Around Town
Hit
PARLOURS, PORTS AND POTS
* Che Camille’s Parlour of Design Delights Throughout the Six Cities Design Festival. the showroom attached to Glasgow's soi distant art rock factory, the Chateau. moves to a more accessible shop-front location. Pop in for art and fashion events, changing window installations, and a chance to watch emergent designers at work. www.checamille.com. 98 Sa/tmarket, Glasgow. until Sun 3 Jun.
* Leith Festival The line-up is huge this year - they've got gigs from Aberfeldy, the Hedrons and St Jude's Infirmary, comedy with Mrs Barbara Nice and Bob Doolally. a talk with the folks behind Chemikal Underground. theatre. dance, community events and the now infamous Trainspotting Tours. Get yourself down to the Port. www.leithfestival.com. Leith, Edinburgh, Fri 7-Sun 70 Jun.
* Taste of Edinburgh Massive. Channel 4-backed foodie event in the Meadows — gorge yourself on samples from Scotland‘s best restaurants and Michelin-starred chefs. and learn more about sourcing top—quality local produce. www.channel4. com/tastelestivals. Meadows, Edinburgh, Thu 7 Jun.
Wht sin
Siamese, if you please
As a new school teaching the ancient healing art of Thai yoga massage opens in Glasgow, poor Kirstin lnnes was sent to experience it all first hand
my Ku Redler has been practising Thai
massage — known in Thailand as mm! plum:
[mm/I. which translates as 'traditional' massage — since l‘)‘)l. She studied in Thailand and has really become an ambassador for the practice since her return. first in London. where the Evening Standard named her one of the city's top alternative therapists: now in (ilasgow. with a practice soon to open in lidinburgh. ‘lt didn’t occur to me that I‘d have to start all over again when I moved up here.' she says.
Thai massage works on the ten main energy lines in the body. channelling energy up and down as the subject is pulled into yoga positions. ‘lmagine there's a traflic jam caused by blockages in the road.. says Redler. ‘We pull out the blockages. creating a free flow of energy throughout the body.’ That‘s the ’unfaffy” way of putting it. she explains with a smile: for an alternative therapist. she has a very sly sense of humour. ‘lt‘s also known as lazy man‘s yoga.‘ she says 'because you get a yoga workout without putting in the work.‘
Redler set up Metta. one of the first professionally accredited schools of Thai massage. in l‘)‘)‘). and she‘s about to open a (ilasgow branch. located in the Yogasarvasya Studio in Partick. The lb-session course is taught at weekends and open to anyone who wants to learn. ‘lt can be a personal development course for people who want to learn how bodies work.’ Redler explains. ‘lt really teaches you about your body as well; you go on a journey with this course.‘
I get a better idea of what‘s involved during a massage session at Redler's tiny. white therapy room.
‘ancient‘ or
‘lt‘s beautiful to watch. like ballet.‘ she says. and she's right. Perhaps like being in a piece of contemporary dance. both an audience member and a performer — it really does feel like a pas (le (lynx. except without me contributing anything. I lie on a mattress on the floor. making myself as heavy as possible while Amy moves up my body from my feet. touching particular pressure points and arranging me into shapes with the weight of her legs. Redler. it has to be said. is tiny. and there are times when she‘s supporting my whole body weight as well as her own. She explains that that's one of the first things the course teaches practitioners.
‘liach massage is tailor-made — some of my clients are massive. rugby—playing blokes! Thai massage is all about angling. though — the positions you put yourself into are absolutely crucial. but you just have to learn how to distribute your body weight to create the amount of pressure needed.‘
Although my body is being moved into some fairly complex yoga positions. I‘m completely relaxed. wrapped up in baby blankets. and almost drift off. t‘()h. don’t worry. I've had people dribble and snore on me before] laughs Redler.) However. the technique surprises me. establishing connections between ligaments and organs I didn’t know existed. and leaving me to contemplate my body as a whole rather than a succession of working parts.
Amy Ku Redler practises at Heart and Soul, Ruthven Mews, Glasgow. The Metta basic practitioner course starts on late June. For more information see www.yogamassage.co.uk.
94 May Jttl‘. 2007 THE LIST 21