Structural Therapy is a collaborative effort that involves both you (the client) and myself (the practitioner) working together to discover and release your habitual soft tissue compensations and bony misalignments, with the aim being to improve your posture and resolve long term pain. This process involves body reading, skilful deep tissue myofascial release, myofascial stretching, and education in therapeutic exercises and self care practices. After your session you will experience improved posture, better range and ease of movement, and a feeling of lightness in your body. As this form of bodywork is slow and deep you will feel very calm and centred when you leave.

Due to the fact that many of our postural imbalances have taken years or even decades to accumulate, it can take quite a number of regular structural therapy sessions to undo these patterns, so this form of treatment is best seen as a longer term project rather than a "quick fix" solution. Structural Therapy helps you to create a "new normal" in your body which takes time and patience.

Structural Therapy also differs from other forms of bodywork in that instead of undressing and lying under towels or sheets on a massage table, you remain dressed but in minimal clothing so that your structural alignment can be clearly observed before, during, and after the bodywork is performed. Suitable minimal clothing for women would be a sports bra and sports or running shorts, or a two piece swim suit. For men it would be sports or running shorts, or swimming briefs. You could also simply wear underwear if you felt comfortable with that level of dress. You can see several examples of structural bodywork by master therapist Tom Myers here, here, here, and here.

120 minute first session strongly recommended

Deep Tissue Bodywork is a way to address "issues in your tissues", be they due to overuse, underuse, misuse, or abuse. Deep myofascial techniques help to stretch out contracted muscle fibres, release trigger points, unglue adhesions, soften scar tissue, and mobilise sticky joints. This style of therapy is ideal for people who spend long hours standing, or sitting, in fairly immobile situations. It is equally valuable for athletic and sports minded who demand a lot of their bodies. And, if you have had an injury or are recovering from surgery, deep tissue work is excellent for normalising your tissues once the inflammation stage of the trauma has passed. As this form of bodywork is slow and deep you will also find it deeply relaxing and beneficial for stress and fatigue.

Note: I only use a small amount of oil in deep tissue bodywork, but if you prefer a completely oil-free experience it would be best to book a Thai Massage instead.

60, 90 or 120 minute session recommended

Traditional Thai Massage began over 2500 years ago in India with a brilliant Ayurvedic Physician named Jivaka Kumar Bhacca. He is said to have treated many people including the Buddha himself. His form of medicine which combined massage and herbs was adopted by Buddhist monks who took it with them as they migrated east to Thailand. Over time it spread throughout Thailand and became the Thai people's indigenous form of healing. Jivaka Kumar Bhacca came to be known as Dr Shivago Komarpaj and today is revered as a saint throughout Thailand, being referred to as simply the "Father Doctor".

There are considered to be two main forms or styles of Thai massage: the Northern Nuad Bo-Rarn style which resembles passive yoga poses and the Southern Jap Sen style which uses heavy thumb pressure along energy meridians along with herbal compresses.

When working with you I combine elements of both the Northern and Southern styles, along with insights from my training in other bodywork modalities, in ways that will best help you during the session. This includes rhythmical rocking and compression movements, passive joint movements, deep stretches, spinal twists, and occasional sustained holds. Your entire body from feet to head will be systemically addressed helping you to deeply relax and let go of muscular tightness.

Following your session you will enjoy improved range of motion in your joints, greater flexibility, a sense of being "taller", and an overall feeling of lightness and relief in your body and mind.

Note: In Thai Massage you remain fully clothed and lie on a special massage mat on the floor. The best clothing to wear for a Thai Massage is clothing that allows for free movements of your limbs and joints. Thai Massage is an oil-free massage and is ideal for people who dislike or are sensitive to massage oil and lotions.

90 or 120 minute session recommended for best outcome

Pregnancy is a special time in a woman's life as she nurtures the new life growing within her. Pregnancy Massage is a wonderful way to provide additional support to this miraculous process, be it yourself if you are pregnant, or as a gift to someone you know who is pregnant. As the hormone levels in your body change and your body adapts to the increasing weight of your growing baby, you might find yourself feeling more weary than usual, or experiencing additional muscular strain and fatigue. Mindful, skilful massage can help relax your body, ease muscle tension, and soothe your mind.

