Posted on Tuesday 15 August 2006
Over the weekend, I attended a class on Maya Abdominal Massage Self-Care and it was amazing! I learned more about how the body works than in just about any other class, with the exception of Donna Gates’ Certified Body Ecologist training. In fact, the Maya Abdominal Massage class created an even more complete picture of what I learned in my Certified Body Ecologist training. My class was taught by Lucy Mitchella – who blends her skills in Ayurveda, herbalism, massage therapy and nutrition with this unique form of abdominal massage.
More Than Just Abdominal Massage
Thinking I was going to mainly learn a self-care massage technique in this class, I was surprised to learn amazing details about the body’s five systems of flow: nervous, circulatory, lymphatic and aterial circulation systems. And that’s not all – we also covered the chakra system and learned many natural health solutions, such as herbal remedies, meditations and nutritional strategies.
Natural Healing - Practical and Intuitive
While at times, one could imagine that natural remedies have more of a penchant for the intuitive and less for practical things like anatomy and physiology, this couldn’t be further from the truth. We poured over diagrams and charts of anatomy and physiology. We viewed “Sam,” the skeleton and put all the body’s systems together as we contemplated how our bodies work. One of my fellow classmates, a registered nurse, said that in this class, we were learning things they didn’t teach her in nursing school. She suggested that much of the learning was about the body and how to treat it with surgery or pharmaceutical drugs. So what happens when these methods aren’t working?
Stepping Back Into Ancient Traditions
When the doors of mainstream medicine close – and maybe for those averse to surgery or long-term medication – stepping back into ancient traditions offers many answers. Maya Abdominal Massage is one of these traditional healing techniques. A combination of ancient Mayan abdominal techniques and modern naprapathic techniques, this massage restores the body’s five systems of flow along with releasing spiritual and emotional blockages.
Another Level of Recovery
But what I received was even deeper than what I expected. I walked face to face into another layer of my recovery – my deep inner grief resulting from lack of nurturing. I’ve looked at this from many angles and keep coming up with the same thing — which I’d like to share with you here. My mother was a wonderful mother – very positive, loving and was obviously proud of me. Underneath that, as a very sensitive child, I was deeply aware of her own unfulfilled dreams as a housewife – and later, an entrepreneur.
A Childhood Full of Responsibility
And as an adult, I recognize that some of what she was teaching me as a child – responsibility – may have been an overreaction to making up for the mistakes her own mother, my grandmother, made. So I was making my lunch and doing the dishes at 6 years old. By the time I was 7, I was making my own phone calls to arrange meetings with friends, when others had their parents handling these details. By 8, I remember being alone a lot of the time, while my father traveled and my mother went back to college to pursue her degree. There were other scenarios, typical of an unpredictable childhood – but overall, I felt a sense of tremendous responsibility.
Emotional Armoring
Looking back, I realize this was the beginning of my “emotional armoring” – that rock-hard, frozen shield that shut down the functioning of my body’s center. The diaphragm is a muscle that lets our body’s 5 systems of flow through the top and bottom half. Each of these flow systems is responsible for our vitality – how our blood flows, how we detoxify, how we feel things and how we digest. Emotional armoring hardens the muscle of the diaphragm so that our vitality is blocked off. Imagine my surprise when Lucy did my abdominal massage and blood flowed to my feet and face? And when I felt the release of tension in my liver and gall bladder, causing a noticeable release of bile?
Breaking Down to Build Back Up
I struggled not to break down into sobs, which I must admit, I truly wanted to do. Instead, as one stray tear slid down my face, I channeled the release into my body — releasing the flow of life — which seemed to feel okay to me right then. What was really released in me, through Lucy’s talented, safe and gentle touch, was this deep inner grief. I came face to face with my inner child who felt unnoticed, uncared for and unloved. This inner child who sensed that her mother wanted to be somewhere else – living her own dreams – and created a mistake of the intellect. My mistake of the intellect was that I was unwanted. And so I set out to not just carry out what my mother asked me to do as a child – I started to do more, so as not to be a burden. The cycle was created – where I felt like if I worked hard, did everything I was asked and more perfectly – I would not be a burden.
A Foundation of Burden
Somehow, I didn’t start the game thinking I was loved. I started thinking I was a burden and I had to continuously make up for that burden. And perhaps, if I worked really hard, I would one day be loved. There is no way I could articulate or even really understand this complex issue as a child – which is why it was a mistake of the intellect. Somehow, this unarticulated belief lodged itself inside of me – and upon this, I built my growing years.
Healing Takes Time
I would like to tell you that this deep wound miraculously healed over the weekend, but I know that I have just begun to face this one. It’s not a story of grief, but a story of gratitude. My experience with Lucy and the beautiful, talented women who attended class with me, allowed me to connect with the ancient healing power of women. This connection to the feminine – the nurturing comfort, tradition and strength of women – was a gift in and of itself.
