Ablón

Ablón (also known as hilot) is a traditional, holistic, Filipino hands-on manual therapy that releases stagnant states to allow the return of the body’s natural flow through various manipulation movements, including joint mobility, acupressure, and massage. It addresses issues in the bones (tulang), joints (suop), muscle (lasag), tendons/ligaments (pennet), and the various channels of the body (urat).

Ablón is good for:

► Various musculoskeletal tensions, imbalances, or fatigue

► Limited or strained mobility

► Digestive system relief (bloating, cramping, acid reflux, etc.)

► Stress relief, relaxation, realigning with the body

Indigenous to the Northwestern Philippines, ablón is a form of hilot taught to me by Manursuro Virgil Mayor Apostol (author of "Way of the Ancient Healer: Sacred Teachings from the Philippine Ancestral Traditions"). His ablón practice is the culmination of wisdom inherited from his healing and combat arts lineage and teachers.

Depending on your needs and your consent, I may incorporate some energy work and kulkulis (traditional reflexology).

My work is based in so-called Chicagoland area (lands of the Bodwéwadmi, Hoocąk, Kaskaskia, Kiikaapoi, Myaamia, Peoria, and Sioux peoples).

What folks are saying

“Char approaches you with care and intention, tuning into the wisdom of their guides—providing a deeply resonant experience. I felt restored and gained more clarity about my experience and what my body was holding onto.”

“The following days after my ablón were really energizing. I noticed an emotional release and improvement in my mobility, especially in my hips. Combining strength training and ablón has benefited me!”

“I am usually not one to get massages due to my sensitive nature and past massages triggering my Sickle Cell. This is my first ablón session and my illness wasn’t triggered. I was able to truly enjoy my experience with Char. I can’t say yet if my problems felt better since this was just my first ever ablón. Super excited to continue with more sessions.”

“Squeezed open the ketchup packet of my soul. Char rocked my sh*t in ways I never knew possible.”

Ablón Table Therapy

Sliding scale $50-$100 for a 2.5-hour session, which includes an initial check-in.

Full-body experience.

Ablón Seated Therapy

Sliding scale $40-$60 for 45 minutes to 1.5 hours, depending on your needs and capacity.

Focuses on upper body issues (neck, shoulders, arms, head, upper back).

Locations

→ You can visit me.

I am available at these locations (address shared after our consult call):

► Near DAISO, South Elgin

► Near IKEA, Woodridge

► Near H Mart, Niles

→ I can visit you.

► I am available to work at your home for a $15 travel and setup fee. Your floor space clearance must be:

► at least 7×10 feet for table therapy.

► at least 7×7 feet for seated therapy.

Book via my Jotform

FAQs

  • My manursuro (teacher) is Virgil Mayor Apostol, author of “Way of the Ancient Healer: Sacred Teachings from the Philippine Ancestral Traditions” (North Atlantic Books, 2010).

    Harnessing over four decades of dedicated research in the indigenous arts of the Philippines, Ka Virgil offered a program to train students Ablón Kabarwánan manual medicine (or just “ablón”). It offered a comparative culture and embodied approach to traditional Filipino medicine.

  • Ablón Table Therapy will require you on a massage table, while Ablón Seated Therapy will have you seated on a chair (I provide the table and the chair).

    Table therapy generally requires oil, and will therefore need you to be completely topless and your bottom half down to your underwear, but you will be under a blanket the entire session.

    Seated therapy will have you stay fully clothed and doesn’t require oil.

  • No, but I am working towards working at studio!

    Traditionally, it was common for healers to either be visited in their homes or visit clients’ homes themselves to do their work. The current listed locations are homes of friends and family who wish to help me make ablón/hilot accessible to those who seek it.

    This means some coordination will be involved, based on house availability. This will be discussed in our initial consultation call. You also have the option of having your session at your home if you have the floor space (7×10 ft for table therapy, 7×7 ft for seated therapy) for a $15 fee.

  • Only for table therapy. Because many movements require the use of oil, it’s best to be completely topless and have your bottom half down to your underwear, but you will be under a blanket the entire session.

  • No, you do not! Touch’s therapeutic capabilities are wide-ranging.

  • Zelle, Venmo, and cash. Payments can be made right after the session.

  • Option 1: When you book an appointment with me via my jotform, there is a section where you can share your questions. I can then answer them on our consultation call.

    Option 2: If you’re not trying to book yet, you can fill out the form on my contact page.