The origin of Abdominal Therapy is rich, here is the story of how this work came to be….
Honoring a Lineage
Rosita Arvigo is the beautiful woman who has devoted her lifetime to bringing this lineage and work forward. She was living and practicing Herbalism and Naprapathy at a small clinic in San Ignacio in the 80’s when she was divinely connected with the medicine man Don Elijio Panti. Don Elijio Panti was a powerful healer, herbalist and shaman who was known for curing illness and disease that medicine could not touch. People from local and faraway villages would come visit for his treatments and have miraculous results from working with him. As soon as Rosita met this man she knew that she needed to learn from him, and so she started visiting and helping him at his clinic 5 miles away for a full year before he finally agreed to her request to be his apprentice with the agreement that she would continue to keep his work alive, and help his people after he was gone. Rosita worked with Don Elijio Panti for 13 years before his passing in 1996 at the age of 103 and since then she has worked diligently to cultivate organizations, educational programs and conservation spaces to preserve the brilliance of this man and his teachings as she had promised. Rosita is the co-founder of The Abdominal Therapy Collective
To learn more about Rosita Arvigo’s rich history and her abundance of accomplishments visit her website https://rositaarvigo.com/about/my-story/. Check out the many fantastic books she has written, learn more about education opportunities and read more about her efforts in continuing to support the local village community with programming and preservation.
Why I am not calling my offering Mayan Abdominal Massage…
Traditionally, this work has been known as “Mayan Abdominal Massage” as the lineage of this work comes from the Mayan medicine man Don Elijio Panti as he passed onto his apprentice Rosita Arvigo. However, with the intention to bring due respect to the Mayan people, who did not consent to this term, the organization that I trained under “The Abdominal Therapy Collective” is actively trying to shift the nomenclature. On my website and marketing I will be referring to this work as simply Abdominal Therapy to support this process, and I want to clarify for prospective clients that this is the same lineage of work passed down from Rosita Arvigo, Miss Hortense Robinson and Don Elijio Panti. Thank you for doing your part in supporting me in actively shifting how we refer to this therapeutic modality.
How does Abdominal Therapy work?
Abdominal Therapy is a specific non-invasive procedure that addresses the exterior surfaces of the anterior abdomen from the diaphragm down to the pubic bone, and the entirety of the exterior illium, ischium, sacrum and coccyx. Treatment sessions last roughly 75 minutes. The practitioner is trained to assess and support the bony landmarks, ligaments, muscles and surrounding fascia of the pelvic bowl, abdomen and hip complex.
Abdominal Therapy optimizes internal flow and optimal balance through the principles of Homeostasis and Hemodynamics….
Homeostasis: Ensuring that the organs and the ligaments that support them are encouraged to exist in the ideal environment, in the correct position and in proper relationship to surrounding structures for physiological efficiency and vitality.
Hemodynamics: Improving the internal ocean of the body including NAVEL elements, through cultivating fluid movement and nourishment by using very specific strokes to promote internal harmony.
Abdominal Therapy addresses the components of NAVEL with every stroke….
N- Nerves
A- Arteries
V- Veins
E- Energy
L-Lymph
Rosita Arvigo
Don Elijio Panti
“The uterus is a woman’s core, if it is out of balance, her whole life is out of balance-physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually.”— Don Elijio Panti
Cyclical Conditions:
PMS
PMDD
Painful menses
Irregular cycles
Amenorrhea
Clots in moon blood
Polycystic ovarian syndrome
Trauma:
Impact to sacrum and hips
Sexual trauma
Numbness in womb space
History of high-impact sports
Birth trauma
Women’s Vitality Care
Menopause symptoms
Endometriosis
Uterine polyps
Uterine fibroids
Ovarian cysts
Bladder infections
Yeast infections
Painful intercourse
Cervical dis-ease
Uterine mis-alignment
Prolapse
Postpartum Recovery
Digestive
Constipation
Diarrhea
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
*Special Considerations*
There is a small list of lived experiences that would require further discussion before receiving touch. This includes: actively menstrating, pregnant or planning to conceive, IUD birth control, diastases, <3 months post cesarean section, <6 weeks postpartum, abdominal hernias or aneurisms, and tubal ligation surgery.
Abdominal Therapy can provide relief and support for the following symptoms + dis-ease states:
Abdominal Therapy is more than Bodywork…
YAM “Your Abdominal Massage”
During our initial consultation session I will teach you a modified version of the protocol to be practiced at home with a scheduled frequency based on what is showing up in your body
Bodywork
It is recommended that we meet for the full 75 minute protocol once every 3-6 weeks depending on what is presenting
Castor Oil Packs
I may recommend regular Castor Oil Packs. Castor Oil helps break up stagnation and relieve congestion specifically in the liver, intestine, uterus, ovaries, stomach, gallbladder and sacrum. It has the superpower of breaking up cysts, releasing adhesions and scar tissue build up, improve blood flow and invigorate the lymph.
Womb Steaming (Yoni Steaming)
This is another at-home practice that involves herbal steam baths for your vulva + reproductive organs. With consistency, this may improve blood flow, eliminate chronic infection, support pelvic ligaments and restore harmony within your cycle.
How Long Will We Work Together?
If you consider how long it took for these subtle changes and energies to manifest into dis-ease in the body, perhaps you can imagine that the process of bringing restoration back can take time. The professional organization that I trained under, The Abdominal Therapy Collective suggests that consistency over a three to six month consisting of monthly treatments + follow-through on the at-home practices proves to be the most effective in shifting towards optimal health and harmony. This path takes motivation, a strong will, and patience. I am so certain that if you devote this time to your womb space, and show up in the ways we ask you to, you will be rewarded with a deeper connection to this powerful space in your body and a system that functions in the way that nature intended.
For some, after one session big healing occurs and for others it could take months. Every body is different and so we must meet each other and ourselves with grace in the process.
The Emotional Body
Without addressing the emotional body we miss a big part of the picture. It is now known through research that our cellular structure is implicated by our emotional state. Everything from the structure, to our hormones, our gut health, brain function and beyond shifts when we experience physical, emotional, or physiological trauma. Through this work, it is not uncommon for emotional releases, breakdowns and breakthroughs to happen.
For those of you coming to this work with a known history of unresolved trauma, I strongly encourage you to work alongside a trained counseling professional, specifically with a background in Somatic Experiencing. I am here to hold space for you, and let you know that you are safe. The potential for addressing both the physical and the emotional aspects to the symptoms you are experiencing in your female vitality is profound. You are brave for embarking on this journey, let your womb be your compass.
