Belly Therapies
Elizabeth's foundational belly therapy is based in Arvigo Therapy®. She is also a teacher in Arvigo Therapy®, Level 1 Self Care. She has trained in belly massage in several other belly healing forms explained below. All these modalities focus on addressing structural issues with the soft tissue, such as with the organs, muscles, ligaments, connective tissues, and nerves of the belly. For women this includes the womb, as it can lean, fold, tip, and even fall down (uterine prolapse). Belly massage literally combs out any knots and kinks in the belly so everything can work and flow better. If there is a mal-positioned uterus it too can gently and externally be coaxed back into a good, healthy position.
The aim of each session is to support the client's body back to balanced wellbeing. All the techniques described on this page are gentle, external, and sessions go at the client's pace.
Arvigo Techniques of Maya Abdominal Therapy®: This work is inspired by the ancient Maya belly massages practiced by the healers, priests and priestess of the South and Central America. The work was put together and formulated by Dr. Rosita Arvigo who studied with the Maya people and other indigenous peoples for most of her life. She has dedicated her life to keep this ancient healing art form alive. She standardized and made 'modern' this ancient technique to address the needs of a 'modern' lifestyle and went back to school and worked with other gifted clinicians to create something that could address all the falls and surgeries modern women go through. Woman of old didn't fall off bikes, horses, and skies or suffer automobile accidents like they do now.
Also Dr. Rosita's advanced clinical techniques (Elizabeth is trained in these) can address a retroverted uterus, by bringing it forward, and also reduce bone scar tissue in the low back (sacrum) area. All these techniques, when applied correctly, can be life changing and dramatically improve the quality of a woman's life, whether she suffers from intense menstrual discomforts, unexplained pelvic pain, constipation, urinal incontinence, fertility challenges, and even menopausal pain. The work can also help improve digestion and help ease tension in the belly.
Arvigo Therapy® Addresses the following
Female Reproductive System Digestive System
- Recurring bladder and/or yeast infections - Frequent migraines / headaches
- Prolapse (especially uterine) - Belly tension
- Endometriosis adhesions - Low energy
- Period headaches - Chronic constipation
- Menopausal pain - Restricted breathing
- Urinal urgency - Acid reflux
- Low back ache/pain - Diverticulitis
- Tail bone pain - Most digestive issues
- Incontinence - Adhesions
- Amenorrhea
- PMS / PMT
- Pelvic pain
- Fibroids
- Fertility
Elizabeth is a Practitioner of Heather's Gentling Method
Elizabeth has studied with Heather Bruce and incorporates what she has scope to practice in her clinic. Heather Bruce is an acupuncturist, naturopath and belly and hip therapist with over 40 years of specialized study and focus on women's care. In Elizabeth's clinic, this includes the use of cupping, moxa, skin rolling, and specialized hip care techniques to further unlock tissue issues. This work is focused on releasing trauma and stress in the body in a gentle and supportive way and in reconnecting the the bao mai and dao mai. Put simply, these techniques help reconnect one to his or her body especially after traumatic life events and are heavily based in Asian philosophy.
Elizabeth is also a Chi Nei Tsang Basic Level Practitioner
Chi Nei Tsang is an ancient belly massage technique from China that blends meditation, visualization and abdominal techniques to improve mood, emotions, detoxification, and digestion.
During a Session:
The foundation of any belly therapy session is Arvigo Therapy® but any of the techniques listed maybe used. Elizabeth uses what is needed on a case by case basis. It's best to show up not hungry but not on a full belly either. This includes not drinking a big cold smoothy before a session. Please empty your bladder if possible just before.
During a typical session, there is first a short 15 to 20 minute consultation at the beginning. After the consultation, the whole belly is worked from the top of the pubic bone to the bottom of the ribs. A home care version of the belly massage is usually taught during each first session and then the client is flipped over and the low back, hips, and tail bone are addressed. About 10 - 15 minutes is given at the end of each session for the client to integrate and ask questions. Supporting homework is given at the end of treatment based on findings.
Here's a short video detailing where I work during a typical belly therapy session: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeRsGRV2iMY&t=106s
Abdominal/Belly Therapies Are Not Suitable For
- Women less than 21 weeks pregnant.
- Those with present bowel or reproductive cancers.
- Those with an active pelvic or abdominal infection.
- Those that have had a recent abdominal surgery. You must wait 6 to 8 weeks before booking a session to give the body
time to heal.
Very Important to Let Your Clinician Know if You Have The Following...
- Abdominal mesh, usually used for hernia repair. Depending on the location of the mesh, belly massage may not be
suitable at all.
