INTEGRATED VISCERAL TECHNIQUES

About Integrated Visceral Techniques

Quite simply, Visceral Techniques are gentle, intelligent hands-on work with the abdomen and the visceral structures – this includes both the major organs of digestion but, more importantly, the rich connective tissue, lymphatic, vascular and nerve relationships within the abdomen. 

Visceral Techniques utilize the principles of myofascial release and apply them to the visceral-fascial environment. This requires attuning our listening hands to the rhythms and amplitudes of the visceral environment. 

There is evidence that as tensions are released in the visceral-fascial environment there is an increase in: overall organ mobility (which correlates to improved function), blood and lymphatic flow and nerve conduction. 

Working with the viscera has profound effects on the vagal system. This is supportive of patients dealing with many different persistent health conditions.

Why Visceral Work?

The abdomen is undertreated by healthcare providers and yet it is the location for so many issues our patients and clients are experiencing. 

• Digestive issues: Hands-on work can be so helpful for folks dealing with digestive problems. Visceral work easily complements other care these folks are receiving. 

• Pain Patterns: It is common for myofascial pain patterns to have a visceral component. Being able to include visceral techniques into your work expands your ability to better address more complex pain presentations.

• The abdomen is a storehouse for our emotional experience: The polyvagal theory gives us great insight as visceral therapists. It is a way to help our people understand some of the strange symptoms they may be experiencing. Building a vagal system map through the viscera is empowering for both your patient or client and you when working with complex and stubborn symptoms.

How it Works

The visceral-fascial environment is rich in tissue types; arteries and veins, lymphatic vessels, nerves, visceral fascia, myofascia and the organs themselves; all of which are composed of fascia from the peritoneum. 

• This amalgam of tissues is responsive to gentle and informed touch. 

• Building a visceral fascial map that emphasizes relationships between structures is essential. 

• There is evidence that as tensions are released in the visceral-fascial environment there is an increase in overall organ function including, blood and lymphatic flow and nerve conduction. 

• Insights from the Polyvagal Theory greatly enhance the efficacy of our work with the viscera. Visceral function and nervous system tone are inseparable.

What You’ll Learn

Our curriculum is divided into three weekends, IVT I, II and III. Each course will consist of new content and time to review and synthesize content from previous courses. In all of our courses we emphasize our students making the work their own. 

• Hand skills are the core of good visceral fascial work. Throughout the curriculum we will work with you to cultivate the hands-on skills required for working within the visceral-fascial milieu. 

• Anatomy helps build hand skills. When we can visualize the visceral fascial environment our hands can better connect. Michael is well known for his ability to make learning anatomy fun, accessible and even inspiring. 

• Course sequence: Skills based learning is iterative. Students will be able to start using visceral techniques after the first weekend. Subsequent skills build on each other and interrelate with what was learned earlier. In this way while you learn new skills you improve your overall understanding of the work. 

• Diaphragm: We begin and repeatedly return to the diaphragm. It is said our diaphragm contracts 20,000 times a day. The diaphragmatic movement is essential to visceral tone.

• The physiology of feeling: Visceral work most directly works with the embodied polyvagal map. We get into this immediately in our series. It is foundational to how we approach this work.

INTEGRATED VISCERAL TECHNIQUES I

REGULAR PRICE: $735
BIPOC DISCOUNT: $588
SERIES DISCOUNT (15%): $625 (cost per class when you enroll in the series)

We begin building our visceral-fascial map with the diaphragm. Diaphragmatic tone sets the tone for the viscera. As the diaphragm is the path through which the vagus nerve enters the abdomen our work here can be helpful in helping a person shift their vagal system tone. The diaphragm is also a core organizing principle within the polyvagal system. We will discuss the diaphragm in context of the supra and subdiaphragmatic vagus. This concept helps healthcare providers orient themselves within the complexities of symptom presentation (and it’s super fun to learn!)

INTEGRATED VISCERAL TECHNIQUES II

REGULAR PRICE: $735
BIPOC DISCOUNT: $588
SERIES DISCOUNT (15%): $625 (cost per class when you enroll in the series)

This course focuses on digestive dynamics related to “SIBO” type conditions and other inflammation of the middle portion of our digestive system. Treatment for these conditions often focuses on getting rid of the bugs but leaves out “why” the bugs ended up there in the first place. The course will present both an anatomical/conceptual model of the small intestine, spleen, pancreas and gallbladder that is based both on East Asian medical understanding and western embryology. 

INTEGRATED VISCERAL TECHNIQUES III

REGULAR PRICE: $735
BIPOC DISCOUNT: $588
SERIES DISCOUNT (15%): $625 (cost per class when you enroll in the series)

This course gives students a great opportunity to integrate work from previous courses and build on their conceptual map. Most of what we will be learning to treat is “retro-peritoneal.” This gives us an opportunity to revisit the importance of the peritoneum and also deepen our understanding of the interrelationships between the visceral fascia and the myofascia.