About the Author

For the last 15 years, I have been using GENTLE HANDS Massage techniques in teaching people how to relax through touch and connect with other people in a more loving way, thereby enjoying a better quality of life.

I have traveled, studied and taught massage in North America, Africa, Asia, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Micronesia and the Philippines, bringing a world flavor of touch and connecting to my massage.

For example, in Africa, I worked with a Dula (midwife) learning stretching and opening techniques that welcome a newborn into the world. I also learned the power of touch, as African women carried their babies next to their bodies around the clock, decreasing anxiety and separation in newborns and increasing the bond and connection between mother and child.

In Thailand I studied Thai massage, originating from the time of the Buddha. It is an extraordinary method of aligning the energies in the body, relaxing and improving: circulation, flexibility, digestion and absorption of nutrients and the elimination of wastes.

In Micronesia, I learned traditional Swedish massage techniques from a nun. Swedish massage refers to a variety of techniques that are specifically designed to relax the muscles and increase the oxygen flow in the blood and to release toxins from the muscles. It is also a powerful way to soothe and stimulate the skin and nervous system at the same time, which is very effective in childhood development.

This was all in addition to my 1000 hours of massage study at Body Mind College in San Diego, California and 100’s of hours of other course work since.

The idea for this book originated when I was pregnant with my first child and was unable to find a simple, easy to follow format for massaging children. So many of the books I read were either too scientific in their approach, too involved and time consuming for a squirming baby, or not very user friendly.

When my daughter was born 17 months later, the book began and I used my own experience with my children, and as a certified massage therapist working with pregnant women and their newborns to create Gentle Hands.

Gentle Hands is written with great love on how to massage infants, babies and children, while combining the world flavors of massage to create a powerful, yet simple and easy to use massage format for parents, grandparents, caregivers and massage therapists.

I am passionate about getting this information out to people as the world becomes filled with more technology, fear and isolation. Our children require touch to feel safe, loved and to develop fully. Touch provides HOPE in our world, reassuring us that there are people around us that care and are secure in expressing their love in healthy ways.

As a graduate from Colorado State University where I received a Bachelor of Science in Biology, I then went on to earn my teaching credential from Metropolitan State College in Denver, Colorado, and then on to earn my Holistic Health Practitioner degree from Body Mind College in San Diego, California.

I have recently moved back to the USA with my husband and two children, after living and working in Australia for the past 8 years and I am still massaging my children (now ages 7 & 8), easing their transition of moving half way around the world.

Please help me spread the Gentle Hands touch. I am available for speaking engagements, workshops and seminars, as well as, private sessions with adults, babies, children and pregnant women.

Remember, your touch speaks louder than words,

 so make your hands “Gentle Hands”.

All the best for you and your family,

Susan Harley

Address:

Susan Harley
1151 Evergreen Parkway
Evergreen, CO 80439-8844
Phone: 303-484-9737
Email: info@gentlehandsbook.com