Sohan Jalaiai Centre, St Albans

I can now confirm details for my St Albans base, the Sohan Jalaiai Centre in Smallford.

The centre was created 11 years ago, and is dedicated to healing at all levels, through Kundalini yoga, pelvic correction, massage, meditation and Gong Healing, workshops and other events.

When I first visited I immediately felt the calm and positivity in the space.  It is a beautiful room, open and uncluttered, yet retaining a cosy, warm feel. It is surrounded by nature - the views are of trees and plants, the natural sound track is birdsong. I knew straight away that if it was at all possible I wanted to work there, and I am very grateful to Guru Ram Kaur, who established the centre, for giving me the opportunity to do so, and for all her support and encouragement.

I officially start at the centre on Thursday 15th September, and will be available from 10am to 8pm every Thursday going forward.  I will also have Saturday afternoon sessions there, depending on my teaching and other commitments.  Saturday 24th September and 8th October are currently confirmed.  Sessions may also be available at other times, so please ask.

More information on the Sohan Jalaiai centre is available here.

Two dates for your diaries

I have 2 more charity events coming up in September. The first is on Saturday 10th, at the Artisan's, Arts and Crafts Market in St Albans Town Hall. The second is a week later (Saturday 17th) at Riverside Shopping Centre in Hemel Hempstead.  Both events run from 10.00 until 4.00.

I’ll be doing taster massages of 10 minutes, either Thai Foot, Hand, Indian Head or neck and shoulder. All proceeds (there’s a minimum donation of £5) will be given to World Vision’s East African Appeal.

More than nine million people in East Africa are facing a devastating lack of food and water. Families have faced persistent drought for many years – but the situation is now critical. 2011 has been the driest year for 50 years. 

Without crops growing and with food prices soaring, families across Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia are struggling to feed their families. Thousands of children and pregnant women are suffering from severe malnourishment.

World Vision is already providing food, water and hygiene provision to families across Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia – but urgently need more funds.

World Vision is one of the world's leading relief and development agencies. It is a Christian charity currently helping people in over 100 countries in their struggle against poverty, hunger and injustice, irrespective of their religious beliefs.

Berkhamsted on 21st August was a good start, but I'd really like to make a lot more money for a really worthy cause.

If you are in the area on either day, please take the time to pop in and see me, have a massage and some tea, and make as generous a donation as you can manage. 

For more information on World Vision, see www.worldvision.org.uk

Thai Herbal Compress

Thai Herbal Pharmacy is an important element of Thai Traditional Medicine, alongside Thai Massage.  (The other elements are Medical, i.e. diagnostics and treatment, and Midwifery.) While at Wat Po School in Salaya I learnt a little about Thai Herbalism, and the preparation of compresses, which we then used in massage.

The first step in making Thai Herbal Compresses is to wash and prepare the fresh ingredients.

The main ingredients are:

•  Kassumunar (Plai in Thai) - a member of the same family as ginger, and the main ingredient in Tiger Balm.  This is skin nourishing, eases muscle pain, fatigue and bruising, and is anti-inflammatory.
• Lemongrass – this is antiseptic and a digestive tonic that alleviates nausea and eases pain.
•  Kaffir Lime Peel – a general skin tonic, and can help with dizziness.
• Natural Camphor – brown camphor, derived from the bark of a tree, rather than chemically produced.  It aids indigestion and relieves coughs.

Other herbs such as turmeric, acacia leaves and tamarind leaves can also be used.

The wet ingredients are pounded to break them down and release the beneficial substances they contain.

Next is the tricky bit – tying the herbs into a muslin cloth, so that they are held firmly, and creating the handle to hold the compress when it is hot.  It took several goes and a lot of help from the experts to get this right!

Compresses can also be made from the same ingredients but dried.  These need to be soaked before their first use.  They have the advantage of being transportable and of keeping for a long time.

The compresses I use are therefore dried, and come either from the Wat Po school shop, or were made for me by my Thai Herbalism tutor at the school, Teacher Nang.

To use the compresses, they are steamed.  This heats and moistens them, and releases the herbs’ properties (and wonderful smells!). The compresses are then used to massage the body, either directly on the skin or through clothing or cloths.  Initially the compress can only be touched briefly onto the skin, but as the compress cools, longer and deeper massages can be used.  When the compress is no longer warm, it is swapped with another in the steamer and the massage continues.

