“There is no other organ quite like the uterus. If men had such an organ they would brag about it. So should we.”
– Ina May Gaskin

At allwoman, Mizan Abdominal Therapy is a massage technique I use on a daily basis with my clients to complement the range of Yoga practices and yogic, breathing and meditation techniques I teach. In fact, Mizan is an Arabic word meaning balance, and by using this traditional form of healing, I’m able to help restore balance when life feels unbalanced – physically, emotionally or spiritually.

WHAT IS MIZAN ABDOMINAL THERAPY?

Mizan Abdominal Therapy involves a gentle massaging of the abdomen to strengthen the muscles and ligaments that hold the internal organs in their correct positions by improving the flow of blood, lymph and the fluids of the nervous system, improving the health of both the digestive and reproductive systems and stimulating physical and emotional health and wellbeing.

WHEN SHOULD I CONSIDER MIZAN ABDOMINAL THERAPY?

Sometimes the muscles and sheets of connective tissue (or fascia) within the abdomen become tight and pull the internal organs, especially the uterus, out of alignment. If you’re suffering from a misaligned uterus, you may be experiencing a number of problems including:

• Painful periods
• Clots at the beginning, end or during your period
• Irregular monthly cycles
• Pre-menstrual syndrome
• Depression
• Fertility problems
• Miscarriage
• Bladder infections
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease
• Constipation
• Headaches and migraines
• Lack of energy
• Lower back pain
• Urinary problems
• Issues during perimenopause and menopause

“My menopause symptoms have definitely improved since having the treatments, night sweats have reduced and my symptoms are much more manageable and less intense.”

-Mizan client

BUT WHY WOULD YOUR UTERUS BECOME TILTED?

It could be simply due to your lifestyle or your age, perhaps because you enjoy strenuous exercise such as running on the road or high impact aerobics or maybe due to a lower back injury or muscle spasms. Wearing high heel shoes or walking barefoot on cold floors can also have an effect on the alignment of your uterus, as well as a misaligned pelvis and changes that occur to your body during pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period. Carrying babies and children on your hip is another culprit, together with lifting heavy objects just before and during your period or too soon after giving birth.

THE BENEFITS OF MIZAN ABDOMINAL THERAPY

Over and over again, my clients tell me how nice it is to have some time to connect to their womb and spend time self-massaging. Mizan Abdominal Therapy is a treatment that’s a lovely addition to any self-care routine, bringing a deeper connection to your womb and to the wonderful job it does for you. Women who come to me for fertility reasons, even if the treatment is ultimately unsuccessful, always feedback that my Fertility Programme and the chance to spend six or 12 weeks connecting with themselves, their wellbeing and their womb health was time well spent that they really valued and enjoyed and that gave them a better connection with themselves and their bodies.

Other clients have reported that their periods are better, they last longer, have less spotting, the blood is redder fresh blood and less old brown blood, there’s less clotting and less pain before their period, with some even saying that their periods now sometimes take them by surprise!

1. FOR A MISALIGNED UTERUS

Usually, the uterus is positioned over the bladder in the centre of the pelvis, being held in place by muscles, the vaginal wall and ligaments attached to the pelvis. These ligaments need to stretch during pregnancy or when the bladder or bowel is full, but sometimes they become loose and weak allowing the uterus to move out of position.

Often, there is a lack of help offered to women experiencing a tilted uterus who seek medical intervention. They are sometimes prescribed the contraceptive pill or surgery but more usually they are just told it’s normal and not to worry about it, being sent away to live with the physical and emotional symptoms they are experiencing.

When the uterus tilts, she can prevent the flow of energy around the body, constrict blood flow and lymphatic drainage and disrupt the nervous system. However, by gently encouraging the uterus back in place using Mizan Abdominal Therapy, the natural balance of the body is restored, relieving congestion above and below the blockage, flushing toxins from the area and restoring healthy reproductive functioning.

“I have found a new enhanced connection with my womb through the Yoga and massage. She has woken up and I am now aware of how powerful her energy is.”

– Yoga and Mizan Programme client

2. FOR FERTILITY

By nourishing the uterus, improving her alignment, increasing her blood flow, eliminating toxins and relieving congestion, Mizan Abdominal Therapy, along with dietary and lifestyle changes and herbal remedies, is a great way to support fertility.

Around 30% of women with fertility problems conceive following a series of Mizan Abdominal Therapy sessions and of those who don’t conceive naturally, many go on to have successful IVF cycles.

