Janet V. Markovits, LMT has been a NY State licensed massage therapist since 1997. She studied MotherMassage® with Elaine Stillerman and took over her practice in 1993 which is when Maternal Massage and More was born. Maternal Massage and More specializes in prenatal and postpartum massage, labor support and baby massage. With the use of the bodycushion clients will be able to lie comfortably and safely on their belly throughout their entire pregnancy. It is so comfortable clients do not want to get off the table.
Janet has had the pleasure of working with women through 2 and 3 pregnancies and couldn’t think of a more special clientele to work with. Janet sees many clients from beginning to end and helps them through the many discomforts that happen during pregnancy ranging from back pain, headaches, sciatica to swollen legs and feet, carpel tunnel and general maintenance and relaxation. She has also studied sports massage, lymphatic drainage and craniosacral therapy. She uses a combination of these modalities and each treatment is catered to the client’s needs. Janet also teaches labor support where the partner comes in for a hands on lesson on how to massage them during labor. We also go over acupressure and reflexology points which can induce and speed labor up. It is a wonderful way to get your partner involved in the process. Lastly Janet also does postpartum and baby massage. You will need a massage after the baby is born just as much as while you did while you were pregnant but for all different reasons. They don’t call it labor for nothing. You may not be are not sleeping well, nursing, sore or achy from the labor itself or from now carrying a newborn and all the things that come along with it; postpartum massage will help tremendously; and Janet’s favorite baby massage. She loves getting to meet the end product of this beautiful process. Baby massage classes are given privately and in groups. Specific techniques will be taught to use if the baby has, chest or sinus congestion, colic or any digestive issues. It is a great way to calm the baby down and get them to sleep; and a wonderful way to bond with your baby.
Janet has offices in Soho and Park Slope, Brooklyn and is available for housecalls.
Isa Herrera, MSPT ,CSCS owns and operates Renew Physical Therapy, a leading healing center in New York City. She has dedicated her career to helping women and men find relief from conditions such as dyspareunia, incontinence, pelvic pain, prolapse and pre and post-natal complications. Ms Herrera's approach to healing is holistic, utilizing techniques that tie together mind-painful body components. She believes that everyone holds the key to their pain relief, all they need is to be shown the way. Her goal is to always empower her patients with the tools they need to succeed on their own.
Her passion for women’s health and healing began after working for many years with pregnant women, who many times suffered from sexual pain and other problems after the birth of their children. Her experience with these women inspired her decision to further her studies, by getting her Master's in Physical Therapy. Herrera's experience with her patients lead to the development of her treatment protocols and therapeutic methods, which fuse together many types of exercises, self-care practice and relaxation techniques.
Ms. Herrera's other program at Renew PT is called Bodyworks Orthopedics and centers on expert therapy with empowerment and self-help for athletes, and all manner of conditions, with special focus on spinal injuries.
She has appeared on national television on both The Regis and Kelly Show and NBC’s Today Show, where she promoted her work and her first book, “The Pregnant Couples Guide to Working Together.” She is currently working on her second book "End Female Pain" which will be completed in Jan 2009. Ms Herrera holds a Masters in Physical Therapy from Hunter College and a BA in Psychology and Biology from Fordham University.
Dr. Randi Jaffe received her Doctor of Chiropractic degree in1997 and has been practicing ever since. She specializes in the treatment of women during and after their pregnancies. She has taken numerous hours in continuing education in the areas of pre and postnatal care and has worked with hundreds of women during this very special time in their lives.
Some of the common conditions that Dr. Jaffe treats both during and after pregnancy are lower back pain, sciatica, pain in the neck, upper, and middle back areas, carpal tunnel syndrome, pubic-symphysis dysfunction, and misalignment of the coccyx bone. Additionally, Dr. Jaffe is certified in the Webster Technique for breech presentation, a highly successful and gentle option for assisting baby into the vertex or head-down position.
