Savasana Therapies

02/04/2025

What a Day with Dr. Dance and His Guests at the Royal Academy of Dance

Movement has always been a vital part of my life. Yet, as a child, I was told I didn’t have the right disposition for it, leaving me with limiting beliefs. Despite this, my soul has always longed to move. Dr. Lovatt's The Dance Cure helped me understand my deep connection to movement. Dancing in front of the mirror was never about vanity—it was a way of connecting with my soul.

For me, dance takes three forms: freestyle, structured, and passive receiving (through Traditional Thai Massage and Chavutti Thirumal Massage).

Freestyle

In my teens, a theatrical workshop at an Osho meditation center introduced me to his active meditations, which deeply resonated with me. One of his teachings that stays with me:

"Dance to the uttermost, dance in a frenzy, dance madly... a moment comes when suddenly you see the dance is happening on its own – there is no effort in it. It is action without action."

Structured

Dr. Lovatt’s research on dance and its effects on the body and mind fascinates me. While I love freestyle, structured dance challenges my brain in new ways. His findings reveal that different dance styles impact our mood and even our health—people with Parkinson’s, for example, experience varied benefits depending on the style they practice. The mindset we bring to dance shapes our internal chemistry.

Massage as a Dance

To me, massage is another form of dance—a balance between active and passive forces. I move with my clients, guiding them through tension and release. As I apply pressure and stretch, they surrender to the rhythm, creating a harmonious exchange of energy.

A huge thank you to Dr. Dance and his inspiring guests for fueling my journey. Your wisdom and passion mean the world to me!

Let’s keep dancing! 💃

05/03/2025

My new client; very demanding customer 🤩

09/09/2024

Yoga classes – drop in and donation basis, Tuesdays 6.50-7.50 pm, St Mark’s School main hall. Start this Tuesday, 10th September 2024.

This is to raise money towards our St Mark’s school staff wellbeing, so without you, this won’t be possible. In these classes, we will focus on breath, movement, and overall body awareness. We will learn how to soften our bodies so that we can tune into ourselves on an everyday basis; a self-referral for any ailments that might need our attention, to keep our bodies in good health. Hope to see you there 🤗🧘‍♀️🤗

22/08/2024

I am organising a Chavutti Thirumal taster session if anyone is interested. It is for massage practitioners to see if that’s what they could add to their repertoire 🤩

It is an amazing treatment to give and all my clients love it … I think so 🤔😆 in my reviews they say they do so yes, it is an amazing massage technique 🤩

There is not that many Chavutti practitioners in the UK and selfishly, I need one closer to my place, so it would be great if someone in Tunbridge Wells or nearby could start doing Chavutti too 🥳

Candida Valentino, who is doing the teachings on that day, is such a treasure to have. She’s been practising Chavutti over 30 years, going back to India regularly, enhancing and deepening her skills.

Please, get in touch if you would like to know more 🤗🙏🤗

29/07/2024

Chavutti Thirumal, Barefoot massage, Massage by foot pressure with Candida Valentino

Massage in any form is such a nourishing treatment to offer our clients. There are so many forms of massage that it’s always nice to maybe try new techniques. In Asia, there are many treatments that will include using feet, but in Kerala, South India, they have devoted a whole treatment using the feet, called Chavutti Thirumal, meaning massage by foot pressure.

The main advantage of using the feet is there is a natural energetic flow, which happens with just having gravity on our side, generally the legs and feet are stronger and once practised become as dexterous as the hands.

The Chavutti treatment is such a gift for our bodies, it stretches, lengthens and nourishes the joints, tendons, muscles and also it includes a deep connection to many energy points and energy line; so it’s a very complete treatment.

I would love for people to have a go to see if it’s something that fits for them.

Book your course on
www.savasanatherapies.co.uk/gift-vouchers/ or link in the bio


Chavutti Thirumal course taster day as part of your CPD
Sunday 1st September 9 am to 4 pm
Tunbridge Wells
Candida Velentino is accredited with the CMA and you will be given a certificate to go towards your ongoing training
Price £90 includes lunch
Parking on the streets
Minimum number of attendees 4, maximum 6

Program:
9 am welcome and talk about Chavutti
10am - 12pm practise
12pm - 1.30pm Lunch
1.30 - 3.30pm practise

15/07/2024

Soon I will be sorting my admin in summer, as admin is the last job on my list and my business is not big enough to have someone to manage it. But I thought I will, for now, share this review a client left for me in March.

I feel so great, when people make an effort to come such a long way to have my Chavutti treatment. This client is very skilled in receiving Chavutti treatment 😊 Last time we particularly worked longer on marma points, which I find very challenging. It requires such patience and no rushing at all. As they say: “Patience is sour but its fruit is sweet”, therefore, the benefits from being slower, deeper, more attentive are far reaching.

Thank you to all my clients for their trust and time spent in my ‘cocoon’ 😊

14/06/2024

Chavutti Thirumal is a unique form of full body massage using warm Ayurvedic oil and the feet to deliver long sweeping therapeutic strokes.

