Vancouver Thai Massage

Annette Marie Lodziak began her journey into the health and spiritual world in 2001 with her first Ashtanga Yoga class in Victoria, B.C. at the Yoga Shala. She quickly realized that there was something to this physical discipline. Yoga not only exercised the body, but also helped calm the mind, bringing a grounded awareness to life. In 2005 Annette was certified as a Yoga assana Instructor, and in spring 2006 certified in Thai Yoga massage. Annette believes in bringing awareness to blockages, or stagnation, in the body, and gently coax the release of these stagnations. The result allowing compassion and a still mind to clearly grasp the abundance of love and amazing positive potential the universe abounds in.

Basic Principals of Thai Yoga Massage
Thai Yoga Massage is a meditative dance that from moment to moment creates a healing experience. Using various techniques of pressure transference, such as: palming, thumbing, forearms, elbow, knees feet. These techniques all ways to mobilize the blood and chi along the sen lines of the body.

The stretching and massaging in a Thai Yoga massage session activates the circulation of blood. The increased mobilization of blood increases muscular relaxation and elasticity which helps reduce the effects of adhesions. Thai Yoga Massage also stimulates vascular changes; the mobilization o muscle compresses the vessels, affecting the passage of blood and lymph to and from the heart with increased vascular flow. Stimulating the circulation of blood and lymph helps to eliminate toxins, reducing the risk of thrombosis, edema, and clotting in the vessels.

As part of the central nervous system, it is ultimately the brain that oversees the functioning of the entire body, and it is the brain that registers the benefits of tension release. In the spirit of metta (loving-kindness) and the mindfulness of the sacred space that is created in a therapeutic session, Thai Yoga massage creates a safe, tranquil, healing environment, nurturing the body and encouraging a peaceful body mind.

Meditation In Thai Yoga Massage
The role of meditation in Thai Yoga massage is to assist the practitioner in honing the art of listening, and thus to effectively connect to the recipient and his or her needs. When there is mindfulness in massage and a spiritual awareness, a sacred healing space is created..

Meditation is about being fully alive in this moment - the only reality we can truly know. Meditation teaches us how to be centered and balanced and to detach ourselves from the unnecessary hindrances of life. It reviews the nature of impermanence and gives us the wisdom to live our lives to its fullest.

Being Mindful of the breath is one of the most useful ways to learn how to meditate. As you inhale, pay attention to your breath and notice the sensation as it enters your nostrils. Feel the cool air as it approaches the back of your throat and notice the fullness of your abdomen. Exhaling, notice the sensation in your belly, lungs, and throat, and the heat at the end of your nostrils.

Thai massage was originally performed in the Buddhist temples. The practitioner approached the job as an extension of spiritual practice, applying the energy of loving- kindness, metta, to the recipient.

Contraindications
While massage to most areas of the body is beneficial at most times, there are circumstances in which the massage should be modified or altogether avoided. Contraindication are situations in which massage could aggravate or jeopardize the health problem of the recipient. It is important to inform the practitioner of all health problems by filling out a Personal Health Questionnaire.