Pregnancy Massage Australia® gives you the tools to build your skills and make a real difference.
PMA offers events, conferences, online and classroom courses, workshops, an online shop and more.
We are holistic perinatal massage therapists supporting women nurturing new life. Join us.
Discover the many benefits of massage during pregnancy
Pregnancy is a very special time in a woman’s life that creates significant physiological, structural, and psychological changes. Understanding these changes will help you, the massage therapist, to determine the outcome of your treatment. It will give you the confidence and guidance to apply appropriate therapeutic massage to your pregnant client.
Pregnancy Massage Australia training aims to assist you to enhance your skills and knowledge to better support and nurture pregnant clients. The training helps therapists grow an awareness of the developing life and how you can support the mother through her own body changes which may present as muscular aches and pains. Specialised massage techniques alleviate pain and discomfort, whilst highlighting a sense of relaxation.
Introducing the 2024 PMA Education Retreat – Empowerment Through MassageBookings Now Open
Are you ready to dive into the world of pregnancy massage and become a trusted NurtureLife© Practitioner for expectant and new mothers? Join us for an immersive hands-on Education Retreat designed to equip you with the skills and knowledge needed to support women through pregnancy and into the fourth trimester.
Self-paced study online with support
Online courses
We offer a growing range of courses online, where you can easily enrol and study at your convenience. 15-30 minute lessons which you can complete at your own pace, videos to guide you through a full body pregnancy massage and specialised techniques, and a Zoom Classroom to gain greater knowledge and understanding plus connect with like-minded therapists
Online - Certificate of Pregnancy Massage
Our most popular course introduces you to the many benefits of pregnancy massage during pregnancy and beyond.
Online - Practitioner of Pregnancy Massage
Gain in-depth insight into how to support women through pregnancy and beyond – specific conditions, including high-risk pregnancies, and the implication of massage. (Note: requires completion of a Certificate of Pregnancy Massage)
Online - Certificate of Pregnancy Massage
Our most popular course introduces you to the many benefits of pregnancy massage during pregnancy and beyond.
Online - Certificate of Pregnancy Massage
Our most popular course introduces you to the many benefits of pregnancy massage during pregnancy and beyond.
Online - Certificate of Pregnancy Massage for Spa & Beauty Therapists
Add the skills to confidently massage your pregnant clients. Understanding the changes will help you to communicate with your clients, giving you the guidance to apply a nurturing pregnancy massage treatment.
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Certify as a Pregnancy Massage Specialist
Our classroom courses
We offer a wide variety of courses nationally, and there is a level and location to suit everyone. Click on each course to learn more, or to enrol.
Certificate of Pregnancy Massage
Our most popular course introduces you to the many benefits of pregnancy massage during pregnancy and beyond.
Practitioner of Pregnancy Massage
Gain in-depth insight into how to support women through pregnancy and beyond – specific conditions, including high-risk pregnancies, and the implication of massage.
NurtureLife® Registered Practitioner
Grow your business backed by the strength, experience and reputation of the NurtureLife® brand as a Registered Practitioner providing specialised massage treatment.
Massage for Labour
A 1-day workshop where you earn how to equip your clients to utilise massage for labour.
Post-Natal Massage
This workshop will show you how to support and nurture a new mother using supportive post natal massage.
Certificate of Pregnancy Massage for Spa/Beauty
A course tailored to spa and beauty therapists and can be delivered to spa staff to assist them with pregnancy massage treatments.
Testimonials
Our graduates love their training
I believe that massage is a very special treatment that can benefit both the mind and the body. My interest in massage began when my mother used to massage me as a child. I now use it to ease the aches and pains of my own children.
I studied massage therapy at Otago Polytechnic, attaining a Bachelor of Applied Science in Massage Therapy. As part of my study, I conducted a research project on “The Perceptions of Massage During Pregnancy” and completed many practical hours working with pregnant women. I love seeing the benefit that regular massage can have on the mind and body during this time of great change.
I have also completed specialist training in Pregnancy Massage, Postpartum Massage, Myofascial Release, Cupping, Indian Head Massage and Manual Lymphatic Drainage.
Whether you are pregnant, postpartum or suffer from stress or aches and pains, I would love to be able to help you too.
Life Naturally was born from Louise’s passion to work with women to feel the best they can during pregnancy and to be prepared for birth and early parenting.
