September 23, 2024 • 38 mins
What if you could transform your life through the power of community and touch? Today, we sit down with the incredible Tamala Bosveld, a mother of five, marathon enthusiast, and compassionate massage therapist, whose work has touched countless lives.
Join us as Tamala shares her inspiring journey, from balancing family life to organizing a family-friendly running event that brings people together. You'll hear about the planning behind these events and the profound sense of belonging they foster.
Imagine the healing power of a single touch. Tamala delves into her expertise in remedial and oncology massage, offering a glimpse into how these therapies can provide immense relief for those dealing with physical and emotional pain. From dynamic cupping to specialized oncology care, learn about the holistic benefits that make a world of difference to the patients. We'll also uncover the emotional impact of massage, especially for cancer patients, and how these therapies improve their quality of life.
Tamala also shares the joys and challenges of managing a busy massage practice and a large family. This episode is a testament to the beauty of life, the privilege of growing older, and the power of giving back.
Join us!
Links:
Soul Runners
The Essentials Collective
Positive Impact Massage Therapy
Warm thanks to:
Sponsor: Females Over Forty-five Fitness in Victoria Park
Sound Engineering: Damon Sutton
Music: William A Spence
... and all our generous and inspiring guests around the warm table this season!
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My Warm Table, translated into Italian is Tavola Calda. These were the words my Papa used to describe a table of good friends, good food and good conversation. I always aim to create a tavola calda in my life and I hope this podcast encourages you to do so too!
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
And it's so close to my heart.
I lost my father to cancer fiveyears ago and I was able to
help him with pain reduction.
There's anxiety.
It helps nausea.
It gives relief for nausea.
So many factors come into playwhen you're having treatment
through cancer and neuropathy.
The chemo treatments give somuch pain and there's
(00:25):
constipation from painmedication and these people are
so busy going everywhere totreatments so it's just getting
them on the table.
It's a gentle touch and just tobe able to give back to
somebody who is suffering somuch.
Speaker 3 (00:44):
Thanks for joining me , sonia Nolan, around the warm
table, or the tavola calda as myItalian papa used to call a
welcoming table of acceptance,positivity and curiosity.
My Warm Table podcast aims tocreate that and more, as we
amplify stories of WesternAustralians making our
communities better.
My Warm Table, season 3, isproud to be sponsored by Females
(01:06):
Over 45 Fitness, with a studioin Victoria Park and also online
all over Australia.
So now please take a seat andjoin us for Season 3 as we
explore stories of hope.
I've been a long time bigadvocate for the portfolio life
and the multi-dimensionality ofparticularly women who juggle
(01:30):
family, homemaking work and allthings that life throws in the
mix.
Today's guest is a woman whoinspired me with her quiet
confidence and philosophy to geton with things, be a good
person, do the right thing andcontribute to community.
Tamala Bosveld is a mother offive, a massage therapist and a
(01:52):
marathon runner.
She's my guest around the warmtable today and I'm delighted
and looking forward to learningmore about her.
Welcome, tamala.
Speaker 1 (02:02):
Thanks, sonia, it's great to be here.
Speaker 3 (02:03):
It is great to be here and you know what?
Know what?
When we met, we were actuallyabout to sit in front of a
microphone, like we're doingtoday, so it's a little bit deja
vu.
And at that time we weretalking about the Soul Runners
and the support your runninggroup was offering, the charity
that I chair the EssentialsCollective.
So tell me about the SoulRunners and then I'm going to
(02:24):
shamelessly tell you about theEssentials Collective.
I'll get my word in first.
Get your word in first.
That's right, tell me about theSoul Runners.
Speaker 1 (02:31):
Okay, so my husband and I love to run my husband
more so than me.
Speaker 3 (02:36):
He's actually just gone for a run just as we're
recording this podcast, yeah.
Speaker 1 (02:40):
Dropped me off and ran.
So we love to run and take partin organised events.
However, Sunday is our worshipday and most organised runs were
held on Sundays and instead of,you know, complaining and
whinging that we can't join in,we sat down with some friends
and we said, right, let'sorganise a run that we can do
(03:02):
and get others to join in.
And we thought afamily-friendly event to get
people in families joining in,to get active, enjoying the
sunshine.
So, yeah, we sat down and weasked some more friends to join
us in the committee and SoulRunners came about and it's a
5-kilometre, 10-kilometre or21.1 half-marathon event that we
(03:23):
hold once a year.
Speaker 3 (03:24):
That's wonderful, and so the term Soul Runners.
That, I guess, reflects thefaith-filled Christian ethos of
the group.
Speaker 1 (03:32):
Exactly.
We love what we've been givenand we love to give back and to
be able to run and enjoy.
