Mayan Uterine Massage

[isl247]

Just wondered what experience any of you may have had with this modality? (either training in it, or receiving it)

 

[tott1]

I've never even heard of it. What got you interested? Have you had any experience with it?

 

[Maribel C]

I know a nurse practitioner who does this work in New Jersey. Though I haven't had it done. She is able to help women (though believe it or not there is a version which can used for men, for prostate issues, etc.) who've been through C-sections and are dealing with adhesions, which may also be a problem for women with old hysterectomy scars. It is used for women with tipped or "displaced" uterus, uterine fibroids, as well as those dealing with ovarian cysts or endometriosis.

I did a quick cut & paste from http://www.arvigomassage.com
which is the main site for Dr.Rosita Arvigo who took up this method, some years ago. She holds a degree in Naprapathy from 1981, this is a system which deals with treating ligament damage to the spine, the joints & various organs, including the uterus. She is also an authority on Mayan healing & has 20 years experience as a Master Herbalist. Dr Arvigo is the person the nurse practitioner I know trained with.

From what I understand this work is amazingly effective. It cannot however be performed on any area where there has been surgery in the past 6 months or on women who currently have an IUD in place.


What is a Maya Abdominal Massage?
Maya Abdominal Massage is a non-invasive, external, massage technique. It guides internal abdominal organs into their proper position for optimum health and well being. The technique works by relieving congestion and blockages to improve the flow of chi and fluids of the circulatory, lymphatic and nervous systems to prevent the progression of chronic disease symptomology. Maya massage improves organ function by releasing physical and emotional congestion from the abdomen. This massage is effective for both men and women.


How does it work for women?
This external massage gently lifts and guides the uterus into its optimal position in the lower pelvis. The uterus is held in position by over 10 ligaments. Ligaments, when stressed or strained cause the uterus to become mal-positioned. If the uterus is mal-positioned, women experience a multitude of symptoms.


What could cause a displaced uterus?
Injury to the sacrum or tailbone from a fall, car accidents, etc
Pelvic ligaments that have weakened due to overstretching during pregnancy and birth
High Impact exercise, running on cement surfaces, high impact aerobics, etc
Lifting & carrying heavy objects before or during menstruation and too soon after childbirth
Time and gravity
Past surgeries
Weak pelvic floor muscles
Chronic muscle spasm around the low back and sacrum
Emotional armoring from abuse at anytime in life


What are the symptoms of a displaced uterus?
Painful or irregular periods; painful or irregular ovulation
Dark or brown blood at the onset and at the end of menstruation
Headache or migraine with period
Varicose veins of the legs and/or tired, weak or numb legs
Low backache; back pain with period
More serious imbalances including: Endometriosis, Uterine Fibroids and Uterine Polyps
PMS/ depression
Frequent urination; bladder infections, incontinence
Recurrent vaginal infections
Chronic miscarriages
Difficulty getting pregnant/Infertility
Painful intercourse
Chronic constipation
Difficult menopause

 

[AlwaysDepressed]

in hawaii they do that to. my grandmother could put to right the displaced uterus. or tilt it so women who don't want to get pregnant dont. about all the other claims never heard of them. a women in thailand, did a massage to heal prostate issues.

 

[Sageandscholar]

Very interesting! Thanks for all that information!

 

[Sad Blonde Knight]

I've received a series of Maya Abdominal Massage (back then it was called Maya Uterine Massage). It was very helpful for me in dealing with severe cramping related to endometriosis. No more cramping to this day, and I'm grateful. The best thing is that the practitioner teaches the client how to do the abdominal work on herself (it's surprisingly simple), so the client can actually feel the pelvic tension patterns and/or tilt of the uterus, and do moves to help the organ align itself.
The theory behind it is that the uterus is a woman's power center, and malalignment there will cause imbalance in her physically, emotionally, etc.

My practitioner trained in Belize with Dr Arvigo and it was a life changing experience for her.

