Become a Maternal Bodywork Specialist at Sparrow's Nest
Join one of Southern California’s most specialized maternal wellness teams and build a massage therapy career supporting women through fertility, pregnancy, postpartum recovery, lactation, and pregnancy and infant loss.
Whether you're an experienced massage therapist, or just beginning to discover a passion for this work, we've created two pathways for practitioners who feel called to this specialty.
Caring for Women Through Their Most Transformative Seasons
For more than 15 years, Sparrow's Nest has been honored to walk alongside women and families through the sacred arc of motherhood: from preparing to conceive, to pregnancy, to postpartum healing, and through the grief of pregnancy and infant loss. We believe that caring for women during these seasons is some of the most meaningful work a massage therapist can do, and we're passionate about helping the right practitioners grow into that calling.
Because the Work Matters, So Does Who We Hire
Because this work is deeply personal and often emotionally vulnerable, our hiring process is intentionally thoughtful and selective. Clinical skill is essential, but it isn't the only quality that matters in this work. We are looking for practitioners who demonstrate professionalism, emotional maturity, teachability, presence, genuine care for the populations we serve, and a desire to develop professionally within maternal bodywork.
Whether you're an experienced massage therapist, or just beginning to discover a passion for this work, we've created two pathways for practitioners who feel called to this specialty to participate in our hiring process.
Pathway 1: Apply Directly
If you are a California Certified Massage Therapist, we encourage you to apply if you believe your experience, professionalism, and passion align with our mission.
Selected candidates who demonstrate strong clinical potential may be invited to participate, at no cost, in Sparrow Harrington's four day hands on assessment process, which takes place within her Pre and Perinatal Massage Therapy training environment.
This immersive process allows us to evaluate much more than massage technique. We assess clinical reasoning, professionalism, communication, therapeutic presence, teachability, emotional maturity, and alignment with the standards of care that define Sparrow's Nest.
Because this process represents a significant investment from our teaching and leadership team, invited candidates should have a sincere interest in joining Sparrow’s Nest if selected.
Please note: Participation in the assessment process is by invitation only and does not guarantee employment.
Pathway 2: Attend a Training Workshop
Licensed massage therapists and massage students are welcome to independently enroll in a 32-hour Pre and Perinatal Massage Therapy workshop taught by any authorized instructor, including:Sparrow Harrington, Pamela Guldi, Michele Holland, Margi Hadorn, David Lobenstine
Each instructor teaches independently and does not represent Sparrow's Nest. They are, however, authorized to teach Carole Osborne's Pre and Perinatal Massage Therapy curriculum, the foundational educational framework that has profoundly influenced the clinical philosophy and standards of care at Sparrow's Nest.
Many practitioners choose this pathway to deepen their expertise in maternal massage, regardless of whether they ever seek employment with Sparrow's Nest. Others later decide to apply after discovering a passion for this specialty.
Massage students are welcome to begin building a relationship with Sparrow's Nest via this pathway. Employment consideration, however, requires California massage certification or licensure.
Attending a workshop is not a prerequisite for applying to Sparrow's Nest, does not obligate you to apply for employment, and does not guarantee employment consideration.
Advanced Assessment
Selected candidates from either pathway may be invited to continue into an advanced assessment stage focused on:
- Lactation massage
- Induction massage
- Bereavement support
These are highly sensitive areas of care that require not only strong clinical skill, but also maturity, professionalism, discretion, and the ability to support vulnerable clients with presence and attunement.
Not all candidates will advance beyond this stage.
Introductory Employment Period
Candidates who successfully complete the assessment process may be invited to join the Sparrow’s Nest team as an employee. The first 90-days of employment are probationary, allowing both parties to assess whether the position is a mutual fit for continued employment while the practitioner continues to integrate into our clinical model.
During this period:
- The minimum commitment is one 8-hour shift per week
- Additional shifts may be added by mutual agreement
- Practitioners are paid employees
- Bonus eligibility and staff benefits begin if a 16 hour per week minimum is met after 90 days of employment
Continuing Your Growth at Sparrow's Nest
We hope Sparrow's Nest becomes more than simply your next job. Our goal is to help exceptional practitioners build meaningful, careers serving women through every stage of the reproductive journey.
Practitioners who successfully complete the introductory employment period and are deemed a strong mutual fit may be invited to increase their shift commitment to 16+ hours per week, at which point additional benefits and potential for tier advancement commence.
Team members commit to ongoing refinement, continuing education, professionalism, and collaborative care in support of the women and families we serve.
Employees are expected to maintain a minimum commitment of 16 hours per week and become eligible for bonuses, staff benefits, and advanced clinical development opportunities within the organization.
Apply for Maternal Bodywork Specialist PositionHow You'll Grow:
As you grow with Sparrow’s Nest, you’ll have the opportunity to develop advanced skills in:
- Fertility support
- Prenatal massage
- Labor preparation
- Postpartum recovery
- Lactation massage
- C section scar rehabilitation
- Bereavement massage
- Evidence informed maternal care
- Clinical communication and interdisciplinary collaboration
Our goal is to develop thoughtful, highly skilled clinicians who can confidently support women through every stage of the reproductive journey.
What You’ll Receive:
- Competitive hourly compensation plus tips
- Paid refinement training and advanced clinical training
- Mentorship from experienced maternal bodywork specialists
- Opportunities to specialize in fertility, pregnancy, postpartum, lactation, and bereavement care
- Employee discounts in our beautiful retail boutique
- Eligibility for staff service benefits and performance bonuses when committing to 16+ hours/week
- A collaborative, mission-driven workplace committed to clinical excellence
- A clear pathway for continued clinical growth as your experience and interests evolve
Our Mission
Sparrow's Nest is dedicated to providing the highest standards of evidence-based care in the greater Los Angeles area to women during their reproductive lives. From preconception through postpartum, we offer individualized bodywork and skincare that honors each woman's core desired state of well-being. Our greater aim is to elevate and honor the innate strength, health, capability, and wisdom of the female body, particularly during pregnancy, and to provide ongoing support during post-partum recovery.
Whether you’re already trained in maternal massage or looking to specialize in this rewarding field, we’d love to hear from you.
Some of our strongest practitioners didn't begin as maternal massage specialists. They began with a genuine desire to learn, a heart for serving women, and a commitment to clinical excellence.
If you’re passionate about serving women during some of life’s most transformative seasons, we invite you to apply.
Apply to Join the Nest Team