CHERYL BERNARDI

A THERAPIST WHO CARES

I always customize the treatments to offer you the best possible results. Besides my special training and 24 years experience offering

- Prenatal massage

- Labor Prep massage

- Postpartum Massage

- Fertility massage

I also offer a variety of holistic methods to enhance the massage therapy treatment, such as

- Aromatherapy
- Chinese cupping
- Manual Lymph Drainage

- Myofascial Release Techniques
- Microcurrent Point Stimulation (Neurostimm) (not during pregnancy)

- Reiki Energy Healing

My clients have had positive results with my treatment programs for:

- Joint and Muscle Soreness

- Headaches/Migraines
- Fibromyalgia
- Post Operative Recovery
- Anxiety and Stress-related symptoms

24 YEARS OF PRENATAL AND POSTPARTUM MASSAGE EXPERIENCE

While teaching Hatha yoga classes at the fitness center, I noticed a few pregnant women joining the class in the back row. I decided to acquire more specific skills to help them, and in 2001, I went to train with Dr. Francoise Freedman of Birthlight International, Cambridge, UK, in Prenatal Yoga, Prenatal Aquatics, Baby Yoga, and Pregnancy and Infant massage. I then founded Birthlight Zurich, a center for Prenatal Yoga, Aquatics and Massage, the first of its kind in Switzerland.
My experience in yoga, movement, meditation and massage, have given me an optimal background for supporting and guiding women to birth their babies more comfortably. Labor is often shorter, and with fewer complications. Babies arrive in a state of calmness, and breastfeeding can proceed easily. My approach to helping pregnant and postpartum women is a holistic body-mind approach, incorporating movement, breath, pain management skills, and therapeutic massage.
I offer Birth Rehearsals for Couples, Pregnancy massage, Labor Prep, Fertility massage, and Postpartum massage at my office in Naples.

MY BACKGROUND

Born in Massachusetts, My career as a professional classical ballet dancer, then as a medical research assistant, span the arts and sciences. I left for Europe when I was 17 years old, attending the renowned Centre de Danse International, studying with Ballerina Assoluta Rosella Hightower, in Cannes, France, and continuing to dance in ballet companies in Europe for another 10 years. I then went into the Medical Research field, working in histology laboratories using Electron and Light Microscopes. The need to move and exercise led me to take Yoga and Pilates classes as well as my beloved dance classes.

A severe Achilles tendon injury led me down a path of healing in Switzerland, learning and experiencing many holistic modalities such as Acupuncture, Shiatsu, Reiki, Chinese Cupping, Sound Therapy, Alexander Technique, Feldenkrais, Ayurveda massage, and many more. In 1998, I began to teach yoga full time in Zurich,. It was at that time that I started to work with pregnant women. This led me to start Birthlight Zurich in 2005, a center for prenatal yoga, aquatics and massage in the heart of the city. Many pregnant women attended classes and received massage treatments each day.

My meditation skills were acquired through years of diligent practice with my Buddhist teachers: Ven, Thich Nhat Hanh, Lodro Rinpoche, and Jill Purce. A memorable experience was the year that I spent in India (2008). with the Tibetan community in Dharamsala, being very active in the community working as a volunteer offering prenatal yoga at the Delek Hospital, yoga for preschoolers at the exile government day care center, helping at the Tibetan Children's Village, and offering assistance at an NGO for active non-violent education.
My love for teaching led me to become a teacher for Massage Therapy, Anatomy & Physiology classes, and offer Continuing Education Courses for Massage Therapists on a regular basis.
I enjoy offering services and treatments in my massage practice in Naples to area residents. I frequently offer Continuing Education for Massage Therapists.

YOUR WELL-BEING IS IMPORTANT TO ME!

Call or email to book an appointment today!

Lifebehold Massage Therapy

Manual Lymphatic Drainage