Creation is definitely a gift,so our soul is very much
enriched with the running andthe friendship and everyone's
support.
Speaker 3 (03:47):
So we're all runners and it's a big event.
I had the privilege of runningin it this year and I'm
shamelessly telling everybodythat I ran a marathon which is,
look, it's a little bit of astretch, really.
Look, there was a marathon inthe title of the event, correct,
even though it was a halfmarathon and I the five
kilometre version of that.
(04:08):
But you know it was a marathonevent.
I'm going to stick with that.
Yes, and I'm proud of you.
And look, and everyone'sshocked that I did a five
kilometre marathon but it wasgood fun it was.
Speaker 1 (04:19):
It was a great day.
We had wonderful weather and,yeah, families, everybody can
join in.
Speaker 3 (04:25):
I was astounded at what a big event it was actually
, Tamala.
So tell me what goes intoorganising something like that.
Speaker 1 (04:32):
Okay, so we have a committee of nine people now.
Everybody has their jobs, soit's towards the event itself.
It gets quite hectic, butleading up to it, you know, we
have somebody who organisedcouncil permissions and somebody
else will organise the toilets,the facilities that we need,
and other people, medals, shirts.
(04:52):
Then there's also, you know,selling the tickets.
We have a ticketing system,someone organises there's
insurance.
Oh gosh, so much isn't there.
Advertising, facebook work,yeah.
Speaker 3 (05:04):
And I think you had about 750 runners this year, is
that right?
Speaker 1 (05:07):
Yes, we sold that amount of tickets, 10% to 20%.
Don't turn up on the day, butyeah, we had quite a few there,
about 700 running.
Speaker 3 (05:16):
Yeah, it was amazing, and it was along the Swan River
on the most glorious morning.
Speaker 1 (05:20):
It was, and just to run around that distance.
If you've done it before or youhaven't, it's a distraction.
Yeah, it makes running so worthit.
Speaker 3 (05:28):
Yeah, it was wonderful.
So is it held in every April?
Speaker 1 (05:32):
Yes, it usually works around school holidays.
We try not to keep it in theschool holidays, but yeah, it'll
be either before or after inApril.
Speaker 3 (05:40):
And that's wonderful.
So it was April this year, 2024, the Swan Half Marathon and run
by the Soul Runners.
So an excellent, excellentthing to be doing just to keep
healthy and fit on a Saturday sothat it doesn't interfere with
the Sunday worship for yourfaith yeah, wonderful.
What was really special for meand how I learnt about it, was,
(06:03):
of course, because of theEssentials Collective.
So each year you choose acharity through the Soul Runners
chooses a charity to supportwith the ticket costs.
Is that correct?
Speaker 1 (06:13):
Yeah, that's correct.
So we have sponsors who kindlydonate money and funds and we do
advertising for them in return,and then the ticket sales is
what usually is the gift to acharity at the end, and we
usually choose a charity thatreally helps the underprivileged
, you know, because, like I saidbefore, we've been given so
(06:35):
much we can give back.
So, while the charity is notthe BL and the reason of the run
, it's just that by-product that, yeah, gives us much joy.
Speaker 3 (06:46):
It's just such a lovely tie-in and something so
generous, and so the EssentialsCollective was the beneficiary
this year and we were delightedwith the amount that we were
able you were able to raise forus.
And just an aside, as I said, Iwas going to shamelessly tell
everyone about the.
Essentials Collective.
So I'm very privileged to bethe chair of that, and the
(07:09):
Essentials Collective is a verygrassroots WA charity which
supports disadvantaged people,particularly women and children,
and what we do is we collecthygiene essentials.
So things like shampoo, soaps,toothbrushes, toothpastes If you
can think of what you did thismorning to get ready to face the
day all of those products arethings that we take for granted
(07:33):
and yet they are really hard tocome by for some people who are
at a very low point in life.
So we work with thebeneficiaries, so we work with
organisations that supportpeople of disadvantage and we
supply it to them becausethey're actually not funded for
those essentials which we werejust so surprised to find.
(07:53):
So we fill that gap.
Speaker 1 (07:56):
And what an amazing difference to a day.
If you can feel clean andprepared, your life might not be
going great, but just to havethose basics is an essential of
life.
Speaker 3 (08:06):
It's an essential of life.
Yeah, and it's just that firststep that helps you then get out
and maybe go to that jobopportunity, or makes you feel a
bit more confident inyourselves to be a kinder mother
that day, or whatever it is'rereally.
We're so excited by the supportfrom the slow runners, so thank
(08:28):
you for that.
The other thing that you do, asI said, you're a marathon
runner we talked about that butyou're also a massage therapist.
