1.What exactly do you do with the belly?
Answer: This is hard to explain as the work is experiential, however I can tell you the areas I work! I work the whole soft belly from the top of the pubic bone to the bottom of the ribs. The work itself is a like a combination of lymphatic drainage, osteopathy/chiropractic (it’s not, but has some similarities), visceral organ manipulation and massage. Almost during every initial session, a self care massage is taught so you can keep re-training and healing your own body in-between sessions. With the time left over, the back, low back, hips and tail bone. All moves are focused on creating the optimal space for digestive, plumping (the ability of the bladder and colon to do their jobs!), and reproductive health. This includes all organs inside the belly and hips. All the work is external and gentle. The best way to describe the work is like hitting a reset button for the body.
2. Will a belly treatment hurt?
Answer: There maybe some discomfort especially in the beginning, especially if you are not used to having you're belly worked on, however, any kind of treatment should never be really painful. I like to give my clients a pain scale, 0 being you can’t feel anything and 10 being you are ready to run away or pass out. Discomfort should never be above a 7 and ideally, it’s kept way below between a 2-5. As the body and tissue gets healthier sessions feel better.
Remember, this is your session and you are in charge. If you want lighter/less intense or you don’t like anything during a session, or even change your mind, speak up and I’ll adjust, no problem! It’s important you feel as comfortable and relaxed as possible. This makes for a better more beneficial session.
3. How long will it take before I’m better? How many sessions will I need?
Answer: This is a common question. The answer is it depends. Every body and each circumstance is unique. What I like to tell people is to plan on minimum two sessions to get comfortable with the information. There is teaching and coaching in each session for your own self-care and benefit. For most people and most situations, a 4 session series is great to really support the body on it’s healing journey and get through unhelpful patterns that maybe present and need gentle retraining and coaxing.
If you are dealing with long standing endometriosis or undergoing IVF you may require a few more sessions. Very young people such as teenagers and children may only need one 45 minute session. People 25 years and younger often respond very fast to sessions and can get away with a 3 pack series, including initial appointment.
4. How often should I come in?
Answer: What seems to work best is for people to plan to come in once / week or once every two weeks for an intensive series of sessions for a few weeks. You can come in more than once / week but it is strongly advised to have at least 48 hours in-between sessions, 24 hours in-between sessions is ok too. It is not suggested to book any further apart than three weeks apart, however, even if you do end up booking further apart, you’ll still receive benefit from what you are able to fit in your schedule.
5. Why do you cost so much? Isn’t this a normal massage?
Answer: This work is no longer like a massage and the belly therapy work isn’t really like a massage at all. In regards to belly therapy, I have been trained in soft organ manipulation, bone, ligament, muscle, energy work and certified in three abdominal therapy types over the years which gives me a broad range of tools to work from. A belly therapy session is more accurately described as a combination of visceral manipulation, osteopathy and massage. This work is deeper and more energetically based than most standard massages and massage therapist. Also each session is unique to the person and what is going on in the body that day.
6. Do you work with men too?
Answer: Yes, men can receive the work too, even the abdominal work. Guys get the metaphorical plumbing issues similar to women and benefit from abdominal therapy just as much. Abdominal work is great for prostate health, digestive health, and just plain feels good. Both men and women benefit from this kind of work, however due to the nature of the work and the location, men maybe screened a little more than women. Men must come to the clinic during normal businesses hours. The therapy work offered is strictly therapeutic and non-sexual in nature.
7. Can I come in on my period?
Answer: Yes, it’s ok to come in on your period. This is a personal choice, however, let the clinician know if you are on your period as this does change some of how the work is performed during the the moon time. Also, for those coming in on their period, do not wear a tampon or diva cup. Please only wear a pad. This is very important and you'll be asked to removed your tampon or diva cup before a session if you do arrive with one of these in.
8. Can I come in if I’m pregnant?
Answer: If you are pregnant, you may not receive a belly therapy session until you are 21 weeks along. However, may book in a pregnancy massage, relaxation massage, or energy healing for you and your baby. It is suggested for other non belly therapy sessions you wait until you are at least 13 weeks along.
9. Can I come in if I have a pelvic infection or thrush?
Answer: No, it is not advisable to come in for a belly therapy session if you have an active thrush or pelvic infection. This is for your safety. You need to heal first but receiving belly therapy sessions before or after an active infection may lesson the duration and frequency of thrush and other pelvic infections, over time.
10. I don’t like having my belly touched, how will you work with me? Can you still see me?
Answer: Yes, you are some of the most common clients and I love working with you! I hear so often “I hate my belly being touched” or “ my belly button is so sensitive”. I’ve had great success with people just like you. Remember you control the session and we can go as slow and gentle as you need.
