Massage & Bodywork

I offer couch and futon based massage using both Thai and Ayurvedic techniques. My approach has developed through good teaching and clinical experience as well as personal experience of bodywork. I work through clothes and/or skin to skin.

Thai massage has a musculo-skeletal approach to ease the body and mind, including some joint mobilisation and stretching. If you are like a deep tissue approach, Thai massage works really well and without the need for pain. Ayurvedic massage uses flowing skin to skin techniques and acupressure points to create a similar effect. My sense of the two approaches is that Thai massage works from the outside in – physical body to energetic body – and Ayurvedic massage works from the inside out – energetic body to physical body.

Thai massage & bodywork

A remedial and therapeutic form of massage received on the futon (or couch if necessary). It encourages flexibility, relaxation and balance. As well as having a musculo-skeletal approach, Thai bodywork can educate the receiver about their body, creating a new awareness of what is possible, what is useful and what is less useful. You can start the massage feeling scattered and physically compromised and complete the massage feeling grounded, taller and centred.

Techniques include sequences of soft tissue pressing and combinations of passive stretching and joint mobilisation and use of acupressure. Considered deep tissue techniques are also incorporated for specific attention to muscle groups

Thai massage is helpful for:

Stress & general fatigue
Emotional well-being
Muscle tightness, aching and inflexibility
Poor posture
Ankle strains/sprains and lower leg stiffness
Lower back pain
Sciatica
Hip and leg pain
Abdominal pain and stomach problems
Shoulder stiffness
Neck stiffness and related headaches

Thai bodywork

Ayurvedic massage

Ayurveda recognises the cycles of our world and environment and the cycles within us. It is a life science that works to prevent illness and provide therapeutic healing. Its history extends back some 5000 years in India. Ayurveda brings awareness to the constant changes present in our lives and supports us to adapt to and embrace them. Ayurveda includes the use of massage, yoga and diet to maintain balance and to connect mind, body and spirit.

Ayurvedic massage has a similar energetic approach to Thai bodywork. Before looking at the client on the physical level, Ayurvedic massage considers the client’s individual constitution to choose techniques to encourage them to return to their healthiest balanced state. The massage includes the use of herb-infused oils and techniques to stimulate, pacify or balance the receiver’s unique combination of energetic forces or doshas. It also includes attention to the body’s system of marma points or marmani to deepen the effect and experience of the massage. These acupressure points are vulnerable or sensitive zones connected to the physiological and energetic systems of the body.

This oil-based massage and the techniques employed will be familiar if you are used to receiving skin to skin massage.

Ayurvedic massage is helpful for