Not only is chiropractic wonderful for handling the aches and pains of pregnancy and the postpartum period, it is also extremely helpful in preparing your body for labor and delivery. One of the goals of treatment is to make sure that the pelvis is aligned and in the best possible position for delivery. In addition, many women choose chiropractic care during their pregnancies for general health and wellbeing, receiving routine chiropractic treatments regardless of any pain or dysfunction. This type of treatment is part of the overall holistic approach that many women have begun to take toward their pregnancies.
Dr. Jaffe is caring and compassionate with each of her patients. She emphasizes the educational aspect of your healthcare, as well as the healing aspect. She lives on Long Island with her husband Michael and their two daughters. Dr. Jaffe is extremely passionate about her work and feels so blessed to be able to work with such wonderful women and their families.
Nicole Heidbreder is the founder of GracefulFusion, professional labor and postpartum support, labor photography, childbirth education, and lactation support services. She is a DONA trained birth and postpartum doula. And a Lamaze and CEA trained Childbirth Educator. She is the Director of International Development for DONA International, a member of the New Leadership Council for the International Women’s Health Coalition, and is currently working on Transparency in Maternity Care, a research project that will offer current statistical information for expectant couples throughout America.
Leah Keller, MA, CPT is a certified personal trainer and fitness educator specializing in pre- and postnatal exercise. She designs individual and group exercise programs to ease pregnancy discomforts, prepare for a stronger, faster labor and delivery, enhance the vitality of both mother and baby, and facilitate quick, complete postpartum recovery. In addition to working directly with clients, Leah provides professional consultation services to private fitness and Pilates studios who wish to safely tailor their programs to meet the unique needs of pregnant and postpartum clientele. She has been personally qualified by Julie Tupler in the Tupler Technique, core training proven to reduce the abdominal separation that occurs in over 95% of pregnancies. In her role as an educator, Leah conducts continuing education workshops for fitness professionals on safe and effective exercise for expectant and new mothers
Sara Newman, a former labor and employment attorney, Sara Newman left the law after the birth of her first child in order to help other women through the transition to motherhood. An experienced dog trainer and activist in the animal rescue community, Sara leads seminars on introducing established pets to a new baby in the home and helps parents to prevent jealousy between the canine and human babies. She has also used her knowledge of the law to assist women in making the transition back to work or in negotiating a change in working conditions. Sara is a member of DONA (Doulas of North America) and is fluent in American Sign Language.
Hillary Helmling is a Wellness and Green Educator with Shaklee Nutrition. Shaklee has been around for over 50 years, and is the leading natural nutrition company in the United States. It was also the first company in the world to achieve Climate Neutral certification by effectively offsetting ALL of their carbon emissions back in 2000. They have amazing nutritional supplements, non-toxic cleaning products as seen on the Oprah Winfrey show, and an organic baby care line. Contact me for a complimentary health and supplementation assessment. I am also a Certified Yoga instructor teaching throughout NYC.
Jen Morris is a green and holistic wellness educator and a Shaklee Independent Distributor. She is passionate about teaching individuals simple ways to live greener and healthier lives. Shaklee, America’s #1 natural nutrition company, has been creating healthier lives for millions of people for over 50 years. Shaklee is also the preeminent leader in the environmental movement and was the first company in the world to be certified “Climate Neutral,” signifying that they leave net-zero impact on the planet through a history of environmental stewardship.
Jen has worked with numerous parents and families to help eliminate toxins in the home and replace every day household products with smarter, healthier alternatives. Her work is personally motivated as she grew up with numerous allergies and chemical sensitivities. After years on various medications and weekly allergy shots, Jen sought out holistic ways to treat her sensitivities and stop the chronic headaches, sinus infections and upper respiratory irritations. Her success has fueled her desire to educate others about greening their lives from the inside out. Whether you are seeking to naturally improve your own health or that of your family's or planet, Jen is happy to share various options including non-toxic cleaning products, organic baby care, children's nutrition, clean air and water, and whole food supplementation.
