What is Hipping?
Closing the hips is about helping the mother return physically and energetically back to herself through the use of an energetically and spiritually deep abdominal massage up to the pelvic area with lots of sifting with the use of the Mexican rebozo (Manta). The use of the Manta when sifting encourages lymph drainage, blood flow and the energy channels within the womans body to open and restore themselves to allow her to restore her own energy levels.
This can be offered to the woman once she is ready to support her onward healing, following termination, pregnancy loss or birth at full term.
This knowledge was passed onto the doula community by Dr Rocio Alarcon (originally from Ecuador) who is a traditional midwife and trained in shamanism and ethnobotany by her mother and grandmother. This massage has been renamed Rocio’s Massage (Hipping) as we never focus on closing the bones, we only focus the health of the hips. I encourage you to check where your doula has learned this practice from as a number have been trained by westerners who have appropriated the indigenous wisdom and original teachings.
How is the massage performed?
We will complete the hipping massage in the comfort of your home using the Ecuadorian Manta. You will be asked to complete a brief assessment form, whilst you do this, I set up sacred space by cleansing the area usually by using herbal incense whilst allowing you to sit in meditation focussing on your healing intention. As part of the overall ceremony I may offer a cup of Ecuadorian Cacao to start the ceremony and may use my medicine drum, herbal/resin incense, plants for limpia, singing bowl, we also have music and candles.
To begin with the woman may be sitting, standing or laying down- whatever she feels most comfortable with. We commence with sifting using the Manta on specific areas of the womans shoulders, upper body/chest, abdomen, hips, arms. The sensation of the energy flow once this is done is immense. The massage around the sides of the chest also help encourage any stagnate energy out which has an indirect effect on an increase in milk flow if you are currently feeding.
When the woman is ready we begin the ceremony where we perform the massage on the abdomen, lower back and hips, which encourage the internal organs such as the bladder, uterus and intestines back into their right place and to draw her energy back to the centre of her body. Your baby can stay with you at all times, you may wish to have your close female companions share in this ceremony, just as you would a mother blessing. The manta and my hands are used throughout the massage, there are no other tools used other than this. During the massage women may experience a huge release of emotions relating to major life events to the birth experience itself, it is very deep and moving on a spiritual, physical and emotional level.
Once the massage is complete the mantas are used to gently close and seal in the mother at the head (scarf is used), shoulders, hips, knees and feet, each part is honoured with a blessing. I usually close with some energy healing but this is dependent on what the mother wishes and she is allowed to rest and simply be in this sacred space.
The mother may wish to be bathed enabling her to be cleansed in a herbal infusion bath, some women have used this opportunity for a ‘rebirthing’ experience especially if they feel their birth experience was difficult or not as they expected, alternatively the mother may wish to perform a vaginal steam bath, which is quite common in many non western cultures, (this is available as an extra service, please ask at time if booking).
The ceremony can be performed very soon after birth (dependent on the type of birth, a very gentle approach is provided after a caesarean section or you may wait until the scar has healed).
It is recommended that this is conducted at least 3 to 4 times within the first 40 days postpartum, but it is also still beneficial for women to receive this many years after they have given birth. I was honoured to be able to perform this on my own mother some 30 years after she had her own children.
I have practiced ‘Hipping’ for a number of years now, following pregnancy loss either miscarriage or termination, and following a range of birth expereinces. I also received this myself following the birth of my second and third child and was amazed at the deep renewal and energetic shift I felt in my body. I feel honoured to share this with my fellow women on their journey through healing their physical body.
Fee:
This will be £144 for a full 2 hour ceremony, which includes guided meditation, drum healing and set up and tidy up. I charge travel expenses (mileage) and call out fee if outside of home area (please contact me for price).
If you wish to book 3/4 sessions to use in the immediate postpartum 40 day period (we usually booked sessions in every 10 days), this is available at a session rate of £75 and only booked as a package of up to 3 or 4 (note, this is not the full ceremony but a sacred and trauma informed space will be provided).
**For mothers wishing to have a whole body focussed healing and reconnection, this can be offered with the Sacred Closing & Reconnection, this package offers the closing massage(not ceremony) and the transformative postpartum Abdominal massage (as taught by Dr Rosita Arvigo) and other energy and healing services to reconnect you within your body, (£333) **
Additional Mother roaster ‘warming’ services can be added to the ceremony, please contact me for further information regarding a bespoke service. I offer a discount on this ceremony for anyone who has booked my doula services.
Workshops:
