July 2022

CONTENTS
From the Board

Words from Prof Martin Grunwald

EDITOR’s NOTE Student Testimonials

D ear CIMI’s from all over the world

Parent Testimonials

I t is with great satisfaction that we bring you another newsletter,

at a time when the next IAIM world meeting is being prepared.
We highlight the testimonials of parents and student instructors,
French Chapter 20th Anniversary
congratulations of a researcher from Germany and the “special
IAIM flower” that connect us to the community and the daily Why Babies sing of Vimala
reality of our families. Special thanks go to Verónica from Spain
who helped us creating our “special IAIM flower”!
From the UK

A s time passes, we look back at what we have done and built, at

what has already passed. We do it individually and as an
Association it is no exception. In the more than 30 years that have From Taiwan
elapsed, far beyond our formal existence as an Association, long
before our registration in Sweden, the effort of the group of
pioneers in consenting touch is visible. The IAIM owes it’s
existence to these pioneers and to their motivating ability that has
spread across the entire surface of the planet. Today we are a Being touched and
Worldwide Association thanks to the unity and work done with caressed, being
babies and their families since then. That's what we're best at:
massaged, is food for the
helping to support babies and families with their most basic needs
infant. Deprived of this
- love. And our individual and collective effort, as an association,
food, the name of which
must go towards reinforcing this unique facet of ours. With this we
help all families and their babies find their voice and peace.
is love, babies would
Through them I am sure that we are the pillar to build a better rather die.
society! As Judit from Hungary summarizes: “It is our hope that Frederick Leboyer
our world can be made better with baby massage through the
practical support of families. Belonging to a unified international
organization, in which love is the first, IAIM members are able to
listen and strive for patience to set an example of consensus to the
world.”

W e celebrate our 30th Anniversary this year, being registered as

a non-profit international organization in Sweden since 1992,
when our first Bylaws were incorporated. Actually, our pioneers
have been working even longer, started in 1986 in the USA, with
the great vision of our founder Vimala McClure and the
perseverance of Audrey Downs and all of you pioneers. We are
very grateful to Vimala and all of you to have founded the IAIM and
kept our mission alive for so many years! THANK YOU ALL!

– on behalf on the newsletter committee.

 D ear IAIM Community,

W e hope everyone has been staying safe and healthy in these turbulent times! As a
Board, we have also been reflecting on our organization and how large we have
grown throughout the years and how our challenges we face today are so vastly different from
when the organization was just a handful of people.

A lthough our weekly online meetings are filled with complex issues such as our logo
trademark, protecting the program, copyright issues, challenges faced by chapters and
our upcoming online General Assembly, etc., we have also tried to keep things simple, which
is not always an easy task. However, one thing is for sure, we are stronger together!

W e would like to thank our "behind the scenes" staff, Sofia Martins Santos (Financial
Officer), Sylvia Lindgren (International Office), Anis Aidoudi (webmaster) and Agneta
Jamtoft (accountant) again for their hard work and to the entire IAIM community for keeping
Vimala's vision alive. In the meantime, we look forward to welcoming all of you at the General
Assembly in October, so please save your dates!

Respectfully,
Margo Kilborn
IAIM International President -
On behalf of the IAIM International Board

- available for use by all members of the IAIM

 Words for the 30th Anniversary of IAIM
Professor Martin Grunwald
Prof. Dr. Dipl. Psychologist Martin Grunwlad
University of Leipzig, Germany
Paul-Felchsig-Institute - Centre of Neuropathology and Brain Research
Haptic-Research Laboratory

T he fact that physical contact is vital for newborns and children is gradually gaining acceptance in
large parts of society and worldwide. But as natural as this insight seems to us today, it's been a
really long road to get here. Just 60 years ago, it was believed that newborns and children generally
needed food and hygienic conditions in order to develop well. However, newer study data and the
reactivation of almost forgotten findings, for example by R. Spitz and H. Harlow, have positively
changed the perspective on the spectrum of needs of the child.

