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About us
Enhance the way you feel...
Experience massage in a welcoming environment easily located within the beautiful Dandenong Ranges.
We specialise in women's and pregnancy massage, offering Kahuna massage (also known as Hawaiian Temple Lomi Lomi), Heartworks Lomi Lomi massage, Polynesian Floor massage, Zenthai Shiatsu, as well as Kahuna and NurtureLife® massage for pregnant women throughout their pregnancy journey, and beyond into motherhood.
Ela, as a nurse with qualifications in midwifery and massage, is an experienced practitioner committed to your wellbeing and comfort in order to provide you with the best experience in a respectful and homely atmosphere.
Mingara Retreat is a tranquil haven which enjoys views to the Warburton Ranges, and where women feel nurtured and receive the attention that they truly deserve.
What we do
Pregnancy Massage
There isn’t a better time than during pregnancy for a woman to receive massage, when she is nurturing a new life. Pregnancy massage is a specialised form of massage, which not all therapists choose to provide. Pregnancy massage at Mingara Retreat offers massage throughout all trimesters, including the 4th (postnatal) trimester post delivery.
Benefits of Pregnancy Massage
Pregnancy massage can help alleviate some of the common discomforts related to pregnancy, including:
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stress and anxiety.
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muscular aches and pains (back pain, muscle tension, leg cramps and oedema, restless legs, sciatic discomfort).
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neuromuscular changes that occur in a woman’s body as the baby grows.
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provide some relaxation time and self-nurturing.
Pregnancy Massage complements other therapies such as physiotherapy and osteopathy, with discomfort related to pelvic girdle and symphysis pubis pain. With the woman’s permission, Kahuna bodywork can involve massage to the woman’s belly and breasts.
Initial appointments include a compulsory consultation and physical assessment which may take up to 10-15mins (in addition to the massage) depending on the complexity of the woman’s condition or health history. New clients are encouraged to arrive approximately 10mins prior to their appointment time to fill out health history forms.
Subsequent appointments also include a consultation but this tends to be considerably shorter than the initial appointment session as much of the information has already been collected.
This ensures the safety of clients and helps to formulate a treatment plan for the session in order to address the client’s concerns in a safe and effective manner. Your safety and wellbeing is of the utmost importance.
Kahuna Bodywork
Kahuna goes well beyond massage – it reflects the connection we have with the land (‘aina), the spirit guides or ancestors (aumakua) and the breath of life and love (aloha). It is a spiritual and sensual massage which embodies reverence of life, wisdom, knowledge and compassion.
Kahuna bodywork is a unique style of massage, incorporating movement and stretches, deep tissue techniques, rhythm, music, breath, massage, energy and dance to provide a unique experience. It is flowing and dynamic, involving long flowing strokes with hands and forearms, much like the waves of the ocean.
There is both gentle and deep work, including on the abdomen, helping release tension we often ‘carry in our gut’. All Kahuna massage is undertaken with a loving touch, a connection of heart, hands and soul.
One is called to practice Kahuna and to live life with a sense of sacred consciousness.
Benefits of Kahuna Massage
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Offers opportunity for self-awareness, self-acceptance and self-love or ‘aloha’.
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Restores the flow of energy at the same time instilling a calming sense of peace and deep relaxation.
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Generates a sense of well-being, vitality and empowerment.
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Releases deep-seated neuromuscular tension allowing energy to flow more freely.
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Provides passive exercise which supports and stimulates lymphatic, immune, circulatory, respiratory, digestive and neuromuscular systems.
Heartworks Lomi Lomi
Lomi Lomi is the Hawaiian word for Massage which translated means ‘to push, pull and knead’. There are many variations of Lomi Lomi. Heartworks Lomi Lomi was founded by Sherman Dudoit, who then taught Mette Sorensen (Mette’s Institute, Kin Kin, Queensland) and with whom I was fortunate to be guided by in this loving and sacred form of massage.
Lomi Lomi is derived from ancient Polynesian forms of healing where bodywork and massage was an important part of life and during transition phases of one’s life. Treatment and healing could last for hours or days. Lomi Lomi is different from Kahuna massage in that hands are primarily used (rather than forearms) but it is still involves long rhythmic strokes over the whole body where the hands are used as a tool of the heart. Heartworks Lomi Lomi is a form of healing therapy with roots firmly planted in the intuitive or spiritual core of body, allowing touch to enable to heal ourselves, release the past and embrace the now with an open heart.
Hot Stones Massage
The hot stones massage is generally offered as part of the Heartworks Lomi Lomi treatment. It is not recommended during pregnancy, but is available postnatally.
Hot stones massage is a wonderful healing and nurturing treatment, especially during the colder months. Granite stones are warm and both placed on parts of the body and used as a tool in the therapist's hand. The heat from the stones warms and relaxes the muscles, allowing massage to work deep within the muscles. It helps improve circulation as well as calming the nervous system, providing a deep state of relaxation.
