The Visceral Course: Body Whispering — Shifting Fascial Planes, Improving Functions
Healthcare providers and allied bodyworkers are increasingly recognizing that pain and dysfunction are not always isolated to muscles and joints alone. The organs, fascia, nervous system, diaphragm, and pelvic structures function as an interconnected network, influencing movement, digestion, breathing, pelvic health, and overall well-being.
The Visceral Course: Body Whispering — Shifting Fascial Planes, Improving Functions, taught by Dr. Maureen Mason, is designed to provide beginning-to-advanced level training in organ-specific manual therapy and integrative care approaches.
Course Dates and Location
2026 Course Dates:
• Sunday, October 11, 2026 (8:00 AM – 5:00 PM)
• Sunday, October 18, 2026 (8:00 AM – 5:00 PM)
Location:
Stretch Effect, 9945 Pacific Heights Blvd, Suite 100, San Diego, CA 92121
Registration Information
Registration Contact:
Chelsea@stretcheffect.com
Course Fees:
• $550 registration fee if paid by September 27
• $625 late registration fee from September 28 – October 4
Registration is limited, and attendees must complete the required pre-course sessions prior to attending the live course.
Course Structure
This is a 20-hour course that includes:
• Two in-person class sessions held one week apart
• Two self-paced online preparatory lessons (2 hours each) delivered three weeks before class
• Lecture and hands-on lab instruction
• Pre- and post-tests
• Course objectives and evaluation materials for CEU application
• A lab manual and patient education resource files
• Certificate of course completion
The course format was intentionally designed to allow participants time to practice skills between sessions while reducing provider burnout associated with traditional weekend intensives.
What Participants Will Learn
The course focuses on how dysfunctions in organ mobility and fascial relationships may contribute to pain, movement restrictions, and neuro-visceral-somatic symptoms. Instruction includes screening and interventions related to the diaphragm, liver, stomach, kidneys, intestines, pelvic organs, and digestive system.
Participants will learn how to:
Provide integrative care for the visceral-fascial body
Utilize principles of biotensegrity
Treat dysfunctions involving neuro-ortho-myofascial and visceral systems
Identify and treat visceral mobility restrictions
Promote somatic awareness and interoception
Incorporate lifestyle medicine principles into patient care
Enhance patient satisfaction through compassionate, holistic care
Course Foundations
Key educational foundations include:
Understanding organ anatomy, function, and referral patterns
Recognizing medical red flags requiring referral
Exploring embryology and fascial development
Understanding visceral-somatic reflexes
Learning how organ motility and mobility influence function
Integrating visceral mobilization with orthopedic and neurologic treatment approaches
Hands-On Skills and Objectives
The course includes practical lab skills such as:
Organ-specific palpation
Visceral mobilization for the colon and bladder
Identification of fascial attachments and pelvic structures
Screening for somato-emotional status, digestive, and urinary function
Developing patient education strategies for parasympathetic regulation and lifestyle medicine support
About Dr. Maureen Mason
Dr. Maureen Mason is an integrative physical therapist with advanced training in women’s health, therapeutic yoga, visceral therapy, manual therapy, and lifestyle medicine. She has completed six visceral therapy courses and served as a teaching assistant for visceral coursework through Herman & Wallace. Visceral work is a foundational component of her clinical practice and educational approach.
She is also the author of the book Pelvic Rehabilitation: The Manual Therapy and Exercise Guide Across the Lifespan, which focuses on integrative orthopedic and pelvic health education.
Refer to this course info document for more information.
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