Tell me about your massagetherapy, tamala.
Speaker 1 (08:39):
Oh it's a job I love.
I do it from my home, I can doit around my children school
hours, other family churchcommitments.
I studied back in 2012, and itwas never a career I actually
thought for myself.
I was never really verytouchy-feely Is that the word?
(09:01):
Touch-orientated?
However, my husband had aaccident and he the scaffold
collapsed at a friend's job sitethat he was at and he shattered
his foot and in therehabilitation of that his
physio said well, you go homeand you get your wife to massage
your foot every night.
I did make him put it inwriting.
Speaker 3 (09:21):
yeah, yeah, are you sure that's what they said?
That was exactly what.
Speaker 1 (09:26):
I thought, and yes, the physio actually wrote that
on a note for me.
Yes, and then I thought, well,I actually don't know what I'm
doing.
Yeah, so I found anintroductory massage course and
I just fell in love.
It was a two-day course, it washands-on, and it was just like
how amazing we can make changesto the body or to make people
(09:47):
feel better by touch.
And so then I just from there Iwent and I completed my diploma
and yeah, oh wow, Wow, I didn'trealize it had such an
interesting start.
Speaker 3 (09:58):
Your massage therapy Okay.
Speaker 1 (10:00):
And so this husband who shattered his foot I mean,
it's not all my doing, but henow runs ultra marathons, 200
milers, and all on this footwith half screws and lots of
little bits floating around inthere.
Speaker 3 (10:12):
And some fabulous massage therapy along the way.
Yeah, oh gosh, so it started.
Did it start with feet therapyor did you sort of then move up
the body?
Speaker 1 (10:24):
Yeah, no it was just going to that course was full
body.
But yeah, I asked questionsthere about the feet and they
told me how to you know workaround it and with injuries, the
pain, and, yeah, how we couldmake change.
Speaker 3 (10:39):
So tell me more about that.
So what is the benefit ofmassage therapy?
Speaker 1 (10:44):
Numerous, you know.
We can help rehabilitation frominjuries, chronic conditions
such as, you know, fibromyalgia,pain that people have had all
their life.
It can relax them, it cancreate more movement, joint
movement, create more movement,joint movement.
(11:06):
Yes, there's just so much.
It's hard to tell.
Speaker 3 (11:08):
It's hard to articulate it because there's so
many benefits.
Speaker 1 (11:13):
There is and it goes mental, physical, spiritual yeah
, that touch is.
So many people actually livethis life without touch.
Speaker 3 (11:23):
And bringing that to someone is a real blessing,
isn't it?
It is, yeah.
Speaker 1 (11:27):
And we can do that in peace, or they can.
Sometimes I feel like acounsellor.
I should probably have somemore training in that but no, we
can have some greatconversations or we can just be
in harmony and peace while wework on their body.
Speaker 3 (11:41):
Do you feel people or have you seen people get really
quite emotional during thetherapy session and actually be,
you know, sort of tears andfeeling quite emotional with the
touch?
Speaker 1 (11:53):
Yes, definitely, and there'll be times when they
don't even know it's going tohappen.
They'll either be talking orthey'll be in peace, and next
minute you feel them likeshudder and they may be crying,
or they may just be in a worldthey've not been able to get to
before in their mind.
It's quite powerful, isn't it?
(12:13):
It is, yeah.
So lots of remedial.
Remedial is really abouthelping injuries or issues that
they have, but it's not just thephysical aspect.
So we have a lot ofrequirements to call it a
(12:34):
remedial massage assessmentbeforehand to see where and
what's going on, and then wealso have the treatments and
afterwards the aftercare we haveto give them.
But it's never, you know, tohave a provider number, say for
HBF, that's what's required, butit's never mentioned the whole
(12:55):
body effect that we have.
Speaker 3 (12:57):
Yeah, the whole experience of it.
So you do remedial massage butyou also do oncology massage.
Yes, I really wanted tounderstand that, because that's
special, I think that's special,it is and it's so close to my
heart.
Speaker 1 (13:12):
I've lost my father to cancer five years ago and I
was able to help him with painreduction.
There's anxiety.
It helps nausea.
It gives relief for nausea.
There's anxiety, it helpsnausea.
It gives relief for nausea.
So many factors come into playwhen you're having treatment
through cancer and neuropathy.
(13:38):
The chemo treatments give somuch pain and there's
constipation from painmedication and these people are
so busy going everywhere totreatments so it's just getting
them on the table.
It's a gentle touch and just tobe able to give back to
somebody who is suffering somuch.
Speaker 3 (13:56):
Yeah, that's a gift, that's a real gift, tamala.
