Massage Shala - Friday mornings at The Canvas, Old Ford Road, Bethnal Green

Massage Shala community massage clinic started life at Centre 151 in the summer of 2017.

Little did we know that we would be invited to join a social presciption project called The Health Tree hosted by St Margaret's House in Bethnal Green as part of their recovery and healing programme after the global pandemic.

We were a group of 4 local practitioners (Jo Lim, Robert Peirce, Stuart Thomas and Rachel King) happy to be serving the community at a time of heightened sensitivity and need. Our floor-based, shared-space style seemed to fit in naturally into the old shop-front cosy venue called The Canvas.

Doors to the public opened on Friday 21st May 2021 for the first time. Offering low cost sessions open to all. Most clients pay £30-£40 depending on their means. For those who are claiming benefits we offer a concessionary rate of £15. We work on a trust basis and don't ask for proof of income. Our work at the clinic works well with a "pay what you can afford" approach.

We seem to have become victims of our own success recently as clinics get booked out very quickly. This makes it hard for new clients to find a space. We are wary about making any rules as this goes against the spirit with which we run the Massage Shala. 

 

 

To help us improve our accessibility please consider the following when booking:

1. Our reduced prices are offered by our therapists on a goodwill basis. Please pay what you can afford. We recommend those working full-time pay £40 and those working part-time or on a low income pay £30 while those who are claiming benefits and not working pay £15. Of course we understand times are hard for everyone and even for those who are working, especially with rising costs. Please make your own judgement about what feels appropriate to pay.

2. Please be mindful of taking up space by making multiple bookings. We understand that some people might be in extra need and coming for a few sessions in a row can be beneficial. We would like to encourage our clients to book a maximum of 2 or 3 slots per series (we usually run for 5-6 weeks each series).  

We love this work we do and are glad you do too!

 

April 2021 - UNLOCKING WITH THAI MASSAGE

Photo by Rosemary Bolivar, Chiang Mai

“The treatments are massages but could also be described as an energy-balancing or body work session. The massage works on a physical, mental, emotional and spiritual level; almost like an MOT for the body which impacts all layers of body/mind/spirit.” 

I was asked recently what a Thai massage would be like.

Fridays (until 21.05.21), Saturdays and Sundays by appointment 07946-547-259 (Rachel King, London Fields)

 
 

JANUARY 2018 - LONDON FIELDS THAI MASSAGE

HAPPY & PEACEFUL 2018 from 

London Fields Thai Massage 

Traditional Thai massage treatments available: 

Tuesdays 12-5pm 

Fridays 12-9pm  

Saturdays 9-5pm 

Sundays (occasionally)

Book in advance by text to 07946 547 259 or email rachelmaryking@gmail.com 

2018 Rates: 

£60 for 60 minutes & £80 for 90 minutes. 

Treatments take place in London Fields E8 (Tu/Fr/Sa/Su) at my home studio on Eleanor Road.

  

Also available on Tuesdays and Fridays at Centre 151 in Haggerston E2. 

Home visits within Hackney available with an extra charge.

What does a dynamic form of Thai massage look like?

I love watching Thierry Bienfaisant in the flow. His style is a great example of dynamic Thai massage and you can just feel the benefits on the receivers body by watching. Thierry and many other practitioners today have been influenced by Chaiyuth Priyasith a very special man from a family of Thai massage therapists.

I write this early February post with grateful reverence to Chaiyuth Priyasith, a Thai massage master from Chiang Mai, northern Thailand. I feel more and more how his energy is influencing me in my own practice. 

Chaiyuth is sadly no longer with us (he died while dancing in 2005). He touched many of us with his smile, small massage room, whirring fan to keep off mosquitos and post massage coffee and optional cigarette.

Camden Triyoga - Rachel's availability for Thai massage sessions in August and September 2015

reception area - cafe - shop

healthy teas and snacks available

Rachel will be available for Thai massage sessions at Triyoga Camden in August and September while she covers for therapists who are away.

Camden Triyoga which was once in the heart of Primrose Hill has shifted and is now located at 57 Jamestown Road, London NW1 7DB.