P arallel to this fundamental change, an international community was registered in Sweden 30

years ago, which has set itself the task of bundling and passing on knowledge about appropriate
physical communication between parents and children. Many countries followed and today there is a
worldwide network of professionals who study the complex physical and emotional needs of babies
and children and pass their knowledge on to young parents. Because we now know that any form of
physical interaction triggers complex biological and psychological mechanisms, the question of
appropriate physical contact between parents and child is not at all trivial.

A nd because young and inexperienced parents often do not organize their physical communication
with their child intuitively, it is of the greatest value that the International Association of Infant
Massage offers these diverse and practical advisory services today. And even experienced parents,
but also scientists, are amazed about the empirically tested touch methods that Instructors in the field
of Infant Massage discover, develop and patiently pass on.
For all those who have recognized that appropriate body touch is a key food for the child, the work of
the International Association of Infant Massage (IAIM) is an important source of inspiration and
professional information today and tomorrow.

F or the Association I am wishing continued attention and every success in its important work in
the years to come.

Prof. Dr. Martin Grunwald

Leipzig June 2022
SWEDEN - BRAZIL - GERMANY - CANADA - VENEZUELA - UK - MEXICO

“I have been an Infant Massage Instructor “I loved the attention to the history of infant
for 6 years. The training process was massage and the research that supports it. This
wonderful, it exceeded my expectations, which additional information has added to my desire to
were very high to begin with! I had been very be the best instructor possible as I realise how this
hopeful to be trained for several years, but the work impacts the loves of infants and the
opportunity had not presented itself! It was a community around them.”
holistic learning experience as an individual, as a
professional, as a mother, as a woman and as a
human being. Having the opportunity to provide so
much support to parents allows us to value the
process throughout each detail. It is a great
commitment and a great responsibility, but “Thank you so much to share your passion,
without a doubt it has provided me with experience, and knowledge with us in this training.
insurmountable gratification. It’s really inspiring. I’m so lucky to be in your class.
When I first trained, my daughter was 2 years old. I Staying passionate for so many years is not an
immediately began to put the new knowledge into easy thing. You’re definitely a role model to us.“
practice. We both enjoyed it very much. Then I had
my son, who was able to enjoy the positive and
nurturing touch as soon as he was born. I
benefited from infant massage, not only as a
mother, but also as an instructor, because at 3
months I started leading training with my own
baby as a model. It was a wonderful experience! "I have been a health professional for
Currently the positive touch is always present in more than 30 years and have attended many
our lives, adapted to their individual needs. My two different courses and trainings. The IAIM
children, now eight and three years old, ask me for Instructor’s training was one of, if not the best
their massages! training I ever attended. Our Trainer was not only
With the pandemic we live in a time where we very knowledgeable about the subject, which is to
have learned to adapt to changes, teach online, be expected, but also extremely approachable. She
and little by little resume face-to-face classes. I welcomed questions and answered them
feel that all instructors have played a very professionally. My biggest surprise was how much
important role in this global health situation. I enjoyed the fact that she used no technology. I
Families, more than ever, need to be listened to, am accustomed to PowerPoint and at first was
cared for with love, respect and empathy. They disappointed when I realized that she would not be
need to be accompanied in this wonderful world of using that teaching methodology. She told us that
parenting, which is undoubtedly a roller coaster of instead, the walls would be covered in pictures.
emotions, but it is the best experience we can have Which, by the end of the 4 days, I had counted 71
in life! pictures. We were all able to go back, look at them
Being an Infant Massage Instructor has opened again, and remember what was discussed during
countless doors for me, it has made me grow in a these 4 days. It was not just a minute of looking at
number of ways. Most importantly, it has allowed a picture, but 4 days! I would like to see the IAIM
me to do my share to make the world a better training being taught to medical professionals
place! I am extremely proud of what we do and when they are students, so they leave their
completely in love with Infant Massage!” education with this knowledge and
certification."
SWEDEN - BRAZIL - GERMANY - CANADA - VENEZUELA - UK - MEXICO
continued