11. I’m really sensitive. My system is easily overwhelmed. Can you work with people like this?
Answer: Yes! Working with highly sensitive beings is a specialty of mine. It may help to know I’m also highly sensitive, so I usually understand this type of person very well.
12. Do you work with transgender people?
Answer: Yes, and if you’ve had a sex change, this body therapy work could help your body heal and transition more easily through the sex change. Make sure to book a session before a major operation or no early than 8 weeks post surgery, as long as no complications.
13. I have to go in for surgery, should I even bother to come in or when should I come in, before or after?
Answer: The best time to come in is before your surgery and 8 weeks after your surgery (if not complications) to further support and speed recovery. The Arvigo® Therapy Institute has statistics that show those whom receive Arvigo® Maya Therapy generally have a smoother surgery with less complications and heal faster. The abdominal therapy that I perform incorporates Arvigo® Maya Abdominal therapy plus other equally beneficial therapies.
14. What happens after a treatment? What can I expect and how will I feel after?
Answer: Most people feel a sense of being lighter and freer in their bodies and very sleepy / dreamy after. Some have more energy, but most are sleepy. Many report getting their best night of sleep after an initial belly therapy session. Plan on needing to go to bed early the day of a session or taking a nap after if you have the time and space.
During a next menstrual cycle there will usually be more menstrual debris and for men and women there maybe more drainage after a session. This is all considered normal and healthy.
15. How do I prepare for a treatment?
Answer: Do not come into a session hungry or full. Treat getting ready for a session like getting ready to go swimming. Its best not to have too much food or drink in your belly. Also don’t come in really hungry either. A small handful of nuts or a piece of fruit before a session is ok. You may eat what you want after a session.
Also if the weather is cold, make sure to keep yourself warm after a session. Have socks, a scarf and make sure legs, shoulders, hips and belly are protected from wind. The work is very opening and the body will be more susceptible to cold after a session.
16. What if I’m on IVF or about to undergo IVF?
Answer: This work is very supportive for those getting ready to undergo IVF or who are undergoing IVF. We’ll need to do the work around your schedule though. All sessions must be planned around egg collection and before the fertilized egg is implanted back inside the body. If not successful with implantation, we can start the treatment cycle over again with your IVF cycle until you conceive.
17. Do you offer Gift certificates for your services?
Answer: Yes, gift certificates are offered and custom created. Please provide the name of the person the gift certificate is for. Gift certificates for hands on body therapy expire within 2 months of being received by the recipient. Gift certificates for consulting services expire 1 year from issue.
Answer: This is hard to explain as the work is experiential, however I can tell you the areas I work! I work the whole soft belly from the top of the pubic bone to the bottom of the ribs. The work itself is a like a combination of lymphatic drainage, osteopathy/chiropractic (it’s not, but has some similarities), visceral organ manipulation and massage. Almost during every initial session, a self care massage is taught so you can keep re-training and healing your own body in-between sessions. With the time left over, the back, low back, hips and tail bone. All moves are focused on creating the optimal space for digestive, plumping (the ability of the bladder and colon to do their jobs!), and reproductive health. This includes all organs inside the belly and hips. All the work is external and gentle. The best way to describe the work is like hitting a reset button for the body.
2. Will a belly treatment hurt?
Answer: There maybe some discomfort especially in the beginning, especially if you are not used to having you're belly worked on, however, any kind of treatment should never be really painful. I like to give my clients a pain scale, 0 being you can’t feel anything and 10 being you are ready to run away or pass out. Discomfort should never be above a 7 and ideally, it’s kept way below between a 2-5. As the body and tissue gets healthier sessions feel better.
Remember, this is your session and you are in charge. If you want lighter/less intense or you don’t like anything during a session, or even change your mind, speak up and I’ll adjust, no problem! It’s important you feel as comfortable and relaxed as possible. This makes for a better more beneficial session.
3. How long will it take before I’m better? How many sessions will I need?
Answer: This is a common question. The answer is it depends. Every body and each circumstance is unique. What I like to tell people is to plan on minimum two sessions to get comfortable with the information. There is teaching and coaching in each session for your own self-care and benefit. For most people and most situations, a 4 session series is great to really support the body on it’s healing journey and get through unhelpful patterns that maybe present and need gentle retraining and coaxing.
If you are dealing with long standing endometriosis or undergoing IVF you may require a few more sessions. Very young people such as teenagers and children may only need one 45 minute session. People 25 years and younger often respond very fast to sessions and can get away with a 3 pack series, including initial appointment.
4. How often should I come in?
Answer: What seems to work best is for people to plan to come in once / week or once every two weeks for an intensive series of sessions for a few weeks. You can come in more than once / week but it is strongly advised to have at least 48 hours in-between sessions, 24 hours in-between sessions is ok too. It is not suggested to book any further apart than three weeks apart, however, even if you do end up booking further apart, you’ll still receive benefit from what you are able to fit in your schedule.