It dates back over 2,000 years in Kerala Southern India. It is part of the tradition of Kathakali, the classical dance of the region, Kalaripayat, the Keralite martial art, and Ayurveda, the Traditional Indian Medicine. In Malayalam, the local dialect, it is literally translated as “massage by foot pressure”.

It was developed to maintain suppleness in the body and for treating pain and swelling. It is however equally suitable as a treatment for those not involved in regular or strenuous physical exercise and wishing to maintain their own fitness and wellbeing.

I am regularly refreshing my skills and learning new skills; therefore, I can’t wait to be part of next week training course of Chavutti Thirumal Level 1. I am never bored of basics! There are still some spaces available, so if you like to give it a go, see the link in the bio.

09/06/2024

Getting ready for tomorrow 😆

26/05/2024

I love how my friends, clients can handle social media 🤩 I doubt I will ever be a guru in instagram 🤪 but hope I am improving the skills in my trade 💆‍♀️

16/05/2024

Praying for a sunny weather ☀️ ⠀
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I have this gorgeous tent ready to use to create a Zen Den at St Mark’s School Summer Fair on Saturday 18th June 11 am to 2 pm. It will be a chilled, quite zone for children to stop, take a breath and hopefully learn to relax more. ⠀
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Last year I was offering a short head and shoulders massage and it was brilliant to see how children loved it. ⠀
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I know there is lots of heath and safety involved, but sometimes the simple things we are destroying the most with some brainless rules 😬 ⠀
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Anyway, sunny weather, happy relaxed children … Saturday, here we come 💃 ⠀
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14/05/2024

How this could be broadcasted in 1987 and nothing has changed?!?!

‎Show The Oprah Winfrey Show: The Podcast, Ep TOWS Special: Mind, Body Connection - 13 May 2024

29/04/2024

Client cancelled so I am sharpening my tools …blessing my feet in the sun rays ☀️ ⠀
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26/03/2024

Skills before pills. ⠀
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How often do you practise your skills of relaxation? I definitely think that I can call relaxation a skill nowadays. We are so disconnected from our natural body-skill-set, that we need to take time to relearn some of those natural skills, and one of those is relaxation. ⠀
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We need to practise how to be more connected with our inner environment of our bodies to combat the natural responses to the dysfunctional and increasingly unnatural environment around us. ⠀
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So invest more in perception and less in expression, relax ☺️⠀
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22/03/2024

14/03/2024

We are in comfort crisis. Yet we don’t know how to relax. ⠀
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07/03/2024

Discover a great opportunity to embark on a Chavutti Thirumal course with Candida. ⠀
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I firmly believe that prevention is superior to cure, and by nurturing more holistic massage therapists, we empower ourselves towards healing. ⠀
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There are not that many Chavutti Thirumal teachers in England, and Candida is one of a few practitioners with many years of experience and dedicated practice. She regularly immerses herself in Kerala, India, honing her skills and delving deeper into her craft. Her wealth of experience offers not only the mastery of massage technique but also a comprehensive holistic approach to therapy. Candida emphasizes the importance of self-care for therapists, essential for long-term sustainability and the transmission of treatments infused with pure, positive healing energy. Candida’s teaching transcends; she infuses her soul into every lesson, making her a remarkable educator unlike any other.⠀
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More info on⠀
www.soundtransformations.co.uk⠀
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25/02/2024

Aside from managing client relationships, massage therapists have many other tasks to attend to. They have to write notes, keep up with bookkeeping, making sure insurance is up-to-date, marketing, clean the clinic, do the laundry … the list goes on 🤪⠀
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22/02/2024

My favourite - the inner thigh. In my previous post I did a yoga sequence for the perimenopause and menopause which predominantly involves stretching the inner thigh muscles, the adductors, being one of the groups of hip muscles which stabilise the pelvis.

Stretching the inner thigh muscles serves as a beneficial practice during the perimenopausal phase and beyond. Perimenopause, characterized by hormonal fluctuations and aging, often brings about changes in muscle tone and flexibility. Engaging in exercises like yoga or specific stretches targets the inner thigh muscles, helping maintain flexibility, improve circulation, and alleviate discomfort associated with perimenopausal symptoms such as muscle stiffness and joint pain.

Moreover, stretching exercises support fluid flow within the lymphatic system, a vital component of the body’s immune and waste removal processes. Unlike the circulatory system, the lymphatic system relies on muscle movement for fluid circulation. By stretching the inner thigh muscles, muscle contractions are stimulated, promoting lymphatic fluid movement throughout the body. Enhanced circulation aids in the removal of toxins, waste products, and excess fluid from tissues, thereby reducing swelling and supporting detoxification.

In summary, incorporating inner thigh stretching into one’s routine during perimenopause can have multiple benefits. It not only helps manage physical symptoms like muscle stiffness and joint pain but also contributes to overall lymphatic system health. By fostering lymphatic fluid circulation, stretching exercises facilitate immune function and promote the body’s natural detoxification processes. As women navigate the transitional phase of perimenopause, prioritizing activities like thigh stretching can promote physical well-being and help manage the changes that occur during this significant stage of life.