Mother Earth
And what can I say about Lucy Mitchella, except that she is “Mother Earth” personified. She is a wise, loving, nurturing woman whose talents as a Maya Abdominal Massage practitioner and healer are unsurpassed. She has a knowing, gentle touch and a compassion that allowed me to connect to this forgotten part of myself.
Physical Changes
Over the weekend, I made it to a new level in my recovery and for that I am grateful. And what I’ve noticed since then, on the physical side, is pretty incredible as well. After learning that my uterus was jammed into the lower right side of my pubic bone, it was released and with my self-care, I’ve been able to free up some space in that area, coaxing my uterus back into it’s rightful home. Could this be the reason I had a swollen lymph node in my right upper leg? Could it be why I experienced sciatica from my right groin down my leg? Could it by why my right toe has felt somewhat numb when I wake up in the morning and resolves during the day? Or why I have to get up to urinate several times before falling asleep? What about the ovarian cysts and painful ovulation on the right side? The answer is yes, it could be. So I am looking forward to seeing these things resolve with my continued self-care techniques. I am happy to report that my liver already feels less tender as I massage it each day.
Not Just A Class - A Healing Experience
Taking the Maya Abdominal Massage Self-Care class was all that I’d hoped for and more. It was a healing experience that allowed me to discover more about myself — and the miraculous human body. And it helped me remember my connection to the feminine – our power as healers and nurturers. Modern life brings so much stress, so many choices, that we forget. We forget ourselves in the rush to the next thing – and often, we forget the richness that life has to offer. I leave this class making new choices for myself and with a profound respect for the healing properties that surround us in nature.
Take Lucy’s Next Class!
Maya Abdominal Massage Self-Care Training in CT:
November – 10th 11th and 12th,
Lotus Yoga
192 Hartford Road
Manchester, CT 06040
Sign Up Now for the Self-Care Training!
To register for training, you can call Lucy, call the main office(603) 588-2571 or sign up online.
About Lucy Mitchella, LMT, D.Ay., Herbalist
Lucy, a former teacher of Transcendental Meditation and health food store co-manager, is an herbalist and Licensed Massage Therapist who has integrated all of her healing work with her Diploma in Ayurvedic Medicine. She has a private practice in Maya Abdominal Massage, Ayurvedic Counseling,Healing with Herbs and Plant Spirit Medicine. She also practices the art of handcrafting herbal skin care with her daughter, Ananda. Lucy and Ananda combine their collective experience to create the beauty and healing of Blissful Botanicals Skin Care.
Lucy has a genuine respect for the laws of nature and lives her life according to its rhythms. Her practice is in Manchester, CT, conveniently located next to an herb and tea shop, Useful Weeds. Lucy also treats clients in Marlboro, MA – at Earthsong Yoga Center – a few times per week. She teaches Maya Abdominal Massage Self-Care in MA and CT.
Products and Services Lucy Offers:
- Herbal consultations
- Ayurvedic counseling
- Maya Abdominal Massage
- Blissful Botanicals – natural herbal skincare products
- Rainforest Remedy products
Lucy is also available for phone consultations
You can reach her by calling her cell phone: 860-478-9585 or via e-mail: lucymitchella@comcast.net
Sounds like a very interesting experience all around, Heather. I could use that massaging/body work right now b/c I feel like I weigh 600 lbs. Maybe it could flush all my fat away.
I’m glad you had a such a great experience and have healed some more. It’s interesting how that could affect your body so much, as well as your mind.
xo
ptc
Hello Heather!!
I am so happy that you had such a wonderful time over the weekend.! I can’t wait to go for my appointment on the 24th. Thank you so much for sharing your experience.
Hi Heather,
The passion, enthusiasm, and gratitude really shines through in your post about the Maya Abdominal Massage workshop! How wonderful that you experienced such a release and began healing some of your old wounds!
I’ll be curious to hear if the symptoms you mentioned improve. I’ve been feeling for quite some time now that my frequent urination may be aggravated by the position of my uterus. I think I mentioned before that it tends to be worse when I’m on my period, and that I believe the cramping and structural changes in the uterus during this time may affect my bladder. I did, at some point, have an abdominal massage treatment focused on releasing my psoas muscle, and it seemed to help a bit. Maybe it’s time to seek out more of that - or just do more of my own massage in that area.
Thank you for sharing your beautiful experience!
lots of love,
Emily
Heather I think this is so amazing It brouhgt tears to my eyes I want to learn this so much I know that so much is wrapped up in my insides like that When I look at my hustory and my illnesses and this dam IBS and ED Please share more I will contact Lucy. Tom thought it was amazing He is going to ask around in the massage community if therapists want to learn But I want to learn to release the past pain like you did
Please please write more
Lots of love
KAren
Hi PTC, I bet you’d like the abdominal massage. After my massage with Lucy, I ate lunch and for the first time in a long time, I felt like my abdomen was it’s normal size. Usually, it feels huge after eating…for hours. I’d love to get an abdominal massage every day — at least now I know how to do it myself!
