What is Closing the Bones?
Closing the Bones, is a postpartum tradition hailing from South America which celebrates and supports the birthing parent as they recover and recuperate from pregnancy, labour and birth. It is usually done as part of a ritual or ceremony where the birthing parent’s body is rocked, articulated and wrapped in traditional shawls called Rebozo or Manta.
Just hours after giving birth in South America, the birthing parent receives this beautiful ceremony. It is then performed several times throughout the first forty days. While wrapping and closing the bones is most beneficial in those first hours after birth, it is recognised that this is not always possible. Furthermore, closing one’s bones can, and quite often is, performed days, weeks, months, and sometimes even years later while still holding onto great benefits and feelings of restoration, stability, lightness and much more. Whether one has their bones closed once or more, is very individual and can only be decided by the person receiving the ceremony.
If you have ever been pregnant, you will know that your body has changed; your hips have most likely become a little wider, you tend to feel quite “open”, maybe changes to the pelvis, back and other parts of the body. Additionally, you possibly feel a little differently emotionally and mentally; again that feeling of “openness” seems to be quite common in many discussions I have had. Closing the Bones helps in bringing a person back into themselves, grounding them and restoring that feeling of openness. Think of it like a big, tight cuddle that you control and you bring to an end.
Closing the Bones is also a very soothing and restoring ceremony for anyone who has had a loss, miscarriage, or abortion as it can bring the body to a calmer place and out of that fight or flight response. Once one has been brought to this place of relax and restore, both the body and mind are more open to healing.
The Globebaby Doula Closing the Bones
In the ceremony I offer, you can expect to feel weightless, refreshed, and restored with feelings of calm and peace as you slowly lift your body from my Rebozos at the end.
We start the ceremony with a cup of herbal tea of your choice as we chat, reflect, and debrief your experience. Of course, I will never push this part as your story is exactly that and only you get to choose whether you would like to share it or not. I hear and respect your wishes, always. Whatever you do share with me is done in complete confidence as I listen compassionately and judgement-free.
Once you are ready, we will begin closing your bones with you laying down on the space I have prepared for you. I will then begin from the head down, as I rock, articulate, and wrap your body using several of my Mexican Rebozos. I will remind you to use your breath as you relax into each rocking and wrapping sensation. Your feedback is a very important part of the process also. Hence I will check in with you to ensure your wrapping feels good to you; whether that means me loosening or tightening some of the Rebozos.
When all of your body is wrapped up and I have used my big comfy blanket to swaddle you, I will leave you to rest and heal. You will know when you have been there for long enough at which point you can tell me. I will then slowly and intentionally unwrap your body.
I have some other offerings that can be added to your Closing the Bones experience too which include, Reiki, 3-Step Rewind, and Meditation for the ultimate healing and restoration.
Once your ceremony is complete, we can chat about how it felt for you or you are free to rest some more. Only you will know what is right for you. I am here to support and respect your wishes.
