What is yoga massage? Verne Maree meets remedial massage therapist Kirsty Stone and discovers its magical benefits.

Of course I am deeply fond of my husband, and I appreciate his sterling qualities and myriad skills. But alas – and this may come as a shock – he isn’t perfect.

Now that we’ve safely celebrated our 25^th wedding anniversary, I must reveal that he does not do massage. Never has, never will. He won’t even give me a backrub. (Not a proper one, anyway. He says it hurts his hands.)

Yet I adore massage. I crave massage. Apart from that, massage is an integral tool for a longevity-aspiring biohacker like me.

I’m not even particularly fussy where I get it. As a lucky travel journalist (see travelswithverneandroy.com) I’ve alternated between the sublime and the ridiculous. I’ve lapped it up at five-star hotels and spas all over the world, including Chiva Som in Hua Hin, Thailand, Four Seasons resorts in the Maldives, Willow Stream Spa at the Fairmont, Singapore, the fabulous Brookdale Health Hydro in KZN, South Africa, and many more. (For some of my magazine travel features, click here.)

I’ve also taken my chances with Phuket beachfront massage huts and those hole-in-the-wall massage parlours found everywhere in Thailand and much of the rest of Southeast Asia. (As a fellow woman, it can be sad to see the spark draining from their eyes when they realise you’re not a candidate for a happy ending.)

Our 2018 South Pacific Cruise to Vanuatu, Fiji, New Caledonia etc. (click here for some tropical island porn) is another such memory. Much of my skin was removed by the sandpapering effects of beachsand mixed with oil by that enthusiastic but inept Dravuni island masseuse. That’s not to say I wouldn’t have another go, another time… hope springs eternal.

Massage should be a conjugal right. And if sadly not forthcoming, it must needs be outsourced. Fortunately, the outsourcing of massage services is a lot less tricky than the outsourcing of traditionally and legally recognised conjugal activities. Especially here in Australia, where remedial massage is a thing.

Remedial massage

Remedial massage was something new to me as a South African, but it seems to be a recognised medical service here in Australia. If you’re fortunate enough to have private health insurance, it’s categorised as an “extra”. Depending on your level of cover, they might pay anything between 20 and 90 percent of the cost, which here in WA seems to run at around $100 per hour.

Definition: Remedial massage is the systematic assessment and treatment of the muscles, tendons, ligaments and connective tissues to assist in rehabilitation, pain and injury management, creating favourable conditions for the body to return to normal health after injury.

My first remedial massage therapist wasn’t bad, but he wasn’t a great fit for me.  A burly young man in his twenties (let’s call him Rambo), he explained that he had honed his skills on the beefy torsos of professional football teams. Now he seemed hell-bent on inserting his muscular thumbs first through my sore neck and then between my ribs and possibly into my vital organs.

Still, I love all forms of massage and felt that even this had just possibly done me more good than harm. And maybe remedial massage was supposed to hurt, so as to discourage any frivolous indulgence on the part of spendthrift health insurance beneficiaries.

Kirsty Stone

Luckily, Kirsty Stone – sole owner of  KS Therapies – is proof that remedial massage doesn’t have to be painful.

I found her through a quick internet search for remedial massage in Joondalup – a northern suburb of Perth WA. Kirsty had 15 years of massage experience. Her studio was a six-minute drive from us. Perfect! It’s not ideal to have to drive far in a post-massage haze… it can even spoil the experience.

Apart from doing traditional oil-based table massage, what piqued my interest was that she also offered something called “yoga massage”. Based on Thai yoga massage in the northern Thailand tradition, it takes place on a futon mat on the floor. No oil, and you keep your clothes on – gym or yoga gear is best.

Kirsty has always had an interest in natural health and healing, using remedial therapies including mindful massage, movement and stretching. She describes her unique approach  as a dance of remedial massage and Thai yoga applied with mindfulness.

Passive stretching

In case you think yoga massage involves you doing the yoga – no, that’s not how it works. As the receiver, you remain totally passive: except for moving the odd limb when requested or rolling over on to your side, for example.

The kind of passive stretching that yoga massage offers is thought to be the best form of stretching for increasing flexibility, decreasing tension or muscle pain, and releasing the body. By improving blood flow to the muscles and joints, it keeps them mobile for longer. It also stimulates the release of feel-good endorphins, thereby reducing stress in general.

“This creative massage will move your body, reduce pain and tension in your muscles, improve range of motion, stimulate the digestive, circulatory and endocrine systems and promote a deeper healing,” Kirsty sums up.

Poetically put, it’s meditation in motion.

Yoga massage is a dance of remedial massage and Thai yoga applied with mindfulness

Review: KS Therapies

On my first visit, I was very happy with my table massage (60 minutes): just the right amount of skilfully applied pressure with no ouch moments. I left in a state of deep wellbeing and relaxation and had my best night’s sleep for months.

That encouraged me to try the yoga massage (also 60 minutes) on my second visit. This floor-based experience is very different from lying on a table. You get the feeling that Kirsty instinctively adapts her techniques to you and what your body needs. Halfway through, tears were streaming from my eyes. Not tears of pain, but healing tears. If I had to identify the emotion, it would be gratitude.

By the end of my hour, I felt an amazing rapport with this intuitive and generous healer. My third session was 90 minutes of yoga massage – and I’m hooked. I have another booked for next week.

Kirsty’s Story

It’s always interesting to hear how people got to where they are – and Kirsty’s journey is no exception. It began with her learning Swedish massage and reflexology as a natural progression from her triathlete days, roughly from 2006 to 2012.

And that all started when Kirsty and a group of work friends created their own triathlon club. “We would do swimming drills, runs and beep tests before work each day,” she remembers, “and I’d arrange practice triathlons at the local park.” They did corporate BRW events and sprint triathlons. Kirsty herself also completed the Olympic distance.

It’s easy to see how useful her Diploma of Remedial Massage (TAFF) would have been for herself and her swim/run/cycle mates. And then, when she set up KS Therapies, she says, “I switched to yoga because I needed more energy for my massage work!”

She started with general classes, hot yoga and vinyasa, before moving on to Ashtanga yoga and her 500-hour teacher training qualification in 2013.

Kirsty’s husband took the stunning photos below in Santorini, about five years ago.

Kirsty 1

Kirsty 2

Kirsty 3

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Kirsty has also done a variety of training in related techniques such as stretch therapy, traditional Thai massage, WuoTai, mindfulness, silent meditation, and “many, many weekend workshops in yoga and meditation”.

She is a member of Massage & Myotherapy Australia, and has worked in the fields of pain management, rehabilitation, physiotherapy, chiropractic, neurological and palliative care. Add to that volunteer work at Ironman, ParaQuad, the Cancer Council, Solaris and the MSWA/Motor Neuron disease home care programme.

Find Kirsty Stone

You can find Kirsty at her website kstherapies.com.au or here on Facebook. She is a gem.

Next up, maybe something about protein. Are you getting enough? What are the best sources? It’s a vast subject!