The massage is performed on a massage table using pillows to support you in a side-lying position and face-up position. A pregnancy version of Traditional Thai Massage (see earlier entry) is also possible, in which case you will be lying on the ground on a special massage mat, also supported with pillows. The Thai version of a Pregnancy Massage is best if you want an oil-free massage, or wish to remain dressed, or simply enjoy being stretched.

I have worked with many pregnant clients over the years, often throughout several pregnancies, and it has always been a delight to support women in this manner.

60 or 90 minute session recommended

Kahuna Lomi Lomi is a remarkable, graceful, and beautiful, flowing style of massage that originated in the South Pacific as a way to restore health and vitality, and mark important occasions and transitions in a person's life. Highly shamanic in nature it has a sense of a timeless ritual that goes back into antiquity.

When you choose Kahuna Lomi Lomi you will begin your session by setting an intention, connecting to the symbolic elements of life (fire, earth, air, water), and a review of the 7 Principles of Huna (the philosophy behind Kahuna Lomi Lomi).

Having made your internal resolution, you undress fully and lie face-down beneath a sarong on a massage table specifically dedicated to this form of massage. I will then draw in "mana" (Hawaiian for "life force energy"), apply massage oil, and begin to work using long forearm, hand, and occasional deeper elbow strokes, that run from head to foot and foot to head.

Lyrical music from Hawaii and Polynesia provides an acoustic backdrop, which along with the dancing nature of the massage, helps to transport you away from your worries and concerns to inner stillness and peace. As a full-body treatment, you will be massaged first lying face-down, and then lying face-up. The massage finishes with luxurious work to your face and scalp, and I close the session using Hawaiian-style energy work and a special blessing.

What makes Kahuna Lomi Lomi possibly unique is that it uses massage strokes that pass beneath your body, between you and the massage table, along with strokes that pass over your body. So often, both sides of your body, front and back, are being massaged at the same time. Not only does this feel delicious, but it also helps to quieten your mind further as it becomes near impossible to track my movements around you. To facilitate underbody work you will lie directly on the surface of the massage table (rather than lying on a sheet or on towels).

This style of massage is best for someone who is: 1/ very comfortable with their body, 2/ enjoys the use of liberal amounts of massage oil, and 3/ is seeking nurturing and transformation. If you feel shy or awkward about your body, it would be best to book a Heartworks Lomi Lomi or Thai Traditional Massage instead. View a short video demonstration of Kahuna Lomi Lomi here.

120 minute session only

NOTE: due to the somewhat elaborate process of setting up for the massage and cleaning up afterwards, I only do outcall Kahuna Lomi Lomi by special arrangement.

Heartworks Lomi Lomi is a style of Hawaiian massage with a history that stretches far back into time. Passed on from one generation to the next by an unbroken lineage of master teachers (kahuna), during the latter part of the 20th century the baton passed to Hawaiian healer Sherman Dudoit. Sherman trained a number of students and some of these he authorised to teach others, one being Mette Sorensen with whom I studied.

Heartworks draws its inspiration from the ocean and the waves that wash up on the beach. Similar to Kahuna Lomi Lomi your session begins with setting an intention and lying face-down on the massage table, beneath a sarong. The left-half of your body is then carefully uncovered and oil applied.

As if you were lying at the water's edge of a beach while gentle waves washed up and over you, so full body strokes with soft open hands are applied. Long strokes travel from foot, to calf, to thigh, to hip, to low back, to upper back, to shoulder, to upper arm, to forearm, and hand, then retrace the same path, hand, arm, shoulder, back, hip, leg, to finish again at the foot. These wave-like strokes are repeated over and over to help induce deep relaxation.

Shorter, firmer more region specific strokes, combined with kneading, and gentle joint manipulation, follow to soften and release areas of muscular tension and strain. Finally the original full body strokes are repeated to reintegrate the regional work on your body into a unified whole. Similar work on the right half of your body follows, before you turn face-up and complementary techniques are applied to the front-side of your body.

