abdominal scar massage course banner

Learn Abdominal Massage for
Scars & Adhesions

Learn abdominal scar massage and mind-body techniques to reduce symptoms related to scars & adhesions.

Symptoms related to abdominal scars and adhesions include painful periods, abdominal tugging, digestive distress, frequent urination, painful intercourse, and back, hip, and shoulder pain.

Barbara Horsley

Save $50 Today!

Buy Now and Save

$149   $ 99

Powerful

“I used the skin drag technique from Module 8 (In the Free The Belly Course) and was really surprised how powerful it was. I felt release not only in the belly but in the whole pelvic area, lower back, and the legs. Thank you so much for sharing your amazing work, your gift of listening to the tissues, your knowledge, skill and the wisdom of self-care”
Ivana Demmel

Movement Kitchen

NCBTMB Approved ProviderBarbara Horsley is an NCBTMB-approved provider #1000347

When you take the Free The Belly Abdominal Scars course and the Womb Care course combined, you will be eligible for 14 CEUs approved by NCBTMB for home study self-care continuing education credits!

Connect

Abdominal Massage Therapist

Become friends with your belly. Learn to work through emotional charges & physical restrictions held in the belly while learning how to do abdominal massage for abdominal scars and adhesions.

Nurture

Peony

Work in partnership with your body while learning how to massage your abdominal scar & prevent further abdominal adhesions & scar tissue from forming.

Flow

Uterus in Pelvis

Abdominal restrictions can cause painful periods, frequent urination, constipation, and abdominal & low back pain. Learning how to do abdominal scar massage correctly can help reduce or eliminate these symptoms.

Comprehensive

“This is really lovely – worth it to get to know your belly better, or if you have any pain or have had any surgery in the past anywhere around the tummy area. It’s well researched, beautifully laid out and comprehensive. I bought it and really benefitted from the information and advice contained in it!”
Susanna Edwards

Course Features

5 hrs. of video instruction

Lifetime Access!

Printable Instructions

LMT Page

Q & A

4 ebooks

Work at your own pace

CEUs for LMTs

Course Modules

Module 1: Scars, Adhesions, Causes, Symptoms
Learn the ins and outs of scars and adhesions, how they form, symptoms and a nonviolent approach to working with adhesions and scars so that you don’t cause inflammation and even more adhesions!
Module 2: Issues in Our Tissues
In this module, you’ll learn how to read abdominal clues by looking at and connecting with your belly. You’ll also learn how to transform the energy from past emotional trauma held in the belly.
Module 3:First 12 weeks post surgery and techniques for organ motility & adhesion pr
In this module, you’ll learn what to do in the early stages of healing, but it’s also an important module no matter what stage of the healing process you’re in. Whether it’s a month or 10 years after a surgery. You’ll learn about which nutrients to take in for tissue health, and breath work techniques for organ mobility and adhesion prevention.
Module 4: The Layers
In this module, you’ll learn when and when it’s not appropriate to massage the belly. You’ll also learn how to listen to the tissues with your fingers. Just as you would listen to a good friend, with an open and compassionate heart.
Module 5: Listening Hands
In this module, you’ll learn when and when it’s not appropriate to massage the belly. You’ll also learn how to listen to the tissues with your fingers. Just as you would listen to a good friend, with an open and compassionate heart.
Module 6: Abdominal Massage Techniques
You will learn how to work with your scars and abdominal restrictions in a precise and effective way. These nine techniques go beyond the typical skin rolling techniques. You’ll learn to let the tissues guide you. These techniques can be done even if there is no scar for instance, in the case of endometriosis.
Module 7: Heat Therapy & Movement Practices
In this module, you’ll learn how and when to do castor oil packs and a belly release exercise.
Q & A Library
Topics discussed in the Q & A Library include uterine scars, mastectomy scars, over treating tissues, blasting tissues, pudendal & vagus nerves, Belly Map, energetics, pendulum work, & flower essences., and discussion on the “cement post” (that emotional holding area of the solar plexus)
Practitioners
Massage Therapists will deepen their knowledge of the abdominal layers, the anatomy of the abdomen, contraindications to abdominal massage, causes of diastasis recti, emotional holding patterns in the belly, and more. The practitioner page for LMTs includes video lessons on how to approach the abdomen, calming techniques, using flower essences on the abdomen, and accessing the breath.
Barbara Horsley Abdominal Therapist Michigan

Meet the Instructor

I’ve massaged thousands of bellies over the last 26 years, and I can honestly say each one is uniquely beautiful and has a story to tell.

