Aliza has been practicing yoga for 14 years and hopes to continue deepening her practice into old age.

Aliza Weller is a Certified Advanced Thai Massage and Reflexology Practitioner, as accredited by the Thailand Ministry of Public Health, the Thailand  Ministry of Education, the National Health Practitioners of Canada (NHPC), the College of Massage Therapists of British Columbia, and the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario, for Continuing Education Units (CEUs/CE/PD).

To book an appointment, email or call Aliza at 226-789-9355.

Aliza’s Style of Thai Massage:

Aliza is schooled in Northern-style Traditional Thai Massage, also called Nuad Bo-Rarn. This style emphasizes gentle stretching (similar to Shiatsu) and gentle acupressure that stimulates circulation and the movement of energy.

This includes gentle stretching, joint mobilizing, rhythmic deep tissue work, toning of energy lines, acupressure and acupuncture points, assisted hatha yoga poses, mindfulness and loving-kindness meditation. Aliza is able to direct the intensity of the stretching and pressure points for a much deeper result than  a person practicing yoga on their own would be able to achieve in one sitting.

Aliza uses flowing and harmonious Qi Gong movements to guide the stretches, creating a deeply soothing yet energizing effect for both giver and receiver. The massage is practiced on a firm mat on the floor. Aliza may use her hands, feet, elbows, shins, knees and body weight to relax and open the client’s body. With the exception of the feet, the client remains fully clothed.

Energy Balance Theory in Traditional Thai Massage:

Traditional Thai Massage is one of the oldest forms of developed medicine. It has been taught and practiced in Thailand for over 2,500 years. According to folklore, this ancient practice was brought to Thailand from India thousands of years ago by Dr. Jivaki Komarbhacca (also known as Dr. Jivago), who is still referred to as the “Father Doctor.” He is said to have been a physician, friend and contemporary of Buddha. Rooted in the Indian medical practice of Ayurveda, Thai Massage is one of many forms of Eastern bodywork based on an energy balance theory of health and healing.

Influenced by the Chinese system of acupressure, Thai massage focuses on the ten major sen lines (energy lines) by palming and thumbing along these energy pathways. According to Sen Line Theory, the human body contains a field of energy within it composed of 72,000 sen lines, ten of which hold top priority. The Chinese Meridian Theory calls this energy “Qi” and the Indian Ayurvedic system of nadis refers to it as “prana.”

It is believed that blockages in the flow of this energy manifest in discomfort, disease and pain. Most ailments then are the result of an imbalance in these meridians, whereas free flow along the sen lines leads one to feel energetic, relaxed and free from stiffness and pain. Working pressure points along the sen lines releases blockages of energy and increases energy flow, thereby helping to restore balance and good health. The process of opening the energy lines is rhythmic and meditative, enabling both the client and the practitioner to reach a deeper level of consciousness.

To book an appointment, email Aliza.

Laughter Yoga is a health and wellness practice in which people develop their childlike sense of play through group exercises that use breath, laughter and movement. You need not be funny or happy to laugh because the body cannot differentiate between fake and real laughter. Even twenty minutes of sustained deep-guffaw-like fake laughter has cardio-vascular benefits that rival an hour of running—yet the practice is gentle enough that anyone of any age and ability level can do it.

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Laughter Yoga is based on the practice of Hasya Yoga. ‘Hasya’ means “laughter wisdom” in Sanskrit. Hasya is an aspect of yoga that uses self-triggered laughter (laughter for the sake of laughter – or “laughter for no reason”) in order to deepen one’s understanding of Joy. This is a key aspect of the Four Immeasurables: Unconditional Love, Compassion, Sympathetic Joy, and Equanimity, which enable us to live a balanced, ethical, happy life.

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Aliza’s approach to teaching Laughter Yoga is to incorporate Hasya Yoga and other exercises popularized since 1995 by Dr. Madan Kataria and Madhuri Kataria in Mumbai, India. Thanks to them, Laughter Yoga is now practiced by millions of people in over 60 countries around the world.

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Laughter is contagious; the more time you spend with others who are laughing, the more you are apt to laugh throughout the rest of your life. As you do this, you will likely experience some of these and other health benefits:

• improved circulation
• increased oxygenation of the blood and tissues
• improved brain health and clarity of thought
• improved cardio-vascular health
• boosted immune system
• improved ability to deal with stress and depression
• improved sleep patterns
• improved ability to laugh at life’s difficult situations
• improved ability to connect meaningfully with others

Aliza is available to give talks and lead sessions for groups in the private, public and not-for-profit sectors. She has a sliding fee scale for not-for-profit organizations.

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Aliza currently offers the following workshops:

• “Laughter at Work and Play: Improve productivity in the workplace” (one-hour and half-day workshops)

• “Laughter for Health and Longevity: The physiology of laughter” (one-hour and half-day workshops)

• “Intelligent Play for Teachers: Improve learning development for children and adults” (one-hour, half-day, and full-day workshops)

• “Laughter and Environmental Education: Use gentle humour to talk about ‘inconvenient truths’” (one-hour, half-day, full-day, and two-day weekend intensive workshops)

• “Laughter that Bridges Cross-Cultural Divides: Use gentle humour to find common ground” (one-hour and half-day workshops)

• “World Peace through Laughter: A Gandhian approach to activism” (one-hour and half-day workshops)

Aliza charges a sliding scale fee for not-for-profit and community groups.

To find out more, please contact Aliza.