Thai Massage:

The myth surrounding Thai Massage, or Nuad Bo Rarn, is beautiful: Jivaka Karmapaj, a contemporary and physician to the Buddha, is known as the ‘Father Doctor’ and brought this flowing, meditative, deep and therapetic style of bodywork to Thailand, where it has been passed from teacher to student in an unbroken line for the past 3,000 years.

In reality, Thai Massage is rooted deeply in Buddhist medicine and has been adapting, refining and morphing ever since the Thai people started practicing in their homes or villages as the body responded to physical demands.

Nikki began her studies in CT in 2005, under Rick Haesche. Following his lineage, she sought one of his teachers in Massachusetts. She traveled to study under Chuck Duff in Chicago and through the Thai Institute with David Roylance. Following her desire to live the culture, Nikki traveled to Thailand in 2009 and studied at The Sunshine School, just outside of the old city in Chaing Mai. She continues to study and teach with Rick through the bodymind center for thai massage, as well as taking trainings with world-class instructors and practitioners, from Dr. Pierce Salguero to David Roma to Felicity Joy.

What Nikki has discovered is that Thai Massage uses her entire body, as well as her spirit and energy, to help clients access their own deep inner wisdom where true healing and change may take place. Having trained in ‘Northern Style’ Thai, Nikki always honors her roots and begins with the client on their back with a warm towel foot compress incorporating essential oils. Then she begins the physical manipulations at the feet and moves through the session as the client most needs that moment and day. The work is performed supine (on your back), prone (on your belly), in side-lying or seated. For pregnant clients, Nikki will use pillows and bolsters for more of a supported recline.

Most clients report feeling an energized calm and deeply relaxed by the work while discovering an improved range-of-motion within the joints. The physical manipulations may be very tender and soft or very deep and specific, working into the deepest layers of the soft tissues and abdomen. Each session is unique and each client presents differently every time they come to the mat. Nikki does her best to honor this for each client.