Louise knows through her work as a Midwife the difference self-care makes to the happiness and wellbeing during pregnancy and for new mothers.
When Louise completed the Nurture Life Practitioner Training in 2015 it really enhanced her existing Acupuncture & HypnoBirthing Clinic. She learnt specific techniques to provide premium pregnancy massage services and the ongoing support from Pregnancy Massage Australia has contributed to her growth and confidence. Massage has been a wonderful compliment to her growing successful business in the beautiful seaside town of Inverloch.
Tamara is a Massage & Lymphoedema Therapist & Reiki Practitioner, with over 20 years experience. She has a holistic approach and tailors treatments to the individual’s needs. Tamara believes in client education and awareness, and encourages client involvement in their care plan, empowering and aiding better recovery outcomes and overall wellbeing.
Tamara has a special interest and focus in women’s health with extensive training in multiple modalities and continues to learn and evolve. She has advanced training in pregnancy massage and understanding of caring for women during their pregnancy and postnatal period, and is able to deliver specialized treatments that nurture both mother and baby. She also has over a decade of experience in Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) and provides a nurturing environment for women going through challenges or life changing events that require lymphatic drainage. Tamara also offers other nurturing modalities in treatment, such as Reiki and aura-soma.
Massage products for therapists
See our Shop for more
Our exclusive range of branded massage oils and gels and essential oils are specially formulated for the pregnancy journey.
Our people
Catherine McInerney
Director and Founder of Pregnancy Massage Australia®, Pregnancy and Postnatal Massage Educator and Clinician
Catherine McInerney is Australia’s leading educator on Pregnancy Massage, Massage for Labour & Partner Support and Postnatal Massage. Catherine’s education and training spans over 20 years, and her wealth of experience continues to grow as she develops her training platforms, offering a ‘woman-centered focus’ that enables therapists to obtain the best outcome of treatment for their pregnant clients.
Cath Stuart
Director and Founder of Damara Massage, Clinician and Lecturer with Pregnancy Massage Australia®
Cath is a highly experienced and regarded leader in the field of pregnancy and postnatal massage. She is passionate about treating and caring for pregnant and postnatal women with empathy, respect and kindness. Cath runs her own clinic that specialises in pregnancy and postnatal massage, and she is also a Pregnancy Massage Lecturer with Pregnancy Massage Australia®.
Jodie Isles
Director and Founder of Merakai Therapies, Clinician and Lecturer with Pregnancy Massage Australia®
Jodie has been in the massage industry for over 14 years and is the director of a clinic specialising in pregnancy and postnatal massage in Brisbane. Jodie is passionate about providing best practice care to pregnant clients and is actively involved in initiatives to support women and collaborating with other allied health professionals.
Dr Sarah Fogarty, PhD, M Acu
Adjunct fellow at Western Sydney University, Clinician, Founder of The Helping Hands Project and researcher with Pregnancy Massage Australia®
Dr Sarah Fogarty has been in practice for over 19 years and works in a clinic with a pre and postnatal focus. She has published over 20 papers including papers on pregnancy massage and safety and fertility massage. Sarah is passionate about providing clients with the evidence-based information to make informed decisions about their health care. Sarah is also the founder of Helping Hands, a program that provides free massage treatments for parents who have experienced miscarriage, stillbirth or neonatal loss.
Blog
Our latest news & thoughts
The Effectiveness of Massage in Managing Pelvic Girdle Pain
We conducted an observational study that aimed to assess outcomes of massage as a treatment for pregnant women presenting with pelvic girdle pain. Our findings have now been published in the International Journal of Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork—Volume 16, Number 4, 2023.
Pregnancy Symptoms that Manifest in Limbs
Why are changes and symptoms in the arms and legs in pregnancy a potential precursor to a serious underlying condition that may affect the health of mother and baby? In an article published in the 'Massage & Myotherapy Australia Journal', director Catherine McInerney explores some of the subtle presentations of pregnancy conditions that manifest in the limbs. You can read the full article here.
Pelvic Girdle Pain Study Findings
We conducted a subgroup analysis of an observational study that aimed to assess outcomes within the group of participants who presented with and without Pelvic Girdle Pain. Our findings have now been published in the International Journal of Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork—Volume 13, Number 2, June 2020. You can read the full paper here.
Looking to nurture your abilities?
We run courses throughout the year and in various locations. See what’s coming up, or quickly sign up to our newsletter so we can keep you in the loop.
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