“In my very first Infant Massage Class for " In my permanent search to keep
international Certification we shared lovely updated and prepared to always offer the best
experiences. One family from Ukraine joined in to my patients and their families, I had the chance
after they needed to leave their beloved country to make the certification of Infant Massage of IAIM
due to the current situation in 2022. It was of great in Mexico.
support to receive the parent’s handouts in This has been one of the best certifications ever
Russian language from my Trainer. The mother because of the good preparation of the trainers !
was not only grateful and happy to learn the They had all the answers to our questions and I felt
massage, but to spend special time with her baby, very accompanied during the training.
as she is a mother of two, but also to learn and to During the days the training took place we became
be with a group of parents together. Non-verbal a wonderful group with a wonderful fellowship .
communication and the mix of languages was The methodology and the way they thought us to
absolutely inspiring for the whole group, all were apply it has brought many satisfactions to me and
so open-hearted and -minded, a very special all the families I have thought and has confirmed
experience right from the start being IAIM all the many benefits of Infant Massage. I am
Infant Massage Instructor.” very grateful and recommend this
certification widely .“

"I loved the training! The dynamic of including

real parents and babies is invaluable. Concepts
and process were clear and truly inspire me to
spread this incredible 'wealth of knowledge' to as
many Moms & Dads as possible, as well as any
others who will listen."

“The training to become an instructor of IAIM

was much more than I expected. Here in Brazil,
massage for babies is still very new and the “I was trained as an Infant Massage
culture of nurturing touch in early childhood, Instructor (CIMI, now CEIM) in 1985 by our
despite being a people who love touch, still needs special, caring, kind trainer, in the US. Soon after I
a lot of encouragement. I carry the IAIM mission returned to Brazil. And what amazes me, and
with me and I am very proud to be an instructor." shows the power of Infant Massage, is when 37
years later I still meet mothers that I taught during
these years and they come up to me and introduce
me to their grown babies, now 21, or 30 years of
age, and still remember the class. Interestingly,
the stroke that all remember and some still use is
the " I Love You" stroke. And how the massage
helped to maintain the connection with their
children. Also their children still love massage and
special time with their parents. What a powerful
program. Thank you IAIM, thank you Vimala.”
 “Since I've been massaging his belly 3 times a “My 9-month-old boy has little time for
day, Walter's stool has gone from yellow to a light massage, he wants to explore. In the 3rd class of
brown color. He seems to suffer less and he sleeps IAIM Infant Massage we got to know the chest
a little bit more at night.” massage. He likes it very much, becomes very
attentive, calms down and often falls asleep. We
have now discovered the chest massage as a ritual
in the evening before he goes to sleep. That works
very well.”

“I am a first-time mom and attended Baby

Massage when my daughter was 7 weeks old. I felt
like I joined a second family and lived for my
Thursday classes. It was always such a welcoming
place to come. They facilitated a beautiful bond “This massage session is one of the best that I
with my baby. It was so helpful to build more learned to help my son - not only for my younger
confidence. I have made some great friends.” son but for the whole family.”
“Loved it!! Can’t believe that not all parents are not
in this class. Learned so much!”
“Thank you so much for offering this program. It is
a wonderful way to connect with and help my
baby.”
“I loved the supportive feel of the group. The class
“The classes were great as they gave us the offered enough time for massage, feeding, diaper
confidence to bring our baby out of house, and it changes, and lots of interaction between parents.
was so much fun to see other babies enjoying their During class time we learned the massage moves
time. Learning how to massage gave us an but also how to interact with our babies. Our
amazing way to spend time with the baby, instructor did a great job of making us feel
especially in the early days when there were comfortable regardless of how baby's day was
limited ways to interact with them. Nowadays she going.”
receives two massages a day: one by papa, and “Tuesday Night… Baby: Screaming (won't even
one by mama, because both of us absolutely love stop for boob!) Me: Get out the massage oil and
this intimate bond with her. Giving her massage start massaging her, she starts LAUGHING and is
after a busy workday is something I look forward all smiles!!!!!! It was amazing... I felt so proud
to everyday.” :)”

'' My preterm baby's birth weight was 1,8 kg.

