Visceral Abdominal Massage Certificate Course (2 CE)

Mobility describes the gross viscera movement with diaphragmatic motion, influenced by intra-cavity pressure and respiration; motility covers the subtler, embryonic-driven visceral motion via energetic palpation.

Identify and compare global and local rhythms in the body, from cardiac, respiratory, and cranial rhythms to organ-specific visceral rhythms, and apply them in assessment and treatment.

Explore global and local visceral assessment tools to identify a solitary key lesion affecting multiple areas, and apply tissue-tension findings to abdominal massage with minimum force and maximum precision.

Examine factors affecting normal abdominal motion, including muscular and facial restrictions, visceral spasms from infection or disease, adhesions, nervous system abnormalities, post-surgical scarring, and ligament laxity.

Identify contraindications such as aneurysm, perforated ulcer, fever, and acute trauma. Explore indications for visceral abdominal massage: irritable bowel syndrome, constipation, pelvic floor issues, and diaphragm-related shoulder and back pain.

Distinguish peritoneal and retroperitoneal structures; retroperitoneal organs lie behind the peritoneum with limited movement, while mesenteric organs include stomach, small intestine, transverse colon, liver, and gallbladder, and kidneys lie posterior.

Explore peristalsis, the involuntary movements of the digestive tract that propel food, and how hyper or hypo motility cause diarrhea or constipation, influenced by medications and hormonal or electrolyte changes.

Explore how emotions relate to abdominal organs in visceral massage, linking diaphragm vitality, liver anger, gallbladder longing, spleen grief, stomach relationships, kidney fear, pancreas grief, intestines femininity, and bladder anxiety.

Examine the diaphragm anatomy, its domes, attachments, and role in respiration, pelvic floor health, and core stability, then apply 3D visceral techniques to improve mobility, motility, and organ movement.

Perform side-lying myofascial release to free the diaphragm by scooping the fascia above the iliac crest, opening the shell and transverse abdominals, with leg variations for added stretch.

Learn a slow, gentle technique to relax tissue above the lower ribs, stimulate diaphragmatic work, and create a controlled stretch around the lower ribs for preparation below the rib cage.

Begin with superficial cleaning along the costal arch using the lower ribs as anchor, then glide the thumb or fingertips to relax tissue and reveal superficial adhesions along the edge.

Demonstrate the human breath assist technique by guiding the client’s inhale while the practitioner relaxes the hands, presses the clavicle down, and mobilizes the lower ribs to open the diaphragm.

Place a light hand on the abdomen and sink with breath to feel tissue drag. Open the diaphragmatic opener by gently pressing under the rib cage as the client inhales.

Assess left and right sides for lines of tension behind the crust of the diaphragm. Place gentle traction, apply a stretch, then release as the tissue relaxes along the ribs.

Guide a client through a gentle psoas stretch with leg positioning, contracting the psoas for 10 seconds, and gravity, while encouraging client feedback to ensure comfort and control.

Explore liver anatomy, its structure and function, and learn hands-on assessment and viscoelastic techniques to address tension, sluggish liver, and bile duct obstruction.

Perform subtle palpation to assess the liver by placing hands under the right rib cage and sinking in to feel liver motion, tension, and the gentle art of visceral manipulation.

Learn the liver viscoelastic technique in visceral abdominal massage, using cross-hand placement, breath-tuned tissue release, and rib mobilization to improve liver mobility.

Perform ligamentous fascial stretch for the liver by applying slow under-rib pressure with thumbs, coordinating with breath to create gradual traction from below the ribs to above the umbilicus.

Learn a visceral abdominal massage technique to awaken a sluggish liver, using anterior and posterior ribcage touch and breath-coordinated vibrations, starting gentle and increasing firmness.

Apply the liver recoil technique by placing a hand on the anterior and then posterior rib cage, compressing down with deep breaths to mobilize the liver, gallbladder, and diaphragm sling.

Learn the gallbladder's role in storing bile for fat digestion, its connection to the biliary tract and small intestine, and issues like gallstones, colon cystitis, and gallstone pancreatitis.

Assess the gallbladder by palpating under the right rib cage in a seated position, then relax the shoulders and use circular motions toward the typhoid process to aid drainage.

Lift under the right rib cage toward the forward process, then drain along the right side above the umbilicus to the sphincter of Audy to improve bile flow.

Explore spleen anatomy, its immune role, and blood filtration in the lymphatic system. Learn about enlargement, rupture risks, sickle cell implications, immunizations, and indirect techniques for mobilization and lymph drainage.

Perform indirect mobilization to loosen the lower ribs around the stomach and spleen by twisting, side bending, and medially pushing with the hand over the rib cage.

Apply a yoga-inspired spleen sling wringing technique, an indirect abdominal treatment, to stretch and wring the organs and improve motility of the spleen, stomach, and diaphragm.

Learn the rib pulling technique to mobilize the rib cage and target the spleen, stomach, and diaphragm through controlled traction, anterior and posterior rib stretches, and slow, breath-guided releases.

Apply compression and gentle vibrations on the left side during breath cycles to improve viscoelasticity around the spleen, stomach, and diaphragm with a spleen-stomach vibration technique.

Explore the stomach anatomy, esophageal sphincter connections, and its role in the gastrointestinal tract. Learn assessment techniques, pyloric dilation, lesser curvature work, and a stomach lift.

Place your hand under the left rib cage across the anterior and posterior ribs to feel the stomach's subtle motility and the diaphragm's breath-driven motion.

Apply the lesser curvature technique by locating tension lines near the umbilicus, sinking thumbs slowly, and stretching between them; optionally use a left-side client line with body weight to stretch.

Learn a gentle pylorus dilation technique using two thumbs and four fingertips to release lines of tension, promote tissue relaxation, and assess small intestine mobility.

Demonstrates the stomach lift in visceral abdominal massage, lifting the rib cage and diaphragm to relax tissue near the diaphragmatic hiatus and reassess rib cage balance.

Explore kidney anatomy and positioning, including retroperitoneal placement, capsule, and adrenal tops; learn palpation and treatment of kidneys and psoas to support fluid balance and pH regulation.

Identify kidneys by landmarks: right sits lower than the left. Landmark the right kidney with three fingers from the umbilicus; left with three fingers above the mid clavicle line.

Position your hands to locate the right kidney and sink in slowly with the client's breath, checking anterior tension and back restriction as you guide gentle back-and-forth mobilizations.

Master the kidney–psoas muscle energy technique to stretch the psoas, kidneys, and quadriceps through controlled contractions and three progressive holds.

Map the pancreas anatomy behind the stomach and in front of the spine, noting its exocrine and endocrine roles and enzymes lipase, amylase, and protease that reach the duodenum.

Guide an indirect pancreas technique by locating the sphincter of Audie on the right, creating a sponge, and using accordion-like pressure with breath to relax the pancreas and vagus nerve.

Explore the vagus nerve's role in digestion and inflammation, and learn three natural exercises—mri buzzing, triangle breathing, and ear massage—for at-home or in-clinic vagus nerve stimulation.

Explore the anatomy of the small intestine—duodenum, Jejuni, ileum—its 22 feet length, functions of digestion and absorption, and hands-on techniques to improve circulation around the root of the mesenteric.

Identify the root of the mesentery, palpate from the GE junction to the umbilicus, and assess lines of tension and adhesions to boost regional vascularization.

Learn a pinching technique across the abdomen to assess small intestine mobility, locate adhesions, and apply targeted or broad stretches with thumbs, fingertips, or palms near the umbilicus.