Glow Birth & Body Oakland

Glow began in 2010 as a single treatment room in Oakland and is now run from three locations. The legal name is Glow Massage Inc., and founder Sara Lyon leads a team of massage therapists, acupuncturists, birth educators and doulas. The Chicago studio is in Roscoe Village and offers free parking, the New York studio is on West 81st Street, and the Oakland studio shares its space with Bravebird Bodywork.

Prenatal massage is the business's best-known offering. Sessions take place on cushioned hydraulic tables with custom bolsters for support, and clients receive a steaming towel and organic massage oil. The business recommends monthly sessions or more often until the last four weeks of pregnancy, then weekly until birth. Postnatal massage can be booked from the week after birth or months later, once a client can be away from the baby for an hour or more. It focuses on engorged breasts and on soreness from holding and feeding a baby, and includes a warm wheat bag for the stomach and lower back. C-section healing and abdominal massage is also offered, and therapists are trained in abdominal massage with scar care in mind. Non-natal massage is open to women at any age and stage of life, from deep technical work to general wellness maintenance. The business says about half of its clients are pregnant or postpartum, that it has welcomed over 12,000 women as clients, and that it describes its prenatal treatments as award-winning.

Cupping uses glass pneumatic vacuum cups on areas of tension, as the provider judges appropriate. Clients agree to aftercare, including keeping the treated area covered for 24 hours. Cupping is not done on the lower back or abdomen of anyone who is pregnant, and it is not appropriate for people with preeclampsia or other blood-related conditions. The cups can leave painless circular pink, red or purple marks that fade within three to five days. The Cupping Therapy Session is 25 minutes and costs $80, and cupping can be added to any massage for $50 without extra time.

The signature Glow NYC Experience runs 105 minutes at $425 and combines a footbath, dry body brushing, a facial refresher, a 90-minute deep tissue massage and a thermal foot treatment. Shorter add-ons include a 15-minute dry body brushing with sisal mitts ($45), a 30-minute Shower & Prep in a private en suite bathroom with linens provided ($45), and a 30-minute paraffin hand and foot treatment ($75). The New York studio also offers 75-minute and 90-minute massages. Chicago lists its massages at $193 for 55 minutes, $216 for 70 minutes and $248 for 85 minutes, and offers five-packs at a discount.

Practical policies: cancellations need 24 hours' notice for weekdays and 48 hours for weekends, and the fee is waived if a cancellation is due to labor. Late arrivals may not get the full treatment time, and the full fee still applies. Tips are not accepted. A credit card is needed to reserve, and payment is taken at the time of service. Gift certificates are sold online only, cannot be bought in studio, are delivered digitally and are not refundable. In-home massage has limited availability and is requested by email, and a baby may attend so childcare and breastfeeding needs can be accommodated. Insurance, FSA or HSA funds may cover massage, and the site explains how to check eligibility. The business does not add diagnostic codes to receipts, but clients can ask their doctor for a Letter of Medical Necessity and submit the Glow receipt for reimbursement. A referral guide lists local doulas, lactation consultants and physical therapists.

The business presents physical bodywork as part of holistic healthcare across pregnancy, postpartum and later life, with stress relief and pain relief among its aims.