You already sense that the abdomen calls for something different. Let's give that instinct a framework.
If you’ve ever applied gentle pressure to a belly - yours or someone else’s - you may have noticed that it responds differently to the rest of the body to touch. There is a protective mechanism, a guarding that is crucial for keeping our internal organs safe and healthy. Sometimes this guarding is subtle, requiring practice and direction to tune into.
If you’re a body worker or a birth worker, you may have also noticed that this is also where the body's connections tend to show up. Tension patterns that seem to live in the shoulders, hips, or low back often can be traced back to the core.
If you've felt like your training left a blind spot around the abdomen, you're not imagining it
It's also not a reflection on the instructors who taught you.
Most bodywork education wasn't built to include this area. Programs are often designed around muscle and connective tissue that respond well to firmer, more direct techniques that don’t translate as well to the belly. As a result, the abdomen gets left out entirely, or it gets treated the same way as any other body part.
As a result, you may…
Have no education at all in abdominal massage
Have learned techniques that feel invasive or harsh for such soft tissue
Feel unaware of how to feel for organs, fascia, muscular connections, tension or even pathology
Nobody taught you the belly because nobody knew how to teach it safely; not as a specialty and not as a part of a general practice. It's a gap in the system, not a gap in you.
We created the abdominal massage intensive to close that gap.
Meet Your Instructor, Caitlin Perry
Caitlin didn't set out to specialize in the abdomen. She came to see it as inseparable from good bodywork. Over years of study in anatomy and physiology, osteopathic principles, traditional Chinese medicine, and training with the Barral Institute in Visceral Manipulation, she's built a practice where the core isn't an afterthought, but a starting point. That's the philosophy behind this training: the abdomen isn't a niche add-on to your skill set. It's part of what makes a bodywork practice truly comprehensive, and whether you’d like to make it a specialty is entirely your choice.
As a practitioner, Caitlin blends multiple modalities — including East Asian bodywork, Shiatsu, acupressure, Swedish and sports massage, energy work, assisted stretching, and supportive movement techniques inspired by Qi Gong and Tai Chi — tailoring every session to the individual needs of her clients. Her approach integrates ancient wisdom with contemporary, evidence based care and she can’t wait to share it with you!
Is the intensive for you?
For bodyworkers craving a deeper understanding of abdominal massage — who haven't found traditional bodywork education sufficient in this area — The Abdominal Massage Intensive blends thousands of years of traditional wisdom with contemporary, evidence-based care to provide both hands-on and theoretical education.
This isn't a single-day introduction. It's a structured, two-part path designed to take you from curiosity to confident, informed practice.
It might be for you if…
You finished your training and realized the abdomen was barely covered, if at all.
You're curious about the body-wide connections that often show up in the core, but haven't had a framework to work with them confidently.
You've got clients asking about postpartum recovery, digestive discomfort, or menstrual cramps and you're not always sure whether to treat or refer them elsewhere
You're ready to specialize, but you want training that actually prepares you for it, not another weekend workshop that leaves you where you started.
You show up for birthing clients and want to be able to support them more deeply postpartum
If any of this sounds familiar, this training was built with you in mind.
What does the intensive look like?
What does the intensive look like?
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Level 1 provides a strong foundation in abdominal massage, emphasizing connection, core awareness, and the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine. You'll begin to develop a relationship with the abdomen through a blend of structured forms and intuitive touch.
In this level, you’ll learn to:
Build confidence in connecting with the abdomen safely and respectfully
Understand the relationship between core imbalances and whole-body symptoms
Apply basic TCM theory to guide assessment and treatment
Learn full-body sequences that support digestive and reproductive function
Perform gentle yet effective techniques for working with the psoas and deeper core muscles
Begin sensing qi and developing energetic awareness in abdominal work
Support clients experiencing pelvic/abdominal pain, menstrual irregularities, digestive issues, or postpartum healing
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Level 2 deepens your hands-on skills and expands your understanding of the abdomen through the lens of Western and TCM anatomy. You'll refine your touch, expand assessment skills, and learn how to address stagnation, deficiency, and tension throughout the core and beyond.
In this level, you’ll learn to:
Deepen your ability to listen and respond to the body’s signals through refined touch
Expand your anatomical understanding of digestive and pelvic structures through organ specific massage techniques
Continue to identify and address patterns of stagnation and imbalance
Integrate abdominal work with the pelvis, low back, hips, and jaw for full-body regulation
Further develop a trauma-informed, intuitive approach to abdominal massage
This training offers a rare opportunity to gain practical, grounded skills for working with the abdomen in a way that’s safe, powerful, and deeply restorative. Whether you're a massage therapist, birth worker, or other hands-on practitioner, Core Connections will support you in meeting your clients’ needs with more depth and clarity.
Please note that you’re always welcome to take only level 1 or level 2, but you get a discount when you book both together!
Vermont residents can apply for a grant through VSAC called the Advancement Grant. When applying, the school's name is "Core Connections Abdominal Centered Therapy". If you are applying for a grant, you must hold your space with a $200 deposit that will be refunded only when grant funds are received. Core Connections is an NCBTMB approved provider.
Upon completion of:
Level 1 you will receive 13 CE hours
Levels 1 and 2 you will receive 28 CE hours
By the end of this training, you'll be equipped to:
Practice abdominal massage with confidence for postpartum recovery, menstrual cramps, and gut health support
Recognize the body-wide connections that often manifest in the core
Know how to assess what's appropriate to work with in-session as well as the contraindications to look out for
Bring an intuitive, informed approach to abdominal work in your existing practice, whether or not you choose to specialize further
What our alumni have to say…
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I would highly recommend this course to anyone interested in exploring the abdomen and furthering their somatic education. Caitlin was an extremely skilled, smart, intuitive and compassionate teacher. She provided a lot of experience, technique and inspiration. I learned so much. I have been a bodyworker for 15 years and wanted to gain more knowledge about working with the abdomen, and that I did. I feel a lot more confident and educated about this part of the body on a physical, energetic and emotional level and excited to integrate this knew knowledge into my practice for both my clients and self. Thank you.
- Betsy Ansara, Nomadic Nurture, Vermont and Martha’s Vineyard
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Caitlin's warm teaching style and experiential wisdom are such a gift! This was my first experience with TCM, and Caitlin beautifully conveyed big concepts in a digestible manner without watering down the depth + complexity of this fascinating modality. This course was dynamic, featuring engaging lectures and plenty of time to practice the abdominal techniques. I can't say enough about Core Connections, it is such a special offering! Thank you Caitlin!
-Marisa Hall, Ayurvedic bodywork + health counselor, Montpelier, VT
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Caitlin is incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about abdominal therapy. She's kind, relatable and fun to learn from. She creates a calm and supportive learning space. With such attention to detail, intuition and passion about her work, this is the most I've taken away from any a CE course. I am already applying it to my own sessions. Thanks, Caitlin!
-Shannon, Flora Bodywork, Mid-coast Maine
Choose your path:
