Abdominal bodywork

 

Our bellies are our literal center. And yet, more often than not glossed over, forgotten, disliked, or obsessed about. They are not usually included in your average bodywork session, and that’s a shame. Not only from the point of view of inclusion – the more of our body we include, the more whole we’ll feel – but also from a point of view of deep relaxation.

 

To start with the latter, your belly is the end point of the vagus nerve, the biggest parasympathetic nerve in your body. By gently massaging your belly we send signals up to your brain that all is well and safe, which in turn creates a positive feedback loop that will further induce a deeply relaxed, parasympathetic state which downregulates your stress (or fight or flight) response. Bodywork in general does this indirectly, but the belly is one of the few places where we can work directly with the autonomic nervous system. 

 

Having someone work on your belly can be a very vulnerable thing that, like chest and breast work, takes a certain degree of surrender and trust. But within that surrender a deep letting go is possible, as this is another way of using the body to signal to the brain that we’re safe. 

 

I’ve spoken about this elsewhere, but it bears repeating: we are a whole being, not just a collection of parts. The more our bodies are experienced as such, the better we feel. After receiving belly work for the first time, clients often say something along the lines of: “I realize now how little attention and care my belly usually receives; it felt so good, and needed, to have it included.” 

 

Abdominal bodywork can be incredibly healing, whether you have a complicated relationship (or no relationship!) with your belly or not. I’ve worked with people before and after birth, after miscarriages, after cancer or other medical trauma (stomas are not an issue), through all sorts of digestive issues, and as a way to reconnect with their body at large. 

 

Last but not least, there is something so soothing and grounding about abdominal bodywork that is hard to explain, but wonderful to experience.

 

If this appeals, please feel free to text me at (347) 693-9340, email me at help@woodstockmassageworks.com, or book an appointment. I’d be honored to bring your belly into the fold.