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Kneeling on a pillow at the edge of a large floor mat, Angela Rhinehart rubs her hands together to warm them, demonstrating for the parents assembled before her how to prepare to massage their babies.
"We want to try to be 'present' and 'playful' with our babies," she says.
The babies squiggle and squirm as their parents try to follow instructions during their infant massage class — one of the many holistic and sometimes unusual classes and workshops offered at the Vitalize Community & Healing Arts Studio in the Sugar House neighborhood in Salt Lake City.
Founded by Rhinehart and her fellow licensed massage therapists Monica Faux-Kota and Karen Salas Wheeler two years ago, the Vitalize Community Studio is the holistic home to a wide range of "healing arts" endeavors. It is in the beautifully remodeled basement space formerly occupied by Jack's Drum & Guitar Shop.
The women wanted somewhere they could hold regular wellness-based classes and events, while also providing an inexpensive place for independent health and wellness practitioners to rent for their own events and clients.
Not only does Vitalize offer massage therapy and regular yoga and meditation classes in its expansive, wood-floored studio, but it delves into more … shall we say … esoteric realms — such as "laughter club," "visioning" and "energy healing," all of which are featured in classes at the studio.
The general idea, Faux-Kota said, is to provide a safe and peaceful environment for people to learn and heal, in whichever way suits them.
"We just really love it here," she said.
The infant massage class, for example, might sound indulgent or silly.
But Rhinehart said studies have shown that gentle massage helps babies sleep better, feel less stress and form stronger bonds with their parents — though research on the subject is not universally accepted as conclusive.
Nevertheless, nurturing touch is widely considered beneficial to babies, and that's the main goal of infant massage.
Rhinehart demonstrates how to massage a baby's legs and feet, gently rolling hands around chubby thighs, pressuring soft soles and playing with tiny toes.
Ideally, she said, parents make the experience a warm and quiet ritual — perhaps after bath time or before bed — that helps the child learn to relax without the intrusion of phone calls, emails or other distractions. And it gives a chance to connect deeply with Mommy or Daddy.
The women who founded Vitalize also created the Utah Prenatal Massage Association, which aims to offer women pregnancy, birth and postpartum support.
Rhinehart said she practiced infant massage on her children and wanted to share the experience with others. She grew even more certain of its benefits while working with premature babies in a massage study at the University of Utah's neonatal intensive-care unit.
"It's just a wonderful way to connect and be present with your children," she said. —
Vitalize Community & Healing Arts Studio
Where • 2154 S. Highland Drive, Salt Lake City
Details • 801-608-2273 or vitalizesugarhouse.com