What is Tul’ix Therapy?
Bowls of water + plants are often used as a spiritual healing tool, in the root Maya medicine tradition that this work comes from.
Tul’ix Therapy is a multifaceted healing modality and medicine tradition that finds its roots in the Belizan jungle and the great Maya H’Men Don Elijio Panti, as it was passed down by Dr Rosita Arvigo.
This work encompasses, and weaves together, bodywork techniques (belly, womb, pelvis and back oriented), traditional remedies, herbal knowledge and spiritual healing to support the body to function optimally, restore balance and help fluids and energy/life-force (“chu’lel” in the Yucatec Maya language) to flow freely.
Arvigo or Tul’ix?
This work has been, and still is, also known as Arvigo® Therapy as taught by the Arvigo® Institute. Through recent changes to the custodianship of the Institute, there has been a name change to Tul’ix Indigenous Arts, and practitioners around the world now have the option to call themselves and the work by the term that they feel most comfortable with.
This is part of a larger foundation of “compassionate decolonisation” that is a guiding principle now at the heart of Tul’ix Indigenous Arts.
“Tul’ix” (too-leesh or tool-eesh) is a Yucatec Maya word and means dragonfly, and pays homage to the cultural inheritance and roots of this work as the dragonfly is a deeply meaningful symbol associated with the goddess Ix Chel; who was, and continues to be, a key figure for the Masawal Maya people and Don Elijio’s living descendants.
I choose to use Tul’ix Therapy and Tul’ix Maya Womb & Belly Care in my communications, as this is what feels most resonant for myself, the communities I serve and the future I hope to be part of building.
You can read more about the lineage of this work here.
You can read more about the name change here.
“Tul’ix” means dragonfly in Yucatec Maya and is associated with the Goddess Ix Chel.
What are the benefits of Tul’ix Therapy?
On the level of the body, this work restores biochemical balance by rectifying biomechanical integrity and supporting fluid flow (hemodynamics) which can have a profound impact on all body functions.
In this way it can be supportive to many reproductive, digestive and structural concerns - including:
♢ Infertility
♢ Menstrual conditions
♢ Fibroids
♢ Endometriosis
♢ Prolapse and pelvic bowl/floor dysfunction (including bladder incontinence)
♢ Pregnancy pain, birth preparation and postpartum healing
♢ GERD
♢ Constipation, IBS and other digestive issues
♢ Crohn’s disease
♢ Adhesions and symptomatic scarring
♢ Chronic fatigue
♢ Migraines and recurrent pain.
It can be an especially potent ally on fertility journeys; working in conjunction with assisted reproductive technologies.
Spiritual healing in this tradition supports embodiment, integration of lived experience, and the release of all manner of trauma.
What does a session look like?
While every session is inherently unique; tending to the needs of each client in that moment.
The body speaks, it’s our job to listen and move accordingly.
Having said that, your session may flow in the following way:
♢ Most sessions will start with some level of “chat”; the length will depend on what information I need to glean (especially if a first time session) and/or what a client needs to speak before we move to the table. While I’m keen to get you on the table asap, this part is an important step in the process and its value can’t be underestimated.
♢ If booking an initial appointment or a returning 2hr session, I usually offer for a client to start the session with a pelvic steam (as long as there are no contraindications and they actually want one)
♢ Once on the table, we may begin with a grounding prayer and/or guided meditation or even do more intensive prayers and spiritual healing with water and plants. This depends heavily on what my client is wanting and needing in that moment; while I love starting with the prayers, I am more than happy to not if that’s what my client feels comfortable with.
♢ Moving into the bodywork itself, we often start with an upper abdominal/belly massage. A lot of tension, congestion and emotion can often be found in this space. We treat it with deep tenderness and care, and always, always, go at the pace of the body.
♢ Depending where you are in your cycle and on what your intentions are, we may then move to the womb/lower abdominal bodywork.
♢ Depending on timing and what your body needs, we may then decide to flip you onto your belly so I can do the Tul’ix posterior (back of the body) treatment. We might not have time for this or I may choose to move into some Craniosacral Therapy techniques.
During our session, I might also make suggestions of complementary modalities, techniques or suggestions that are specific to your needs and health journey. I might also teach you self-care massage techniques to do at home and/or make a treatment plan.
Other Supportive Techniques
As part of a Tul’ix Therapy/Tul’ix Maya Womb & Belly Care session we may also cover the following:
♢ Pelvic steaming (also known as yoni, vaginal or perineal steaming)
♢ Castor oil packs
♢ Using a faja/pelvic support
♢ Nutritional and/or herbal support
♢ Spiritual healing/prayers
What is the Self-Care Training?
Me in action teaching Self Care in Suffolk Park 2024
Tul’ix Self Care is both the Level 1 Training for anyone looking to become a Practitioner of this work, as well as being an incredible offering for anyone looking to deepen their knowledge of the body and the profound healing of this multifaceted modality.
Self Care is available in-person and online, and can be offered in a variety of time-frames. The most common is as a 2.5 day experiential deep-dive (totalling approx 20 hours) and I often co-facilitate a month-long online journey once a year with my dear friend and fellow practitioner Jenn Mason, where we journey in one four hour class per week for five weeks.
Within the training, we cover the following:
♢ Learning & practising the Self-Care abdominal & uterine massage.
♢ Acknowledge & understand the cultural context of this work.
♢ Fundamental female, male & intersex anatomy & physiology.
♢ Pelvic steaming.
♢ Castor oil therapy.
♢ Hip swaddling & fajas.
♢ Introduction to Maya Spiritual Healing.
♢ Basics of trauma & the body.
♢ Menstruation & menopause.
♢ Nourishment & digestion.
This training is full of valuable information that creates a solid foundation for understanding the why behind the things we do for “self care” - and when we know why we do things, we become far more invested in actually doing them!
As a step on the path to becoming a Practitioner, it is also very important and necessary to begin with yourself; to embody the work before we embark on sharing it with others.
You can click here to see my upcoming Self Care training dates or contact me with any questions.
