The Cierre Postparto or La cerrada (also known as Closing the bones) is ritual practiced to help people heal, reconnect, and close cycles after the process of giving birth. Deeply rooted in the Indigenous cultures of Mexico and Latin America, this tradition has been passed down through generations, honoring the importance of treating the body as a sacred temple that brings forth life.

While it originates in Mexico, similar postpartum rituals are practiced in many cultures around the world, all aim to care for and honor the mother/parent after childbirth, helping them heal both physically and emotionally.

The main purpose of La Cerrada is to help the mother/parent close their physical and energetic fields opened during pregnancy and childbirth, supporting the recovery and overall well-being. It allows the mother/parent to process and release accumulated emotions, acknowledging the effort of the body and soul in this new role, and to reconnect with themselves through deep care and self-compassion, honoring the profound transformation that becoming a parent entails.

This ritual is typically performed at least 40 days after birth, and its process includes:

• Herbal steam or bath: Helps warm and relax the body, releasing accumulated tension

• Manteada: A gentle massage with rebozo. It realigns internal organs, relaxes muscles, and relieves tension in the back, abdomen, and pelvis

• Womb massage: An abdominal massage to honor and express gratitude in this place of creation and transformation

• Cierre with Rebozo: Wrapping and tightening the body with Rebozos

• Return: A safe space for dialogue and care, while sharing a cup of herbal tea. This provides an opportunity to process the experience and honor the body

Traditionally performed during the postpartum period, this ritual can also be embraced at other times, regardless of your child's age, whenever it feels right for you. It is especially beneficial during significant transitions, such as the end of breastfeeding, times of grief, after a gestational loss, or any other life experience that calls for closure.