Speaker 1 (13:59):
Yeah, and it just fills my cup.
And we've had friends that I'vebeen able to work on and then I
thought you know they're goingthrough so much.
What if I'm not doing the rightthing?
So then I went training for it.
There's special courses, justso you know the
contraindications, where youshouldn't massage or where you
(14:22):
should.
You know they have medicaldevices, radiation, where
they'll have burns, yeah.
So just where you should andshouldn't, yeah, and how you can
help.
Speaker 3 (14:34):
And also, I guess, the skin sensitivity.
You talked about the burns, butsometimes your whole skin is
sensitive.
Yes, and so knowing which oilsto use yeah, there's a lot to it
.
Speaker 1 (14:43):
There is positioning like a lot of people get PTSD
from other radiation or alwaysbeing in medical care.
So you know, maybe face downisn't right, so and some people
prefer to be fully clothedbecause you know they feel very
exposed with all theirtreatments already.
So it's just working aroundevery issue they have.
Speaker 3 (15:05):
So do you spend a lot of time just getting to know
your clients?
Speaker 1 (15:09):
Yes, and they love to talk to somebody who
understands what they're goingthrough, but it's not telling
them what to do.
They have us for an hour orwhatever time that they have
with us and they can talk abouttheir concerns, they can ask
questions.
They can ignore that they'reunwell.
(15:31):
So it gives them lots of relief.
Speaker 3 (15:35):
Yeah, and people come to you or do you travel, oh?
Speaker 1 (15:39):
I can travel, but most of my clients that
currently are well enough tocome to me or be taken to me.
Speaker 3 (15:46):
Yeah, and that's in Golden Bay, isn't it?
Speaker 1 (15:48):
Yes, yeah yeah, beautiful Golden Bay Beautiful
suburb?
Speaker 3 (15:51):
It is, yeah, just south of Rockingham there, yeah,
yeah, tell me about cupping,because that's another thing
that you do.
Speaker 1 (16:00):
Yes, so there is different types of cupping,
because that's another thingthat you do.
Yes, so there is differenttypes of cupping.
It can cause negative pressure,so you use, like the cup, it's,
a plastic or silicon devicewhich you create suction in and
it brings blood flow to thesurface.
So my type of cupping is it'scalled dynamic, so the cups are
mainly moving.
You also get the stationarycupping, where people therapists
(16:22):
will put cups on your body withquite a large amount of
pressure and leave it there fora while and you get those big.
Speaker 3 (16:28):
Oh yeah, the big round, the round circles like
avians, have landed.
Speaker 1 (16:32):
Yeah that's right, but you don't do that you just
keep it moving.
No, I do it moving, yeah, andthat just releases the fascia,
softens the fascia, changes theshape of the cells, brings in
water and fluid.
It's not permanent change.
Otherwise, you know, peoplewould be doing it for weight
loss and they'd be walkingaround with cups on their body
24 hours a day.
That could be interesting.
Speaker 3 (16:51):
Because I've been asked.
Do you know what?
Don't discount it, becauseanything is possible in the
future.
Speaker 1 (16:57):
really, Well, this is exactly it.
But yeah, no, it's just.
It really softens the fascia,which is one of the biggest
organs in our body.
It travels through all ourorgans under our skin, and that
is really what massage is about.
It softens the fascia, it getsmoving and flowing, so skin and
(17:20):
organs, they can all move on topof this structure called fascia
.
Speaker 3 (17:23):
Fascia it gets moving and flowing, so skin and organs
they can all move on top ofthis structure called fascia.
Fascia, Ah yes, Now I've heardabout, you know, fascia massage
and how important the fascia is,but I hadn't really understood
it.
So tell me more about thefascia.
Speaker 1 (17:33):
Yeah, like I said before, it's the structure in
the body that just connectseverything.
I don't know if you heard as akid you'd say you know, if you
didn't have your skin, your bodywould fall apart.
Actually, you have your skin,it's the fascia that keeps it
going.
Ah, okay.
Yes, that connects everythingand it's only recently been
discovered as a major thing towork with in the body, like it
(17:58):
used to be, say.
I mean this might sound a bitawful, but like when they were
doing autopsies and that theywould just remove parts of the
fascia to get to see what waseverything was wrong.
But now they realise that thatactually is what connects it all
and flows through the body, andso where it may hurt in one
part of the body, that connectsto another, because it's
(18:19):
connected by the fascia and theissue is not always where the
pain is.
Speaker 3 (18:24):
That's so interesting , and so with the massage, it's,
it's warming it's releasingthat.
Speaker 1 (18:33):
So any adhesions in any places that you know the
structures aren't moving overeach other smoothly, warming up
the fashion can help releasethat.
