Welcome to Infant Massage USA
History of Infant Massage
In 1973, Vimala McClure lived and worked at an orphanage in India, where she witnessed the daily practice of massaging all members of the community, from the youngest to the oldest. On her departure from the country, Vimala noticed a young woman sitting by the side of the road in a shanty town, lovingly massaging her infant on her lap.
Spurred on by this vivid memory Vimala decided that she would bring this beautiful tradition of infant massage back to America. She wrote the book Infant Massage - A Handbook For Loving Parents and combined the massage routine she had witnessed in India together with Swedish massage, reflexology, and Yoga. For several years, she taught parents the art of infant massage out of her home. At the request of childbirth educators, in 1978, Vimala developed our training program and began to train instructors to teach the program. She then founded the International Association of Infant Massage in 1986.
In 1973, Vimala McClure lived and worked at an orphanage in India, where she witnessed the daily practice of massaging all members of the community, from the youngest to the oldest. On her departure from the country, Vimala noticed a young woman sitting by the side of the road in a shanty town, lovingly massaging her infant on her lap.
Spurred on by this vivid memory Vimala decided that she would bring this beautiful tradition of infant massage back to America. She wrote the book Infant Massage - A Handbook For Loving Parents and combined the massage routine she had witnessed in India together with Swedish massage, reflexology, and Yoga. For several years, she taught parents the art of infant massage out of her home. At the request of childbirth educators, in 1978, Vimala developed our training program and began to train instructors to teach the program. She then founded the International Association of Infant Massage in 1986.
Audrey Downes, a registered nurse and instructor in the United States, and other dedicated instructors helped Vimala create the International Association of Infant Massage, first incorporated in the USA in 1986 as a non-profit tax exempt organization. The United States held the International Office until 1992, when it was moved to Sweden. The first international bylaws were then introduced.
Now this program of infant massage is taught to parents and caregivers in 43 countries around the world, including Sweden, Australia, New Zealand, Romania, Japan, Korea, Great Britain, Germany, and Canada.
Infant Massage USA is the US Chapter to the International Association of Infant Massage, with its offices in Sweden (iaim.net). Our program is the one founded by, and continues to be supported by, Vimala McClure, author of Infant Massage, A Handbook for Loving Parents and a pioneer in Infant Massage.
Mission: Our purpose is to promote nurturing touch and communication through training, education, and research so that parents, caregivers and children are loved, valued, and respected throughout the world community.
