Magic Hands

How dreamy would it be to visit a massage therapist who encouraged you to bring your three-month-old baby into the room with you—and would even be fine with massaging you as you nurse the baby (lying down)?

That’s why Anna Belanger, an Ottawa massage therapist and doula, decided to create her own clinic, Anna Belanger & Associates—a place specifically designed to cater to “women in their birthing years”.

Anna Belanger & Associates opened just over a week ago on Bank Street in Old Ottawa South, and is reputedly the first and only such clinic in the city. Anna had been a massage therapist in the Glebe for some time (and in Vancouver before that), but was increasingly convinced that she wanted to specialize in women—primarily pregnant and postnatal ones.

With four of her own children, and a wealth of experience as a doula, Anna is extraordinarily well-equipped to empathize with the relaxation and massage needs of pregnant and postnatal women. Her tables are designed to properly support women into their ninth month. Her clinic, recently renovated, is a welcoming oasis of relaxation designed to make clients feel completely at home.

But the clinic isn’t just for massage—it’s truly a destination for anyone expecting a baby or who recently gave birth to one. Anna employs a nutritionist who offers counselling, as well as a yoga instructor who runs classes at the clinic. Other specialists offer infant-massage classes and workshops on topics like breastfeeding and parenting, as well as sessions for new fathers on what to expect. Anna is also planning a drop-in ‘fourth trimester’ breastfeeding café. Prenatal classes and sessions on “Making Peace with Your Birth” are offered.

If you’re not pregnant, you’ll still receive an open-armed welcome. Anna’s got a soft spot for busy moms and we can all use a massage, regardless of our life stage.

So whether you’re prenatal, postnatal or trying to make it through the teen years, you deserve a treat(ment).

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