Speaker 3 (18:42):
Oh, very good.
Oh, there we go.
So we're learning something.
And how does that work withthem with deep tissue massage?
Speaker 1 (18:49):
Okay.
So massage increasesinflammation, so inflammation
can be healing.
It brings blood flow heat tothe area, so it loosens things
up.
I'm not very great atdescribing these things.
Speaker 3 (19:03):
No, you're doing a great job.
You need to just describe it tolike the five-year-old me, so
then I can understand it.
Speaker 1 (19:10):
Okay.
So basically, inflammation isit healing blood flow?
So blood carries so many goodproperties and we are just
getting that to move and changestructures in the body.
So we're not.
You know, as a massagetherapist we can't diagnose
anything, we don't necessarilyheal anything, but we promote
(19:32):
healing.
So, and that's the same when itcomes to oncology massage, we
can't do deep tissue becausethere is so much inflammation
going on in the body.
Deep tissue actually couldcause more pain.
Your body's already under greatstress, Say, if you've got
biochemical treatment like thechemo, the fatigue, it'll just
(19:54):
be too much.
Speaker 3 (19:54):
So that's a soft, slow movement, trying not to
create inflammation, yeah, andmore holistic and more I think
you used the word cradling thebody.
Speaker 1 (20:09):
Yes, yes, and just as a whole, it's whole hand touch
it's being present.
So it can actually be hard forsomebody who's used to a life of
deep tissue massage, you knowbeing.
They come in they say, oh, I'vebeen belted up all my life, you
know, and I like the elbow yeah, yeah, and I and I said I'm
(20:32):
sorry, I just can't, you will.
You will thank me tomorrowbecause if I did what you really
would like me to do, you'd bein a world of trouble.
Speaker 3 (20:43):
Yeah, yeah, no, so you know what you can and can't
do.
Speaker 1 (20:47):
Pain is not always the greatest game, or it doesn't
always give the greatest game.
Speaker 3 (20:51):
No, no very good words.
Tell me about pregnancy massage, though, because, again, that
would be something that you'dneed to be quite careful with.
Yes, because, again, that wouldbe something that you'd need to
be quite careful with yes, Ithink with pregnancy massage.
Speaker 1 (21:04):
Again, it's people want to be treated how they were
before, but their body ischanging.
There's so many hormones,there's the relaxant going
through them.
So while you can give a firmmassage, you can't be going in
too deep and it's more of anurturing one.
There is, of course, involvedwith hips and back pain, but
(21:26):
it's more, uh, just to relax thewhole body is to give relief in
a way that people don't aren'texpecting.
They they think that you haveto, like I said before, the no
pain, no gain thing.
They think that you have to,like I said before, the no pain,
no gain thing.
They think that's what has tohappen.
But no.
So pregnancy massage issomething you know I didn't have
(21:49):
a lot of during my pregnanciesand I had one and it was quite
unsatisfactory and I thoughtright, this is where I have to
go in and do training, so I knowhow to improve that for others.
Speaker 3 (22:05):
That's a good reason to do it.
I remember with my first child,I did have reflexology, yes,
which I loved.
It is great, it's amazing.
And my baby responded Like they.
You know, she would just go,you know, crazy.
I'm assuming she liked it, ormaybe she just didn't.
She's like this is great, thisis awesome, yeah.
But yeah, and again, you haveto be careful with which areas
(22:27):
you stimulate when you're doingreflexology on a pregnant person
.
Speaker 1 (22:31):
That's exactly correct.
There are points in the bodyand this goes back to Chinese
medicine, which is incredible.
They feel can induce labour.
So you've got to be verycareful over those areas.
You know the spots in the ankle, in the shoulder, so you learn
how to avoid them or to work onthem different without direct
pressure.
Speaker 3 (22:49):
Yeah, yeah, so.
Is that the sort of stuff thatyou've learned as well as a
massage therapist the connectionwith the organs and the
different parts of the body.
Is that something that you do,or is that more sort of Chinese
medicine that relates to that?
Speaker 1 (23:04):
So remedial doesn't really cover that type, and
every year with remedial massageyou have to do more training.
So it would be the way that youchose what courses you chose to
do.
So I haven't really gone downthat path only because I've been
led others.
But there is definitelymind-body connections.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, it's quiteincredible.
(23:26):
And the Chinese medicine goesback for many years and they are
just so intuitive Totally, andthere's so much we can learn.
Speaker 3 (23:33):
Oh, definitely, absolutely yeah, if you can get
a really good Chinese healer,yes, quite extraordinary, quite
extraordinary the deep knowledgethat comes there.
