About Vanessa Muri
Montreal City Editor Vanessa Muri has lived in London and Tokyo, but finds the charms of her hometown irresistible. From the latest scoops to the best deals in Montreal and everything in between, don't miss her weekly take on life in the fair city.
Lazy Man’s Yoga?
montreal musings Montreal
(Sep.01.10)
This week, my quest to meet a Montreal entrepreneur took me to a small pagoda in the backyard of a beautiful converted building at the corner of St-Urbain and Fairmount.
It was the garden of the Lotus Palm School of Thai Yoga Massage, and I’d just had an interview with the founder Kam Thye Chow. 15 years ago, his was the only school and practice in North America. Now there are schools all over the continent and he gives workshops and instruction worldwide.
So how did a Master Thai Yoga Massage practitioner from Malaysia end up on this side of the world? It was a twist of fate that brought Kam Thye to la belle province. He was in love with his now ex-wife and moved here for her. They met on a beach by the ocean at a meditation retreat in Thailand, and she was from Montreal. East literally met West.
What is Thai yoga massage? Just like it sounds, it combines the best of yoga and massage. It goes deeper than a regular yogic stretch because you have the weight of another person involved. It boosts the immune system and lowers stress too.
The benefits of Thai yoga massage according to Kam Thye Chow:
1) Receiving Metta* - good for everyone
2) Having the muscles moved and massaged dynamically
3) “Being stretched like nobody’s business” (I had to laugh, but he’s totally right.)
4) Can be done anywhere, any time: the recipient remains fully clothed.
*Metta is loving-kindness (also a type of meditation) which is called upon during the massage. I’ve had two massages in my life, and both times I had a profound sense of being cared for. The last one, which came a week after a serious biking accident, gave immediate benefits; I was able to move and stretch in a way that I just couldn’t before.
.JPG)
Kam Thye has written several best-selling books on the subject and even invented the special folding Thai massage mat. A great example of how passion for one’s métier can take you virtually anywhere.
If you check out their open house on September 5th, you can experience a free Thai yoga massage for yourself. There are all kinds of classes on the fall calendar, and some can be done with partner = a fun and unique idea for couples.
(Hmm, I wonder if I can get my hubby to sign up?)
Thought that was sweet? You'll enjoy: