Introduction to Visceral and Abdominal Massage
The viscera are at the very core of our body, and are, along with our nervous system, a primary source of life. They are at the center of our structure, our emotions, our biochemistry, and our life energy. There are over 500 million neurons in the belly (almost 5 times more than in the spinal cord), and our enteric nervous system is a primary source of our intuition and "gut" feelings.
When we are anxious or distressed, our natural instinct is to protect our soft underbelly and "stuff" emotions there, causing multilayered problems throughout the body. The smooth muscles of the gut contract, pulling on the surrounding mesentery and fascia, causing not only gut pain, but back pain. In addition, surgery can create adhesions and multi-directional disruptions in the abdominal fascia and musculature. It is ironic that this vital healing area is often overlooked in massage.
The sensitivity and vulnerability of the belly is precisely why it is so receptive to safe, calming, and nourishing touch. We can soothe the enteric nervous system and the soft underbelly, sending waves of deep relaxation throughout the entire body. We can relax the smooth muscles of the intestines, which reduces pain, improves digestive function, and eases the fascial pull in the back and other areas of the body. We can sometimes separate post-surgical adhesions, creating balance and increased ease of movement at the very core of the body.
In this class you will learn simple and effective abdominal massage techniques that are easy to integrate into your massage practice. You will learn the basic layout of some of the area's major anatomical structures and how to identify, palpate, and treat them. This class will make your abdominal work more comforting, intelligent, and effective. You will be able to help your clients achieve deeper states of relaxation, relieve pain, improve digestive function, and help free up deep structural imbalances.
"I was expecting a belly massage class and walked away with a deep understanding of the abdomen. This class was incredible." - KC Johnston, LMP and Doula
“It was profound to receive these techniques and feel their power”. - Elias Darling
"I felt comfortable and happy. It was fun!” -Laura Muir
“I’ve been massaging forever, and I feel like I’ve learned so much today that I will definitely use in my practice. Honestly, I will feel like I’m cheating my clients if I leave it out!” -Fryth Rasar
Instructor: Brian Utting
CE hours: 8 CE hours (NCBTMB-approved for CE credit)
Date and Time: Sunday April 7th, 10am-7pm
Tuition: $180. Take both Saturday and Sunday’s classes for only $305.
Registration: This class is sponsored by the Therapeutic Training Center.
Click here to register for Sunday’s Visceral class.
To register for both Saturday’s Neuroendocrine class, and Sunday’s Visceral class, click here.
Regarding masking: We have moved to a hybrid version of the masking policy—there are different masking requirements for the lecture and non-lecture portions of class.
Lecture: During the opening portion of class, and during any lecture, masking is optional; each person can choose to wear a mask or not.
Masking is required during the non-lecture portion of class when you are doing technique or watching a demo. Please bring a surgical or N95 mask-- choose what works best for you, and consider bringing two masks.