Speaker 1 (23:43):
It is so I quite often see it like acupuncture
Just brilliant.
And we have adapted that in ourWestern massage with Pressure
points.
Yes, pressure points,acupressure, even the dry
needling yes.
So we use the acupunctureneedles on acupressure points.
Speaker 3 (24:03):
So you do that as part of your no.
No, that's not something thatyou, that's not a course I've
done yet.
Speaker 1 (24:08):
It's very intense.
I think some of them are likebasically 80 hours of anatomy
theory and that before youactually even get to the
hands-on, which is reallyreassuring.
Speaker 3 (24:19):
Oh yes, if someone's going to stick a needle into you
, that they know exactly whereit's going to go.
So I'm really pleased thatthere's that level of rigour in
the training.
Speaker 1 (24:26):
And I've focused on this oncology massage so at this
stage, I'm leaving that oneyeah.
Speaker 3 (24:31):
But you've also done hot stone massage.
Is that right?
Tell me about the hot stones,because that's you know, every
sort of day spa that you look atdoes a hot stone therapy.
So what's so good about it?
Because I've never actually hada hot stone massage.
Speaker 1 (24:43):
It's glorious, is it?
It's relaxing, there's thatjust constant heat going through
your body and you don't have togo deep with it because the
heat of the stones would do thatwork for you.
And it's more.
When you say spa, it isactually the relaxation side of
massage that just can have suchgood effects without having to
(25:06):
be put in pain and you can justdrift away on your own.
Yeah, so hot stones is good forthe therapist as well.
Speaker 4 (25:14):
I love holding stones .
Speaker 1 (25:18):
This hot stone therapy I was taught it's quite
intense, so there's a lot ofpreparation work, the cleaning,
the sanitizing and cleaning upafterwards and just safety
measures with your client fromthe table.
So it's quite an expensivemodality but that's only because
(25:40):
of the extra work that'sinvolved.
Speaker 3 (25:42):
Well, that explains it actually, because they are
always more expensive than theother treatments that you can
have, probably why I haven't hadone.
Speaker 1 (25:50):
Well, you'll just have to try that.
Speaker 3 (25:52):
I might just have to, tamela, I might just have to.
So, in regards to the massagetherapy that you've done, you've
got ideas of wanting to do moretraining in this, or are you
very happy in the oncology spaceand giving what you're giving
there?
Speaker 1 (26:08):
I love my oncology but there's more I can do for
that.
So I do hope to do lymphaticdraining massage, because that's
a lot to do.
That's included in the oncology, but I'm not a specialist in
the lymphatic, so to get moretraining on that would be
amazing.
A lot to do, that's included inthe oncology, but I'm not a
specialist in the lymphatic, soto get more um training on that
would be amazing.
And scar tissue oh right,because there's a lot of surgery
, yes, quite often involved withcancer treatment so and
(26:32):
sometimes the scars can becomequite fibrous and, um, very
thickened, and then it restrictsmovement, causes pain in
internal structures.
So just to be able to releasethat for clients as well.
Speaker 3 (26:47):
Yeah, oh yes, there's so many elements that I guess
we don't think about.
Yeah, tamla, you also mentionedfibromyalgia, which is one of
those illnesses that peoplereally struggle with being taken
seriously.
That they've even got it it'sreally contested, but you treat
(27:07):
that as well.
Speaker 1 (27:08):
Yes, and not through any training or aiming for it.
I just have a number of clientswho come in and they have
chronic pain, skin issues.
It's an autoimmune disease sothey never know or they're not
always sure what brings it onwhen they're going to have the
flare up, but they just findthat when they come in for
massage it can calm them down.
(27:30):
It calms down the symptoms, itcalms them down and it just
helps them to function in life.
Totally not looked at seriouslyin lots of cases and it's just
not fair.
Speaker 3 (27:45):
It's just not.
No, no, it's not.
So I'm glad to hear that you'vegot some.
You know you provide thattreatment for them in the sense
of therapy, massage therapy.
That at least validates thefact that they are feeling some
pain.
Speaker 1 (28:01):
I have a sister-in-law who suffers from
it and probably without knowingher and knowing her situation, I
might not have even been awareand been the same as everyone
else.
So I suppose it's what you gothrough in life, and who you
know and who you experience thatyou learn so much.
Speaker 3 (28:18):
Absolutely.
That's the beauty of it, isn'tit?
Yeah, definitely, tamala.
I'm interested in the factyou're such a giver, you're a
real giver, and I dare say that,as you, you know, do these
amazing therapies for people andyou're giving and giving.
How do you feel after you'vefinished a massage?
(28:42):
I mean the person's feelingamazing.
How are you feeling as atherapist?
