About Mam / My Story

About Mam

My Personal Journey & Why I Care About the Body

My understanding of the body does not come only from my training and years of working as a massage therapist.

It also comes from my own personal journey.

More than ten years ago, I worked in a warehouse, where my job involved regular heavy lifting and physically demanding work. At that time, I rarely exercised, hardly ever stretched, and did not really understand the importance of looking after my body.

After work, I would simply go home and rest. I slept mainly on my side, using a very soft duck-down pillow, and followed much the same routine for many years.

Then my body began to change.

I gradually became extremely stiff and restricted. There was a period when I struggled to lift my arms, could barely turn my neck, walked slowly, and felt as though my whole body had become tight and locked.

Eventually, after medical appointments, MRI scans, blood tests and X-rays, I was diagnosed with Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS).

Receiving that diagnosis was a major turning point in my life.

I wanted to understand not only the name of my condition, but also my own body.

I wanted to know why I felt so restricted, what made my body feel more comfortable, and what I could personally do to look after myself alongside the medical advice I received.

Learning to Listen to My Body

Over the years, I began paying much more attention to movement, posture, stretching, exercise and everyday habits.

I explored acupuncture and experienced many different styles and techniques of massage.

One of the things I discovered through my own experience was how differently my body responded to different therapists and different techniques.

Traditional Thai massage became particularly meaningful to me.

For me personally, I found that the right approach helped me feel less restricted and more comfortable in my body. But I also learned that no two bodies are the same.

What feels right for one person may not feel right for another.

That lesson has stayed with me throughout my work as a therapist.

The Way I Work Today

Today, when a client comes to see me, I do not believe in giving exactly the same massage to everybody.

I listen.

I observe.

I ask how you are feeling and where you are experiencing tension or restriction.

I then adapt my massage techniques, pressure and approach according to the individual in front of me.

My own experience taught me the importance of paying attention to the body rather than ignoring what it is telling us.

It also taught me patience.

Changes in the body do not always happen overnight. Looking after ourselves is often something we need to practise consistently — through movement, stretching, rest, exercise and greater awareness of our everyday habits.

Massage is one part of that wider approach to wellbeing.

Why My Work Is Personal to Me

When a client tells me that their body feels tight, tired or restricted, I understand how frustrating that can feel.

I know what it is like to want your body to move more freely.

That personal experience is one of the reasons I care so much about giving each client my attention and adapting every treatment to the individual.

My goal is to provide professional Thai massage in a calm, respectful and welcoming environment where you can take time away from everyday demands and reconnect with your body.

My personal journey has taught me something that I carry with me every day:

“You do not have to accept discomfort simply because you are getting older. Your age does not define how much attention your body deserves. Sometimes meaningful change begins when you turn your attention back to your body, learn to understand what it needs, and begin caring for it consistently and in the right way for you.”

My experience with AS is my personal story. I do not suggest that massage cures or treats AS, or that what has helped me will have the same effect for everyone. Anyone living with a diagnosed medical condition should continue to seek appropriate advice and care from their healthcare professional.

What I can offer is my experience, my skills, my attention, and a genuine commitment to treating every client as an individual.

Mam Therapist

East Park Thai Massage Therapy