I have a heartfelt enthusiasm for teaching people how to care for their reproductive and digestive organs, abdomens, and pelvic floors. What lights me up is seeing people connect with the inner beauty and wisdom of their bodies through these abdominal massage trainings.

Barbara Horsley

Learn More About Barbara's education & experience
Over 26 years of experience & training in the healing arts.

  • NCBTMB Approved CE Provider
  • Studied & certified directly with Dr. Rosita Arvigo in the Arvigo Techniques of Maya Abdominal Therapy®.
  • Was a teacher for the Arvigo Institute for seven years teaching self-care uterine massage.
  • Studied and certified with Master Mantak Chia in Chi Nei Tsang (Chinese Abdominal Therapy).
  • Completed Nutritious Movement™ Restorative Exercise Specialist program with biomechanist Katy Bowman.
  • Wise Earth Ayurveda manual therapies for women’s health
  • Craniosacral Therapy 1-Upledger Institute
  • Functional Methods (low force Osteopathic techniques)
  • Facilitator in metapsychology in trauma relief
  • Anatomy of the Abdomen and Pelvis; from basics to clinic (Coursera) by Universiteit Leiden & Leiden University and Medical Center
  • Holistic Nutrition Lab-Digestive Intensive Graduate
  • Understanding the Gut Brain through the Institute for Brain Potential
  • Certified Women’s Herbal Educator by Dr. Aviva Romm, MD
  • Certified IWHI Perimenopause & Menopause Certificate Program Graduate
  • Visceral Manipulation™ -Barral Institute

VM1-Abdomen, Liver, Stomach & Intestines

VM2- Spleen, Kidneys

VM3- Pelvic Organs

VM4- Thorax

VM5- Manual Thermal Evaluation

VM6-Visceral Emotional Relationships

L1- Osteopathic manual evaluation techniques

Visceral Lymphatic Balancing

Take $50 off Today!

Buy Now and Save

$149   $ 99

Healing

“This was exactly the support that I needed after healing from a cesarean section. My nervous system was frayed, and I needed gentle guidance on how to work up to touch. The exercises were helpful.”
Eva Galindo

FAQs

Who can benefit from this course?
This course is intended for people who have abdominal scars and restrictions related to common surgical scars, inflammation, or emotional holding patterns. This class is also appropriate for those who have no scar but have abdominal restrictions caused by inflammation, infection, endometriosis, emotional tension, or trauma.
The Free The Belly course is also wonderful for anyone who would like to get to know their belly better while learning how to do abdominal massage for abdominal scars and restrictions.
The manual therapy in this course is not intended for people with serious health issues, bowel obstruction, chronic inflammatory diseases, or complicated cases that include mesh, hernias, slings, surgical implants, intentional surgical adhesions, etc. If you’re unsure if this course is right for you, please check with your physician to make sure it’s ok for you to do self-abdominal massage.
Can I receive continuing education credits for this course?

Yes! When you take the Free The Belly Abdominal Scars & Restrictions course and the Womb Care course combined you will be eligible for 14 CEUs approved by NCBTMB for home study continuing education credits! Both courses must be completed before applying to take the quiz to receive your certificate of achievement. *NCBTMB only accepts four (4) CEs per renewal period in Self-Care. Your state board may allow more self-care CEUs per renewal. Please check with your licensing board.

What is the purpose of this course?

My intent for this course is to teach you how to reduce abdominal restrictions and minimize the chance of new restrictions from forming so that you’ll feel freer in your body, experience less pain and other symptoms related to the scar. But above all, I want to help you connect with the beauty and wisdom of your amazing body. This course does not replace manual therapy from a qualified professional. If there’s a professional manual therapist near you, it’s always best to receive treatments from them. I’ve created this course because I know there are people who don’t have access to qualified manual therapists and need a way to mobilize their tissues in a non-violent, respectful, and loving way.

