Somatic Massage, Belly Massage, and other personalized healing combinations may be scheduled as Integrative Healing sessions, depending on the techniques and depth of work involved.
Holistic Massage is a personalized approach to bodywork that supports relaxation, body awareness and a greater sense of connection with yourself. Rather than following the same routine for every person, Asttarte draws from decades of experience with massage, acupressure, Shiatsu, Thai-inspired bodywork, energy healing, Breathwork and spiritual wellness practices. Each session is shaped around your comfort, goals, boundaries and present needs.
Offered primarily at the Manayunk main office, with additional in-person arrangements in Northern Liberties and Lambertville, NJ when scheduled.
A Whole-Person Approach to Massage
Stress does not affect only one part of us. It can influence the muscles, breath, emotions, energy, posture and the way we experience our bodies.
Holistic Massage creates time to slow down and notice what your body may be communicating. Touch, pressure, gentle movement, breathing and stillness may be combined to encourage relaxation and greater awareness. Your session may focus on:
- General relaxation and stress reduction
- Muscle tension and physical discomfort
- Grounding and nervous-system support
- Reconnecting with your body
- Developing greater awareness of breath and sensation
- Emotional well-being during periods of change
- Restoring a sense of balance and inner spaciousness
This work is collaborative. You are welcome to communicate what feels supportive, request an adjustment or withdraw consent at any time.
Approaches That May Be Incorporated
Somatic Massage
Somatic Massage combines Asttarte’s Somatic Stress Release Therapy technique with an on-the-body healing process, similar to the deep inner emotional and spiritual work experienced during seated Somatic Stress Release sessions.
This approach may help release energy and emotions the body is carrying while receiving the nurturing touch of massage to support and integrate the somatic healing process. This is an active, collaborative experience where you fully participate alongside the practitioner. Rather than simply lying down, relaxing, and receiving massage, we are doing the healing work together.
Somatic Massage combines therapeutic touch with awareness of breath, feelings, physical sensations, and the body’s responses. The purpose is not simply to work on muscles, but to help you become more present, connected, and aware of your body and the emotions you may be holding. Sessions may include lighter or firmer pressure depending upon your individual needs, comfort, and preferences.
Belly Massage for Intimacy & Emotional Healing
Releasing Emotional Layers • Reconnecting With Your Body • Opening to Love
The belly is one of the most sensitive and vulnerable areas of the body. It is often where we experience our deepest emotions, from fear, anxiety, anger, and grief to love, passion, trust, and connection.
Throughout our lives, we may develop protective patterns that influence how we experience our bodies, express our emotions, and allow ourselves to receive love and intimacy.
Belly Massage is a gentle, intentional, body-centered healing practice that combines therapeutic touch, somatic awareness, breathwork, and emotional exploration to help you reconnect with the deeper feelings and sensations within your body.
Unlike traditional abdominal massage, which may focus primarily on muscles and physical tension, this approach invites you to actively participate in the experience through conscious breathing, awareness of sensations, emotional reflection, and compassionate self-inquiry.
Exploring the Emotional Layers Beneath the Surface
Sometimes the feelings we struggle to express in everyday life become intertwined with the way we experience tension, vulnerability, and protection in our bodies. Through gentle belly massage and guided somatic awareness, we may explore themes such as:
- Fear and mistrust: Recognizing protective patterns that may make it difficult to relax, feel safe, or open to others.
- Hidden anger and resentment: Exploring emotions that have been difficult to acknowledge, express, or resolve.
- Grief and emotional pain: Creating space to compassionately acknowledge loss, disappointment, and heartache.
- Intimacy and attachment wounds: Understanding fears of rejection, abandonment, vulnerability, and emotional closeness.
- Self-love and receiving love: Exploring beliefs and emotional barriers that may interfere with feeling worthy of care, affection, and connection.
- Passion and emotional longing: Discovering the deeper needs beneath familiar patterns of seeking love, validation, or connection.
- Inner child healing: Gently exploring earlier emotional experiences that may continue to influence our relationships and sense of safety.
The intention is not to force an emotional release, but to create a supportive environment where feelings can be recognized, understood, and integrated at your own pace.
Shamanic Healing, Energy Awareness & Kundalini
My approach to Belly Massage has been deeply influenced by my experiences with shamanic healing, traditional plant medicine ceremonies, and spiritual practices that explore the relationship between the body, emotions, energy, and consciousness. Through these experiences, I came to appreciate how intentional touch, breath, and compassionate presence can support profound personal reflection and a deeper relationship with the body.
Within certain spiritual traditions, the abdomen is understood as an important center of life-force energy, personal power, and emotional awareness. In this work, we may explore energetic patterns, kundalini awareness, and what some spiritual traditions describe as karmic or deeply rooted patterns that influence our relationships and emotional experiences.
