This is an article I wrote for Walnut Magazine
Vital life force circulates through our body using 5 channels of flow: arteries, veins, lymph, nerves and energy. The integrated flow of these forces is called homeostasis or balance within. Our human system is created to be self-regulating, self-healing and self-repairing. However, this active state of health is dependent upon the unobstructed, unrestricted flow of these five essential channels. When blocked or restricted, the result can be inflammation, pain or disease.
All indigenous cultures intuitively know good flow to be fundamental in staying healthy and vital. They use many methods to maintain this homeostasis, a common one being massage. Abdominal massage plays such an important role in maintaining health that you can find similar versions in all corners of the world. The Maya in Central America have long practiced abdominal massage to help digestion, circulation, fertility and sexual function.
The Arvigo Techniques of Maya Abdominal Therapy® also known as Arvigo® Therapy, is an effective combination of ancient and modern wisdom created by Chicago born Dr. Rosita Arvigo, herbalist and naprapath (similar to an osteopath) after she met and apprenticed with Don Elijio Panti an important Maya Shaman in Belize in the early 1980s. At this time in Belize the use of traditional folk healing was on the decline with few interested in learning the traditional ways. Panti, already in his 80’s had accepted that he could not find an apprentice when a chance meeting brought these two inspirational people together. At first Panti was reluctant to teach Dr. Arvigo as she was a Gringa — a foreign lady, but she proved how dedicated she was, by sending a year making the day long trek, deep into the Belizean rainforest to help him collect and prepare the medicinal herbs before Panti had a dream-vision telling him he had finally found the apprentice he had been looking for.
Dr. Arvigo spent the next 13 years learning by Panti’s side until his death, observing and assisting with his treatments and spiritual ceremonies as well as learning to identify, collect and prepare sacred traditional herbal medicines. Don Elijio Panti was eager for this ancient form of healing not be lost, so his dying wish was for Dr. Arvigo to dedicate her life, as he had his as a healer, to his community and to pass on these healing traditions for future generations. During this time Dr. Arvigo also worked alongside traditional Maya midwives learning the unbroken ancient Maya traditions of supporting women through pregnancy, childbirth and post partum support. She blended her western knowledge of the body, its structures and functions with traditional Maya folk medicine developing them into the Arvigo Techniques of Maya Abdominal Therapy®. For the past 30 years she has been true to her promise to Panti, making her home in Belize, treating those who come searching for healing at her clinic and running bush camps where children come to learn traditional Maya methods of healing. She developed the foundations for a training program that has grown and been developed into the Arvigo Institute which now offers comprehensive training in this therapy for professional therapists as well as traditional Maya healing, in classes all around the world.
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