5. Why do you cost so much? Isn’t this a normal massage?
Answer: This work is no longer like a massage and the belly therapy work isn’t really like a massage at all. In regards to belly therapy, I have been trained in soft organ manipulation, bone, ligament, muscle, energy work and certified in three abdominal therapy types over the years which gives me a broad range of tools to work from. A belly therapy session is more accurately described as a combination of visceral manipulation, osteopathy and massage. This work is deeper and more energetically based than most standard massages and massage therapist. Also each session is unique to the person and what is going on in the body that day.
6. Do you work with men too?
Answer: Yes, men can receive the work too, even the abdominal work. Guys get the metaphorical plumbing issues similar to women and benefit from abdominal therapy just as much. Abdominal work is great for prostate health, digestive health, and just plain feels good. Both men and women benefit from this kind of work, however due to the nature of the work and the location, men maybe screened a little more than women. Men must come to the clinic during normal businesses hours. The therapy work offered is strictly therapeutic and non-sexual in nature.
7. Can I come in on my period?
Answer: Yes, it’s ok to come in on your period. This is a personal choice, however, let the clinician know if you are on your period as this does change some of how the work is performed during the the moon time. Also, for those coming in on their period, do not wear a tampon or diva cup. Please only wear a pad. This is very important and you'll be asked to removed your tampon or diva cup before a session if you do arrive with one of these in.
8. Can I come in if I’m pregnant?
Answer: If you are pregnant, you may not receive a belly therapy session until you are 21 weeks along. However, may book in a pregnancy massage, relaxation massage, or energy healing for you and your baby. It is suggested for other non belly therapy sessions you wait until you are at least 13 weeks along.
9. Can I come in if I have a pelvic infection or thrush?
Answer: No, it is not advisable to come in for a belly therapy session if you have an active thrush or pelvic infection. This is for your safety. You need to heal first but receiving belly therapy sessions before or after an active infection may lesson the duration and frequency of thrush and other pelvic infections, over time.
10. I don’t like having my belly touched, how will you work with me? Can you still see me?
Answer: Yes, you are some of the most common clients and I love working with you! I hear so often “I hate my belly being touched” or “ my belly button is so sensitive”. I’ve had great success with people just like you. Remember you control the session and we can go as slow and gentle as you need.
11. I’m really sensitive. My system is easily overwhelmed. Can you work with people like this?
Answer: Yes! Working with highly sensitive beings is a specialty of mine. It may help to know I’m also highly sensitive, so I usually understand this type of person very well.
12. Do you work with transgender people?
Answer: Yes, and if you’ve had a sex change, this body therapy work could help your body heal and transition more easily through the sex change. Make sure to book a session before a major operation or no early than 8 weeks post surgery, as long as no complications.
13. I have to go in for surgery, should I even bother to come in or when should I come in, before or after?
Answer: The best time to come in is before your surgery and 8 weeks after your surgery (if not complications) to further support and speed recovery. The Arvigo® Therapy Institute has statistics that show those whom receive Arvigo® Maya Therapy generally have a smoother surgery with less complications and heal faster. The abdominal therapy that I perform incorporates Arvigo® Maya Abdominal therapy plus other equally beneficial therapies.
14. What happens after a treatment? What can I expect and how will I feel after?
Answer: Most people feel a sense of being lighter and freer in their bodies and very sleepy / dreamy after. Some have more energy, but most are sleepy. Many report getting their best night of sleep after an initial belly therapy session. Plan on needing to go to bed early the day of a session or taking a nap after if you have the time and space.
During a next menstrual cycle there will usually be more menstrual debris and for men and women there maybe more drainage after a session. This is all considered normal and healthy.
15. How do I prepare for a treatment?
Answer: Do not come into a session hungry or full. Treat getting ready for a session like getting ready to go swimming. Its best not to have too much food or drink in your belly. Also don’t come in really hungry either. A small handful of nuts or a piece of fruit before a session is ok. You may eat what you want after a session.
Also if the weather is cold, make sure to keep yourself warm after a session. Have socks, a scarf and make sure legs, shoulders, hips and belly are protected from wind. The work is very opening and the body will be more susceptible to cold after a session.
16. What if I’m on IVF or about to undergo IVF?
Answer: This work is very supportive for those getting ready to undergo IVF or who are undergoing IVF. We’ll need to do the work around your schedule though. All sessions must be planned around egg collection and before the fertilized egg is implanted back inside the body. If not successful with implantation, we can start the treatment cycle over again with your IVF cycle until you conceive.
17. Do you offer Gift certificates for your services?
Answer: Yes, gift certificates are offered and custom created. Please provide the name of the person the gift certificate is for. Gift certificates for hands on body therapy expire within 2 months of being received by the recipient. Gift certificates for consulting services expire 1 year from issue.