How Ancestral Practices can Benefit your Birth - Part 2
Part 2: Mayan Healing Practices: Sobada Maya, Rebozo Massage, and Closing of the Bones
Sobada Maya: Traditional Abdominal Massage for Pregnancy and Birth
Sobada Maya is a traditional abdominal massage rooted in Mesoamerican healing practices. It is often used to support fertility, pregnancy, and postpartum recovery. This massage helps to realign the uterus, improve circulation, and release tension, offering both physical and energetic benefits.
Benefits of Sobada Maya
Helps align the uterus and supports fetal positioning.
Relieves discomfort in pregnancy by improving circulation.
Aids in digestion and overall gut health, which is essential for a healthy pregnancy.
Promotes emotional release and connection to the body’s wisdom.
Traditional healers (curanderas and parteras) perform this massage with deep respect for its lineage. Learning this practice should be done through proper apprenticeships rather than online courses that do not honor the full depth of the tradition.
Rebozo Massage: Comfort and Connection During Labor
The rebozo, a traditional Mexican shawl, has been used for centuries to support women in labor. It offers comfort, alignment, and gentle rhythmic movements that ease tension.
Ways to Use the Rebozo
Swaying and Rocking: A doula or partner can use the rebozo to sway and rock the laboring person, easing tension in the pelvis and lower back.
Support and Alignment: The rebozo helps support weight in various labor positions, aiding in optimal fetal positioning.
Breathing and Focus: The rhythmic movement of the rebozo helps with mindfulness, grounding the laboring individual in their breath and body.
Closing of the Bones: Spiritual and Physical Rebuilding
The Closing of the Bones ceremony, practiced in Mesoamerican, Andean, and other Indigenous traditions, is performed in the postpartum period to help a birthing person regain balance.
Healing Aspects of Closing the Bones
Physical Healing: Helps realign the pelvis and promotes recovery.
Energetic Release: Supports emotional healing and closure after birth.
Ritual and Restorative: Often includes herbal treatments, warmth, and guided meditation to nurture the postpartum person.