Rachel will be offering Thai massage sessions of 60/90/120 minutes on the following days at the following times:

Wednesday 19th August - 8am to 12pm

Friday 21st August    - 5pm to 9pm

Wednesday 26th August - 8am to 12pm

Friday 28th August    - 5pm to 9pm

Friday 4th September  - 5pm to 9pm

Looking forward to seeing you there! Any questions contact Rachel on 07946 547 259. 

For bookings contact Triyoga Camden directly here: www.triyoga.co.uk/camden 

call 020 7483 3344  

sauna for yoga students and massage clients

Traditional Thai Massage in London Fields: Winter 2015 update

Traditional Thai Massage sessions available in London Fields E8 

Tuesdays 2pm to 6pm

Fridays 4pm to 9pm 

Saturdays 10am to 6pm

Call or text Rachel 07946 547 259 for more details.

Images by Gavin Freeborn 

www.facebook.com/Freeborn.co

"OPEN YOUR WINGS" with Yoga and Thai Massage

Rachel and Angelika will be offering two more Yoga and Thai Massage workshops this spring and early summer once again in the beautiful spacious London Fields Yoga studio.


We are delighted to be offering more workshops together as we love the combination of yoga flow with the meditative and nurturing partner work of Thai Massage.

The afternoon will be open to beginners and those with some previous experience. Yoga and meditation will open and warm our bodies and hearts to be more ready to give. A guided sequence of Thai Massage will help open our shoulders and our capacity to spread our wings and fly! You will learn simple techniques for stretching the body and opening up our energy lines with acupressure.

We look forward very much to seeing you there. We will cover different techniques in each workshop so encourage you to attend both if possible (£5 reduction on each workshop if you book both in advance). No need to come with a partner but partners are also very welcome. It will help if you have some basic body flexibility as the Thai Massage involves floor work.

DATES: Saturdays 18 May & 22 June 2013 2-6pm

LOCATION: London Fields Yoga, Arthaus, 195-205 Richmond Road, London E8 3NJ

COST: £35 per workshop or £30 each if you book and attend both workshops

Please book in advance with Elizabeth at London Fields Yoga. 

Phone/Text her on 07403 423 187 or email elizabethyoga@live.com

THERE IS TREASURE IN YOUR HEART

Every midwife knows that not until a mother's womb softens from the pain of labour will a way unfold and the infant find that opening to be born. 
Oh friend!
There is treasure in your heart, it is heavy with child. 
Listen.
All the awakened ones, like trusted midwives are saying; "welcome this pain." 
It opens the dark passage of Grace.

Rumi

LONDON FIELDS YOGA: Yoga and Thai Massage "Spring Release" Saturday 9th March 2:30-6pm

STUDIO

LONDON FIELDS YOGA:
I took some photos recently at the new London Fields Yoga studio located conveniently around the corner from my home. 

There is an atmosphere of calm and warmth to the space which I can feel developing day by day week by week as the energy of the space begins to grow.  

VIEW

It's a delight to treat massage clients in the therapy space which is incorporated into the studio. This evening's client described it as an unexpected cubby hole hidden away alongside the main studio. She loved the high ceilings, the candle light, the simplicity of white walls and the long soft white curtains at the entrance. We heard the instructions of the yoga teacher in the background which filtered through like a soft lullaby and offered a sense of rhythm helping the practitioner and client drift off into a healing space.

ANGELIKA & RACHEL

YOGA AND THAI MASSAGE:
Angelika and I will be joining forces once again this Saturday 9th March with a brand new Yoga and Thai Massage workshop entitled "SPRING RELEASE". 

After months of cold and grey weather we are looking forward to brightening up your day and introducing you to some lovely heart opening techniques. Our focus this time will be on the practice of loving kindness through touch, rocking to relax mind and body with particular focus on the spine and joints which tend to become more rigid during the cold months. Come and join us and shake some energy back into LIFE!

GLIMPSES OF SPRING IN LONDON FIELDS

HEATING

LIGHTING

SAUNA

STREET SIGN 

FLOATING LOTUSES - SOFTENING HEARTS

It's been a beautiful week or two. I can't explain exactly why or specifically what has happened but it feels there's a sense of hope in the air. 

