The last live pelvic mapping session was held on February 27th, 2021. Participant testimonials are available here. The replay is available for purchase below. This workshop includes: 1 hour overview of anatomy and pelvic care, massage techniques for myofascial tension and scar tissue, and 1.5 hours of guided self-treatment time. More information below!
What is pelvic mapping?
Pelvic mapping is a guided hands-on, body literacy journey. This workshop includes a 1 hour overview of anatomy and pelvic care, instruction about massage techniques for myofascial tension and scar tissue, and 1.5 hours of guided self-treatment time. In the privacy of your own home, you will be invited to physically connect with and emotionally attune to your pelvic bowl through touch, awareness, and breath. By compassionately mapping the landscape of the pelvis and practicing self-massage, we can begin to unwind layers of tension, pain, shame, numbness, and disconnection. This is a virtual retreat experience for women/AFAB.
How will this workshop help me?
The anatomical awareness and self-care techniques will benefit anyone who desires to connect with and care for the pelvic bowl. We will work directly with muscle tension patterns and with scar tissue from trauma, childbirth, and surgery. This workshop is you if you:
- Desire to learn the muscles and ligaments of the pelvic bowl and/or desire to connect with the energetics of the pelvic bowl
- Have pain in your low back, hips, or lower limbs
- Have pelvic pain of any kind
- Have ever given birth (either vaginally or by caesarian section)
- Have an incontinence or mild prolapse
- Experience pain with intercourse, menstruation, or ovulation
- Have had abdominal surgery of any kind
- Have a sedentary occupation/lifestyle (or are a cyclist)
- Have experienced trauma (physical, emotional, sexual, medical)
- Have any imbalance or other condition of pelvis
- Are peri- or post-menopausal
Why do we care for the pelvic floor?
Just like other muscles, pelvic floor muscles can become tight, weak, or imbalanced due to stress, dehydration, injuries, trauma, childbirth, menopause, etc. The result is often pain and congestion … or numbness and disconnection. The goal of compassionate self-massage is to bring balance and vitality to the pelvic bowl by:
- softening tension patterns with massage techniques specific to the pelvic floor
- working to release scar tissue and fascial adhesions and other tender/trigger points
- using breathwork to support both recruitment (lifting) and rest (softening)
- increasing blood flow to the pelvic organs
- being mindful of pelvic alignment
How much time should I allow for this workshop in total?
You may want to set aside a good 4 hours of devoted time on this course. Our Zoom call will last about 3 hours. I invite you to block off an additional 30+ minutes before the session to prepare your space, quiet your mind, and relax your body. I encourage you to grant yourself some un-hurried time afterward to be with your emotions, processing what came up for you before moving gently back into the world.
What do I need to bring to the session?
- A journal
- Pillows and blankets
- Vaginal lubricant (organic castor oil is ideal)
- A comfortable and undisturbed space
I’m male-bodied. May I register?
Certainly. You may join us for educational purposes, to increase your awareness and sensitivity to female anatomy and energy.
I’m on my period. Can I still participate?
Absolutely! In fact, the bleeding is a process of opening and letting go, making it a great time to soften and unwind your tissues even more.
I’m pregnant. Can I still participate?
Because your pelvic diaphragm is supporting the weight of a growing uterus and baby, and because hormonal changes during pregnancy greatly increase the elasticity of the body’s tissues, it is generally best to “leave the nest alone” by avoiding certain bodywork. Please plan to join us for another pelvic mapping experience any time after you are 6 weeks post-partum.
I have _________ condition. Can I still participate?
Just to be clear: guided hands-on time will involve external (vulvar) and internal (vaginal) massage. There will be no external abdominal massage or internal cervical massage. If you do have any foreign objects in your pelvis and abdomen (IUD, mesh, clips, staples, etc.), remember that these items can puncture (or alter) your tissues and massage should be avoided in those areas. Massage should also usually be avoided until you are six weeks post-surgery or post-radiation. Ultimately, you are responsible to know your physical and emotional limits and conditions and only participate to the extent you are able to.
Testimonials from participants:
“Anna was both knowledgeable about pelvic anatomy and deeply sensitive to the emotional and energetic history held in our bodies; I was impressed with her trauma sensitive guidance. I consider myself to be an anatomy geek and a proponent of female empowerment, and Anna successfully taught me things I didn’t know about my own body! I want my mother, my grandmother, and all of my women/mother friends to take this course. It’s more than anatomy- it’s a reclamation.” – A.M.
“After 35 years in this body, I’m continually surprised at how much there is to learn about myself. The pelvic floor mapping experience helped me understand my own body even better. Anna is an excellent instructor and immediately made me feel at ease in a situation that could otherwise be somewhat awkward. Her comfort in discussing the content, knowledge of the anatomy, and experience of womanhood was comforting and felt super supportive. Especially, she made me feel like nothing I felt could be wrong, and everything would be okay. It was a wonderful experience; I look forward to attending additional sessions and even repeating the same pelvic floor mapping again.” – Anonymous
“Anna is a nurturing, intentional, and informed teacher. I am fresh to pelvic mapping and my curiosity was supported by thorough anatomical graphics, explanations, charts, and trauma-informed suggestions as we moved through the hands-on portion of the workshop. Anna provided space for many introspective check-ins with our bodies, to ask consent, give permission, listen in, soften, and allow. This is so deeply appreciated as my pelvic region and yoni store deep seeds of repressed emotion. Gentleness is the only way I can access healing there, and Anna intuitively and lovingly allowed for just that. Her vernacular is very inclusive which is appreciated as well. I am certainly interested in learning more deeply about pelvic wellbeing and mapping with Anna as a teacher. And I of course recommend this workshop to anyone called to its teachings. Thank you Anna!” – M.W.
“I didn’t know what to expect from this session, but I walked away with life-changing information. Not only was it refreshing to talk about the female body in a non-sexual way (reminding myself that I am MORE than a commodity), but I also realized how much trauma and scar tissue remains from my childbirths. I entered this session thinking I didn’t have any major issues, but I discovered really painful and sensitive areas and learned how to start treating and improving them myself. Every woman deserves to have this education and be empowered to have a healthy pelvic bowl. I also entered this session thinking mainly of reproductive organs, but I learned that the pelvic bowl has to do with posture, blood flow, and overall health – we should all learn to love and take care of it. This should be a standard part of every woman’s healthcare, especially after giving birth!” – Claire
Burnett Bodywork 