Will I learn how to do the Arvigo® techniques, Visceral Manipulation™ or Chi Nei Tsang in this course?
No, the techniques in this course do not include any of those modalities. However, I have been inspired by my many teachers, trainings and 20 years of experience in the field of manual therapy. I do teach the Arvigo Techniques of Maya Abdominal Therapy® and Chi Nei Tsang, but only live and in person.
Is there any overlap material with the Womb Care course?
There’s some overlap because there are certain topics that, in my opinion, shouldn’t be left out and apply across the board. The videos that are in both courses are the Issues in our Tissues/Belly Map (20 minutes), Warm-up Techniques (6 minutes), contraindications/bolstering (9 minutes), and castor oil packs (10 minutes). Because of the 45 minutes of overlap, I offer students $50 off when they purchase both courses together.
The “Practitioner Page” is also the same for both courses and has been added in 2022 at no additional charge. The over 10 hours of Q&A on the Womb Care course is unique to the Womb Care course and is also considered bonus material.
How soon after surgery can I take this course?
You may start this course anytime in your healing process. However you should wait at least 12 weeks after a surgery before moving on to the manual therapy techniques. The time of complete healing may vary depending on your health and the type of surgery you had. Also, keep in mind that the skin incision may heal before the deeper layers, so check with your doctor to make sure it’s ok to massage the abdomen before proceeding.
How often should I do the self-massage?
This depends on your unique situation. Once you start to do the course you will get an idea of what works best for you. Your body knows better than anyone, by doing this course you will learn to connect with that innate wisdom. In general, I recommend spending 5-10 minutes a day, 3-5 days a week until you feel a freedom in the tissues and elimination of associated symptoms. Then check in once a week for a while, and eventually once a month.
Is there anyone who shouldn’t take this course?
The belly map exercise, and breath work, as well as most of the restorative exercises are appropriate for most everyone. The manual therapy outlined in the course may not be appropriate for everyone or during flare-ups or certain conditions. These conditions where self-abdominal therapy/massage is not appropriate include, but are not limited to, post surgery while the layers of the abdomen are still healing (get permission from you doctor before doing abdominal massage), if you have open abdominal wounds, acute diverticulitis, acute Chrohn’s disease flare-ups and acute colitis. This course is also not intended for pregnancy. You also wouldn’t want to do self massage directly over mesh implants, IUDs or other implants, sutures, or intentional surgical organ suspensions. If you are unsure about whether abdominal therapy is appropriate for your specific condition, consult your physician to see if abdominal massage is permitted.
Can I take this course while pregnant?
This course is not designed for pregnancy. There are just too many subjective variables that come into play to learn the techniques via an online course. On the positive side, the growing uterus provides some natural adhesion release as it grows. I advise waiting until after pregnancy to do the manual techniques. However, the breath work, stance, and belly map in the course are fantastic for pregnancy.
Will the techniques in this course make my scar go away?
The goal isn’t about reducing the appearance of your scar, although that may happen. My wish is that this class will help you not only reduce pain and restrictions but also help you become friends with your body.
What if you change or add more content?
By registering today you will receive lifetime access to this course. Which means as long as this course is available you will have access to the content and all upgrades.
Can I access the course from different locations?
For security reasons and to deter link sharing the number of IP addresses are limited per user. You can access the course from different devices, but not an unlimited number.
Is this a self-care course, or will I learn how to work on others?
This is a self-care course. The courses when taken together are approved by NCBTMB for home-study continuing education credits. The massage techniques in the courses are intended for self-care only. However, by taking these courses together, Free The Belly and Womb Care, the massage therapists will also deepen their knowledge regarding the abdominal layers, anatomy of the abdomen, contraindications to abdominal massage, diastasis recti causes and prevention, breath assessment, signs and symptoms of a displaced uterus, emotional holding patterns in the belly, pelvic floor education, and more. All of which can enhance how you work with clients.

Since I have many LMTs who take my courses to deepen their knowledge. I also have a bonus practitioner page for LMTs with a few video lessons on how to approach the abdomen, calming techniques, using flower essences on the abdomen, and accessing the breath.

If I do this course will I still need to see a manual therapist?
The techniques in this course do not replace professional help. A professional therapist trained in manual abdominal therapy will be able to help you in ways that can’t be achieved using self-care.
However, since everyone has varying degrees of restrictions, this self-care course may be enough for some people to reach their goals and/or create a foundation to work in partnership with their practitioner.

In addition to the Free The Belly, Abdominal Scars & Restrictions

Barbara Horsley also teaches the following courses:
Womb Care Online Course
Make Shift Happen: Constipation Cure
Abdominal Massage for Massage Therapists Mini Course

Abdominal Scars & Adhesions Massage Studies

Effect of soft tissue mobilization techniques on adhesion-related pain and function in the abdomen: A systematic review

Visceral massage reduces postoperative ileus in a rat model

Soft tissue mobilization techniques in treating chronic abdominal scar tissue

Privacy Policy

Terms & Conditions

Disclaimer

Nurturance, LLC ©2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED