on September 17th from 4pm – 7pm

in our new premises

Shop 12/ 203 Kings Road

• Meet and network with like-minded people,
• enjoy the taste of healthy (and not so healthy) food and drinks,
• choose your favourite from our One-Day-Only-Very-Special-Re-Opening-Offers,
• unwind with a Meditation of the Heart,
• learn about the new features at Transition Guidance that will help you to live happier, healthier, more relaxed and more authentically,
• experience a few sequences of ChiYoBic and
• share a blessing ceremony for our new space offering relaxation for body, mind & spirit.

For catering purposes please RSVP via
text to 0439 265 230 or email to info@transitionguidance.com
We look forward to seeing you!

‘Nuad Thai’ is a treatment that goes beyond usual massage techniques like kneading, stroking or rubbing.

It combines three remedies that are powerful within themselves:

1. Stretching

Often disrespected as a ‘warm-up’, a good stretching routine is a …exercise program in its own rights. It’s one of the first movements we do automatically when we wake up, feel sore after sitting in the same position for a long time or whenever we need that we are getting tense or need better blood flow.

A good stretch can sometimes be all you need in order to refresh your muscles. While neglected in most other relaxation treatments, it is a crucial element of any good Thai Massage due to its many benefits for the receiver.

2. Acupressure

Shiatsu, the Japanese pressure point ‘massage’ is only one example of how efficient and effective working on certain acupressure points can be.

Reflexology is another methodology that uses pressure points to ease pain in any body part by massaging the reflex zones in the feet or the hands.

The underlying common idea is not to work on the painful areas directly, but rather to remove blockages in the energy lines (‘Sen-lines’ in Thai massage, ‘Meridians’ in Japanese and Chinese Medicine and ‘Nadis’ in Ayurveda – the Indian ‘knowledge of life’) so that the life force ‘Chi’/'Ki’/'Prana’ can flow freely again.

3. Yoga

Here is how Kerry Spina from Kids In Harmony describes what Yoga does:

Yoga is an exercise system that synergizes the body,  the mind and the spirit.  Children feel stronger, more flexible and an over all sense of joy and peace when participating in Yoga classes.

Yoga moves, bends, releases, and empowers bodies of all ages.  It also stretches, and empowers the mind.  It can assist children to have more self control and to let go and feel confident and wise in situations that they may have found challenging.  Yoga brings about a greater sense of purpose and understanding in all relationships – with themselves, their friends, family, community and world.  It can motivate the sporty child to become a better athlete and also give a greater sense of acceptance and confidence to the child that may be perceived or labelled clumsy.

Yoga isn’t about changing the child, it is about refining and nourishing what is all ready there.  It is about bringing to flower the natural beauty and essence of each individual child through the gift and opportunity of having Yoga in their life.

Of course those benefits are in no way restricted to children.

On the contrary, Thai Yoga massage specifically uses the ‘Asanas’ – Yoga positions – to support the relaxation process. This might have been the main reason for Shivago Kumarpaj, the founder of the Thai massage, to incorporate this therapy in his body work, when he put together a treatment that would help the monks around Buddha to increase and maintain their flexibility after long hours of sitting still and meditating.

Putting it together

Each of those methodologies are very beneficial within  themselves. Combined to Nuad Thai Paen Bo Rarn, they make the treatment much more than just massage:

Nuad Thai is Relaxation for BODY, MIND & SPIRIT

Because of the holistic approach – focusing on the whole person, not only parts where pain is experienced – ‘Nuad Bo-Rarn’ can help to ease

• general physical signs of exhaustion
• mental overwhelm
• insomnia
• mental strains
• occasional light depressive moods
• symptoms associated with disease
• muscular tension
• back pain
• lethargy, dullness and
• digestion problems, lack of appetite

Although Indian Head Massage and Nuad Thai are traditionally performed for healing and prevention purposes, the practice is not recognised as a healing massage in Australia and does not replace the diagnosis or therapy prescribed by a professional.

If you suffer from…

• CFS (chronic fatigue syndrome)
• Depression (treated with medication)
• Cardiovascular disease
• Physical handicap
• Respiratory ailments (asthma)
• Psychosis, neurosis, borderline syndrome or
• Diseases related to the musculo-skeletal system (gout, arthritis, prolapsed inter-vertebral disc, rheumatism)

…it is advisable to inform your Thai massage therapist about your condition(s) and carefully consider the advantages and risks of having a Thai massage treatment.