For the last 3 years I have attended the Loy Krathong festival at the Buddhapadipa Thai temple in south west London. I always loved this festival in Thailand ever since my landlord and his daughter introduced me to it in Chiang Mai 20 years ago. The artistic aspect and the community atmosphere have always touched my heart. I remember the cool November evenings, the full moon, the candles by the side of the road and the lightness, grace and love in the air.

Lighting the candle and incense, making a wish and intention for forgiveness and release and freedom from fear; then gently placing my Krathong on the water and letting it go and be with the other Krathongs and all the wishes and hopes of the others around. In that moment we are brought together by this simple act. The feeling of delight watching the Krathongs bobbing along on the water; some staying still, others serenely floating away. 

This image of floating has stayed with me the last two weeks and at the same time a sense of internal release and softening. Almost as if the intention of release has been heard by the deepest cells of my body. This is what I might call the miracle of life.

SOFTENING THE BACK WITH THAI MASSAGE

It's been a beautiful day today in spite of the grey skies and unfriendly winter temperatures! Fridays at the moment have a loose and creative feel; there's an unknown but gentle quality to them and I like this way of ending my week; although it's not really the end of my working week I can feel the Friday energy in the air. 


My client this evening spoke about what a Thai Massage treatment touches in her. She described quite eloquently how it connects her with parts of herself that she had completely forgotten about; and through this connection some deeper softening and letting go is able occur. 


It seems so beautiful to me that something so simple as another person's touch can help us to connect more deeply with ourselves. Of course it's good for us to find our own inner strength and an ability to take care of ourselves but actually our connection with each other is also something to be respected and treasured. We sometimes forget how helpful and transformative the presence and touch of another can be.

With regret we are now unable to go ahead with the workshop on 20th May as planned, due to unforeseen changes in regard to the venue. 


I am hoping to offer this same workshop on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon on 9/10th June or 16th/17th June. Please keep in touch and do let me know if you would like to be on the "interested list". You can email rachelmaryking@gmail.com

Heavenly Herbal Healing

 For some reason it's one of those weeks when I'm feeling inspired to dig out my bag of herbal compresses from northern Thailand.


Perhaps it's the moody murky drizzly weather which makes it feel just the right time to get steaming and offer something extra special to my clients this week.




Actually I've really been enjoying this grey wet weather as it's offered all of us busy Londoners the perfect excuse to just stay at home and get cosy and rest. We need rest more than we think in this big city.


With this in mind and a specific client with some persistent aches and pains I'm really looking forward to getting the steamer working on Friday afternoon and infusing my small flat with smells from far away places.   

I am currently available for sessions on Fridays and Saturdays and occasionally evening slots on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays depending on how busy my week is.


£25 for 30 minutes (taster)
£50 for 60 minutes
£65 for 90 minutes
£80 for 120 minutes


Special offers and gift vouchers available; please enquire for details. Check the clinic page for more details on pricing, location and how to book.


Looking forward to a month of May full of love, relaxation and bountiful energy.
  

Balance-Peaceful-Balance

Perhaps it's my Libran nature but I always seem to have been in search of BALANCE in my life. If things go too fast or too slow or too crazy or too boring I start to feel ill at ease. This desire for BALANCE and PEACEFULNESS runs through my veins. Hence the passion for Massage and Mediation. 


For the next few weeks and beyond my main focus will be on restoring BALANCE and PEACEFULNESS into my life and into my heart and I would really love to share this new theme with clients too. 

I'm currently available for Thai Massage sessions on Fridays and Saturdays. You can also catch me for STOPGO mini sessions at the Towpath Cafe in Haggerston on Tuesday afternoons this Spring and Summer. I can occasionally squeeze in evening sessions on Mondays and Wednesdays.

Sending out LOVE and ABUNDANT PEACE to you all.

Rachel X X X

RESTORATIVE TOUCH

As we begin to feel the change of season from winter to spring we can sense an excitement and anticipation for longer and warmer days. We may also feel tired and rundown during this time and not quite ready to say goodbye to the hibernation of these last few months. 