These concepts are approached as spiritual frameworks for personal exploration rather than medical explanations of physical or psychological conditions.
Reconnecting With Love, Trust & Intimacy
One of the deeper intentions of this work is to explore the protective layers that may stand between us and our capacity to experience love.
Sometimes we long for closeness while simultaneously fearing it. We may desire affection but struggle to receive it, or seek connection from others while feeling disconnected from ourselves.
Through intentional touch, guided breathwork, and emotional awareness, Belly Massage offers an opportunity to explore these experiences with compassion. This work may support you in developing a more trusting relationship with your body, strengthening self-acceptance, and becoming more aware of the emotional patterns influencing how you give and receive love.
Combining Belly Massage With Cacao Healing
Belly Massage can be incorporated into a personalized heart-centered session that includes a guided cacao ceremony.
Ceremonial cacao, meditation, intention-setting, breathwork, and somatic exploration can complement one another in creating a reflective experience focused on self-compassion, emotional awareness, and personal growth.
Together, these practices invite you to explore the connection between your heart, belly, breath, emotions, and inner experience.
What to Expect
Sessions are individualized according to your intentions, comfort, and personal needs.
We begin with a conversation about what you would like to explore, followed by grounding and breath awareness. Gentle abdominal touch may then be incorporated alongside guided emotional and somatic exploration.
You remain an active participant throughout the session, with the freedom to communicate your needs, adjust the pressure, pause, or discontinue touch at any time.
All work is offered within clear professional boundaries, with informed consent and respect for your physical and emotional comfort.
Belly Massage may be experienced as a standalone session or incorporated into a longer Somatic Healing, Intimacy Coaching, or Cacao Healing experience.
This is a complementary wellness and spiritual practice, not a substitute for medical care, psychotherapy, or trauma treatment.
Other Types of Massage
Shiatsu, Acupressure and Thai-Inspired Bodywork
Shiatsu and acupressure use focused pressure along traditional energetic pathways and specific points of the body. Thai-inspired techniques may include gentle stretching, compression and supported movement. These approaches may help promote relaxation, ease areas of tension and encourage a greater sense of mobility and balance.
Spiritual and Energy-Integrated Massage
For clients who desire a spiritual dimension, massage may be combined with Reiki, intuitive energy healing, meditation, visualization or conscious breathing. This approach honors the connection between physical relaxation, emotional awareness and spiritual well-being. Spiritual elements are included only when requested or agreed upon.
Shamanic-Inspired Bodywork
Shamanic-inspired bodywork may incorporate grounding, breath awareness, energy healing, intention and compassionate attention to the body. Gentle abdominal or belly massage may sometimes be included when appropriate, but it is never assumed. It is offered only after discussion and with the client’s specific consent. The purpose is to provide a grounded space for self-awareness and reconnection—not to force an emotional experience or make the body release something before it is ready.
Emotional Taoist Acupressure
Emotional Taoist Acupressure draws upon traditional associations among acupressure pathways, organs and emotional experience. Within this framework, gentle pressure and mindful awareness may be used to support relaxation and personal reflection. These traditional energetic associations are not medical diagnoses, and responses vary from person to person.
What Happens During a Session
Before beginning, we discuss:
- What you are seeking from the session
- Areas of tension or sensitivity
- Pressure preferences
- Areas you would like included or avoided
- Preferences concerning touch, energy work and other supportive practices
- Any physical conditions or concerns that may affect the session
You remain appropriately draped throughout table-based massage. Only the area being worked on is uncovered, and intimate areas are never included. Depending upon your needs, the session may incorporate massage, compression, acupressure, supported stretching, Breathwork, grounding or hands-on or hands-near energy healing.
There is no requirement to experience an emotional release. Quiet relaxation, rest and increased body awareness are meaningful outcomes in themselves.
Consent and Professional Boundaries
All massage and bodywork offered by Asttarte Deva Healing Wellness Center is professional, therapeutic, and supportive of each client’s individual healing journey. Sessions do not include erotic massage, sexualized touch by the practitioner, or requests concerning the practitioner’s clothing, appearance, or personal participation in intimate activities. All practices are guided by professional boundaries, informed consent, mutual respect, and each client’s individual needs and readiness.
Consent is ongoing. You may request lighter pressure, different positioning, hands-off energy work or the end of a technique or session at any time. New clients complete a phone consultation before scheduling so that we can discuss their needs, answer questions and determine whether the work is an appropriate fit.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Holistic Massage?
Holistic Massage is a personalized approach to bodywork that supports relaxation, body awareness and a greater sense of connection with yourself. Rather than following the same routine for every person, Asttarte draws from decades of experience with massage, acupressure, Shiatsu, Thai-inspired bodywork, energy healing, Breathwork and spiritual wellness practices. Each session is shaped around your comfort, goals, boundaries and present needs.