As the compress is so gentle, it is ideal for situations when normal massage is too strong, such as injuries, painful or damaged joints, or in elderly clients. It is very soothing, and in cold weather, a warming, comforting treat.

Back to work

For the first time in 8 months, this morning I had to get up and go to work.  This wasn't as traumatic as it might appear; partly because it wasn't that early a start (I am not a morning person) but mainly because I was going into Revive Clinic, and I was really looking forward to it.

I had a gentle start, with no clients this morning due to an illness cancellation.  So I took my time to sort out my bits and pieces, and get the room set up just how I want it.  I bought some beautiful accessories in Thailand in anticipation of practising here, and it's gratifying to see them finally in use.

As it was a lovely day, I took advantage of the garden, watching the coots and ducks splashing about on the water at the end.  I couldn't resist doing a little bit of gardening too.

But I thought I should be somewhat productive, so spent some time preparing for a Thai Foot Massage course for Jade College (watch this space for more info) before getting to the real business of the day, massaging.  Today was Thai Massage, which seemed to be well received.

And then it was time to pack up, wash up, and head home, quite tired, but really glad that after all the training and planning, I'm where I want to be: making people feel better through massage.

Day at Berkhamsted Market

I had a lovely day today at Berkhamsted Artisans, Arts and Crafts Market; I was a little nervous and didn't know what to expect, but everyone made me really welcome.  A sunny Sunday in August is maybe not the optimum time to get people to an indoor market, and we started quietly, but things picked up after midday, and there was a lot of interest in the stand from those who did make it.  The information and photos I had on my training in Thailand caught people's eye and led to conversations about my experiences (a subject I have no trouble talking about at length!) and I also heard some interesting stories from those who visited.  I gave a fair few massages, which were well received, and people were generous with donations for World Vision's East African Appeal.

So that's one event down, and a few weeks' break before the next one, at St Albans Craft Market on Saturday 10th September.  It'd be great to see you there.

Taster massages for charity – Sunday 21st August

On Sunday I’ll be at the Artisans, Arts and Crafts market in Berkhamsted Town Hall.  I’ll be doing taster massages of 10 mins, either Thai Foot, Hand, Indian Head or neck and shoulder.

All proceeds (there’s a minimum donation of £5) will be given to World Vision’s East African Appeal.  I have a long association with Africa.  My dad grew up in Kenya, and my mum’s South African, so the first time I went travelling in 1999 it was at the top of the list.  My planned 2 months there turned into 5, as I fell in love with the place and spent as long as I could.  I travelled from Kenya down to South Africa, then back up, then down again!

I have also been involved with World Vision, as a supporter, for a long time.  I first sponsored a child in 1995, Diane in Ghana.  When her family moved out of the area, I sponsored Mor in Senegal.  He is now over 20 and the project in his area has been completed, so for the last few years I have been sponsoring Aissatou, an 8 year old girl in another area of Senegal where World Vision is working.  I have also given general donations and contributed to emergency appeals in the past, but my change in circumstances has made it harder for me to do that these days.

However, part of my personal philosophy and goals for the business is to give back, and the need in East Africa currently is desperate, so I am finding other ways to do this.  I had thought of going to the market anyway to let people know about the business, so this seemed the perfect opportunity.

If you are in the area on Sunday, please take the time to pop in and see me, have a massage and some tea, and make as generous a donation as you can manage.  The market is open from 10.00 till 2.00.

If you miss me this time, don’t worry, I have more events in the pipeline for September – watch this space for details.

For more information on World Vision, see www.worldvision.org.uk

For more about the market, see www.greatmarkets.vpweb.co.uk

Return to Revive

I’m really excited that I’m going to be returning to work at Revive Clinic, in Apsley.  I worked there part time in 2010, before heading off on my travels, and now I’m home they have been kind enough to welcome me back with open arms.

There have been a few changes while I’ve been away, with Osteopathy and Reflexology now available.  Some of the décor has been changed, and the garden has more colour, so more than ever it is a beautiful and peaceful place to work.  I hope the weather stays pleasant for a while yet so I can capitalise on breaks outside, overlooking the canal.  I may find that I get roped in to dead heading and weeding as well, but that’s no great hardship.

I first visited Revive as a client before working there, so know first hand that it’s great as a client too.  So I’m really happy to be able to invite my clients there for peace, relaxation and a great treatment!

You can see more about Revive at www.revivetherapy.com