Peace~

 

[Misty G]

MtnLionz, that's really amazing! I think teaching the client to do the work on themselves is awesome. What is the success rate though for getting a client to keep up with the work?
I seem to recall an article a few years back in one of the massage magazines about this topic.
Is it supposed to help with fertility issues too? How hard is it to find a practitioner in the U.S.?

 

[Alexa.Ann]

If you do a web search you can definitely find practitioners.
The one I referred to in New Jersey is Pat Chichon.
She is a certified nurse practitioner, homeopath & herbalist.
Her training in Mayan Uterine Massage was with Dr. Arvigo,
and she also has offered training for others.

I'm glad to have brought up this topic, as it seems to have sparked some interest. Also, thank you to mtn lionz for sharing your experience with it. I know it helped another practitioner I know who was experiencing bladder problems due to a displaced & tipped uterus.

 

[Raynay]

This technique was written about in either Massage Magazine or the AMTA Journal several years ago in quite a bit of detail - including pics of the women in South America learning / teaching these techniques to one another. It was fascinating reading at the time.... even gave detailed instructions on several methods of working so that, if you were of a mind, you might try the work on yourself / a willing subject...


Just FYI

 

[Jamie N]

A few years ago I read a book called 'Sastun' by Rosita Arvigo. It is about a woman who lives in Belize and meets a healer and trains under him for quite a while.

Something clicked the other day in my head that this was the same woman who is helping to introduce the Mayan abdominal massage. The book goes into great length about it and anyone who is interested in this type of work might really like to read it.

She also has a website and sells tinctures made from medicinal plants in Belize. Both her and her husband are really involved in saving plants that may be important for the health. She has a deal with logging companies--they let her know in advance before they destroy rainforest for clearing and she goes in there and collects all the medicinal plants she is familiar with to make tinctures out of them.

She has also sent many plant samples to the US to be tested and many of them show promising substances that are being looked into for modern medicines.

Her website is: http://www.arvigomassage.com

 

[*******Mel******* of DOOM]

My friend just trained in this, and her practice has been taking off with new clients. I am looking forward to trading with her and experiencing it... those of us without a uterus can still benefit from it thankfully

 

[Mrs.Tucker]

Update: I finally experienced the Arvigo Maya Abdominal Massage work today!

Very interesting experience... it wasn't just abdominal work, there was glute, sacral, and lumbar work involved which was very nice, deep and specific. Also stretches based on applying pressure to the ischial tuberosities.

The abdominal work was thorough and consisted mostly of deep stripping, point work similar to Chi Nei Tsang, and some interesting twisting techniques that felt *amazing* in my area of tension (my descending colon is being held hoseforum.xxxe by my sympathetic nervous system ).

The self care was based on the work received, and is very easy. A pattern of repeated stripping toward the navel, from both the ribcage and the pubic symphysis.

The work was integrated with my practitioner's other styles, so I got work done on my back, neck, and feet as well.

 

[Balu]

Sounds like really effective work. I had a little bit of this done about 3 years before I started massage school. It was really helpful and I don't even tend to have abdominal issues.

I've thought ever since about training in the method, as well as finding a practitioner. (Would you PM me contact info for you person in SF? I may get down there someday. Also, is she accessible by muni?)

 

[Aleicia]

Done

Any timeframe on an SF visit?

 

[tenny_the_true_gaian]

I wish. Maybe not until next spring. I really need to get out of town and have been looking for CE classes that I "MUST" have... either in SF, Seattle or Vegas. My list includes Mayan Abdominal, anything by Waslaski, Dalton or Lowe, or NMT.

 

[zsiuj8j8]

I've always been curious about Mayan Abdominal Massage. EgoMagickian, thanks for sharing your experience with us!

 

[lonely_soul]

Rosita is teaching the Mayan work at Heartwood very soon, and the practitioner I received from is going to TA the class. There may be spots left It's not a big city, but it's beautiful...

Blisss, quite welcome. I would love to see more "trip reports" from folks when they experience a less common modality.