What is Somatic Massage?
Somatic Massage combines Asttarte’s Somatic Stress Release Therapy technique with an on-the-body healing process, similar to the deep inner emotional and spiritual work experienced during seated Somatic Stress Release sessions. This is an active, collaborative experience where you fully participate alongside the practitioner. Rather than simply lying down and receiving, we do the healing work together. Sessions combine therapeutic touch with awareness of breath, feelings, physical sensations, and the body’s responses to help you become more present and connected.
What is Belly Massage for Intimacy & Emotional Healing?
Belly Massage is a gentle, intentional, body-centered healing practice that combines therapeutic touch, somatic awareness, breathwork, and emotional exploration to help you reconnect with the deeper feelings and sensations within your body. The belly is often where we hold deep emotions from fear, anxiety, anger, grief, love, passion, trust, and connection. Unlike traditional abdominal massage focused mainly on muscles, this approach invites active participation through conscious breathing, sensation awareness, emotional reflection, and compassionate self-inquiry.
How is this different from tantric massage or erotic massage?
All massage and bodywork offered by Asttarte Deva Healing Wellness Center is professional, therapeutic, and supportive of each client’s individual healing journey. Sessions do not include erotic massage, sexualized touch by the practitioner, or requests concerning the practitioner’s clothing, appearance, or personal participation in intimate activities. The practitioner remains fully clothed. All practices are guided by professional boundaries, informed consent, mutual respect, and each client’s individual needs and readiness.
Do sessions include genital touch, yoni massage, or lingam massage?
No. Intimate areas are never included. You remain appropriately draped throughout table-based massage. Only the area being worked on is uncovered. Gentle abdominal or belly massage may be included when appropriate and only after discussion and with your specific consent.
What happens during a session?
Before beginning, we discuss what you are seeking from the session, areas of tension or sensitivity, pressure preferences, areas you would like included or avoided, preferences concerning touch, energy work and other supportive practices, and any physical conditions or concerns. Depending on your needs, the session may incorporate massage, compression, acupressure, supported stretching, Breathwork, grounding or hands-on or hands-near energy healing. There is no requirement to experience an emotional release. Quiet relaxation, rest and increased body awareness are meaningful outcomes in themselves.
Is this a substitute for medical treatment or psychotherapy?
No. Holistic Massage and integrative bodywork are complementary wellness practices. They are not substitutes for medical treatment, physical therapy, psychotherapy or emergency care. New clients complete a phone consultation before scheduling so that we can discuss your needs, answer questions and determine whether the work is an appropriate fit.
Can I combine massage with cacao ceremonies, intimacy coaching, or other services?
Yes. Belly Massage may be experienced as a standalone session or incorporated into a longer Somatic Healing, Intimacy Coaching, or Cacao Healing experience. For clients who desire a spiritual dimension, massage may be combined with Reiki, intuitive energy healing, meditation, visualization or conscious breathing when requested or agreed upon.
What are the session lengths and pricing?
Holistic Massage: 60 minutes $225, 90 minutes $275, 120 minutes $325.
Holistic Massage & Integrative Healing: 60 minutes $250, 90 minutes $325, 120 minutes $425.
Single personalized sessions range from $225 to $425. For deeper or continuing support, structured pathways of three, five, ten and twenty sessions are available. Packages allow us to work with greater consistency and combine appropriate approaches over time. Discounts are available upon request and as needed.
Where are sessions held? Is online available?
Sessions are offered primarily at the main office in Manayunk, Philadelphia. Additional in-person arrangements are available in Northern Liberties (Philadelphia) and Lambertville, NJ when scheduled. Please use the Calendly link to schedule or contact us to discuss options.
Session options & pricing
| Service | Rate |
|---|---|
| Holistic Massage — 60 minutes | $225 |
| Holistic Massage — 90 minutes | $275 |
| Holistic Massage — 120 minutes | $325 |
| Holistic Massage & Integrative Healing — 60 minutes | $250 |
| Holistic Massage & Integrative Healing — 90 minutes | $325 |
| Holistic Massage & Integrative Healing — 120 minutes | $425 |
Single personalized sessions range from $225 to $425, depending upon the session length and format.
For those seeking deeper or continuing support, structured pathways of three, five, ten and twenty sessions are available. A continuing pathway allows us to work with greater consistency, observe patterns over time and combine appropriate approaches according to your changing needs. Packages are emphasized for clients seeking meaningful, sustained support rather than an occasional massage alone.
Discounts available upon those who ask and as needed.
Holistic Massage and integrative bodywork are complementary wellness practices. They are not substitutes for medical treatment, physical therapy, psychotherapy or emergency care.