"I have a fussy baby. I read about the benefits of After practicing baby massage for couple of
baby massage, but I had my doubts. My baby months I visited a special therapist who asked me
ended up sleeping for 3 hours straight after the what did I do special for my baby. I said 'massage' .
first class. I was hooked and could not wait for our The therapist said my baby was fine with normal
weekly classes!" muscle tone and movement.”
 "An experience to remember. As we acquire all “I feel lucky that I could learn baby massage
the knowledge and applied it at home, we felt a on a birth preparation course before our first son
bigger connection with our son. It’s with pleasure was born. It gives an awesome opportunity to get
that after applying everything that we have learned integrated with each other. I also love that, taking
what we get back it’s a big laugh.” my baby's needs into account, I can do it
anywhere, anytime. I learnt that even a few gentle,
helping movements have beneficial effects. And a
whole, full-body stroke set provides a wonderful
experience for both of us that we carry on with us
in our cells for our entire life. I gladly use it with
"The course has introduced me to techniques I
our second son as well if he has colic, or he is
didn't know about and has brought me into con-
fussy, if he has difficulties with sleep or just
tact with other families. What I liked most about it
bored.”
is that you learn to lose the fear of touching and
holding your baby and at the same time, you have
a different relationship with him/her. I think that
Infant Massage offers you a good and precious
way of observing and connecting with your baby". :
“I am a proud mother of a beautiful 16-year-
old girl. It has been a blessing when I met the
Asociación Venezolana de Masaje Infantil AVMI in
my life. My daughter was a premature baby. And
having the support of Venezuela Chapter -AVMI-
“My 3-month-old daughter and I just loved the has been my best resource to be able to see her
whole experience of the lessons. It was truly a very progress and how all the benefits are there for
special time spent with her. With lots of rich con- both of us. Then I became a massage instructor
tent about parenthood, and bonding, and learning because I experienced first hand that the IAIM
about our children emotional and physiological program works. I had also the chance to work as a
queues! Now I just intend to follow the learnt pro- volunteer in a low-income community with teen
cess of the infant massage and do it even with my mothers with the support of the Venezuelan
older son! That I regret not having started it earli- Chapter -AVMI- And witness the progress in those
er! Anyway, once again Thank you so very much teen mothers and the benefits that the infant
for sharing your knowledge with us!” massage has in the mother and the baby. It was 4
years not stop volunteer work and the rewards
on that community.”

“It was great to meet other parents with kids

the same ages. It was awesome to build a little
community. I felt that the class also touched on
being a mum to a newborn more so than just
“Baby Massage” it felt more like a holistic
approach, encompassing more than just
massage.”
F or the 20th anniversary of our chapter and
during the annual General Assembly (GA), the
board had organized an event in Paris at the
A nd as the Covid is not yet behind us, on
March 20th and 21th 2021 we had to also
organized a virtual GA but this time with
FIAP the 27th-29th of March 2020 at the same everything we learned from the first one.
place as the international GA. , a fascinating online
conference by Michel Odent (a well-known
W e had months of preparation and we put a
lot of enthusiasm to put together a great
program with conferences, leisure activities and
French obstetrician-surgeon), the revision of
the movements with the three trainers and a
a lot of goodies (plastic cups, pins, tote bags...) lot of exchanges.
to celebrate this event. Also, we planned the
coming of Vimala and Sylvie Hetu as a surprise
for the members, but they were not available in
T his GA was particularly moving because
we had the privilege of having Vimala
come by to say hello: an unexpected surprise
that moment of the year. for the happiness of all!

