Massage is the best way to relax the body, mind and soul and to immediately reduce stress.

There are different types of body massage but Thai massage is renowned all over the world. It is one of the most sought treatments , and people travel across Thailand to experience or learn this type of massage, as well as to have a great time there too!

Thai massage is the combination of acupressure, stretching, and yoga done on you, sometimes known as Thai-yoga massage, or ‘nuad phaen bo rarn’ in Thai, which means ‘ancient manner massage’.
It combines both the relaxation and rejuvenation benefits of massage with the therapeutic effects of yoga.
It is important to stay fit to avoid health problems and give one a positive attitude, and Thai massages fulfills both needs.

Thai massage took birth from ancient Indian ayurvedic culture. There are several styles of Thai massages and each has its own advantages. Some even use aromatherapy oil or lotion, although traditionally a Thai massage is performed in comfortable clothes.

Thai massages are being used to energize different parts of your body, and there are different styles from different parts of the country. The northern styles emphasizes stretching, (and sometimes cracking of the joints similar to that which a western chiropractor may do), while the southern style concentrates more on acupressure.

Thai-Yoga massage is unlike other types of massage. The average remedial massage generally aims to manipulate body parts with the attitude to ‘fix’ the body. Nuad Thai  on the other hand looks at the whole person and does not ‘diagnose’; a good practitioner ‘feels Thai’, which means she goes with the flow of energy and ‘listens’ carefully what the body of the receiver is telling her.

Performing a Thai Massage, your practitioner is working on your body as well as your energy lines, incorporating some Yoga Asanas (positions) for specific stretches, which are designed to stimulate the flow of energy through the body.

While most styles of massage use massage plinths or couches, Thai massage is usually performed on a woven mat, or yoga mat on the ground, face down and up, on the side and seated.

Thai Yoga massage involves gentle movements given by the masseur or therapist with hands, feet, knees and legs in order to release the energy and help to let it flow freely. This massage helps to reduce back ache, menstrual pain, headaches and stress.

Yoga Asanas (Sanskrit for positions) help to stretch the body in an energetic way. Similarly, Thai-yoga massage applies stretches to the recipient. This refreshes the body and it increases its flexibility. It encourages participants to meditate during their treatment and find out a deeper awareness about their body. Hence in many ways this is a more active, responsible and enlightening form of massage due to this participation on the part of the client.

Yoga is part of Ayurveda, an ancient Indian healing system that is gaining tremendous popularity all over the world. An aging population has revealed the calming therapies of yoga and massage.

Combining two powerful natural therapies into an effective treatment called Nuad Thai has become the reason for its popularity. Looking at the increasing interest in Thai yoga massage all over the world, many experienced therapists have taken the opportunity to be trained in this form in order to provide a holistic therapy that is so much more than just massage.

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.

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.

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