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Description of Treatment:
"The Lotus is a symbol of Metta (loving-kindness)
and compassion, while palming is a technique that we use in Thai Yoga
Massage. Lotus Palm means the compassionate touch. That is the spirit
of this work." - Kam Thye Chow, founder of the Lotus Palm School
Thai Massage came from India and was brought to Thailand 2500 years ago
by Dr Jivaka Kumarbhaccha. A contemporary of Buddha, he came to Thailand
around the same time that Buddhist monks brought Buddhism to Thailand.
When receiving Thai Yoga Massage, one is receiving the vast benefits
of the ancient practice of Yoga, upon which this work is established.
This slow and meditative massage quiets the body and the mind. Circulation
is increased; muscular and nervous tension is relieved; flexibility is
improved. The immune system is therefore given a boost, and the body/mind/spirit
are balanced. All's well that bends well. This work is both preventative
and corrective. What better health insurance!
Customarily, this treatment is done on the floor on a mat especially
designed for this purpose. The recipient is fully clothed, preferably
loose comfortable wear.
What makes
Thai Yoga different?
How does Thai Yoga work on the body?
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Qualifications:
I have been practicing Thai Massage since 1995. My teacher is Kam Thye
Chow of the Lotus Palm School of Thai Yoga Massage based in Montreal.
I was his first student in North America. Kam Thye and the Lotus Palm
School have reconnected Thai Massage with its roots in Ayurveda and Buddhism.
Kam Thye has adapted traditional Thai Massage for us westerners into a
peaceful, relaxing and spiritual experience without compromising the essence
of Thai massage.
I am also an Integral Yoga Hatha Teacher, certified in 1994. I have since
taken Intermediate and Advanced Teacher Training and Cardiac Yoga Teacher
Training. Currently I am pursuing a certification program in Structural
Yoga Therapy with Mukunda Stiles. I managed the Montreal Integral Yoga
Institute at various times in the 1990s. I have been living in Virginia
since 1998 and was the Director of Operations at Satchidananda Ashram
-Yogaville from Jan 2000 to Jan 2004.
Read what others
have said?
Thai Yoga Massage Workshops and Certification Training
I have been assisting Kam Thye in numerous workshops in the United States
and Canada. I am a trained teacher of Thai Yoga Massage with the Lotus
Palm School. I conduct Thai Yoga Massage 2 day introductory workshops
and 5 day Intensive I and II as part of the certification program with
Lotus Palm School. If you would like to set up a workshop in your area,
please contact me for further information. If you need a supervision session
in order to be a certified practitioner with the Lotus Palm School, please
feel free to schedule with me.
My Workshop
Schedule
Schedule an appointment?
Contact me directly to coordinate a time. Feel free to call at anytime
for an appointment, but availability may be limited. We will discuss the
session length and fees when we speak.
I give treatments out of my home and on Wednesday and Friday in my Charlottesville
office, which I share with my wife, Heidi Dhivya Berthoud.
You can reach me at home: (434) 969-1977. Also in Charlottesville (Wednesday
and Friday): (434) 979-9732. You can also reach me by hnr7@earthlink.net.
If you will be staying at Yogaville, please
check special scheduling instructions by clicking on the Yogaville
Guests link.
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Personal Notes:
I was a golf professional and teacher, member of the Canadian PGA (Professional
Golf Association) from 1988 to 1994. Also Scuba Diver instructor in Jamaica.
My current interests include: golf, biking, hiking, wind surfing, kayaking,
and spending time with our 3 very special cats (outdoor kitties to respect
folks with allergies).
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As a massage therapist, I''m not only picky about the massages I receive,
I'm also skeptical of new "techniques". Thai yoga massage won me over
- the benefits of yoga without the work combined with the deep relaxation
of massage. Rejean's confident touch had me drooling ....I'm hooked! ---Beth
Goldstein CMT, RPP Virginia Certified Massage Therapist, Register Polarity
Practitioner & Teacher, Batesville,Va
"You may consider my testimonial biased, as Rishi is my husband. But!
Being a long time massage therapist and lover of being on the receiving
end (I do like to take my own medicine) I am quite discriminating as to
what I consider a good session. Also, one of the reasons for getting into
this work is due to my long history of various ailments, that I persistently
pursue with natural methods, and with good success. I can be, therefore,
a tough client. Rishi rises to my challenges with an innate sensitivity
and skill. It's so important to me to have someone who is willing to take
my feedback or direction if I need that. I find that actually to be rare
in many body workers, yet it's so essential to getting what I need. And
Rishi fits the bill. --- Heidi Dhivya Berthoud, CMT, RDH, VA Certified
Massage Therapist
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What
makes Thai Yoga different?
Thai Yoga Massage has been described as assisted Hatha Yoga. There is
a lot to be said for letting go, relaxing and letting someone else do
your yoga for you for a change. What distinguishes the Lotus Palm School
style of Thai Yoga Massage is that it incorporates Tai Chi moves and stances
allowing for easy, graceful transitions. Not only is Thai massage wonderful
to receive - it is a beautifully artful spectacle to behold. Stretching
and breathwork, rhythmic motion, palming and thumbing along energy lines
(Sen in Thai), create a flowing, seamless "dance" around and
with the recipient's body.
How
does Thai Yoga work on the body?
Traditionally Thai Yoga Massage is firm and, of course, the pressure
can be adjusted according to your need. The Yogic tradition recognizes
that there is an undercurrent of energy or prana from which the material
world takes its form. In fact, the texts of old talk of 72,000 subtle
energy pathways that traverse our bodies. The Sen Lines and Marmas (pressure
points) can be thought of as similar to Shiatsu Meridians and points,
but vary in their origins of Ayurveda. This tradition (Ayur means life/
veda means knowledge) maintains that supreme health requires a balanced
body, mind and soul or consciousness and very importantly, a balance among
the body's 3 basic energies (vata, pitta and kapha). Both prevention and
healing are accomplished by entirely natural rejuvenative means.
By applying pressure and stretching these areas (Sen lines and Marma
points), blockages can be released, a free flow of energy is promoted
and specific ailments can be eased and cleared. There are 10 main Sen
lines worked with in Thai Yoga Massage. For example when focusing on Sen
Sumana, this treats throat problems, cough, cold, asthma, bronchitis,
chest pain, diaphragm and abdominal disorders. Of the 108 Marmas, for
example, massaging Amsa marma, which is located on the trapezius, relieves
sore and stiff shoulders. Because the perspective of Ayurveda sees that
we all have fundamental constitutional differences, Thai Yoga Massage
makes adjustments for the variations. Very basically, if your constitution
tends towards vata (wiry physique, anxious), a slow and gentle rhythm
and intensity would be administered. For pitta (medium build, passionate,
angers easily, overheats), a non-vigorous, relaxing approach; and for
kapha (body size large, tends to overweight, calm, sedentary) a hardy
and fiery rendering would apply.
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