Polynesian Floor Massage
Polynesian floor massage is related to the Kahuna style of massage, though it is entirely undertaken on the floor. The recipient is fully clothed and can be an alternative form of bodywork to oil massage. It can be an entire treatment on its own, or as a ‘starter’ to Kahuna or Heartworks Lomi Lomi massage. It allows the body’s muscles to ‘warm up’ and be stretched, allowing deeper oil based massage to follow.
Floor based massage helps ease tensions with a firm application of pressure, along with various mobilisation stretches, enhancing flexibility.
Some of the benefits include
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Full rotation of joints.
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Bilateral stretching of two joints at the one time.
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Gentle stretching combined with firm, slow muscle pressure and massage helping to still the mind.
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Potential reduction of muscle and joint pain from the loosening effects of targeted stretching.
Zenthai Shiatsu
Zenthai shiatsu is a unique form of bodywork, incorporating a blend of Japanese healing therapy (shiatsu), the fluidity of Thai massage and gentle osteopathic techniques. It is underpinned by Traditional Chinese Medicine diagnoses, utilising the same meridian and acupressure point system as acupuncture. The therapist uses their thumbs, fingers, palms, elbows, knees and feet to apply their own body weight, helping stimulate the recipient’s flow of energy in their body.
Movement, gentle body stretches and joint mobilisation are used which help the body into alignment, both structural and energetic. Osteopathic techniques help with connective tissue issues and fascia unwinding.
Zenthai Shiatsu is performed without oil, fully clothed and on the floor.
Ela has undertaken advanced studies in Pregnancy Zenthai Shiatsu and provides a slow, yin-like bodywork, mostly in a side lying position.
Services
By Appointment Only...(text or email)
Kahuna Massage
$130 - 60 min
$180 - 90 min (recommended)
* optional 20-30 min Infrared Sauna session pre session
Zenthai Shiatsu
$130 - 60 min
$180 - 90 min (recommended)
* optional 20-30 min Infrared Sauna session pre session
Pregnancy Zenthai Shiatsu
$130 - 60 min
$180 - 90 min (recommended)
* Infrared Sauna session not available during pregnancy. Post massage rest & refreshments included.
*All first time pregnancy massages include an additional 15 min pre-massage consultation.
Gift vouchers available
Contact & Message
Phone
Address
(+61) 490 258 731
1197 Mt Dandenong Tourist Road, Kalorama VIC 3766
Therapist
My name is Ela and my massage journey began in 1992 with my initial studies in Swedish and Therapeutic Massage. However, my years of nursing showed me the benefit of touch and how massage and touch can aid healing. This lead me to study Dolores Kreiger’s Therapeutic Touch, then certification in Therapeutic (Swedish) Massage. Whilst undertaking midwifery studies in 1996, I then became more interested in pregnancy massage. The following 20 years were spent mostly nursing, including midwifery, special care nursery, cardiac and diabetes education. My interest in massage continued throughout this period with my eventual goal to combine both nursing and massage therapy.
Experiencing Kahuna massage for the first time in 2014, my passion for massage and bodywork were re-ignited. I have a commitment to health and wellbeing and to help enhance how people feel through touch. For the last few years I have refocused on massage and bodywork and in 2018 finally moved to the beautiful Dandenong Ranges where I now offer Women’s & Pregnancy Massage.
In addition to my original Therapeutic (Swedish) Massage Practitioner course, I have studied Kahuna massage and bodywork at Mette’s Institue (attaining Level 6) as well as other massage modalities. In 2018 I commenced Zenthai Shiatsu studies to complement both Kahuna and Polynesian bodywork.
I am also a qualified NurtureLife® Pregnancy Massage therapist having undertaken the Practitioner of Pregnancy Massage course with Pregnancy Massage Australia. This course qualifies me to provide massage during all trimesters of pregnancy, as well as the postnatal period.
My qualifications include:
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Registered Nurse Division 1 (AHPRA registered)
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Master of Nursing Studies (Midwifery)
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Post Graduate Certificate in Critical Care (Cardiothoracics)
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Post Graduate Certificate in Diabetes Education and Management
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Reiki Master Level
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Diploma of Counselling
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Advanced Diploma in Hypnotherapy and Psychotherapy
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Kahuna Massage and Bodywork (Level 6 – Mette’s Institute)
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Relaxation and Therapeutic Massage Practitioner Certificate
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NurtureLife ® Practitioner of Pregnancy Massage
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Hot Stones Level 1 Certificate
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Heartworks Lomi Lomi Level 1 Certificate
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Zenthai Shiatsu Therapist Program
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Womb & Fertility Massage
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Sacral Somatics Massage Therapy