Chona Perez, 90 year old Maya midwife, healer and community leader, San Padero la Laguna, Guatamala. Photograph by Barna Tanko.

What is Abdominal Therapy

An Abdominal Therapy treatment focuses on deep abdominal and fascial integration which assists general circulation and improves all-round health and well-being, paying particular attention to the abdomen, back and hips. It supports the health of pelvic ligaments and organs for everyone often resulting in improved digestive, circulatory, menstrual and sexual health. It’s all about stimulation, encouraging the flow of circulation of blood, lymph, nerves and energy. Abdominal Therapy’s aim is to assist in helping the body to gain and maintain its natural healthy balance called homeostasis.

Abdominal Therapy’s core message, is education. Understanding a problem leads to empowerment and ultimately long term healing. As part of the treatment a self massage is taught and encouraged to be performed every day at your convenience. This greatly helps to empower you in understanding what’s going on in your body at that moment. It’s a form of treatment and mindfulness meditation.

What happens in a treatment?

Your initial consultation can be via Zoom or in-person. We’ll discuss in detail your health story and goals you’re hoping to achieve. I’ll spend time demonstrating how to perform ‘Your Abdominal Massage’ (YAM) which is best repeated every day at your convenience. After we’ve practiced this together, if appropriate, we can discuss and demonstrate how to do further complementary care with the use of castor oil, perineum steam or supportive abdominal binding called a ‘Faja’. A follow up email will be sent encapsulating what’s been discussed, along with any other supportive information that’s appropriate.​​

Once the initial consultation has been completed, you’ll then receive your Abdominal Therapy massage, which incorporates the neck, abdomen, back, hips, sacrum, and legs..

You’ll need to allow 2.5hrs for your initial consultation if this is an in-person appointment (consultation + massage). For all other appointments allow 1.5hrs (online consultation or follow-on massage treatments).

As a basic 'rule of thumb’, I suggest an initial course of 3 massage treatments, one month apart, with a review at the end of the 3rd to see how things are progressing.

For effective results, I recommend that YAM is done daily, to enable the benefits of the work to continue and sustain your healing.

Abdominal Therapy’s unbroken ancient lineage

Abdominal Therapy is based upon the teachings of Dr. Rosita Arvigo, who has dedicated over 40 years learning from, and working with her local community in Belize near the boarder of Guatemala. For 13 years she worked as an apprentice for Shaman and Bush Doctor Don Elijio Panti, and other traditional healers including midwifes’ Miss Hortence Robinson, and Miss Juana Shish, learning ancient Maya healing wisdom. Dr. Rosita Arvigo has enriched this knowledge with her own understanding as an Herbalist and Napropath (similar to an Osteopath), developing a comprehensive healing system for everyone worldwide.

Dr. Rosita Arvigo remains rooted and passionate about caring and supporting her community, founding the Ix Chel Tropical Research Foundation, sponsoring school programs and Summer camps for Belizean children to learn the ways of their ancestors. As recognition and gratitude for the knowledge now held by Abdominal Therapy practitioners around the world, a tithe is paid to the Ix Chel Tropical Research Foundation by all those who come to learn Abdominal Therapy.

Prices

£150 Initial consultation and massage - 2.5hrs.

£90 Online consultation and Your Abdominal Massage (YAM) taught -1.5hrs.

£90 In-person massage appointment -1.5hrs.

I offer ‘buy 5 treatments and get the 6th free’ when bought as a block of treatments.