Check out her class if you have a chance — or she practices in Marlboro a few times a week. I’m hoping to go to Lucy’s CT place with my sister, so we can both get massages.
With love,
Heather
Hi Nancy, I am really interested in hearing what you think after your appointment! I hope you really enjoy it. I found it to be so relaxing and a great education on what was happening in my body. I knew my liver was congested, but I didn’t realize how much until then. Also, you’ll get a sense for how much you are “armoring” based on how you feel during the massage and the feedback you get from your practitioner.
I’m looking forward to your unique perspective!
With love,
Heather
Hi Emily, I’ll definitely keep you posted on how it goes. My toe already feels better, which is great. I was getting a little curious about why that was happening and of course, the first thing I thought of is diabetes, since it runs in my family. I had never before put all of these pieces together like we did in class.
Coaxing the uterus back into place is the goal of the massage. Last night was the first night I felt a really noticeable difference in my need to urinate upon lying down. It’s pretty amazing. I didn’t even need to get right up and run to the bathroom this morning when I woke up. So cool. It’s kind of like a “less congested” feeling in my lower abdomen.
We’ll see how the rest of it goes! If someone organized a class of 10 (or even two back to back classes of 10 or some appointments for massage), Lucy would be open to flying to LA to teach and have appointments. Apparently, there are no Maya Abdominal Massage practitioners in California. I was surprised to hear that.
With love,
Heather
Hi Karen, I imagine you’d really love the class, with your love of learning. I think Lucy is exactly the kind of person that connects you with the whole feminine power and the feelings you have around nurturing. While I’ve taken a lot of classes from amazing women, Lucy was the first one that really reconnected me like that. I think it’s a talent of hers.
I hope it works out for you to bring her to your area — the Self-Care class is great for people who just want to learn how to care for their own bodies. And it’s great for massage therapists, acupuncturists, nurses, colon hydrotherapists, etc. Licensed practitioners can also go to the next level for professional certification, which is really cool too. I had an acupuncturist and nurse in my class. The rest of us were just interested in the benefits of self-care.
With love,
Heather
Hi Heather,
I am so glad I read your share on your experience at Lucy’s class and
with abdominal massage…interestingly enough, some years ago, I was having a
chiropractic appointment, when I had an experience that has led me to a search..
I have never found the answer until your share.
During the appointment the chiropractor had his hands on my abdoman and something welled
up inside me, that I had never experienced before…This incredible surge of emotion that wanted desperately to come out…it would not have sounded human if I had let it…it was incredibly powerful and I wish I had been in a place to express it because it was very deep and I know it would have been very healing. I know there is such dept of emotion in that area of my body and I long to let it out and let it go!
I have always had digestive issues which includes bloating and a distended belly..always pregnant with emotion I would imagine.
I can relate to having been unwanted or to have experienced not being welcomed here…I have
experienced such emotional abandonment, by, people who just had no clue..no blame any more. I was doing chores at 5 and trying so hard to be the good girl to earn being here!
Boy, did I fall short over and over…that is my legacy, falling short, not being enough…..
I am so ready to let my legacy of made up beliefs die.
They are so very intense right now…
Breath, I remind myself.
I did have an abdominal massage by a practioner, who was trained by the person you
original shared about in Central America…it was a good experience…but, did not have the
depths of what you shared.
I would love to take Lucy’s next class…getting there my be a bit difficult without a car..
and I don’t know whether I will be here or not..
Wow..thanks once again
Tigerrrrr
Hey Heather, you’ll have to let me know if you come to ct.
I wish Lucy could massage 10 lbs off of me.
Hi PTC, I will let you know — I think my sister is definitely going and maybe a few others, so I’m tempted!
With love,
Heather
Hi Tiger, What an amazing experience with your chiropractor! Isn’t it incredible, how much we hold our emotions back? How unsafe it feels? I was in a class once where we did this exercise in nurturing and I felt this fear of being nurtured. And yet, what I wanted more than anything else was to be nurtured. Funny how if we showed that emotion, we’d get the nurturing we really crave — and yet, we are so afraid of being vulnerable.
I also loved your analogy of being pregnant with emotion. You have a great awareness of what’s happening with yourself.
I hope you do get to experience Lucy — even if it’s for an abdominal massage. I think you’d get a lot out of her class too, if you do get to make it to CT in November. Or, if you go to California, Karen is looking into having Lucy go out there! You never know.
With love,
Heather
umm…it;s such a really good essay, help me to do a hard task…
thanks a lot…
getting better….
(anda, indonesia)
Hi Anda, Thank you so much for stopping by to read my blog! I am glad you liked this post and I am sending infinite love and gratitude your way for you to experience self-love, joy and full recovery!
With love,
Heather