Hands-On Healing
Through abdominal massage and other bodywork, I help my clients experience relief from reproductive challenges, chronic and short-term digestive issues, emotional trauma, and a broad range of health concerns. At my home office in East Austin, I provide a safe space where I welcome individuals of all ages who are ready to take part in their own healing.
What is Abdominal Massage?
The centerpiece of my practice is abdominal massage, complemented by Belizean herbal remedies and spirit bathing.
Abdominal massage is an external, non-invasive massage that moves the organs to their optimal position and thereby relieves congestion. The technique increases blood circulation and nerve signals to the organs, and can address adhesions/scar tissue. Achieving pregnancy, relieving constipation, and mitigating menstrual pain are some of the most well-known uses of abdominal massage. In my practice, I integrate traditional Maya massage and European Visceral Manipulation with other modalities such as myofascial release to address a broad range of conditions.
The Benefits of Bodywork
Bodywork is powerful medicine. In decades of practice, I’ve seen my clients experience unimaginable healing and be saved from the need for surgery, invasive treatments, or an unending need for pharmaceuticals. I’ve helped couples become pregnant after long fertility struggles, resolved digestive issues in children and adults sometimes after a single session, treated elders with emotionally based ailments, and aided infants experiencing insomnia.
Successful Facilitations
Chronic Digestive Issues
IBS, Crohn’s Disease and Colitis
Female Reproductive Challenges
Pregnancy Issues
Insomnia and Chronic Fatigue
Anemia and Blood Sugar Dysregulation
Eczema and Skin Issues
Infant Colic, Insomnia and Night Terrors
Anxiety, Depression and Grief
Decades of Experience
I’ve practiced holistic health care for more than 25 years. I’m a licensed massage therapist and massage therapy instructor, as well as an applied clinical nutritionist, and a retired licensed midwife and childbirth educator. I trained in traditional Maya abdominal massage, traveling to Belize for over 12 years, where I gained many lifelong friends.
In my years as a midwife and massage therapist, I have felt thousands of bellies and provided countless healing treatments. My extensive bodywork experience, in combination with studies in herbalism, nutrition, Vedic astrology, yoga and yogic philosophy and meditation, provide me with a unique understanding of the body, mind and spirit. In decades of practice, I’ve found that physical conditions are often a symptom of more complex concerns. These are best remedied through a holistic approach and treatment of the whole person.
Complementary Healing Therapies
I’ve trained in multiple healing modalities, which allows me to customize our sessions according to your presenting symptoms, needs and preferences.
Craniosacral Therapy
Craniosacral therapy is soft-touch therapy that can be performed fully clothed. It promotes full-body healing by releasing tension in the soft tissue and the fascia that surrounds the central nervous system and organs. During a session, clients feel a profound relief from anxiety as a result of shifting the body out of sympathetic nervous system dominance. I use deep listening and intuition to focus on areas that call for healing.
Spirit Bathing
Spirit bathing is a meditative ritual and an integral component of Mayan health practices, where it is recognized that illness can be created by our experiences of fear, depression and grief. Typically done outdoors, you are gently splashed with herb-infused water while copal is burned and prayers/intentions are whispered, creating a profound sense of peace.
Cupping
Cupping is a traditional Maya healing technique, and one that’s also used around the world, from China to Africa. I use both stationary and massage cupping in my practice to detoxify, release “heat,” loosen tight fascia, increase blood flow, address pain and inflammation, and enhance relaxation.
Myofascial Release
Myofascial release is a gentle, hands-on therapy where pressure is applied to the myofascial connective tissue to eliminate pain and restore mobility. It’s commonly used to treat chronic conditions including menstrual, back, neck and jaw pain, as well as headaches.
Jin Shin Jyutsu
Jin Shin Jyutsu is a Japanese therapeutic "laying on of hands" practice that balances the body's energy by opening channels of flow through the body’s meridians. It promotes emotional equilibrium and helps relieve pain and acute or chronic conditions. Many clients report that receiving JSJ is like acupuncture with no needles. I incorporate Jin Shin Jyutsu as needed and can provide instructions for practicing the technique as part of your home care routine.
Reflexology
Reflexology is a massage practice in which pressure is applied to the hands and feet. It’s derived from the understanding that internal organs and body systems have physical nerve endings in the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet. It promotes both relaxation and nervous system flow, which is important for the health of internal organs.
How It Works
Bodywork takes place in person at my studio in East Austin.
Each session is tailored to your needs and is likely to include a combination of healing techniques.
Duration: Initial appointment is 2 hours, follow ups are 1 - 1.5
Pricing: $144 per hour
We begin by discussing your health history. (If you are a returning client, we will catch up on your current health.) This plática, or “little talk,” is an important part of our work together and provides insight into factors that are contributing to your current state of health.
I offer both indoor and outdoor treatment areas. Depending on weather and other factors, we may decide to use either area for treatment. During your session, you’ll undress to the level of your comfort and be draped with a sheet to keep you covered and warm. Your comfort is of the utmost importance to our work and the healing process.