Zenthai Shiatsu Therapy & Training
On Vancouver Island
Whether you’re seeking a creative, sustainable path into professional bodywork—or you’re in the midst of your own healing and recovery journey—Clara is here to support you.
At West Coast Zen Thai, we offer Zenthai Shiatsu Bodywork, Acupuncture, and Canada’s only certified Zenthai Shiatsu training program. These offerings are built on a foundation of functional anatomy, delivered with care, and guided by a deep respect for the human experience.
What Is Zenthai Shiatsu?
A Movement-Based Manual Therapy That Supports the Whole Being
Zenthai Shiatsu is so much more than a massage. It’s a dynamic
somatic movement therapy that brings together:
- Zen Shiatsu
- Traditional Thai Massage
- Osteopathic techniques
into a seamless and evolving practice with heartfulness and
presence at its core.
Sessions are offered on a soft floor mat, fully clothed and without oil.
Techniques include:
- joint mobilization
- assisted stretching
- fascial unwinding
- TCM meridian & Five Element based therapy
- Addressing structural, emotional, and energetic imbalances
Some describe it as “yoga being done for them.”
Zenthai supports those navigating:
- Pain conditions & muscle restriction
- Postural imbalances
- Emotional holding patterns
- Exhaustion
- Digestion & menstrual cycle conditions
…and so much more.
Through breath, touch, and presence, clients are guided into a meditative state of receptivity and ease—an opportunity to feel deeply
held.
At its heart, Zenthai is about freedom. Not just freedom in the body, but in the mind and spirit.
Both receiving and learning to offer helps us return to our natural state of aliveness—through unwinding the fixations that hold us back
from a life well lived.
Meet Clara
Zen Thai Therapist. Educator. Acupuncturist. Community Weaver.
Hi, I’m Clara—and I’d love to support you in finding ease in your body, alignment in your lifestyle, and connection through holistic care.
My journey into Zenthai Shiatsu and Acupuncture has been shaped by my personal healing journey and a deep calling to support others. Over the years, I’ve developed a comfort and compassion in navigating the complexities of the human experience—particularly where the physical and emotional intersect.
My areas of experience and interest include:
- Pain conditions & postural recovery
- Hormonal health, digestion, and fertility
- Anxiety, insomnia, and PTSD
- Emotional trauma and addictions recovery
- Prenatal, postnatal, and pregnancy massage
I work to a depth and with precision, drawing on years of study in Chinese Medicine, Qi Gong, somatic movement, and mindfulness practice. I believe that healing together as a community is fundamental to health and I am so grateful for the foundation of togetherness that Zen Thai Shiatsu has brought into my life.
Private Sessions in Victoria, BC
Clara offers one-on-one care in multiple modalities, sometimes combined, and continuously evolving through continual education. Each session is tailored to meet your whole being with clarity, compassion, and aligned intention.
Insurance coverage is available for those with healthcare benefits. Acupuncture, needle-free acupuncture and acupuncture/massage combinations can be billed with the receipts provided.
(Clara does not offer direct billing).
In addition to her home practice, Clara also offers affordable community-style acupuncture at Hemma Community Acupuncture.
Modalities offered:
- Zenthai Shiatsu Therapy
- Acupuncture (R.Ac) including cupping & moxibustion
- Needle-Free Acupuncture / TCM Bodywork
- Pregnancy & Postnatal Massage + Acupuncture
Bodywork Education that’s Embodied, Playful, & Effective
Training Paths Include:
Clara offers Canada’s only certified Zenthai Shiatsu Therapist Training Program. These offerings are great for yoga teachers, massage therapists, movement professionals, caregivers—and anyone with a genuine curiosity about mindful movement and holistic medicine.
Trainings are practical, fun, and contain a depth of philosophical learning. Clara brings personal feedback, community growth, and years of embodied experience to every teaching space. Workshops and festival offerings are also available throughout the year.
Level One: 4-Day Foundations Course
Learn a 2 hour bodywork sequence and jump into the core threads of Zenthai amongst holistic community. You’ll leave with tools you can apply right away—in yoga spaces, therapeutic settings, or your own evolving practice
Therapist Training: 9-Month Certification Program
A full-spectrum but part-time journey into structural therapy, applied Chinese Medicine, and intuitive clinical skills. A deep dive into your own nature & how you connect with others. You’ll leave with the potential for a new profession, or simply a deeper inspiration on how to live more aligned with your true purpose.
Who It’s For
This work tends to resonate with:
- Open minded, sensitive and curious learners
- Those moving through transitions or on a journey of self-discovery and healing
- Massage therapists seeking a more sustainable and holistic way to learn and practice
- Practitioners of any kind seeking a new therapeutic depth and holistic integration
- Yoga teachers, caregivers, acupuncturists & artists
- Anyone drawn to presence, integrity, and touch as medicine
All bodies and backgrounds are welcome. Clara holds space in a way that is LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC inclusive, with a commitment to access and trauma-informed care.
Why West Coast Zen Thai?
First certified Zenthai Shiatsu teacher in North America
Registered Acupuncturist with somatic + trauma-informed experience
Small group learning with high contact hours
Integrative education rooted in anatomy, Chinese Medicine, and the simple power of touch
Holistic and integrative bodywork touching the body, mind & spirit (Jing, Qi, Shen)
From the Blog
Coming Soon
Clara is currently weaving together writings and poetry inspired by her eight years of being with bodies on the mat and learning about Chinese Medicine’s lifestyle wisdom —offering stories, insights, and practical tools to live a more fulfilling and enriched life.
Upcoming Topics:
- Insight’s into Clara’s personal Healing Journey
- Poetry inspired by sessions with clients
- Building health & immunity through attuning to the Seasons
West Coast Zen Thai
Let’s Begin
Whether you’re seeking one-on-one support or stepping into a new professional chapter, Clara brings steady presence, clarity, and care to each step of the way.