Everyone Always Asks If Working As a Perinatal Therapist Tires Me

The Truth: It Doesn't, Though I Do Sleep Well After Working

OK; by now I suppose you realize that I provide In-Home Massage in New Jersey. More specifically, I provide Postnatal and Prenatal Massage in New Jersey. I also provide In-Home Lactation Services in New Jersey.

New Jersey is roughly the size of the nation of Israel. Not quite so big, but not so really small, either.

As you might imagine, I put a lot of mileage on my car. Even so, it’s mostly highway mileage, and I have an older BMW, anyway. It isn’t dying anytime soon.

So, I lug around a portable table when I do my thing. And, a ton of other supplies.

I have a legacy Oakworks portable massage table that is amazing; the loft is incredible. It’s super-wide, so even the largest of women fit comfortably.

However, this is not the table I carry. I would probably have had numerous hernias by now, often toting the table up flights of stairs.

Instead, I carry a lighter table made by a company that is not quite top-tier like Oakworks. It’s a decent table, but it is portable, and not just in name, either. My table is lightweight but durable.

One must be careful with this sort of thing; with the portable Massage Chairs, I will not work with anything but an Oakworks Portal Pro3. (Another day, another story!)

The oils also weight a bit. I incorporate Ayurvedic principles into the sessions, and so I bring a variety of organic massage oils, like sesame, sweet almond, mustard, coconut, and more. It adds up, weight-wise.

I must also carry my personal knapsack, filled with mostly non-personal work-related supplies, like my essential oil kit and liquid soap and cleaning wipes.

Then, I also have the pregnancy support system. The pillows do fold up and are not heavy, but it’s just the bulkiness that gets in the way a bit, even when folded, especially when I’m also carrying tons of other stuff.

I have another bag with the clean linens, hand towels, and clean headrest covers.

I take Larry David’s New Year Resolution for 2020 seriously and do my best to Take Two Trips, but sometimes I have to carry everything all at once, out of absolute necessity, like in urban environments. I can’t just leave half my supplies at the curb unattended, if I want to see them again.

So, when a new Mom or even a fifth-time-Grandma asks me if performing multiple daily Perinatal Massage sessions tire me, I always explain that helping others makes me feel energized and purposeful, but I do tend to sleep deeply from the exertion!

I further explain that carrying the various supplies and massage table can be terribly depleting, especially if I have to walk quite a bit.

Another aspect of this work that is draining is the travel. Luckily, I usually don’t hit traffic.

However, sometimes I do get stuck in traffic jams on the Garden State Parkway or New Jersey Turnpike, and the experience never gets better.

I’ve actually hurt myself carrying the table. I’ve also injured myself carrying too many bags after grocery shopping.

I’ve learned this can be avoided if I slowly pick up heavy items, just as I have advised so many women to do, so many times.

Since I’ve done this, I haven’t had any such injuries.