- IUD / Mirena / Tube Coil or any intra-uterine device inserted in the belly or womb area to control fertility.
- Sling
- Any other abdominal implant. If you are not sure, talk to me.
- Pessary. These can be removed before your session and re-inserted after a session, so as long as removed before a
session there is no effect on treatment plan.
The aim of each session is to support the client's body back to balanced wellbeing. All the techniques described on this page are gentle, external, and sessions go at the client's pace.
Arvigo Techniques of Maya Abdominal Therapy®: This work is inspired by the ancient Maya belly massages practiced by the healers, priests and priestess of the South and Central America. The work was put together and formulated by Dr. Rosita Arvigo who studied with the Maya people and other indigenous peoples for most of her life. She has dedicated her life to keep this ancient healing art form alive. She standardized and made 'modern' this ancient technique to address the needs of a 'modern' lifestyle and went back to school and worked with other gifted clinicians to create something that could address all the falls and surgeries modern women go through. Woman of old didn't fall off bikes, horses, and skies or suffer automobile accidents like they do now.
Also Dr. Rosita's advanced clinical techniques (Elizabeth is trained in these) can address a retroverted uterus, by bringing it forward, and also reduce bone scar tissue in the low back (sacrum) area. All these techniques, when applied correctly, can be life changing and dramatically improve the quality of a woman's life, whether she suffers from intense menstrual discomforts, unexplained pelvic pain, constipation, urinal incontinence, fertility challenges, and even menopausal pain. The work can also help improve digestion and help ease tension in the belly.
Arvigo Therapy® Addresses the following
Female Reproductive System Digestive System
- Recurring bladder and/or yeast infections - Frequent migraines / headaches
- Prolapse (especially uterine) - Belly tension
- Endometriosis adhesions - Low energy
- Period headaches - Chronic constipation
- Menopausal pain - Restricted breathing
- Urinal urgency - Acid reflux
- Low back ache/pain - Diverticulitis
- Tail bone pain - Most digestive issues
- Incontinence - Adhesions
- Amenorrhea
- PMS / PMT
- Pelvic pain
- Fibroids
- Fertility
Elizabeth is a Practitioner of Heather's Gentling Method
Elizabeth has studied with Heather Bruce and incorporates what she has scope to practice in her clinic. Heather Bruce is an acupuncturist, naturopath and belly and hip therapist with over 40 years of specialized study and focus on women's care. In Elizabeth's clinic, this includes the use of cupping, moxa, skin rolling, and specialized hip care techniques to further unlock tissue issues. This work is focused on releasing trauma and stress in the body in a gentle and supportive way and in reconnecting the the bao mai and dao mai. Put simply, these techniques help reconnect one to his or her body especially after traumatic life events and are heavily based in Asian philosophy.
Elizabeth is also a Chi Nei Tsang Basic Level Practitioner
Chi Nei Tsang is an ancient belly massage technique from China that blends meditation, visualization and abdominal techniques to improve mood, emotions, detoxification, and digestion.
During a Session:
The foundation of any belly therapy session is Arvigo Therapy® but any of the techniques listed maybe used. Elizabeth uses what is needed on a case by case basis. It's best to show up not hungry but not on a full belly either. This includes not drinking a big cold smoothy before a session. Please empty your bladder if possible just before.
During a typical session, there is first a short 15 to 20 minute consultation at the beginning. After the consultation, the whole belly is worked from the top of the pubic bone to the bottom of the ribs. A home care version of the belly massage is usually taught during each first session and then the client is flipped over and the low back, hips, and tail bone are addressed. About 10 - 15 minutes is given at the end of each session for the client to integrate and ask questions. Supporting homework is given at the end of treatment based on findings.
Here's a short video detailing where I work during a typical belly therapy session: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeRsGRV2iMY&t=106s
Abdominal/Belly Therapies Are Not Suitable For
- Women less than 21 weeks pregnant.
- Those with present bowel or reproductive cancers.
- Those with an active pelvic or abdominal infection.
- Those that have had a recent abdominal surgery. You must wait 6 to 8 weeks before booking a session to give the body
time to heal.
Very Important to Let Your Clinician Know if You Have The Following...
- Abdominal mesh, usually used for hernia repair. Depending on the location of the mesh, belly massage may not be
suitable at all.
- IUD / Mirena / Tube Coil or any intra-uterine device inserted in the belly or womb area to control fertility.
- Sling
- Any other abdominal implant. If you are not sure, talk to me.
- Pessary. These can be removed before your session and re-inserted after a session, so as long as removed before a
session there is no effect on treatment plan.