If you have been diagnosed with one or more of the following diseases, an Indian Head Massage or Nuad Thai is unfeasible for physical or medical reasons (they could accelerate the increase and/or spreading of pathogenic germs). As a practitioner of massage for wellbeing and stress relief, I feel obligated to get confirmation from your qualified physician and/or therapist that this treatment will not interfere with their approach.

• Serious psychological or neurological complaints
• Rheumatic complaints with infections in joints or muscles
• Systemic complaints (like lupus eythematodes) on internal organs
• Serious heart complaints (angina pectoris, risk of heart attack)
• Serious vascular or arterial complaints (aortic aneurysm, vein inflammation, deep vein thrombosis or risk of thrombosis)
• Recent surgery or bone fracture
• Acute infection with high temperature
• Large-area dermatitis
• Consuming complaints in late-stages (cancer, AIDS)

On the 14th of June, the Nuad Thai Academy as part of Transition Guidance has moved to Shop 1/91 Bundock Street in Belgian Gardens.

Although I am now easy to find, have much more traffic passing by (well, it really could not have been less!) and am now besides Naturally Healthy, who offer complementary natural therapies, it turned out that this is not an ideal location.

And although sub-leasing and sharing otherwise unused space seemed like a good idea initially, it became quite quickly clear that it won’t work for any of  Transition Guidance’s branches.

My intention as a holistic health and wellbeing facilitator is to provide

• a space with a “Wow”-effect when you come in,
• a feeling that you have entered not just another room, but a space that welcomes you,where you feel ‘safe’ and all your senses are stimulated,
• a place that honours your uniqueness and where you can be who you truly are,
• a mini-cosmos that offers you to enter a world where you (re-)connect with your true spirit,
• a window to your mind and soul.

I am looking forward to providing that space to you and I would appreciate your feedback about what you expect from a place where you go to relax your body, mind & soul and reload your energy. Thanks in advance.

Honestly, who would not take up the chance to get a FREE Foot Massage?

Giving away free massage sounds like someone must have lost their mind, but actually there is method behind this madness:

It is part of the Buddhist tradition to practice Metta – ‘a loving kindness’. And what could be kinder than giving away a massage that is refreshing, re-invigorating and soothing for free?

Still, I was absolutely overwhelmed with the responses. Here are some examples of what people said:

Thank you so much! It was very relaxing and afterwards I could feel the flow of energy starting from my feet upwards! It is also a very sensitive way of massage. I can only recommend it! – Tima

Be open for something new and relaxing – thank you very much! – Ryan

Simply heaven! – Annette

It was very relaxing and my feet feel rejuvenated!

The most energising and also relaxing foot massage I ever had!! – Consuelo

An unbelievable sensation! – Marco

The brief experience today was blissful & delightful. I will certainly see you again! – Jessicca

That was heaven on earth! – Hamish

And there is more: I really wanted to give as many people as possible an opportunity to experience first hand what a Traditional Thai Foot Massage feels like. At this weekend almost 40 people had the chance to get an idea why this specific Foot Massage receives such amazing results in terms of relaxation, well-being and the relief, reduction and prevention of stress.

If this is the result of only around 15 minutes of Foot Massage, imagine how you would feel after a whole hour of Nuad Thai or a Head Over Heels!

The winner of the Introductory Offer will not only experience a Foot Massage as part of ‘Head Over Heels’, but also Nuad Thai – the traditional Thai Yoga Massage, an Aroma Oil Massage and a personal Energy Assessment.

And the winner is…. (drum role)….

Hamish Fairbrother, Hermit Park

Congratulations!

What a beautiful day in Belgian Gardens, when over one hundred people came together to spend a day practising different aspects of yoga, enjoying a nice cup of tea, re-connecting with their friends, family and with themselves and supporting fair trade, gorgeously surrounded by a wonderful garden on the grounds of the Townsville Senior Centre in Ryan Street.

I certainly enjoyed myself when I had the opportunity to demonstrate Nuad Thai and explain why it is more than just massage, how Traditional Thai massage is different from a normal treatment and what makes it so special and beneficial for the body, mind and the spirit.

Lots of people participated in the draw to win an introductory offer, which includes three different ‘massage’ treatments like Nuad Thai, Head Over Heels (feet, hand and head massage) and Aroma Oil Massage as well as a personal energy assessment. Of course there can only be one winner and I am happy to announce that …. drum role please….

the winner is…

Cathy Chapman from Belgian Gardens

Congratulations Cathy. I am looking forward to introducing you to wellbeing the Thai way!

To those who missed out, there is always the next Sundalah, where you could even be the volunteer to experience some Nuad Thai during the demonstration or of course go in the draw again.