Speaker 1 (28:47):
Amazing too.
Yeah, yeah, it's just to bewhen you see them even relax.
They don't have to say anything.
You can see the change in theirdemeanour and the way that they
leave and chat to you andyou're like we've made a change
and they feel better, and thismakes me feel better.
Not always the case, you know.
(29:09):
There's always some peoplewhich it can be an energy thing.
I don't really know how toexplain it, but sometimes you'll
have a client on your table whocan drain your energy and it's
not even necessarily the waythey are to you.
You might have a pleasantconversation, but either they
needed something from you that Ididn't have the energy to give
(29:31):
today and I might think that isprobably not the best massage.
I didn't give them the best,but they will be back, yes, and
that improves over time.
So I think that's part of it aswell, like we share a space and
if we feel safe, then reallywhatever goes on in the session,
if you feel safe, you will feelbetter.
Speaker 3 (29:56):
And that energy, so you can really feel the energy
of your clients.
Speaker 1 (30:02):
Yeah, not in a woo-woo way.
Speaker 3 (30:04):
Yeah, that's right.
Yes, yeah, but I can.
Speaker 1 (30:06):
I can feel, as I'm working on them, whether they
actually respond to thetreatment or whether they're
like I'm not ready to take thistoday, right, yeah, but they
feel they are.
They don't always know what'sgoing on and why.
They need that time out, yeah.
Speaker 3 (30:26):
I guess we live such busy, harried lives and you know
sort of fitting in a massage isanother thing for some people.
Speaker 1 (30:35):
you know They've got to squeeze it in, whereas that's
not the point, is it?
No?
And some people will make apoint of making a regular one
because they know that it helpsthem to function and keep going
on in life and it makes themjust feel ready to cope with
things.
And other people are like I'mreally sore, I'll just get this
done.
Can you fit me in today?
And you can tell when they're alittle bit upset if you can't,
(30:57):
but you know, it's not thatthey're angry at you, it's just
that they are feeling the needfor something and you just
haven't been able to help themat the time.
Yeah, but we always try, wefind a good time and we get
there.
Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 3 (31:10):
So when you say we, so you've got positive impact
remedial massage, so is thatyour?
Are you a sole trader or you'vegot people who work with you?
Speaker 1 (31:18):
No, I'm a sole trader .
I used to work under my ownname.
Don't really like puttingmyself out there too much, so
I'd change it to a business nameand then, with the hopes in the
future, to expand.
Yeah, yeah, oh fantastic Maybetake someone else in, do
something else.
Speaker 3 (31:34):
Well, I take it you're very busy and you've
always got someone coming in andalways got room for growth.
Speaker 1 (31:41):
Yes, yeah, so I have all my regulars and my books are
pretty well booked out a fewweeks in advance.
But yeah, there's.
You know, there'll always bespaces where I can take time for
myself or a new client can comein.
It's just we're looked afterthat way.
Yeah, what's needed is given.
Speaker 3 (32:02):
Yeah, that's lovely.
And, of course, aside from avery busy massage therapist
practice, you are the mother offive children, which in itself
is a full-time plus role.
So tell me about your familylife.
Speaker 1 (32:15):
Oh, they're amazing, Of course.
So only four live at home withus now, four boys.
The oldest girl she's the onewho made me a mum, beautiful, I
was very proud of her.
She's beautiful, she's afull-time.
Oh, she studied as a nurse andnow she's in the army and 10th
Light Horse and she worksbasically full-time there at the
(32:38):
barracks in Irwin now and she'salso just taking a break at the
moment but studying medicine.
What an exceptional woman sheis.
I'd say to my husband shecertainly doesn't take after me.
Speaker 3 (32:52):
You've got to take credit here, tamala, you've got
to take credit.
Speaker 1 (32:57):
No, she's a real go-getter.
And then I have the four boys.
And yeah, Caleb, he's amazing,he works as well.
He does what his dad doesfitting cabinets.
And then there's Logan, ourmiddle child.
He's great too.
He's doing an apprenticeship atthe moment.
And then I have two at school,still one going through year 12,
Rory he's a real studier.
(33:18):
He works very hard, he's verydedicated.
And then there's Fletcher, theyoungest.
Speaker 3 (33:23):
There you go, so you're still very much in mum
mode, with kids still at schoolas well.
Speaker 1 (33:28):
Yeah, but they've been so good for me as well, and
they help out at home and yeah,so they've allowed me to work,
which I think is great.
Speaker 3 (33:43):
They do get very upset because I don't always
give them a massage very often.
I was just going to ask whetherthere's any free massages going
in your house.
You'd be full-time employedjust in massaging all five of
them plus your husband.
