What Is Visceral Manipulation? The Gentle Technique That Heals from the Inside Out; [Part 1]

You’ve probably heard of deep tissue or Swedish massage—but have you ever heard of visceral manipulation?

It’s a gentle, hands-on abdominal massage therapy that works with your organs (yes, your actual internal organs!) to restore mobility, ease pain, and help your body function the way it’s designed to. While it might sound unusual at first, this work is rooted in anatomy, physiology, and osteopathic medicine—and it can be life-changing, especially for postpartum recovery.

As a Licensed Massage Therapist and Corrective Exercise Specialist based in Montclair, NJ, I’ve seen firsthand how powerful this approach can be for women and men alike - from former college athletes to those recovering from surgery, postpartum moms and people challenged with chronic pain.

What Exactly Is Visceral Manipulation?

Visceral Manipulation (VM) was developed by French osteopath and physical therapist Jean-Pierre Barral. It’s based on the understanding that everything in the body is connected—muscles, bones, organs, ligaments, fascia, and nerves. When one structure loses its natural movement or mobility, it can affect the entire system.

For example, a restriction around the liver might eventually cause shoulder pain, or adhesions near the bladder might contribute to low back or pelvic pain. VM practitioners are trained to feel for these subtle restrictions and gently restore movement to the organs and their surrounding connective tissues.

This isn’t a deep-pressure massage—it’s slow, light, and deeply precise. The goal is to encourage the body to self-correct, not to force change.

How Does It Work?

Our organs are constantly moving. With every breath, the diaphragm shifts downward, and our liver, stomach, intestines, and other organs glide along each other in small, rhythmic motions. But after events like pregnancy, surgery, infection, injury, or even long-term postural changes, these natural movements can become restricted.

Visceral Manipulation gently releases those restrictions. By improving organ mobility, blood flow, and nerve communication, this technique helps the body regain balance—reducing pain, improving digestion, calming the nervous system, and supporting overall function.

Why It’s Especially Powerful for Postpartum Recovery

Pregnancy changes everything—literally. The uterus grows, organs shift, fascia stretches, and core muscles thin to make room for baby. After birth, those internal structures need time and support to return to their optimal positions and function.

Visceral Manipulation can help restore alignment and ease discomfort from:

• C-section recovery and scar adhesions

• Pelvic pain or pressure

• Digestive issues

• Low back or hip pain

• Diastasis Recti (abdominal separation)

  
  

For postpartum mothers in Montclair and the surrounding Essex County area, this kind of gentle abdominal therapy can be a powerful step in reconnecting to your core and body after birth. It’s a restorative, body-centered approach that complements other healing methods like pelvic floor therapy, corrective exercise, and traditional massage.

Gentle, Effective, and Deeply Restorative

What I love most about Visceral Manipulation is that it’s both subtle and powerful. Clients often describe feeling lighter, more balanced, or like they can finally “move" their abdomen again after a session.

It’s a reminder that our bodies are incredibly intelligent—they just need the right input to heal.

If you’re curious about how visceral manipulation in Montclair, NJ can support your postpartum recovery or help you move without pain, I’d love to help you experience it for yourself.

👉 Book a session or learn more about how this gentle abdominal therapy can help you reconnect to your body with an initial consultation. 

And stay tuned for the next post in this series: “Inside a Visceral Manipulation Session: What Really Happens and How It Feels.”