ABDOMINAL THERAPY

Uterine massage first appeared on my radar when one of my friends told me her mom asked if I had learned anything about it in massage school. I hadn’t at that time - in fact what we did learn of abdominal massage was sort of brushed off with the attitude that most future clients might find it too weird to receive. Then in late summer 2016, I won a ticket to Iris Camp, a pagan music festival organized by Sunrise Hive and held at Lothlorien Nature Sanctuary near Bedford, Indiana. The festival hosted several workshops and local bands over three days in the heart of the Hoosier National Forest. The most memorable workshop I attended was titled Radical Women’s Health, facilitated by Mobie Jean Glaser and Claire Woods, who were sharing the bare-bones reproductive health care education people like myself were dying to hear. Looking back, there was so much packed into that brief time we had together, including an introduction to menstrual cycle charting, environmentally conscious menstrual care, and a call to be better informed about hormonal birth control methods. As a student midway through my massage therapy training and a female who experienced pain with menses, I was immediately astounded to learn of a modality of womb massage which could address and mitigate period pain, uterine alignment, and other menstrual struggles. In my ten years of experiencing menstruation I had heard many varied stories from other folks who would benefit from such a practice, too! And so the modality was added to my continuing education wish list.

Since then, I have been immersed in information surrounding all of the above mentioned topics. I enrolled in a class to learn Fertility Awareness Methods of Birth Control from Ashley Hartman Annis and have been charting my cycle to prevent pregnancy since 2017 (more on that to come!). I dove into a class titled Pelvic Anatomy for Prenatal and Postpartum Professionals hosted by Melissa Larimer in November 2017, then earned a certification in Claire Marie Miller’s Prenatal and Postpartum Massage the following April. I dabbled with applying abdominal massage with colleagues of mine when trading massages at That’s the Rub, usually when we were experiencing menstrual trouble and always with great success in relieving the discomfort. I received my first “Mayan Abdominal Massage” from Julie Mirise in March 2020 after a traumatic LEEP, and have since been using the self care techniques that come with this therapy to treat myself. When I was offered a generous stipend toward any continuing education of my choice by Bloomington Massage & Bodyworks this summer, I knew immediately where to use it.

Unsurprisingly, it turns out Abdominal Therapy is useful for addressing more than just concerns with the womb - it can affect everything between the diaphragm and the pelvic floor, including digestion, breath and posture. This means that this therapy is useful for bodies across the spectrum of sex and gender. The following is quoted from the Abdominal Therapy Collective, with whom I studied and am now a member:

“[Developed by] Dr. Rosita Arvigo, DN [Abdominal Therapy is] a profoundly effective combination of ancient healing techniques, innate wisdom, and modern science. [Dr. Arvigo] developed these techniques from her studies in Naprapathy, anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, massage, herbalism, and spiritual healing, from thirty years of clinical experience and the traditional healers she both worked with and learned from.

Don Elijio Panti, the great Maya H'men (doctor/priest) of Belize, was renowned for his simple uterine massage techniques that attracted women from all corners of Central America to his humble healing hut in San Antonio, Cayo District, Belize. Much of the abdominal techniques presented here come from him, as well as Miss Hortence Robinson, an herbal midwife in Belize, and close friend of Rosita's.

The primary cause of many reproductive and digestive complaints is a congested pelvis or abdomen, which, if unattended, will progress from symptoms to chronic disease. Abdominal Therapy supports the body's natural healing capacity and looks to resolve the root cause of disease. By improving NAVEL (Nerve conduction, Arterial blood, Venous blood, Energy flow, and Lymphatic flow), or the five systems of flow, it helps to improve balance within the body, improve hemodynamics, and support the body's self-regulating, self-healing, self-regenerating healing capacity. Removing obstructions and deterrents to healing allows vital fluids and energy to flow, revitalize, nourish, and repair our organs.

All genders may suffer needlessly from physical symptoms because of a congested pelvis, or displaced organs. Doing this Abdominal Therapy can relieve a plethora of gynecological and obstetric disorders, prostate health, as well as digestive and eliminatory function.

Centuries of empirical evidence have shown traditional healers how effective the abdominal part of this technique can be, and Rosita has spent a lifetime discovering the scientific, anatomical, and physiological basis that explain why it's so effective. Working on the anterior, combined with the posterior will improve digestion, absorption, elimination, and a slew of other complaints."

As with all massage therapy and the plethora of techniques involved in modern medicine, Abdominal Therapy alone will not heal a pathology. True healing comes from a holistic effort by the individual to live well. I cannot define what that means for you within your particular culture and lived experience - it is your journey. What I can do is troubleshoot with you and offer resources and comfort through which you may find your own answers.

Since completing my initial training in October 2021, I have personally experienced a change in my posture, improved digestion including relief from urgency around urination, reduction in menstrual cramps, and an improved perspective on the shape of my body. I have revealed and reduced a habit of clenching my abdominal muscles to hold everything in and appear smaller, relief from which has made space for deeper breath, more room for my internal organs to function properly, and a greater sense of self love and compassion. I have already seen clients looking for help with fertility, recovery from hormonal birth control, and digestive concerns, and like any good scientist am keeping updated with these folks to see how conditions improve.

I want every client to experience this work at least once to discover how the benefits will work for you. If you are interested in booking Abdominal Massage with me, I offer 90 minute sessions and will be happy to send you the long intake form via email. Please book a time that works for you or contact me to discuss further questions.