Hot Stone Therapy
A Shiatsu therapist and instructor of Hot Stone Therapy shares her experiences and perspectives on health and healing, and on her profession.
Eliana Trinaistic came to Canada in 1993 from war-torn Croatia, and has pursued her vocation in the field of massage therapy.
I welcome my guest, Eliana Trinaistic, BA, Shiatsu Therapist from Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Can you briefly explain the type of massage you practice and why someone might choose to try this particular massage technique?
Hot stone therapy, at least in the way we have developed it in the past 9 years, stimulates a particular Meridian in the body, called the Triple Heater which balances and regulates inner fire. This “secondary fire” is needed for a number of processes including a strong immune function and digestion. In cold climates as found in such places as Ontario or northern Europe, we found that hot stone massage, in particular, would be an important temperature balancing tool. It is the only type of bodywork that provides deep, consistent, and penetrating heat sensation that is usually missing because of our extensive Canadian winters. The heat also nourishes the nervous system and is a proven remedy for reducing anxiety and the occurrence of panic attacks.
In your opinion, what makes a good massage therapist or massage practitioner?
In my opinion, being both a therapist and a teacher, the ability to communicate and to listen with an open and compassionate heart (so you can hear not only the words that are said, but also what has been implied in between the lines) is the most important therapist tool. Everything else we have: elaborated techniques, theoretical knowledge, our degrees or research, are important only as a backup for our intuitive gut feeling knowledge
What is your philosophy on health and healing?
I believe in gentle over strong, and power over force. I do not want to interfere, but rather to provide an environment where health will nourish and re-establish itself. I believe that we as human beings are strong beyond belief, but we need another being (therapist, friend, lover, parent) to remind us of our own strength when we struggle with sickness or pain (being blocked).
Can you share with us one really significant transformation you witnessed as a result of the work you do?
I strongly believe that anyone who came on my path was meant to be on my path, and I was meant to be on theirs.
I think that the most impressive transformation I have experienced as a result of this work is my own transformation. I came to Canada in 1993/94 from the country that has been mentally and emotionally ruined by civil war (Croatia). I thought at the time I was not affected, but as I went through different types of training, especially Shiatsu and Rebirthing, many things emerged and I understood how the body is an expression of the mind (not the brain), and affected by the mind too.
Since the birth of our daughter in 1999, my husband and I (he eventually became a massage therapist too) became involved in natural and water birthing. I had the opportunity to work with many pregnant mothers wanting home births. I am blessed to see quite a few newborn babies every month as we rent tubs for the water births.
I do not remember exactly who I was before my personal growth started, but I know for sure that I was detached, scared, biased and essentially robbed of my personal power.
Many of my clients helped me tremendously to grow to where I am now, and I always feel a deep sense of gratitude for being able to do the type of work I do and experience a sharing of positive life values.
Why did you choose the profession of Massage Therapy as a career?
When I was a child, I used to massage my mom’s legs almost every evening. She was suffering from variety of ailments, but I was always able to help her somehow and I never grew tired of doing it. I also always knew that I could make people better if I touched them. In Croatia, at that time, there was no training for massage therapists, so I went to University to become a teacher instead. When we moved to Canada, I jumped at the opportunity to study what I always felt was my natural vocation, and eventually also began to teach hot stone massage.
From my point of view, I almost had no choice, and if someone would ask if I would recommend young people to choose this profession, I would know how to answer. I do not believe you rationally choose to become, for example, a midwife, and you do not really choose to become a therapist. It is in you, or it is not.
Thank you, Eliana Trinaistic
For more information on Hot Stone Therapy, visit Stone Waters Massage Education
© Copyright, Sylvia Carlson, 2006. Reproduction without permission prohibited.
Suite 101’s Terms and Policies