“Great news! Endometrium has thickened for the first time! It was always around 3.5 mm and now is 5 mm. I’m very, very happy! Everything went well, I can’t thank you enough for everything you did for me. You’re amazing!”

– Pre-IVF Yoga and Mizan Fertility Programme

3. DURING PREGNANCY AND POSTNATALLY

As well as improving the wellbeing of both mother and baby as they prepare for birth, Mizan Abdominal Therapy is effective in strengthening and toning the uterus, ligaments and other pelvic organs, positioning the uterus in the optimal position for giving birth and potentially resulting in an easier labour and birth.

“Mizan really helped with my SPD (pelvic pain in pregnancy) symptoms, I saw a massive difference after just one session, much improved, thank you.”

– Yoga and Mizan client

Although Mizan Abdominal Therapy is contraindicated for around six weeks after giving birth (or three months if you’ve had a Caesarean section), I can support you postnatally in ensuring your uterus contracts correctly and your stretched ligaments relax equally using Yoga, healing and warming oils, vaginal steaming and belly binding.

“The treatments were really relaxing and helped me relax into pregnancy when I felt really big and uncomfy.”

– Yoga and Mizan Pregnancy client

4. FOLLOWING CAESAREAN SECTION

However, if you have had a Caesarean section, Mizan Abdominal Therapy is beneficial for improving the blood flow around the scar, reducing the incidence of adhesions post-surgery and preventing the formation of scar tissue in the first place.

5. FOLLOWING A HYSTERECTOMY

As well as the physical trauma of major surgery, women who have had a hysterectomy often also experience emotional trauma.

Physically, Mizan Abdominal Therapy improves circulation around the area of the scar and prevents scar tissue forming. However, emotionally the therapy can help women reconnect with their wombspace and improve their sense of health and wellbeing.

6. FOLLOWING ABDOMINAL SURGERY

Scar tissue and adhesions often cause problems with digestion following abdominal surgery. However, a few sessions of Mizan Abdominal Therapy combined with castor oil packs, dietary changes and self-care massage can improve your circulation and break down scar tissue and adhesions.

7. FOR DIGESTIVE PROBLEMS

Most of us store our anxieties and emotions in our bodies, often in the abdomen and digestive system leading to problems such as constipation, indigestion, heartburn and inflammatory bowel disease.

Generally, modern medicine treats the symptoms rather than the causes of gastro-intestinal problems using a variety of medication such as antacids, antiemetics and muscle relaxants. However, when combined with self-care and dietary and lifestyle changes, Mizan Abdominal Therapy can be highly effective in addressing the root causes of digestive disorders.

During a Mizan Abdominal Therapy session, I use massage techniques to loosen the muscles around the diaphragm, stomach and gut and the associated blood and lymph supplies, relaxing the muscles, releasing adhesions, loosening scar tissue and improving the alignment of the digestive tract.

HOW MANY SESSIONS WILL I NEED?

I would recommend that you have a minimum of three sessions, but some conditions may need more. However, I will also teach you a simple self-care routine that takes around ten minutes each day for you to carry out between our sessions, which will help the healing process and improve your health and wellbeing.

IS MIZAN ABDOMINAL THERAPY SUITABLE FOR EVERYONE?

Due to the improved blood circulation and lymphatic drainage, deep relaxation and sense of wellbeing and restored flow of energy resulting from a series of Mizan Abdominal Therapy sessions, nearly every woman will find the technique beneficial.

However, there are certain times when you should avoid the therapy:

• During your bleed time
• During the first trimester of pregnancy
• Within six weeks of giving birth or three months following a C-section
• If you have an IUD fitted
• If cancer in your pelvis
• If you are ovulating

FIND OUT MORE

If you feel that suffer from any of the symptoms described in this blog post or feel that Mizan Abdominal Therapy will be beneficial to you, please get in touch. I specialise in working with women one to one and enjoy being part of their journey of reconnection and self-discovery. I support women to find more balance and harmony in their lives by deepening their inner connection to their own body’s needs, helping them cope pre-conception, with fertility issues, prenatally, postnatally or during times of transition, grief or loss and helping alleviate the symptoms of menstruation, perimenopause or menopause.

I also offer a range of programmes for fertility, pregnancy, menopause and general wellbeing that incorporate Mizan Abdominal Massage as one of the modalities offered.