Gabi from Essential Flow Massage

This week we are joined by Gabi from Essential Flow Massage. Anyone that is pre and postnatal or works in the pre and postnatal space on the Northern Beaches will usually know Gabi. And if you don't, you need to. 

I have been lucky enough to have worked alongside Gabi for many years now and I was so lucky to have Gabi care for me throughout my own pre and postnatal journey. 

So Gabi, thank you so much for joining us. Start us off by telling us a little bit about yourself, personally and professionally. 

I’m Gabi, from Brazil  living in Australia for almost 10 years. I’m a Remedial Massage Therapist specialising in Pregnancy & Labour preparation, I’ve recently completed my Doula training and founded Essential Flow Massage with my Sister Grazi who is a nurse and also specialising in Pregnancy & Postpartum massage.

Outside of work, I’m a very outdoorsy person. I love climbing, hiking, swimming and spending time in nature. I also love musicals, exploring different cuisines and currently learning how to play Piano. 

My approach is very much about treating the whole person rather than just a particular area of the body. I love combining remedial massage, myofascial work, pregnancy-specific techniques and Optimal Maternal Positioning to help women feel more comfortable, supported and connected to their bodies.

Your focus is predominantly in the pre and postnatal space. How did you end up working in this space?

I started working as a sports remedial massage therapist and always loved giving my clients a good firm and deeply relaxing massage, one day I realised a bunch of pregnant were rebooking and I thought: maybe I should specialise in pre & post natal. It happened quite naturally for me since I’ve always been drawn to women’s health, and the more pregnant women I worked with, the more fascinated I became by the incredible changes the body goes through during pregnancy and birth. 

I wanted to understand more than just how to relieve muscular discomfort, so I continued studying in the areas of pregnancy massage, birth preparation, Optimal Maternal Positioning and doula support.

What I love most is being able to support women through such a transformative chapter of their lives. Pregnancy and birth can feel overwhelming, and having someone who understands the physical side as well as the emotional side can make such a difference.

You work alongside your sister Grazi, this must be very special for the both of you. How did you both end up working together?

It really is very special. Grazi and I have always been close, she is like my twin even thou we look so different we are very similar. 

We both have a genuine passion for helping people feel better, and although we have our own strengths and styles, we complement each other really well.

There’s something quite beautiful about being able to share my professional journey with her. We get to support each other, learn from each other and celebrate each other’s wins and of course, we also get to have a laugh together along the way

What are some of the different massages you offer?

I offer Remedial Massage, Pregnancy Massage, Labour Preparation and Postpartum Massage.

Pregnancy massage is tailored to each stage of pregnancy and focuses on helping women manage the physical changes and discomforts that come with pregnancy.

For women approaching birth, my Labour Preparation treatments combine massage with techniques designed to prepare the body for labour, including Optimal Maternal Positioning, myofascial release, acupressure and other pregnancy-specific techniques.

Postpartum care is all about helping the mother feel supported while her body recovers and adjusts to such a huge physical and emotional transition.

You also run a workshop called Essential Birth Skills Workshop. Could you please tell us more about this?

Essential Birth Skills is a private, personalised birth preparation workshop for couples. Rather than being a birth class, I tailor the session to the mother, her pregnancy, her body and the type of birth she is preparing for.

We cover practical skills that the couple can actually use during labour: things like massage, comfort measures, movement, Optimal Maternal Positioning, breathing, acupressure and ways the partner can provide physical and emotional support.

One of my favourite parts is helping partners feel confident and involved. Birth can sometimes feel like something that is happening to the mother, but there are so many practical ways a partner can support her and create a calm, positive environment.

My goal is for couples to leave feeling more connected, informed and confident about working together during labour.

What is your go-to place for a coffee on the Northern Beaches? And favourite spot on the Beaches for an afternoon drink?

For coffee, I love Market lane cafe in manly and for pastries definitely Normas deli near butter boy 

And for an afternoon drink, somewhere by the water is always a winner. I love Skiff Club or Manly grill, especially when you can sit outside, enjoy the sunshine and take in that beautiful Northern Beaches feeling.

Thanks for joining us Gabi! To contact follow @essentialflow.massage on instagram