Performed on a mat with the clothes on, Thai Yoga Massage combines the best aspects of both yoga and massage. The receiver is carried through a soothing dance of loving kindness using a series of rhythmic compression and gentle stretching. The effect is relaxing and energizing at the same time.

This course will provide you and your
partner with the knowledge to:

• Perform a 30 minute full-body, smooth, flowing and safe Thai Yoga massage
• Utilize intentional touch to create a mutually beneficial experience
• Integrate “Metta” (compassion) and meditation into the bodywork

Upcoming Workshops:

Halifax – Sunday August 22 @ 108 Yoga 10am-5pm (Book Online)

Charlottetown – Saturday August 28 @ Health Within Holistic Centre 10am-5pm. (Call 902 566 5009 to register)

Montreal – TBA… Contact me for details

In this 6-hour workshop you will learn new ways to give nurturing intentional touch to your partner, friend or family member through Thai Yoga massage.

We provide hands-on training using instruction and demonstration mixed with generous practice time and a healthy dose of humour to ensure you feel comfortable to begin practicing right away.

You will be asked to bring four or five dense blankets from home to make your mat and two dense pillows or cushions for sitting.

with KC Schwarz and Amy MacKenzie

Cost is $75 per person. Please email KC@karmathaimassage.com if you have any questions or comments.

You should wear or bring comfortable, loose fitting clothing. Yoga pants and long sleeve top are highly recommended for your comfort. If you arrive without appropriate attire, some will be provided for you to wear. Arrive for your appointment on time or a little bit early so you have time to relax a bit before starting the massage process. You may want to refrain from eating a meal for 1-2 hours before a massage, but do not fast all day or you may be distracted from the massage by your hunger.

When you arrive at Karma Thai Massage you will be greeted and invited to relax for a few minutes while I will ask some questions to help me customize the massage to your needs. I will ask if you have any health conditions that I should be aware of and we will fill out a simple health questionnaire for your benefit. We will also discuss any areas of tension and we may or may not discuss activities you do that directly affect your physical and mental stress levels. Keep in mind that the more the massage therapist knows about your body the more you will feel at ease and relaxed. This interview may take about 15 minutes the first time, but may be shortened with routine visits

Next you will be moved into the massage room and seated on the mat on the floor. I invite you to become acquainted with the space. Take some time to look around, find the rhythm of your breath and notice your state of mind. This moment of centering is essential for the receiver. He is now present in the body which is necessary for a blissful, mindful relaxation. This time is also an important opportunity for the practitioner to find his breath and ground himself. He will take a few minutes to meditate and just breath. I used to teach Scuba diving before I started doing Thai yoga massage. I find it fascinating that I would tell my scuba students and my massage clients the exact same thing from the very beginning. “Remember to breathe continuously.” In fact it is the only thing that is required of the receiver. By breathing continuously you allow your body to go into a deeper relaxation and to receive the touch of the massage therapist effectively. You do not need to breathe at a certain pace, or with great attention to the breath. Just check with yourself on occasion; “Am I breathing?” If the answer is “no”, breathe. You have now completely arrived.

Whales, breathing continuously

During the massage

The Thai yoga massage practitioner will proceed with a rhythmic, rocking dance, using palms, thumbs, knees and elbows to apply relaxing pressure to the different muscle groups. Some gentle stretching/counter-stretch techniques are applied in a fluid, divinely choreographed way that relax and strengthen the deep and superficial muscles, while facilitating circulation of the lymph, eliminating toxins from the body. During the massage you will be in any or all 4 anatomical positions. Sitting on the mat, lying on your back, lying on your front, lying on your left or on your right side. It is important to note if any of these positions may be uncomfortable for you due to an existing condition. For example, pregnant women will not be massaged in the front-lying position, but instead will be worked on more in the side-lying position. That’s it, the massage therapist will use a few different techniques, kneading, stroking, squeezing, chopping etc. to maintain natural energy flow in the body. He will check in with you a few times during the massage to make sure you are feeling alright. In general Thai massage is a deeper type of massage, but it is very adaptable and can also apply a gentle touch throughout. If there is any degree of discomfort, it is up to you to tell the practitioner what is happening. He/she will not be offended, it is part of the necessary give and take nature of bodywork. You won’t find that you need to say something very often, but if you have an ailment you need to mention, it is better to take 2 minutes out of the massage to discuss it so you can relax.

After the Massage

As your session draws to an end, many people find themselves lulled into a deep state of relaxation. The Thai yoga massage practitioner will say a short mantra while applying some finishing strokes. We pray for the one whom we touch, that all sickness will leave the body, and that he will be happy and healthy. You are invited to stay on the mat to relish and enjoy the sensations you are feeling. When you feel ready, slowly sit up from the mat and come into the next room for some tea or water. It is important to stay hydrated as your body depends on good hydration for proper irrigation of the cells. After Thai yoga massage, hydration is especially important because your cells may release undigested material to be eliminated from the system. The practitioner will invite you to give feedback about your experience. A discussion will most likely ensue about your experience on the mat. Did you enjoy your experience? Yes, of course you did. What did you notice about the massage? What did you like? What did you feel? Sharing this information with your massage therapist will help maintain a progressive experience for you from session to session. Most people feel relaxed for days after receiving massage, and have a greater ability to deal with stress. Others may experience a brief period of increasing tension or soreness before relief. Whatever your bodies reaction is, it is normal and healthy. A relaxed state should be respected throughout the next couple of days. Try to remember to breathe continuously, stop and smell the proverbial roses, try not to rush around, but take things as they come instead. Above all, stay with your body and be active. You are human first before any of your other roles.