Our bodies and spirits might well be yearning for some therapeutic touch to help with the energetic transition and give a nice caring boost to our stagnant systems. Thai Massage focuses on energy line work using body weight and simple stretches; it physically and energetically compliments a yoga practice and can be just what the seasonal doctor ordered. 

On SUNDAY 1ST APRIL Rachel will be welcoming in the SPRING ENERGY on APRIL FOOL'S DAY by offering an afternoon introductory workshop in simple THAI MASSAGE techniques focusing on NURTURING CONNECTION + RESTORATIVE TOUCH at the YOGA SHALA of Pam Norman within easy reach of Hackney Central and London Fields.


We will follow a gentle and flowing sequence in the side-lying position; suitable as a nurturing mini-treatment for friends and family. The sequence will include energy line work and some introductory shoulder and heart-opening stretches and twists. 


The SHALA is cosy and intimate with room for 6 to 8 students so please book with Pam as soon as possible.


Date: Sunday 1st April 2012
Time: 2:00pm to 5:30pm
Cost: £30 per student
Address: 28 Strand Building, 29 Urswick Road, London E9 6DW 

SPRING RELEASE

SPRING
Something in the air today tells me that spring is coming; I can feel it sneaking around the corner waiting to say "hello" and infuse us with its cheerfulness and energy. 


COLLECTIVE MOODS
One of my massage clients today reminded me of the power of London's ability to have a communally felt mood. She is here from Berlin for a long weekend and says she could immediately feel the tension and anxiety of London. For her there is nowhere quite like London that has such a sense of collective mood. This observation helped me to relax in myself and remember that the tension felt isn't always as personal as we might think it is. This perspective brings some comfort somehow when anxiety and worry comes creeping in.


SURRENDER
My theme for these early months of 2012 is SURRENDER and it seems like a good one to continue with in the coming weeks as we begin to come out from our hibernation. My clients seem to warm to the theme and emerge from their treatment feeling a sense of release and clarity which helps them to take a fresh step and look at their lives. 





SPECIAL OFFERS
In keeping with this theme I am extending my SPECIAL OFFERS and will be welcoming NEW CLIENTS until the end of March with a £10 off deal.


60 minute sessions will be £40 instead of £50
90 minute sessions will be £55 instead of £65
120 minute sessions will be £70 instead of £80


BLOCK BOOKING
If you pay in advance for 3 or more sessions I am offering some special deals so please feel free to ask me when you book yourself a massage. Some people find this can be a good way of committing to a more therapeutic series of treatments.


NEW PRICE STRUCTURES
From April onwards I will be revising my 90 minute and 120 minute treatment fees. My 60 minute rate will remain at £50.

love   surrender   clarity   calm   alignment dreaminess   release   deep energetic healing

Opening The Heart

One of my great wishes over the past few years has been to open my heart more and more to the world around me; to be more alive and more expressive in connection to friends, family and the people who I meet in my day to day life. 


As an early teenager I developed low level breathing restrictions which later manifested as physical tension in my chest, upper back, neck and shoulders. 


These tensions and bodily patterns have been amazing teachers for me and have actually guided me into the world of communication, mediation, therapeutic touch and massage. I have also learnt over time through breathing techniques, meditation, yoga and massage practice, how patterns of anxiety and tension can keep us from opening our hearts as much as we might want to. The beautiful thing is that we can actually change our patterns and ways of dealing with life events which reduces the tension and pain in our body, heart and mind. 


On Saturday 18th February Rachel will be offering a 3 hour introductory workshop in simple THAI MASSAGE techniques focusing on OPENING THE HEART at the London Fields Yoga centre around the corner from London Fields Thai Massage. 


We will follow a simple sequence which everyone can offer to friends and family. This includes energy line work on the arms and some introductory shoulder opening stretches; as well as some more dynamic yoga-style heart opening moves. We will have some time for a chat over tea after the class as well.


The workshop is hosted by Elizabeth at London Fields Yoga in her cosy intimate space. We will only have room for 6 to 8 students so please book with Elizabeth as soon as possible.


Date: Saturday 18th February
Time: 2:00pm to 5:00pm
Cost: £25 per student