I vividly remember my first year as a doula, in 2013. I was excited and eager to learn, and attended many study days. During two workshops with different facilitators that year, I was introduced to different types of closing the bones massages, one from Mexico and one from Ecuador. I can still feel the deep emotion I felt as I watched a new mother, tightly wrapped in several rebozo shawls, held by a group of women. It stirred something in me, a longing, a remembering of sorts, as if something in me knew that I needed this. I wished it was me who was lying down and receiving this ritual.
I never could have imagined how much this would grow.
Fast forward to 2025. I (Sophie) have given this massage to hundreds of women. I have, together with a couple of other birthworkers, trained over 1000 people in giving this massage in person, and 350 online.
The techniques shared in this course are a blend of a lot of different techniques and rituals, that I have learnt and adapted through the years, and which are always evolving as I practice and continue learning from others.
I want to honour the people from whom I learnt closing the bones and rebozo techniques:
Doula Stacia Smales Hill (Mexican closing the bones).
Dr Rocio Alarcon, ethnobotanist and healer (Ecuador).
Osteopath Teddy Brookes, on whom I practiced the massage extensively, starting in 2015 and still ongoing today. Teddy taught me what the techniques did to the body. This led to co-developing and teaching together a massage table version of closing the bones, called the postnatal recovery massage.
Francoise Freedman of Birthlight taught me some techniques in a one to one setting.
Doula Bridget Baker who showed some of the rebozo techniques at a doula meeting.
Jennifer Walker and Gail Tully at two separate Spinning babies workshops.
Mexican American doula Gena Kirby, for her rebozo online course, and conversations.
Midwife Molly O’Brien. I took her Biomechanics of Birth workshop, which includes the use of the rebozo.
Mexican midwife Naoli Vinaver, with whom I trained both online and in person.
French Doula Celia Sinegre, who shared the French version of closing the bones (soin des matrones)
All the women and families I’ve supported through pregnancy birth and the postpartum with rebozo techniques and closing of the bones.
All the professionals who have attended my closing the bones workshops and online course and shared their knowledge.
This website is for you if you want to learn to offer this ritual. You can book a workshop or enquire about us coming to your neck of the woods.
