WHAT IS REBOZO MASSAGE?

Massaging with a authentic handwoven rebozo targets muscles on the pregnant woman that can’t be reached with ordinary massage with hands or other types of fabric. A rebozo is also much easier to work with for a professional (midwife, doula, obstetrician, etc.) as the effect is achieved by less physical work, where the stretch and meassurement support the massager and the fabric easily grips, unlike other fabric types which do not envelop in the same way and can slip around during the massage.

Rebozo massage has the special effect of both relieving pregnancy discomfort and treating pain in pregnant women, and rebozo massage massages deeper in a safe way so that, for example by relaxing the deep muscles in the pelvis, you positively affect the baby with rocking movements and create better space for the baby in the belly.

This is one of the reasons why, with the right technique, rebozo massage can both rotate the baby into the right birthing position – ready for birth, the massage can labor stimulate and you can make painless reversal attempts in a natural and safe way for both mother and baby.

If you’re pregnant and want to try baby rotation, reversal attempt or labor stimulation, consult a professional who works with rebozo massage in their practice. This could be a midwife, doula or obstetrician. You are also welcome to contact us and we will be happy to send you a list of professionals who have experience with rebozo massage.

Did you know that rebozo massage can also be used to create calm and reassurance for children with, for example, autism, ADHD or particular sensitivities, as they may feel discomfort from sensory or physical touch. A rebozo´s measurement and stretch touches and massages in a pleasant not overwhelming way and the child receives a physical touch of the cloth that is not overstimulating but soothing. It can help your baby to calm down and fall asleep.

Rebozo massage has become popular in recent years because it relieves the discomfort of pregnancy and soothes and relaxes, to the great relief and delight of pregnant women who have tried the method.

RECOMMENDED BY MIDWIVES

Rebozo massage works by taking a rebozo and spreading the centre of the rebozo over the area of the body you want to massage. The massage is given by gripping the ends of the rebozo and then switch between three techniques: shaking the muscles, stretching the muscles and pausing for relaxation between movements. Read more about the techniques in the section “How to do rebozo massage?”.

The stretch from the hand wrap is the same type as a fixed wrap, but with the difference that a rebozo’s fabric feels neither stiff nor heavy, but instead light and the stretch works with the child’s movement and body in a non-invasive way. The child is physically touched by the cloth and sensually stimulated, without being overstimulated, but calming. It can help your baby to calm down and fall asleep.

Rebozo massage works by taking a rebozo and spreading the middle of the rebozo over the area of the body you want to massage, keeping a grip on the ends. You then switch between three techniques: shaking the muscles, stretching the muscles and pausing for relaxation between movements:

1. Shake your muscles – you grab the ends of a rebozo and pull the middle from side to side to make small shakes on the area of the body you want to massage. The little shakes of the muscles have a soothing effect and loosen up the muscles. As mentioned in the above paragraph, rebozo massage penetrates deeper into the muscles that the pregnant woman needs to be massaged while not being uncomfortable for either mother or baby in the womb, and it is a natural and non-invasive way.
2. Stretch your muscles – you take hold of the ends of a rebozo, which wraps around the pregnant woman where you want to stretch the muscles. You pull/stretch the rebozo, and the stretch in the rebozo takes hold, so the muscles are stretched too. Like the shaking exercise, this stretch penetrates deeper and works to stretch tight and locked muscles that is hard to reach otherwise. Stretching positively affects the muscles of the abdomen and pelvis and helps to provide better space for the baby in the abdomen, as relaxed muscles create a larger space inside the abdomen. This exercise effect cannot be achieved using another cloth without stretching, and the dimensions of a rebozo are adapted to cover the area of the body that the pregnant woman needs stimulated and relieved.
3. Pause for relaxation – pausing between shaking and stretching exercises gives the optimal effect as it helps the muscles to relax after the gentle touch and you can feel the muscles relax after the massage.

The greatest effect is achieved if you do rebozo massage repeatedly.

You’ll also find our video guides and descriptions of specific exercises on this page below.

That is, no, to doing rebozo alone, because there must be two people: one who receives and one who does the massage.

Yes, you can make it at home and elsewhere.

You can do rebozo massage on others yourself or have someone else do rebozo massage on you. For example, a friend or a partner. We recommend trying to swap roles a bit, so that the person performing tries it out for themselves. It gives a better understanding of how it feels and works, and you get better at performing the massage. As a pregnant woman, you obviously need to feel your own limits in terms of physical exertion. We don’t think a pregnant woman should strain herself, so if switching roles for a short time, she should avoid lifting exercises altogether and make sure there is no discomfort while the roles are switched.

However, if you have problems, major discomfort or complications during your pregnancy, you should consult a professional (midwife, doula, obstetrician, etc.) before trying rebozo massage.

Would you like rebozo massage to rotate your baby into the correct birthing position, turning attempts if your baby is in the sitting position (bottom down) or during labor and labor stimulation during birth in the labor phase? Then you should consult a professional, for example a midwife, doula or obstetrician, who uses rebozo massage as a tool for labor preparation and during labor. Perhaps your midwife already knows about rebozo massage and can advise you? You are also welcome to contact us if you would like a referral to some different professionals we know of who do rebozo massage.

You can find both video guides and description of exercises for rebozo massage on this page.

Rebozo massage relieves pregnancy discomfort, pain and gives relaxation. You can do rebozo massage during pregnancy, in the labor phase of childbirth and postpartum.

It is a good idea to attend a prenatal (birth preparation) course or a rebozo massage workshop, where a professional can help and guide you so that you learn the different techniques and exercises in the best possible way and can use them afterwards. Rebozo massage has become increasingly popular in recent years, as there is a clear difference after treatment, and in most cases it results in a much better or pain-free pregnancy. Many also find that they give birth more easily and relax more during contractions. This is why there are now a number of clinics and professionals offering rebozo massage.

We also cooperate with several Danish hospitals. Hvidovre Hospital, Herlev Hospital, Rigshospitalet and Kolding Hospital, among others, practices rebozo massage for pregnant women and couples.

Some hospitals offer rebozo massage, where they use a sheet. If you bring your own freshly washed rebozo, they can use it for the massage if you have made an agreement with them beforehand. It will give you the best effect, as the rebozo massage technique has been developed through many centuries of using handwoven rebozos and following their measurements and stretches.

Our rebozos are multifunctional, so you can use them for rebozo massage and afterwards to carry your child from 0-5 years in a sling or ring sling. You can also use your rebozo as a scarf and shawl, so you can carry your fond memories of your time as a pregnant woman and with your baby and toddler. You can see our range of rebozos for massage – click here.

Rebozo Copenhagen also organises courses/events, often in collaboration with a birth professional or yoga instructor, offering rebozo massage alongside pregnant yoga. We also hold workshops in collaboration with a Mexican expert in rebozo massage for professionals who want to learn more or want to start up with rebozo massage as a tool/practice for their courses and workshops. These events sell out quickly. Follow us on this page to see ongoing events, which we hold about 3-4 times a year or follow us on instagram, where we also share upcoming events: @rebozocopenhagen

We are working on a newsletter. Once it’s up and running, you’ll also be able to get first notice of upcoming events as a newsletter recipient, and we’ll share tips and advice, special offers and more.

The rebozo has the right dimensions and stretch – so you get the full effect

Which came first the chicken or the egg? We can clearly say that the rebozo scarf came first, and over the centuries Mexican midwives developed the rebozo massage, which is traditionally performed with a handwoven rebozo. A rebozo therefore has the precise measurements, both in length and width, to suit the various rebozo exercises. A rebozo is perfect for getting a good grip with your hands, and there’s not too much fabric around the pregnant woman’s tummy or pelvis. It is also better for professionals to work with:

The precise measurements are important for the masseur (for example, your partner, doula or midwife) to massage in the right position. The rebozo is gentle while getting a real grip and deeper into the muscles than other fabrics, due to its measurements and handwoven rebozo stretch. Therefore, it also spares the back of professionals, who do not have to use as much effort as with other garments, and avoids the fabric slipping both in the hands of the masseur and on the pregnant body. With a real rebozo, you can safely do the three rebozo techniques described in the section “How to do a rebozo massage”, and get the most out of the rebozo massage. Unfortunately, if the measurements do not fit the pregnant woman’s body and there is no stretch in the garment used, a large part of the beneficial effect is lost.

All our rebozos for rebozo massage also have multifunction, so they can be used during pregnancy for rebozo massage, after pregnancy to carry the child from 0-5 years in a sling or ring sling and it can also be used as a scarf with good memories preserved.

If you use an authentic rebozo for rebozo massage, you get the optimal effect and it works deeper into the muscles, which is especially nice and effective for a pregnant woman who wants to relieve pregnancy pains and would like to loosen up sore muscles, for example in the lower back and pelvis.

You can buy an authentic handwoven rebozo in our webshop. We work with various artisans who have passed down their expertise through generations. Each features their local family workshop in Mexico with the family’s chosen colours, texture and finished fringe knotted/tied by hand in the family’s unique design.

Private customers

You can use anyone from size 1-4 for rebozo massage. You may want to choose a rebozo with multifunction (scarf, sling from 0-5 years and for rebozo massage), which is our size 1-3.

If you want to make a wrap, choose size 4, which is under our wrap category, because size 4-6 are the longest rebozos, and you need more length to tie a wrap that is tied over both shoulders.

A carry sling (with multifunction), which is our size 1-3, is tied over one shoulder. On the other hand, it is incredibly easy and quick to tie, even if you choose a ring sling when purchasing rings.

However, Size 1 will be too short for exercises where the person massaging is standing up and massaging someone who is lying down.

Size 5 and 6 are too long for rebozo massage. The two lengths are suitable for making wraps, but if you still want to try using them a bit for rebozo massage, try tying some knots at both ends to shorten the length of them so they’re easier to work with.

Professionals

You can use anyone from size 1-4 for rebozo massage.

We recommendsize 2 and 3, which in the long term is most gentle on the back, as you achieve the best possible position and length and width to work firmly with rebozo massage.

If you are taller than 185 cm, we recommend that you choose size 3 or 4.

Our recommendation is based on the assumption that a professional will do rebozo massage often and over many sessions. Whereas a private customer/pregnant is going to do rebozo massage over a shorter period of time and can therefore choose whether the person also wants to use their rebozo for a scarf and sling (size 1-3) or as a wrap (size 4-6). And the size for rebozo massage is often a secondary priority.

However, Size 1 will be too short for exercises where the person massaging is standing up and massaging someone who is lying down. But it is good as a complementary rebozo for massaging smaller body parts, for example the head or legs.

Size 5 and 6 are too long for rebozo massage. The two lengths are suitable for making wraps, but if you want a wrap first and foremost, but also want to try using them a little for rebozo massage, try tying some knots at both ends to shorten the length of them so they’re easier to work with.