Gift Certificates Available

Bookings can be made by telephone or by email.

Call 514 564 8367
Email: kc@karmathaimassage.com

Rates

Your eleventh massage is free!

$30/30min
$40.00/hr
$55.00/90 minutes
$80.00/120 minutes

Travel Fee $25 locally

Hours

24 Hours advance booking required.

Monday to Saturday from 9 am to 9 pm are my regular hours.

If you need to cancel there is no charge to do so up to 24 hours before the appointment time. If you need to cancel less than 24 hours before the appointment you will still be charged $25.

KC Schwarz is a certified teacher from the Lotus Palm school in Montreal, Quebec – North America’s leading Thai Yoga Massage training center. Originally a native of Halifax, Nova Scotia he followed his love of the ocean to Thailand where he studied Thai massage for the first time, then relocated to Montreal in order to pursue his passion full time. Previously he was an internationally certified teacher of CPR/First Aid and has the aspiration of training his students to be the very best. He brings a friendly, funny, and calm approach to the teaching. His mission is to see massage practiced in North America as it is in Thailand- accessible to anyone as a way of life towards a healthy mind and body.

Email : kc@karmathaimassage.com

Karma Thai Massage - Traditional Yoga Massage - Mile End - Montreal

Eat • Taste • Heal - An Ayurvedic Guidebook and Cookbook for Modern Living

“Ayurveda” is a sanskrit work which translates to mean “the science of life.” Although it can be traced back to one of the earliest known written records, around 5000 years ago, Ayurveda has been consistently adapted to apply both ancient and modern wisdom. It is as relevant today as any type of medicine has ever been. There is a simple reason that Ayurveda has survived for so long; it works.

When someone arrives for a massage, usually they are in one of two states. Kind of relaxed and excited, but still thinking too much about other places and things, or, so stressed out they can hardly see straight let alone lie still for an hour treatment. In either case most people are “located” in the head and shoulders when they arrive. In a sense, the person is carrying a lot of extra “weight” in his head and shoulders. There is no physical weight, but the body cannot tell the difference between physical and emotional weight. So Thai massage will often start with the feet in order to draw that energy of your awareness down and into the joints and muscles of the body. The more relaxed you are, the more easily your muscles give in to the stretch. The practitioner works with this energy of awareness throughout the massage to help create the proper conditions for balance and healing. A deep stretch is only possible once the body is fully relaxed.

I found this article online today and thought I’d share it with you all. Find out how massage offers relief for anxiety/depression and then try it for yourself – You’ll like it!

• 30 minute massage – $30
• 60 minute massage – $60 now only $40
• 90 minute massage – $90 now only $55
• 120 minute massage – $120 now only $80
• Book a wellness consultation with your massage for $30
• Book by email

Can’t break for an hour? Come by for a 30 minute massage for $30! I’ll work on your most needy muscles for half-an hour and send you on your way quickly and hassle free. Got all day? Come in for a leisurely 2-hour massage for only $80! I’ll be able to fully address the whole body from head to toe to leave you feeling relaxed and vibrant!

I am now offering wellness consultations as an added service to the massage. Wellness consultations serve as an introduction to the science and methods of Ayurveda. By figuring out your own individual constitution according to ayurveda you can begin to look at your eating and other habits as a gateway to your ideal self. This is a non-judgmental approach to sorting out areas of imbalance in your daily life.

Wellness consultations are typically conducted for 2 to 4 sessions and can include the following topics

• Ayurvedic constitutional test
• Basic Nutrition information
• Ayurvedic Nutrition guide
• Aphrodisiacs
• Recipes for your Dosha (Tea, spice blends, simple dishes)
• Lifestyle habits that cause unbalance in your dosha
• Lifestyle habits that balance the dosha
• Seasonal effect on the dosha
• Yoga postures to balance your dosha
• Guided meditation
]]> http://karmathaimassage.com/uncategorized/spring-in-the-air/feed/ 0 http://karmathaimassage.com/uncategorized/nuad-boran-ancient-bodywork/ http://karmathaimassage.com/uncategorized/nuad-boran-ancient-bodywork/#comments Wed, 17 Feb 2010 15:52:38 +0000 Karma Thai Massage http://karmathaimassage.com/?p=186 Nuad Boran is the Thai name for what we call Thai Yoga Massage. Of course, in Thailand they do not call it “Thai” massage. It is called Nuad Boran, which translates to “Ancient massage” or “ancient bodywork.”

Teachings of this ancient healing art were brought to Thailand around 2500 years ago by Jivaka – an Ayurvedic physician from India and contemporary of Gautama Buddha. Since that time the teachings of this massage have ben preserved in temple scriptures and its practice has become ingrained in the lives of Thai people. It has developed over the years into what we now know as “Thai” massage. In recent years, the subject of Nuad Boran has enriched a growing number of peoples lives internationally and is quickly becoming very popular throughout the world. This growth is like the blooming lotus. As the jewel of Nuad Boran presents itself, we are able to peel back the layers of traditional Thai massage to reveal the wholeness of this ancient system in our modern world. As we begin to appreciate fully the vast universe of understanding that comes with knowing Thai Yoga Massage, we can begin to see Nuad Boran for what it is, and how it compliments our modern knowledge of anatomy, physiology and spirituality.

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