Conversations with Stacy Kelly

Today we’d like to introduce you to Stacy Kelly.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My journey into the world of visceral manipulation was strongly influenced by my own struggles with digestive dysfunction as a teenager. I noticed that I would eat meals and become bloated within 30 minutes, regardless of what kinds of food I ate. And my digestion never seemed as efficient as it used to be; some days food passed through me quickly and other times I’d go days between bathroom visits. Over time, as these symptoms persisted I noticed what an energy drain it became for me: never feeling all that great, lacking motivation to do things because I didn’t know how my digestive system would react. It was taxing, not to mention depressing.

Years later, after becoming a licensed massage therapist, I would learn of a form of bodywork called visceral manipulation. I was instantly fascinated by the idea that we could address the organs of our body in a gentle manner to influence their function. At this point in my career, I had been practicing other forms of bodywork for close to 15 years but after my first training in visceral manipulation, I knew that I would transition to exclusively doing work like that. And while I do blend other modalities such as craniosacral and lymphatic drainage, to this day nothing is as satisfying as helping someone navigate the challenges of having less-than-optimal digestive function.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
No, taking this path has been incredibly challenging. As I previously mentioned, I’d been doing massage therapy for 15 years when I first discovered visceral manipulation. But learning this work is like learning a whole new language. My study of anatomy up to this point was with muscles and ligaments; now I needed to learn all the organs, and their structural attachments. And the application of touch is also different than in massage therapy. It was like starting school all over again.

Furthermore, not many people are familiar with this line of work. So it became my responsibility to educate as many people as I could but the process was very slow.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I specialized in a form of manual therapy called visceral manipulation (VM). The term “viscera” relates to the internal organs of the body such as the stomach, liver, large intestine, etc. The organs of the body are made up of tissue and fascia and ligaments just like the muscles are (albeit in a slightly different form), and as such are prone to similar problems such as inflammation, swelling, tightness, and adhesions. VM gently addresses these restrictions or unhealthy compensations that may be causing your body pain and distress and challenging your organs abilities to function properly.

I primarily use this modality to assist people in addressing digestive issues like constipation or acid reflux, pelvic pain or urogenital problems, as well as respiratory issues. It’s a gentle, non-invasive form of bodywork.

What does success mean to you?
I’d say success is generally about achieving a sense of fulfillment or reaching a goal that aligns with your values. It’s not just about wealth, fame, or outward achievements, but also about personal growth, happiness, and finding purpose.

I’d been in my career for 15 years when I came across visceral manipulation, but I can honestly say that I didn’t feel successful in my profession until I felt as though I had mastered this form of bodywork because it serves a population that is commonly overlooked. Now, I feel like I’ve achieved my purpose and I look forward every day to working to bring people relief.

Pricing:

• 30 minute sessions are $50
• 60 minute sessions are $90

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.intrinsicbodywork.com