Today we’d like to introduce you to Metztli Lopez Torres.
Metztli , let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
My story started with my experience during my first pregnancy while I was living in Mexico. During that time, rural women (mujeres del campo) shared their knowledge about pregnancy, labor, breastfeeding, and newborn care. I learned to use traditional medicine like herbs, massages and food to heal my baby and myself.
Later on, after my B.A., my master’s degree and extensive experience working and researching women’s health, pregnancy and working among traditional midwives I found that my true vocation is to provide services during all stages of women’s life focusing on the uterus health. That was the way that Luna Mamá was born in the rain forest of Veracruz in 2012.
In 2014, I moved to the USA with my family and since 2018, I have being working again in my Luna Mamá project. This time I have being focused on sobadas which is a traditional Mexican deep massage that I learned from midwives in my hometown. The sobada is focused in the abdominal area and it looks the overall health in women’s body as a whole (spiritual, mental and physical). This massage is known for its benefits in menstrual problems, fertility issues, postpartum, pregnancy, constipations and much more.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It hasn’t been a smooth road at all. Basically, the main problem in my case is that I’m an immigrant woman. I had to learn everything from this country starting from the lenguaje, social and cultural rules and of course, how to make a business here and networking which was a whole different experience.
But the good thing is that this is a place of opportunity to improve your skills, it is always a new challenge, and when you are genuine and loyal in your job and you know your skills things become more easy. At least that has to be my experience.
Always working hard and with all my heart in every little step of my journey.
Please tell us about Luna Mamá Services.
I’m known in San Diego and Los Angeles for my work as a sobadora. This is a specialization I got through my experienced with traditional midwives in my hometown.
Being a sobadora is a particular job also in my country. There are different types of healers, in my case, I’m a healer specialized in sobadas.
I don’t know many sobadoras here in San Diego or the United States because this is to learn only from other women that have this skill and that they learned from their mother, grandmother or other healers. There is no certification or school for this. This is something that is learned directly from your teacher and it takes years to master this skill.
In my case, I have been learning the sobada technique since 2008 and every in every opportunity I return to my country to continue learning from my maestras (teachers).
I can say I’m the only person in San Diego that has this many years improving my skills as a sobadora and providing these services here.
Also, it is important to understand that I learned this directly from traditional midwives that have been doing this job for more than 30 years. This is not a certification or something that you learn in a three days workshop, this takes years and years of practice and devotion to understand women’s and health’s body in a whole different way.
Also, I have the academic element because I’m a Social Anthropologist. My skills as a researcher have helped me to study and found academic studies that support the work that I do.
Were there people and/or experiences you had in your childhood that you feel laid the foundation for your success?
I grew up in a rural area of the southeast of Mexico known as the rain forest. I spent my childhood near a river and surrounded by flowers, trees, and herbs.
I learned from a young age that we are part of mother nature and healing is within its realm.
The best part of having my childhood in the forest was that I learn that everything have a perfect time you just need to work on it and it will happen. Like a little seed that will become in a tree. It will only need the correct elements and it will grow beautifully.
Contact Info:
- Address: 4002 Park Blvd Suite E
San Diego, CA 92103 - Website: www.lunamama.net
- Phone: (626)319-1070
- Email: metztli.loto@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lunamama_services/
Image Credit:
Metztli Lopez Torres
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