Closing the Bones
An ancient ritual, evolved for the women of today
A traditional postpartum practice from cultures across the world — and today, a ritual that supports women through every threshold of life: from postpartum recovery to perimenopause, loss to new beginnings, trauma to nervous-system regulation.
What is Closing the Bones?
Closing the bones is a traditional postpartum massage ritual. It is most known for its Mexican and South American heritage, but versions of it exist on every continent. The ritual involves gently rocking the body with rebozos (Mexican shawls), massaging the abdomen, hips, ribs, chest and shoulders, and finally wrapping the body tightly with seven scarves.
I learnt this practice from a wide range of teachers including Mexican midwife Naoli Vinaver, and Cambridge osteopath Teddy Brookes (with whom I created a massage table version of the ritual with) over more than a decade, and have since trained over 1,500 students, in person and online, across 30 countries.
Today, my work has evolved. I no longer focus on teaching the massage itself. Instead, I teach a simpler approach that focuses on what I have found most powerful: the wrapping, combined with drumming and intention-setting. I call it Wrapped in Rhythm. It is designed for women navigating life transitions of every kind, and for the practitioners who hold space for them.
Read the full origins and global variations →
Why I’m changing how I teach this ritual →
A Glimpse of the Ceremony
A taster of what the ritual looks and feels like.
Beyond Postpartum: A Ritual for Every Threshold
For most of its history, closing the bones has been associated with postpartum recovery. But over more than a decade of practice, I have seen its power extend far beyond the weeks after birth. The combination of touch, rhythm, ritual and witnessing makes this practice profoundly supportive at every threshold of a woman’s life.
Rites of Passage
Menarche, motherhood, perimenopause, menopause — the great transitions of a woman’s life, witnessed and honoured.
Conception & Fertility
Supporting the body and spirit on the journey to becoming a parent, including conscious conception work.
Loss & Grief
Miscarriage, baby loss, the loss of a loved one — a sacred space for mourning and integration.
Trauma Recovery
Birth trauma, sexual trauma, accidents, emotional crises. The body releases what words alone cannot.
Neurodivergent Overwhelm
The wrapping helps the nervous system learn what it feels like to be safe — particularly supportive for ADHD and autistic adults and children.
Recovery from Illness
From chronic illness to long-term fatigue to end-of-life care, the ritual brings comfort to body and soul.
Beginnings & Endings
Marriage, divorce, a new career, leaving an old one, birthdays — any threshold worth marking.
Nervous System Support
Gentle pressure, rhythmic rocking and the symbolic completion of the wrapping calm the body and bring deep rest.
Beyond Words
Trauma lives in the body. This ritual helps without needing to share your story unless you want to.
How It Works
Where ancient practice meets modern understanding.
Physical
The wrapping itself has a measurable physical effect. A French midwife’s MRI research demonstrated changes in pelvis dimensions following this style of wrapping, as well as helping internal organs return to their proper place. The rocking and massage move tissues, joints and fluids, supporting recovery and physical integration.
Emotional
The combination of containment, gentle pressure and rhythmic rocking signals safety to the nervous system. The body learns — or remembers — what it feels like to be safe. In recent case studies, women self-reported approximately 80% improvement in wellbeing scores after just one session.
Spiritual
The ritual marks a threshold. The drumming slows the racing mind, often allowing answers to arise of their own accord rather than being forced. Setting an intention at the start, and reflecting at the close, transforms the experience from a treatment into a rite of passage.
Wrapped in Rhythm: Train With Me
My in-person work has simplified and deepened. I no longer teach the massage as a standalone technique. Instead, Wrapped in Rhythm combines the wrapping, live drumming, and structured intention-setting into a complete ritual, accessible to practitioners after a single weekend, and immediately offerable to clients.
Over the weekend you will learn the wrapping in depth, with more options than before, both on a mat on the floor and on a massage table, so you can discover what works best for you. You will also learn to practice intuitive drum healing over the person you are wrapping. The wrapping is technically simple and you will leave ready to offer it.
This is the work I am best known for, and the course I have trained the most practitioners in.
Upcoming workshops:
What workshop participants say
“Amazing, I loved, loved, loved the course, the venue, the women, the ceremonial yet down to earth feel. The course has stoked my heart. Well instructed, nicely paced, a nice balance between instruction, demonstration and practice. A really wonderful day.”
Workshop participant
“A wonderfully informative and nourishing day. Perfect size group and atmosphere, and I loved your teaching style. You shared your knowledge and experience but also allowed the group to flourish and share viewpoints and experiences.”
Workshop participant
“I really enjoyed the day. An excellent facilitator allowing knowledge to flow through the group with ease. The day was very well divided between theory and lots of practical. I look forward to practising and developing my skills.”
Workshop participant
“Wonderful. I hadn’t anticipated the level to which I would experience the day. I can’t wait to incorporate this into my practice.”
Workshop participant
Learn Online
If you can’t travel to an in-person workshop, you can learn at home, at your own pace.
The Rebozo Massage and Closing Ritual online course
My full online course, and my most popular one. Step-by-step video tutorials for the rebozo massage and wrapping sequences, how to create a ceremony around them, and how to adapt the ritual for women in any life transition. There is no time limit, and you join a Facebook group for ongoing support. £195.
Recorded masterclasses
Shorter recorded classes introducing closing the bones as a ritual for life transitions and for healing trauma. The recording is yours to keep and watch as often as you like.
One-to-One Sessions
If you are near Cambridge, UK, you can experience the ritual for yourself. There are two ways to book.
Wrapped in Rhythm session (2 hours)
A one-to-one healing ritual in Trumpington, Cambridge, weaving together rebozo wrapping and intuitive drum healing. You rest, held by the rebozos, while the sound of the drum moves through you.
Full closing the bones ceremony (2 to 3 hours)
The complete ceremony, in the comfort of your own home (within 30 minutes of Cambridge) or at mine, on a mat on the floor or on a massage table. It includes:
- Welcome and connection — discussing your needs and intentions, sharing your story if you wish
- The ceremony — rebozo rocking, gentle massage, wrapping with seven rebozos, drumming, integration
- Closing — gentle unwrapping, herbal tea, reflection
Thinking of giving it as a gift? A closing the bones ceremony gift voucher is available.
Articles on Closing the Bones
What is Closing the Bones?
The foundational guide to the ritual: what it is, where it comes from, and what to expect.
A Universal Postpartum Practice
How versions of this ritual exist on every continent — from Mexico to Morocco, Russia to Malaysia.
Ritual Healing for Life Transitions
How the ritual supports healing through every kind of transition, not just postpartum.
Beyond Postpartum Care
How closing the bones supports women through trauma, neurodivergence, illness, fertility and more.
Have Questions?
Whether you’re considering a ceremony, a workshop, or simply want to learn more about the ritual — get in touch.