I have sent many women from my prenatal classes to Eugenia over the years and they have always had success with issues like breech, malposition, postdates pregnancy (being pressured into induction), and discomfort. Every woman deserves to know about these vital aspects labor and delivery services that are available!
Fifteen years ago, while still working as an engineer, Eugenia Jansen discovered “energy.” In the process of repairing her own diseases – mini strokes, breathing issues – she was able to heal herself, by utilizing Qi Gong, names Yixue with Lotus Master Wei Ling Li.
That’s when “I noticed had a ‘gift.’”
She stepped into the medical field as a CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant), but was still unsure where or how she fit into the medical world. “I discovered that I didn’t want to be a nurse, working with pharmaceutical medicine, that I wanted something more holistic.” Eugenia became a certified massage therapist, then studied craniosacral therapy, then visceral manipulation, myofaschial release, and Chinese Medicine. She is also a birth doula. Since the beginning, “I’ve always been very interested in working with women. I’m currently studying Neuro Therapy all these studies are on different types of blockages – everything dedicated to be a better bodywork specialist.”
The following is Eugenia’s narrative on the work she does and the women she deeply cares for.
I specialize in women of all ages, from babyhood until death. I have so much love for women and all the stages of life that they pass through. I also work with different chronic conditions – ALS, MS, depression, cancer – from a 90 year old women that is in pain, to children that have ADHD or autism, to athletes and musicians.
In general, most of the women that come are the pregnant women. I think that’s my primary specialty and passion. I love the whole process of pregnancy and bringing these women comfort, helping them to deliver their babies with ease. Imagine you have pain in your lower back and your neck and on top of that, you’re going to have a labor? No, your body needs to feel good, loose like a noodle. And that will actually help so much for the baby to descend. I like to also work on the pelvic floor. Then after that, I do a massage, myofaschial release, all the specifics for pregnancy, I offer all of that.
Usually as a pregnant person when you go to a practitioner, they are so afraid of you, they don’t even want to see you, for god sakes. Why? Because there are points on the woman that you shouldn’t be touching, and these are very, very important to know. But there are places that with myofaschial release, there shouldn’t be a problem to touch, and you can go hard. For example the glutes. I’m not going to be in the coccyx ligaments, certain areas in the second trimester. But the third trimester, let’s work on those because we want to promote the body to respond with ease and to prepare by loosening up. With Chinese Medicine I do acupressure points, in multiple sessions.
With massage, I work very deep with the lower lumbar from vertebrae L1-L5. Some women have a lot of issues with their hands such as carpal tunnel – it’s very common during pregnancy. We work with the cervical spine in the neck, different types of massage, affecting the arms and hands. For example, I could stay on the arms for 45 minutes! You’re going to go home feeling a huge relief.
In the second trimester, pregnant women often come for a prenatal massage, just to get ease. So I do some lymphatic drainage to take away the toxins and proteins for all those sore places. The massage is very intuitive as well, but there are places we have to avoid. When women are pregnant ANYTHING feels so good. It’s very interesting how most of them, you just touch them, and they fall asleep. The body says “Please! This is what I need.” You know, they need Love. People need Love. And mostly when we are pregnant.
Then the third trimester, or the last 3 weeks, is when we start with the induction massage. What is induction massage? In this massage I do acupressure points, some relating to the spleen SP3, the gall bladder GV20, bladder UB60, and more. All these points that we had to avoid before. I use essential oils, like Clary Sage which is good for this time. I loosen the body with myofaschial release and massage. And at the end I do craniosacral therapy.
What is craniosacral therapy? It’s a gentle hands-on approach that uses light touch to assess and support the body’s natural rhythms. The work is based on the understanding that the tissues surrounding the brain and spinal cord, including the cranial membranes and dura mater, have subtle patterns of motion and tension. As a therapist I tune in to these rhythms, as well as the baby’s rhythm, and support the body in finder greater balance and ease.
