Abdominal sacral massage is massage of the abdomen (stomach) and sacral (lower back) region.
When your body builds up toxins and gas around the muscles and ligaments of the lower body, an abdominal sacral massage can relieve the symptoms of irregular periods, bloating, constipation, ovulation problems, polycystic ovaries, endometriosis, lower back pain and fibroids to name just a few. I use deep tissue, pressure points and rebozo techniques on the abdomen and sacral area to create releases and that aims to encourage repositioning of the internal organs. This may take more than one treatment. These three techniques, when combined, allow for much deeper energy release.
“Gut feelings influence your mood and well-being” – Adam Hadhazy
The enteric nervous system is a mesh-like network of neurons that lines the entire digestive track. It causes the sensation of nervous butterflies or a pit in your stomach that are innate parts of our psychological stress responses. Up to 90 percent of the cells involved in these responses carry information to the brain rather than receiving messages from it, making your gut as influential to your mood as your head is.
Changing one’s diet could well benefit far more than your waistline and having an abdominal massage can directly work on calming the mind and improve memory and even reduce social anxiety. The science on the gut-brain connection is still young, especially as it relates to our mood.
Benefits to digestion
Abdominal sacral massage can give a stressed digestive system the reboot it needs and help with weight loss. It is a known fact that the food that your body struggles to digest can actually stay in the colon for months or even years. Abdominal sacral massage:
- Stimulates the abdominal organs and helps to keep everything moving smoothly
- Increases blood circulation in the abdominal region thus improving absorption of nutrients from the food we intake
- Improves sluggish digestive system, which relieve flatulence (gas) and improve bowel movement; relieves constipation and reduce the need for long-term laxative medicine
- Helps heal indigestion, nausea, vomiting and the adverse effects of overeating
Benefits to fertility for women
Women’s reproductive systems are complex and intricate, which can lead to issues from milder forms of PMT to more complex conditions such as endometriosis and fibroids and difficulty conceiving. In the abdomen all the muscles including the pelvic floor, organs and connective tissue share the same neural inputs and there are ligaments that connect the sacrum to the uterus.
If either are misaligned it will, in turn, misalign the other. If one organ is misaligned it impinges on the circulation in the area and will lead to a reduction in blood flow, nutrients and oxygen to the abdomen which can have a huge impact on fertility.
Old adhesions from invasive procedures to the pelvic and abdominal area, including fibroid tumours, endometriosis, and caesarean delivery are lessened when abdominal massage techniques are applied and hopefully they can be reduced in time.
When reproductive organs shift, they can constrict normal flow of blood and lymph, and disrupt nerve connection. Having an abdominal sacral massage helps to restore the natural balance of the body in the pelvic area and the surrounding organs, not only for healthy digestion but also for fertility and restore natural rhythm of the menstrual cycle.
It flushes out toxins, restores nutrients that help balance hormones to normal order. This is essential for healthy pregnancy, labour and delivery.
Benefits for men
Men, like women, benefit hugely from abdominal sacral massage and it increases their chances of producing healthier sperm. It’s non-invasive and helps to reposition the internal organs that may have been shifted, thereby restricting the flow of blood and lymph.
Men benefit greatly from this technique. By ensuring a full blood supply to the prostate, abdominal massage helps to prevent swelling and inflammation. Not only does the massage relieve prostate swelling, but it also helps alleviate varicose veins, premature ejaculation, some impotency problems and the need to urinate frequently.
However, it is not suitable:
- Just before or during a bleed
- If you have coil fitted
- During first trimester of pregnancy
- If you’ve had a recent abdominal surgery
- If you have any infection or high temperature
What to expect from a treatment
You’ve receive a full and detailed consultation before the treatment begins, checking for any contraindications. You will then be asked to undress and lie on the couch faced down under the towels. Treatment commences with a back and gluteal massage to release tension and increase blood flow – this uses techniques incorporating pressure points and deep tissue.
You’ll then turn over and lie on your back. The therapist will massage the abdominal area, which includes the digestive system and area around the lower pelvis. The therapist will then use rebozo techniques to finish the treatment, which will induce deep relaxation. They’ll also provide selfcare and homecare advice after the treatment.
During the treatment you may feel some discomfort or tenderness or textures in certain parts of body been worked on. This is completely normal and helps to release energy and realign the body. The treatment time is typically 60 or 90 minutes.
Anna Barry holds The Arvigo Technique of Maya Abdominal Therapy Certificate in Self Care and a Certificate in Abdominal Sacral Massage.
For Anna Barry’s treatment schedule at triyoga Chelsea and to book appointment, click here.
