Removing Stress in the World One Woman's Body at a Time
The Pink Treatments- Mayan Abdominal Therapy
"The Uterus is the woman's core, if it is out of balance, her whole life is out of balance- physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually."- Don Elijio Panti
During the 1980's, Dr Rosita Arvigo apprenticed with great Maya H'man (Doctor/Priest/Healer) Don Elijio Panti in Belize. After receiving her Doctorate in Naprapathy in 1982, Rosita, with her husband Greg Shropshire, moved to Belize to open a healing clinic in San Ignacio as family physicians of alternative medicine. Here she heard numerous stories of an old Maya bush doctor, Don Elijio Panti, from her patients, who regaled her with tales of healings that modern doctors were unsuccessful in. Don Elijio's simple uterine massage techniques attracted women from all corners of Central America to his humble hut in San Antonio, Cayo District, Belize. She determined she needed to meet this Don Elijio. As it happened Don Elijio also heard of an American herbalist in town and showed up on the clinic's doorstep. It was a meeting of the minds. He was looking for an apprentice, she was eager to learn- but she was not accepted as apprentice until she had proved her commitment to Don Elijio and his people of Central America (a full year after that fortuitous meeting). During her 13 year apprenticeship to one of the last known, genuine Maya healer/shamans, Rosita would learn from her maestro Don Elijio about herbs, prayers, treatments, massages, sting ray acupuncture and various forms of Maya spiritual healing. This was a lifetime commitment, one which she continues to honor, as she continues to live and lead retreats and Forest Bathing walks in Belize. Their inspiring story can be found in "Sastun" written by Marilyn Yaquinto, Nadine Epstein and Rosita herself.
Acknowledging the importance of these simple and profound techniques, Rosita brought her lessons from Don Elijio, as well as Miss Hortence Robinson (an herbal midwife in Belize), to the world, first through founding the Arivigo Institute and then to co-founder the Abdominal Therapy Collective. The Abdominal Therapy Collective (ATC) continues to honor Don Elijio, Miss Hortence and Rosita as they teach these techniques to practitioners around the world.
Mayan Abdominal Therapy is ultimately a massage technique of the abdomen. The foundation of the techniques is NAVEL Nerves, Arteries, Veins, Energy and Lymph- balancing the flow of substances through each of these systems. Working from the rib cage to the pelvic bowl, these techniques center and align the uterus, unrestrict the blood flow to all organs in the abdomen, encourage peristalsis in the intestines, unblock lymphatic flow and ground one's energy into the body providing homeostasis. They support and encourage the body to renew, regulate and repair. They are indicated for many conditions from Constipation and IBS, to Endometriosis and Fibroids. Have you heard having your period is not supposed to be painful? This is actually true! Women are supposed to bleed each month, yes, but the debilitating pain or even just the annoying discomfort does not have to be part of it.
These techniques were first introduced to me in 2012 by Christine Lee, Licensed Acupuncturist, RNCS, MSN, MAOM. I was (and continue to be) fascinated by Rosita's story and the profound healing one can receive from this simple massage. I began by taking the Self Care class with Christine the summer of 2012 I felt it would be a good technique to care for myself. It wasn't until my own health scare in 2018, with 3 ovarian cysts that had twisted upon themselves requiring medical draining, that I fully understood the benefits. I worked with Christine to balance my uterus so she was no longer leaning, constricting blood flow to my ovaries. I continued to work with the Self Care techniques after a diagnosis of Fibroids and Adenomyosis, and did not have any symptoms relating to these. No heavy bleeding. No pain.
They were just there (and confounded my doctors that I was not having symptoms). I can not say these techniques prevented me from having symptoms, all I can say is they did (and do) calm my stress and connect me once again to this amazing area of my body. With a renewed appreciation for all the lessons I have received from my Pelvic Bowl, I decided to take the practitioners level class with ATC and bring these techniques to you, my clients. I hope to connect each of you with your Pelvic Bowl, create a relationship with the creation energy in your ovaries and establish a dialog with your second heart, your uterus.