As Asian Bodywork is becoming more mainstream in the spa and wellness industry, an increasing number of clients are asking about the Integrated Thai-Shiatsu massage therapy sessions I offer.

Being prepared for what you can expect during your massage session when you walk into it is a very important part of how you will feel when you walk out of it, so to learn more about Thai-Shiatsu, check out these great YouTube massage videos. Each is an excerpt of a massage session demonstrating the Thai and Shiatsu aspects of the Integrated Thai-Shiatsu bodywork modality.

Thai Massage

What you are not seeing in the above is the Shiatsu aspect of an Integrated Thai-Shiatsu massage session. The main difference is the amount of "point" work or acupressure involved.

Shiatsu Massage

Thai Massage and Shiatsu Massage, apart, are wonderful ways to reconnect with your body and surrender to your breath. In an integrated form, they are simply that much more powerful.

Try one today, and let us know what you think!

Labels: asian bodywork, integrated thai-shiatsu massage, massage therapy, shiatsu, shoshin shiatsu, thai massage, thai-shiatsu

Simply put, Thai-Shiatsu massage is a combination of Asian Bodywork modalities.

Asian Bodywork uses the energetic philosophy of Chinese Medicine to reduce stress, promote health and overall wellness. It is also one of the four branches of Chinese Medicine - the other branches being Acupuncture, Herbology and Qigong - and has been influenced by all of the major Asian countries - most notably China, Japan, Thailand and Vietnam.

Bodywork's Integrated Thai & Shiatsu Massage

Clients should come to Thai-Shiatsu sessions in loose, comfortable clothing. Clothing will remain on throughout the session. The bodywork, which is composed of light stretches and compression will be performed on the floor on a massage mat. Bolsters, pillows and blankets should be available, as needed, as the client will be moved into many different positions during the massage.

Shoshin Shiatsu - Shoshin Shiatsu originates with traditional acupressure, Zen and Thai bodywork and is based on awareness and working of the classic 14 meridian channels of Chinese medicine.

Shiatsu is a traditional, hands-on Japanese therapy translating literally. Shi means finger and atsu means pressure.

Thai Massage - Thai massage is known in Thailand as "nuat phaen boran," literally, meaning the ancient-manner massage. According to Wikipedia, Thai massage originated in India and is based on Ayurveda and Yoga. It is believed that Thai massage art was actually brought to Thailand over 2500 years ago.

Thai massage techniques, using the thumbs, elbows, palms, forearms, feet and knees include: rocking, rhythmic muscle compression, assisted yoga positions and stretching. Therapists work along energy meridians called Sen lines. Three of the Sen lines run along the same areas as the yogic nadis, the Indian version of energy lines, affecting specific chakras or centers of energy.

You'll know how amazing this modality is the second your massage therapist lays a hand on you. It is an intuitive and incredibly focused work. If you've had a Swedish massage that left you wanting more, if you felt like your therapists wasn't paying attention to you, try a Thai and/or Shiatsu session.


Bodywork provides custom massage therapy and bodywork in the Austin area.

Labels: asian bodywork, massage austin, massage therapy, shoshin shiatsu, thai massage, thai-shiatsu

On Sunday, January 25th, I took Thai-Shiatsu for the New Year with Randy Cummins at Lauterstein-Conway Massage School. Before I go into all of this I have to admit, as the Marketing Director, I was a "plant," so to speak, taking the class for free to promote and feel-out (massage pun intended) interest for the school's Asian Bodywork Program coming up in April.

I've taken one of Randy's classes before as an official student - a two day workshop in October 2007. I needed CEUs and was interested in Shiatsu and heard wonderful things about Randy as an instructor, so I was excited to be there. Before class we went around the room, introduced ourselves and explained why we were interested in the modality. Most said they were interested in energy-based bodywork. A handful of us hated our tables. The assistant said she was drawn "by the beauty of the work." (Oh boy, insert private eye-rolling here).

By the end of the first hour, I was completely rocked by both Randy's teaching and the "the beauty of the work."

The October class, my first experience with it, at Lauterstein-Conway was intimate - only fourteen participants - so at the time, I thought it might have been the class-size and my genuine eagerness and desire to be there that made my perception of the class such a comfortable energy, but the class on Sunday had 28 people in it - Lauterstein-Conway's biggest continuing education class in ages - and it was equally energetic and intimate and mind-blowing.

So during the free Thai-Shiatsu demonstration after the workshop, while watching Randy demonstrate floorwork on one of the school's graduates, we talked about what it was about the modality that made it so powerful. I cannot speak for the others there, but I came to two conclusions about my experiences with Thai-Shiatsu and Randy Cummins.

Often times the teacher makes the class as good as it is: how good they are at conveying information, how knowledgeable and passionate they are about the subject, how much fun they can make the material and how "likeable" they are. Randy certainly is an amazing instructor and bodyworker. Period.

But I also decided, the modality, the version of Thai-Shiatsu Randy teaches, is what really draws me. In addition to simple, patient and compassionate, it is practical. All of it feels good unlike deep tissue, none of it is ignorable unlike some Swedish strokes and all of it is beautiful to participate in.

Here's to the "beauty of the work." Forgive me for the eye rolling.

Labels: Lauterstein-Conway Massage School, massage, massage class, massage school, shiatsu, thai massage