During the session, I work with the cranial membranes and dura mater. At times I may feel areas of restriction or “noise” in the system. When these areas soften, the body may enter a natural process of release or unwinding, allowing tension patterns to resolve and supporting the body’s preparation for birth.
One of the most important things for the pregnant woman in craniosacral induction is working with the sphenoid bone. Through this bone we are targeting the pineal gland and the pituitary gland. Why? Because we want to promote movement of the cerebrospinal fluid – this helps with the hormonal preparation. We are taught how to manipulate these bones in the head. When we move them, we can feel the restrictions. Then we can stop, we do different things, and we move rhythms at the same time.
When we are moving that sphenoid bone, we are concentrating with our hands to feel the density of the gland – we stay with that density and make it softer with certain movements, and we can feel the release. The body unwinds. You need to experience it to understand this unwinding – to comprehend craniosacral therapy. The therapist listens to the body. My job is to move along with different places of the body – to feel the noise, the tenderness – to wait until the body gets soft.
The best responders to this type of treatment are the women who have been coming consistently in the last trimester. Those will have a very good outcome! But if you come the last day – “oh, give me one induction massage” – or even if I see this woman two times, it’s never going to compare to the woman who comes during the second and the third trimesters.
The number one thing I encounter in the third trimester pregnant women is the Fear. “I’m past-due, it’s my first child, I’m over 40.” There are different types of people in general, some are more in their mind, some are more sensitive. I feel like people over-think too much, and they are getting too much fear energy from the outside – that does not work. I am also a birth doula, and I teach them how to trust, how to trust. By the way I’m also a minister of Walking Prayer, based in Native American studies, so depending on where the client wants to go, we can use prayer or a spiritual approach. Some people find that beautiful and for others, it’s not for them, they prefer the scientific approach. All fine. Anyway, the more fear, the more the nervous system is in distress, the more your muscles are going to be hard and your body is going to be tense.
I can feel when she is getting close to labor. I don’t know how to explain but I can feel it (laughter). Or people are “holding” and they are very afraid. Craniosacral is an amazing tool for breech babies, because we create movement. Sometimes even in one session! Or right before going to the hospital to have the baby turned, the session makes them more loose and relaxed, and the version (external manipulation by physician) is really easy.
This is also about the baby. You are putting good food into your body, getting good sleep – add bodywork to that, and your baby has a better chance to come naturally – and that’s the goal.
When a baby is born by cesarean section, I often feel more tension in the baby’s system. The membranes around the brain can feel tight to me, and it feels very different than a baby who has passed through the birth canal. Physicians are sending me babies and children with fussiness, digestive issues, feeding challenges, body tension, and speech concerns. There can be an impact from an abrupt birth, and craniosacral therapy is a gentle way to support the baby’s nervous system and help the body adapt.
After the birth, I do postpartum bodywork for the moms. Pregnancy and birth create many changes in the body, and this work helps support recovery. I assess the pelvis, the pelvic floor, and the abdomen. I also check the uterus and the ligaments that support it. I work with the organs, helping them find their natural position and mobility after pregnancy. The coccyx, or tailbone, can sometimes be affected during birth, so I evaluate the coccyx and its relationship to the pelvic floor and the ligaments connected to the uterus. Even a small restriction in these areas can create discomfort or a feeling that the body is not fully back to itself.
The best advice I can give women is to receive bodywork. Bodywork is so important. Why? This is such a special time in your life. You’re growing a baby, bringing a new soul into the world, and your body is doing incredible work.
Sometimes people worry about the cost, and sometimes they simply don’t know this kind of support exists. But if there is ever a time to invest in yourself, this is it.
My advice? Don’t overthink it. Give yourself permission to receive support. You only get one chance to experience this pregnancy and this birth. Take care of yourself—you deserve it.
EUGENIA JANSEN
goldenlotusgardens.com
310-923-2642
2001 Barrington Ave. Suite 219 West L.A.