I moved to Martha’s Vineyard 12 years ago and have found one area — women’s alternative care — lacking. It will be the first time a course like this has been offered on-Island when midwife Connie Coker comes to teach Maya abdominal massage from Friday, Oct. 21 to Sunday, Oct. 23. The self-care course can be taken by anyone and is a benefit to both men and women. The class will include a review of the anatomy and physiology of the abdominal and reproductive organs of women and men, the causes and symptoms of displaced organs which impacts the flow of blood, lymph, nerves, and chi. It will cover a variety of health issues and how to address them using the Arvigo techniques.

You will learn how to perform the Maya abdominal therapy on yourself. The self-care course is required for anyone who is interested in doing the full certification training in the Arvigo Maya abdominal massage techniques. We had one practitioner on Island who is no longer offering this work due to a change of career. Please sign up through ACEMV.org.

Also Tami Lynn Kent, creator of holistic pelvic care, is willing to come teach her four-day holistic pelvic care for providers in the spring of 2017. Both these modalities would greatly benefit our community and offer alternatives which at present one must travel off-Island for. Any masseuse, doula, nurse-midwife or someone who is looking for a women’s care specialty would be a great candidate for both classes. Please share this with anyone you believe may be interested.

Valerie Sonnenthal
Chilmark