Infant Massage Instructor Training

Teaching Infant Massage is a rewarding opportunity, promoting well-being and enhancing bonding between infants and their caregivers.  Infant massage assists the growth and development of baby’s body, mind and spirit. In addition it can bring relief to complaints of colic, constipation, respiratory disorders and sleeping difficulties.  With Infant Massage we use touch, our first language, to enhance our expression of love, caring and respect, to aid in the bonding process.

You can contribute to this essential communication by becoming a Certified Infant Massage Instructor.  No previous massage experience is necessary.

Amanda Buckmaster from the Nurturing Connection is a trainer with Infant Massage Australia and co-facilitates the four day Infant Massage Instructor Training Workshops in Queensland and the Northern Territory.

Training

The Instructor Training involves a four-day intensive training course in which participants are taught a massage sequence specifically designed for infants. 

In addition, the course will explore the benefits of infant massage, enhancing the bond between parent and infant, premature and special needs babies, and adaptations for the growing child.

Participants will be qualified as a Certified Infant Massage Instructor with IMA on completion of the training course, a written take-home exam and practical work. They are then able to teach parents/care-givers to massage their babies either individually or in small group settings.  Instructors are also able to conduct in-service talks/demonstrations to related health professionals. 

Workshop Structure

The Workshop covers:

• infant massage benefits
• a massage sequence
• bonding and attachment
• trauma and touch Deprivation        
• children with additional needs         
• marketing
• importance of infant communication
• working with parent groups
• high need families
• adaptations for the older child
• practical teaching of families

Participants

The Infant Massage Australia Instructor Training Workshops are designed for:

• massage practitioners
• child health nurses
• midwives
• parents and grandparents
• other healthcare professionals
• anyone interested in working with families

Further information can be found on the QLD and NT 2010 enrolment form.  Information on instructor training courses in other states of Australia can be found at www.infantmassage.org.au.  For any other information please complete the contact form.

“Infant massage…. Communicating Love through Touch”