There will also be lots of  attractive offers and specials, some new and exciting add-ons like our partnership workshop ‘From Zero To Hero – how to build, maintain and strengthen the bond with your partner through Nuad Thai‘ or interesting products that will support you in finding, maintaining or increasing your balance and wellbeing, so stay tuned and sign up for the Wellbeing Wednesday, the free weekly online magazine for stress relief, stress management and stress prevention.

If yes, we would love to hear from your experience, too.

What did you expect? How did you feel before and afterwards? What was different? How did you like it compared to a “normal” or remedial massage? Why would you recommend it?

Share your thoughts in the comment box and your story will be posted here (given that we have your permission of course!)

Here is what others have experienced:

Dear Petra,

Just a quick message of thanks for the very relaxing head and shoulder massage you gave me the other day. Being the first time I have used your service it was an unknown for me.

You made me feel at ease and confident with your explanation of the effect of the massage upfront. The massage was both relaxing and invigorating at the same time, if that makes sense.
For the rest of the day it felt as though I was on holiday on a resort Island, a great remedy when you are sitting in front of a computer screen.

I would thoroughly recommend your service to any potential new customers.

- Warren Mathieson
General Manager Environmental Assetts Services

If Thai Massage is executed the traditional way – as it is at the Nuad Thai Academy – one of the most significant differences between a standard remedial or relaxation massage and a Thai Yoga Massage is that the latter is performed in comfortable clothes, without any oil.

In contrast to a ‘normal’ massage, where therapists work on one body part at a time, Nuad Thai almost always involves the whole body, or at least a big proportion of it. The receiver being wrapped up in a towel would interrupt the flow and make it difficult to perform the massage smoothly.

Being clothed also ensures the professional integrity for the practitioner and the receiver, especially when some of the more ‘intimate’ Yoga positions are performed.

Working with oil is therefore not only not necessary, but also inappropriate.

There is however the Traditional Thai Aroma Oil Massage, which is for those who want to combine the benefits of the Thai Massage with the advantages of Aroma Oil therapy.

Diagnoses

Generally, a remedial massage is perceived to be a treatment that helps to get rid of that pain in the butt, the neck or another specific body part. While a good remedial massage therapist will still have a look at the whole person and explore the root cause of the pain (which most often results from a  relieving posture,stress or tension in another body part than the painful one), the less experienced or skilled ones often simply treat the area where the pain occurs.

Nuad Thai also looks at the whole person, and even goes one step further.

A good Nuad Thai therapist will not give any kind of diagnose, where the pain may come from. He or she will rather “feel Thai”, which means treating the whole person and ‘listening’ to or feeling the clues that the receiver’s body gives them.

The Nuad Thai therapist will then choose to work on the energy lines or choose the techniques or positions that seem appropriate  in order to help the receiver’s body heal itself and get rid of the blockages that prevent the life force Chi/Ki/Prana to flow freely through the body.

Techniques

Nuad Thai uses a combination of very powerful techniques, including stretching, acupressure and Yoga.

Nuad Thai is ‘Yoga for lazy people’, because in actual fact Yoga is done on the receiver.
Instead of constantly being aware of the posture, listening to the teacher, correcting positions or – if doing Yoga for yourself – thinking of the sequence, the receiver’s mind is free to wander and explore any sensations, limiting beliefs or emotions that come up during the massage.

Results

It often happens that the receiver of a Thai Massage has an insight, feels more connected with him- or herself, finally gives him- or herself the permission to let go of emotions or recognises an issue they have been avoiding to deal with.

It is very common that after a Thai Massage people find solutions they have not been able to realise before.

The feeling of lightness, clarity and even focus is a result of the stimulation of body, mind & spirit as a whole, which makes Nuad Thai the perfect tool to de-stress on a holistic level.

Tradition

Most ‘modern’ remedial or relaxation massages have their roots in traditional massages like Shiatsu (Japanese acupressure massage), Tui Na (Chinese Massage) or Ayurveda (Indian Health system that includes oil massages).

While many modern massages mostly take just one good part of these massage and deepens that (like Reflexology, Swedish massage or Hot Stone massage), Nuad Thai takes the opposite approach and combines the best of those traditions to a treatment that offers even more benefits for the receiver.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Nuad Thai Academy is open Monday 28th – Wednesday 30th December 2009 and commences business from January 4th 2010:

Monday to Friday 9am-5pm
Saturday by appointment only

Opening hours from January 25th:

Monday to Friday 9.30am-2.30pm
Saturday by appointment