Maya abdominal massage and Chi Nei Tsang abdominal massage are more than just physical treatments. They connect the body and mind, promoting holistic wellness. These ancient healing techniques help release stored emotions and tension in the belly.

In this article, we’ll explore the transformative power of Arvigo Maya abdominal massage. You’ll learn more about the role of uterine position in the Mayan abdominal massage training. You’ll also discover the role Chi Nei Tsang in releasing emotions held in the body.

Tension in the belly can affect the entire body and potentially hinder our ability to move through life. Your abdomen is the core of your body. Everything branches out from this central point. Therefore, releasing tension in the abdomen can help improve your overall health. Most people don’t realize that their unprocessed emotions are stored in the digestive system, waiting to be addressed. Poor emotional digestion is one reason for ill health, as emotional blockages hinder the flow of good energy physically. For instance, I’ve experienced relief from chronic neck pain when my belly was massaged. I’ve also cried during treatment, not out of pain, but relief, as the sadness I carried around for years was finally released. I felt less guarded and lighter afterward (albeit confused about salty discharge streaming from my eyes!).

These powerful emotional and physical healing experiences motivated me. They led me to concentrate my training on abdominal bodywork. I also focus on the connection between the mind and body. I often incorporate various types of bodywork into a single session. This depends on what is best for the client at that time.

I have received certification in several modalities.  The quest to learn more about abdominal massage and how the energy of unprocessed emotions manifests in the body initially led me to  Chi Nei Tsang, also known as Chinese Abdominal Massage.
This, in turn, led me to the Arvigo Techniques of Maya Abdominal Therapy®, also known to some as Mayan Abdominal Massage. My curiosity led me to spend years studying Visceral Manipulation™, Functional Methods, craniosacral therapy, Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), and Restorative Exercise. I found that these practices can be effectively woven together to meet an individual’s needs. In this article, I will discuss two methods I have learned. These are the Arvigo Techniques of Maya Abdominal Therapy® and Chi Nei Tsang.

Arvigo Techniques of Maya Abdominal Therapy® (ATMAT) combines ancient Maya healing techniques with herbology and naprapathy (advanced bodywork science focused on ligaments). Although ATMAT shines when it comes to reducing pelvic congestion by realigning the uterus, it is also effective for male reproductive health and for women who have had hysterectomies.

When the Uterus Strays

Tilted uteri are pretty common, and there are many degrees of “tipped”. Some tipped uteri don’t cause problems, and some do. It really depends on the degree of flexion or angle and whether the uterus is stuck in any one position. Consider this: your uterus weighs about four ounces and can swell to eight to ten ounces right before and during your period—that’s a lot of potential extra weight on your rectum, bladder, blood vessels, or nerves. The uterus is positioned between the bladder and the rectum, so when tipped forward, you might experience frequent urination; if tipped back, your uterus might be leaning up against the rectum, which may cause thin stools and/or constipation. Your uterus may also lean to the left or right, and other symptoms caused by a displaced uterus range from painful/irregular periods, fertility challenges, headaches, ovarian cysts, back pain, difficult pregnancy, PMS, and fibroids. Many women have or will experience such symptoms and would undoubtedly benefit from ATMAT to enjoy optimum health.

 When positioned correctly, your uterus will function more efficiently, allowing for optimal blood, lymph, and energy flow. Remember that your organs work as a team. For instance, the liver regulates all flows in the body, including the menstrual cycle. This is where Chi Nei Tsang comes into play.

Chi Nei Tsang (CNT) is a type of bodywork that has been used for thousands of years. It was practiced by Taoist monks in China to strengthen and purify their bodies. This practice supported their journey toward enlightenment. The practice includes abdominal massage, breath work, and Chi Kung principles. These methods help cleanse and purify internal organs from toxins and emotional stress.

CNT can help flush toxins from the liver, lymph, kidneys, and colon, improve digestion and assimilation, aid elimination, stimulate the lymphatic and circulatory systems, relieve back, shoulder, and muscle tension, improve breathing restrictions, increase vitality, and clear unprocessed emotions. We can all benefit from these positive changes in our bodies, which support our minds and spirits.

Your Emotions Physically Manifested

Not only do your organs function as a team, but each major organ holds energy, which manifests differently depending on whether it is in balance or not.  For example, the liver holds feelings of kindness and generosity when in balance, or anger and frustration when not.

CNT practitioners can teach how to transform these “negative” energies.  And, one way to begin this transformation is through sound.

Healing Sounds for Your Organs

Each organ responds to a particular sound—a unique vibrational quality—that, when made, helps release stored stress. CNT utilizes such healing sounds to assist in the release of both emotional and physical stress from the internal organs.  For instance, when you make the healing sound shhhhh, your liver will respond positively.

The daily recommendation is to make each sound three to six times. An old Taoist saying offers: “If you make the liver sound 36 times and you’re still angry at someone, you have the right to slap them.” (Just kidding! Please don’t slap anyone. You likely will not be angry after ssssshing 36 times, but if so, see a certified CNT practitioner for support.)  After making the sound, position your smile toward the corresponding organ, in this case, the liver.  Place your hands in your lap, palms up, and direct your smile towards your liver as if smiling to a good friend, sending all that love inward.

You can learn more about healing organ sounds, corresponding emotions, and chi kung positions for each organ in the book Taoist Ways to Transform Stress into Vitality: The Inner Smile * Six Healing Sounds
Tapping Into Your Body’s Wisdom

Engaging in healthy practices to address the root of daily distress can provide a lasting, positive impact. CNT and ATMAT are more than belly rubs—personally, abdominal massage has helped me in many ways, but above all, it has taught me to listen to my internal wisdom.  These treatments allow us to reconnect with parts of ourselves that we have been cut off from both emotionally and physically, so we can live life more fully in the present.

Don’t have a practitioner near you? No problem. I’ve developed several online courses to teach you how to do abdominal massage on yourself safely. Although I no longer teach for the Arvigo Institute or instruct in Maya abdominal massage, I have developed comprehensive abdominal massage courses based on 26 years of experience in the healing arts field.  Learn self-abdominal massage in one of my online abdominal therapy classes.

Author: Barbara Horsley has more than 26 years of experience as a licensed massage therapist. She specializes in abdominal massage and Visceral Manipulation™ and is an NCBTMB-approved educator. In addition to being certified in abdominal massage, she also studied biomechanics and restorative exercise. She is also a Certified Women’s Herbal Educator and a graduate of the IWHI Perimenopause & Menopause Certificate Program.