Give Your Belly the Love it Deserves

When was the last time you touched your belly? Outside of caressing a babe in utero, most of us only touch our bellies when they are in distress—menstrual cramps, bloating—so it’s no wonder that “core strength” seems to be a rallying cry of trainers around the US. In fact, most professional massages don’t include the belly, and some massage students are taught the area is too vulnerable and to avoid it. The reality is that a trained therapist can address “common not normal” issues like poor digestion, painful or irregular periods, incontinence, and other maladies that originate in our middles.

We often see clients who mention things aren’t right “down there.” Our culture sometimes makes it difficult to even have the language to describe our ailments. Our most private structures can be compromised after gestating and birthing, or simply aging, and also can become a repository of junk, both physical and emotional. Holding space for both gratitude and dysfunction is an important part of reconnecting with our bodies. 

Maya Abdominal Therapy, as taught by Dr. Rosita Arvigo, is a wonderful therapy that addresses the whole container: the spine, diaphragm, abdominal muscles and organs, ribs and the space they inhabit. Our entire upper body is supported by the Cruciate Ligaments in the pelvic bowl that cross from side to side and front to back, creating the container that holds our organs. This style of abdominal massage provides gentle, external massage between the pubic bone and lower ribs to create space for the organs to return to their original positions and encourages functionality. An important part of the session is teaching self-care, so you leave empowered to create change on your own at home in 10 minutes a day.

Based on the idea of affecting the 5 Sisters: Nerves, Arteries, Veins, Energy, Lymph, Maya Abdominal Therapy brings increased blood flow and circulation to all the important structures that move through our middles like the aorta, vena cava and vagus nerve—the superhero of nerves. The longest of 12 cranial nerves, the vagus nerve is the height of a toddler, running from the brainstem to the colon! It innervates the ovaries and uterus, important organs for people preparing for or recovering from a pregnancy. The vagus nerve also affects internal organ function (swallowing, vocalization, heart rate, blood pressure), autonomic “unconscious” nervous system function (breathing, digestion), tactile skin response and possibly improving the intestinal microbiome. On the backside of the body, the sacrum is similar to a sand dollar, protecting nerves between two beautiful bony plates.

Specific work on the low back and sacrum helps align bony structures, frees stuck ligaments and energy, decongests the area for improved circulation and provides balanced pelvic support. 

Maya Abdominal Therapy techniques masterfully combine modern science and ancient healing practices. Most clients see improvements within three months with a combination of professional sessions and daily self-care.

The abdominal work Jeanne offers is from the lineage of Dr. Rosita Arvigo. Dr. Rosita Arvigo, DN established the Arvigo Institute of Maya Abdominal Therapy in 2004 and is a founding member of the new Abdominal Therapy Collective. She is a naprapathic physician and master herbalist who has lived and studied with traditional healers in central America for over 50 years. To learn more about Dr Arvigo and the traditional roots of Maya Abdominal Therapy, please visit RositaArvigo.com.

This post was guest written by our massage therapist Jeanne Mitchell. She loves to support all people with full body and belly health through mayan abdominal therapy with a special passion for supporting postpartum recovery and reconnection.