Hawaiian's believe that our hands are direct channels to our hearts, which is why this is called "Heartworks". As your therapist I use my hands to channel my compassionate, non-judgmental acceptance to your being, to help you feel nurtured and supported. This is beautiful, peaceful, and compassionate bodywork that will leave you feeling refreshed and restored.

90 or 120 minute session recommended

Energy Balancing or Energy Work is a term used to describe the process of balancing the life force energy field in each human. From the earliest times many, many cultures around the world have held that within each human is a moving flow of "life force energy" that helps to sustain or maintain the life in our cells, our tissues, our organs, and ultimately our beings. The Chinese call this energy "chi", the Japanese call it "ki", the Thai people call it "lom", the Indians and Yogis call it "prana", and the Hawaiians call it "mana".

Imbalances in a person's energy field are believed to accompany conditions of poor health and illness, mental anxiety, inner turmoil and stress. Restoring balance to the energy field assists a person to recover from their sickness, release emotional distress, and find mental clarity. Helping the energy field return to balance is the central idea behind acupuncture, acupressure, reflexology, Shiatsu, Indian head massage, Ayurveda, Traditional Thai Massage, and Hawaiian forms of massage. I have studied Reiki I, II, & III; Ki Force 1st Degree; Hawaiian energy balancing methods; and Quantum Touch; all of which incorporate the use of the giver's hands resting lightly on the body of the receiver.

Although I incorporate Energy Balancing into all my bodywork and massage, when you choose to receive it as a standalone modality, you will remain fully clothed and lie comfortably on the massage table or massage mat on the floor. I will verbally guide you into a relaxed state using yogic breathing and meditation techniques. Once you have become deeply relaxed I will quietly move around you, placing my hands lightly at specific locations on your body, while elevating my own energy field and holding the intention of restoring balance to your energy field in each region of your body as I make contact. You will feel profoundly relaxed by the time session is finished.

60 minute session recommended

Private 1-on-1 Yoga is an excellent way to be tutored in yoga which is is tailored specifically to your needs. Group classes, while beneficial, are by their very nature fairly generic in design and intended to address major needs common to most students. If you are new to yoga, or if you have specific needs due to injuries or medical conditions, or you simply want personalised instruction and less visual "noise", scheduling a yoga class just for yourself can be very beneficial. I have worked with many people on a 1-to-1 basis for many years, all of whom found customised yoga classes to be the highlight of their week.

Private Group Yoga Classes can be a fun and different activity to celebrate a special occasion or change up a routine. Here are some examples of group classes I have been booked for previously: Wedding Day early morning yoga class; Retail Fitness Clothing Store yoga class free to store customers; Birthday Celebration yoga class; Art Gallery yoga class to promote a new art collection; Corporate Lunch Time yoga class for employees; Massage Retreat yoga class; Outdoor-in-the-Park yoga class; Music & Natural Health Festival yoga class; High School Physical Education Elective yoga class; Special Needs Adults yoga class; Women's Shelter yoga class. If you can imagine it, I can help you make it happen!

Wellness Coaching is for the person who want to improve their diet, upgrade their health and wants guidance in what to do. Research has shown that only 7% of Australians eat the recommended number of daily servings of vegetables and fruits, and 1 in 4 adults eats no vegetables on an average day. In fact the average Australian now gets 1/3 of their daily food intake from "junk food" (energy dense foods with little or no nutritional value). Around 60% of Australian adults and 25% of children are now overweight or obese and the NHMRC predicts that by 2025 (less than 10 years away!) 83% of men and 75% of women will be overweight or obese if current trends continue.

In my wellness coaching service I will teach you to how to improve your diet to match more closely the national dietary and nutritional guidelines set out by eatforhealth.gov.au and nutritionaustralia.org. You will learn about the "energy density" of food, and why having a plant-strong diet with at least 70% of your daily food intake coming from unrefined or lightly processed plant food sources can make a big change to your waistline. You will be guided in how to: keep a food diary, plan your meals, read product nutrition labels, understand the nutritional density of food, recognise (and beat) additive behaviours; and more. It is never too late to make the changes that will help you lose weight and keep it off permanently without starving or punishing yourself!