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?

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 and I did my Intermediate and Advanced Teacher certification in 1995. I took Cardiac Yoga Teacher Training in 1998. I have had some training in Structural Yoga Therapy with Mukunda Stiles. I managed the Montreal Integral Yoga Institute at various times in the 1990s. I moved permanently to Virginia in 1998 and I was VP of Operations at Satchidananda Ashram-Yogaville from Jan 2000 to Jan 2004.

Read what others have said

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Thai Yoga Massage Workshops and Certification Training

I am a teacher and practitioner of Thai Yoga Massage and I did all my training with the Lotus Palm School since 1995. I teach workshop in the United States and Canada and I have assisted Kam Thye Chow in numerous workshops. 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 a session

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, e-mail or chat.

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 also reach me by e-mail: rishidion@gmail.com which is the best way to contact me. You can reach me at my home office: (434) 969-1977. Also in Charlottesville (Monday and Wednesday and some Fridays): (434) 979-9732. Cell phone number USA only: (304) 642-3148.

Thanks
Rishi

For more scheduling information, please click Schedule a Session.

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. I was trained as a back country cross country teacher in 1979 and I started teaching cross country skiing again at White Grass, WV last winter. I was also Scuba Diver instructor in Jamaica. My current interests include: golf, biking, hiking, windsurfing, kayaking, and spending time with our 4 very special cats.

Testimonials:

"I have experienced many different kids of body work in Hawaii ( lomi lomi massage), the US (many retreats and expensive resorts), Europe, and the far east ( including Korea and the Philippines). The body work I receive form Rishi Dion is one of my favorites. I do practice yoga asanas, and really love the deep stretch and release that I experience in Thai yoga massage." ---Azi Koochekzadeh, MD

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?

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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