B ut Covid-19 was coming through... and you

can certainly imagine the
disappointment when we all got locked in on
great T wo years that were certainly different and
challenging but in which we were able to
increase our competence and boost our
March 17th and had to cancel this event that was membership (in addition to the October
supposed to take place only 10 days later. membership campaign) via the digital. This is
an additional tool that we are now better able
N
a
evertheless, the team did not lose morale
and managed to bounce back by organizing
to which adhered
to master and that will certainly be useful to
us in the years to come.
well. Also, for the occasion a special Facebook
page was created to exchange with the
participants and to put online the videos of
A big thank you to the team of the Board of
Directors and all the other volunteers who
helped to make these last 2 virtual GAs e-
presentations of the different commissions and magical moments!
regions but also to stay in touch with the
members as much as possible during this tough
time. We also used for the first time a new
system to vote, never tested before: a Framaform.
This virtual GA was a real success!
 Lyrics and chorus created by Helen Moses to the tune “This Old Man,” the song Vimala sang to the children in the
Indian orphanage long ago. I asked all present to celebrate Vimala with this surprise. We sang this song to her at the
Denver trainers meeting Oct 2008 and the photo shows Vimala and Audrey enjoying our rendition!

Vi ma la
She played ONE
No more bubbles in the tum
With a knick knack pat the back
Give the world a tone
We can all massage at home

Vi ma la
She played TWO
Yes or No, I give my cue
With a knick knack pat the back
Give the world a tone
We can all massage at home

Vi ma la
She played THREE
She helps mommy listen to me
With a knick knack pat the back
Give the world a tone
We can all massage at home

Vi ma la
She played FOUR
Wake up world so I grow more
With a knick knack pat the back
Give the world a tone
We can all massage at home

Vi ma la
She played FIVE
She helps Daddy see me thrive
With a knick knack pat the back
Give the world a tone
We can all massage at home
T he Coronavirus pandemic
unprecedented challenges. Families with
caused

babies and young children have been particularly

adversely affected by the repercussions. The UK
Chapter wanted to find a way to support its
members and help communities recover from the
crisis. So, the Spirit of Community Scheme was
developed.

B efore the pandemic, in 2016, the UK Chapter

established a humanitarian fund to enable our
members to reach vulnerable families and
communities around the world and bring them the
wider benefits of nurturing touch. Since then, a
number of highly successful projects have been
facilitated by this fund, most notably in Kenya.
However, many UK families and communities
were struggling post-pandemic. The UK Executive
Board recognised that CIMIs were experiencing
similar difficulties, especially poor morale,
reduced confidence, and the loss of income.

T he UK Chapter decided to allocate some of its

humanitarian funds to set up a bursary
scheme to benefit CIMIs, families and
communities. In the summer of 2020, all our
members were invited to apply for a bursary of up
to £250 to offer their local families an IAIM infant
massage course. We received some incredible
entries. Every applicant demonstrated a clear
desire to make a positive and lasting impact on
their local community. It was very hard to decide
which CIMIs to allocate funding to.

I n the end, we awarded six bursaries – double

our intended number – but the final six were
just too fabulous to not give them funding! IAIM
Although the groups and communities the Spirit
of Community champions worked with varied MISSION STATEMENT
greatly, from teenage parents to recovering
addicts, they share one attribute in common – The purpose of the International Association of
they are all AMAZING ambassadors for the IAIM.
Their feedback has shown us that the original Infant Massage is to promote nurturing touch
aims of supporting our members, families and and communication through training, education
communities have been fulfilled – the Spirit of
and research so that parents, caregivers and
Community Scheme is a resounding success. The
UK Chapter is proud of everything they have children are loved, valued and respected
achieved and the difference they have made to throughout the world community.
families in need.