another way to bring mindfulness into your everyday life.

As a former east coaster, where February and March are very gray, I’m so grateful to live in Colorado’s sunshine during winter! I’m a huge fan of winter and cold weather AND this last week of warmth was a welcome reminder that spring is truly coming. The warm weather and light in the mornings has motivated me to get my body moving this month.

So I’ve decided to hold myself to an impromptu #movementmarch trying to move my body every day through the month of March.

I love meditation, but I’m not a full-time yogi with unlimited hours to practice meditation and yoga and I would guess that you aren’t either. I am what some would call a householder yogi. I practice yoga and meditation but my day-to-day is steeped in the activities of daily human living.

We believe strongly in making massage therapy available to everyone in our community. We also know that while our community includes many affluent people, there are lots of people in Boulder County and the surrounds for whom massage is not part of their budget. To help fill these gaps we try to mindfully choose places to offer free or steeply discounted massage and bodywork.

When was the last time you touched your belly? Most professional massages don’t include the belly, and some massage students are taught the area is too vulnerable and to avoid it. The reality is that a trained therapist can address “common not normal” issues like poor digestion, painful or irregular periods, incontinence, and other maladies that originate in our middles.

New Office in Lafayette Opens October 1, 2022 at 150 Old Laramie Trail E.

Our waiting room is OPEN and other COVID updates for March 2020.

In early 2020 at the start of the pandemic we chose not to raise our rates when so many other practices increased prices as those of us offering in-person services adjusted to all the extra work required to be in our offices and serving clients. For us, it felt important then to maintain as much stability as possible in a shifting environment. Two years later, the time has come to reflect our continuing education and skill (over 50 years combined experience!) in the rates for massage. New Rates begin March 1, 2022

On December 30th a grass fire erupted moving quickly through the towns of Louisville and Superior causing devastating damage. Whole neighborhoods burned. Evacuations were swift and for many traumatic. Nearly 1,000 homes were lost and many more were damaged. Although we are grateful so many people are safe, our hearts go out to those who lost their homes and the belongings that go with their cherished memories. If you need support please don’t hesitate to reach out so that we can help connect you. If you can offer support please consider giving below. Remember, this is a marathon of support, not a sprint.

It’s no secret that the path to postpartum healing can be long and arduous. This is a time for deep care and rest for the new mother, given that you just spent the last several months growing this beautiful new life. One of the most important ways to care for yourself in postpartum is to have a solid nutrition and self-care plan in place – and seek support to help you achieve that plan. 

We are so excited to announce the opening of our new Lafayette office at 1300 Plaza Court North Suite 202. (Yes! This is next door to our May/June office!) Visit us in this serene space every Tuesday to work with our newest (and most experienced) massage therapist Shelly for all your prenatal, postnatal, and everyBody massage needs.

Summer is such a beautiful time of growth. Gardens ripen into abundant color. Children sprout curiosity as they roam outdoors and hone new skills. Even adults seem to thrive with longer daylight and more time outside making room to play. Here at Mountain Mama Massage we are growing too - in so many ways! Faith is quite literally growing as she prepares to welcome her first baby in October.