Speaker 1 (33:53):
I honestly don't do it enough, and that is one thing
I do feel bad enough about.
But they're very forgiving.
Speaker 3 (33:59):
Yeah, fair enough.
Fair enough.
Well, you can't do everything.
You can't do everything.
No, that's right.
Well, Tamala, there's just somuch going on with the way that
you approach life.
You know, like I said at thebeginning, like I'm just so, I
was so inspired when I met you.
We just really clicked likethat time when we were going to
talk about the half marathonevent and you know, you were
(34:20):
talking about the Soul Runnersand I was there to talk about
the Essentials Collective onSunshine FM, I think it was we
were being interviewed and wethen went for coffee and I was
just so inspired by you and thework that you do and just who
you are as a human.
So I just wanted to, you know,revisit that conversation by
bringing you around my warmtable, and I'm just so delighted
(34:43):
that you said yes to coming totalk about your work.
Speaker 1 (34:46):
Oh, thank you.
When we went for coffee, I wasjust like this is just somebody
I could talk to for hours.
Excellent, she was lovely.
You're such a great listener.
Oh, thank you.
Yeah, you're welcome and you'rejust encouraging.
So, yeah, you're welcome andyou're just encouraging.
So, yeah, that was great.
Oh, thank you and like, yeah,you're so accepting.
You know, like, we livedifferent lives, we do different
things in our life, but we arewho we are and you just love to
(35:08):
learn about people.
Speaker 3 (35:09):
I really do, and that's the whole purpose of the
warm table is, you know, that,curiosity and acceptance and
just constant learning.
So I'm delighted, and I'd liketo end with a quote that I saw
on your website Positive ImpactRemedial Massage and it really
does sum up what you're doing inyour life, which is a single
(35:32):
act of kindness can causeripples of healing.
I loved that.
Speaker 1 (35:37):
So true, so true.
We don't know how we can affectpeople with just words, deeds,
actions.
It's yeah, and I think that'swhat we have to aim for in life.
Like I said, we've been givenso much.
We have our faith, and what canwe do but share the joy and the
(35:57):
love?
Speaker 3 (35:58):
It's a wonderful thing and I'm just so delighted
that we crossed paths and thankyou for coming around my warm
table.
Speaker 1 (36:04):
Thank you for having me.
I've had a great time.
Speaker 2 (36:11):
Hi everyone.
I'm Kelly, the founder and headcoach of Females Over 45
Fitness, or FOFAs we like to becalled.
The studio is located inVictoria Park and we also have
an online program for women allover Australia who are unable to
attend the studio.
Foff is proud to again sponsormy Warm Table podcast with Sonia
(36:31):
In Season 3, we are bringingyou stories of hope.
Speaker 4 (36:38):
My name's Lisa.
I just recently turned 50.
I'm a Valentine's babe.
Where did that time go?
I'm super lucky to have abeautiful partner, adorable
rescue fur baby and amazingfamily and friends.
I love traveling, music andanything to do with the water.
The beach is my happy place.
I train at FOF two days a weekand it's been a game changer for
(36:58):
me.
I'm a four times cancersurvivor and finding FOF helped
me regain my sense of myself andincrease not only my physical
health but also my mental healthtoo.
It's the safest exercise spaceI've ever come across, full of
supportive, non-judgmental,caring and inspiring women.
Hope for me means knowing thateven in your darkest hours
(37:20):
there's always something to lookforward to and a reason to
smile.
I know growing older is aprivilege not afforded to all
and waking up each and every dayis a blessing.
With all of the beautifulthings life has to offer and all
I've been through, I'm gratefulto wake up older each and every
day.
Speaker 3 (37:39):
Thanks for joining us around the warm table.
My warm table is produced,hosted and edited by me, sonia
Nolan.
It's my way of amplifyingpositivity and curiosity in our
community.
I invite you to share thisconversation with family and
friends and follow my warm tablepodcast on Facebook, instagram
and LinkedIn.
And follow my Warm Tablepodcast on Facebook, instagram
(38:01):
and LinkedIn.
Also, you can subscribe andfollow my Warm Table on Spotify
or Apple Podcasts, and maybeeven leave a review, because it
helps others to find us moreeasily.
And it's so close to my heart.
I lost my father to cancer fiveyears ago and I was able to
help him with pain reduction.
There's anxiety.
It helps nausea.
It gives relief for nausea.
So many factors come into playwhen you're having treatment
through cancer and neuropathy.
The chemo treatments give somuch pain and there's
(00:25):
constipation from painmedication and these people are
so busy going everywhere totreatments so it's just getting
them on the table.
It's a gentle touch and just tobe able to give back to
somebody who is suffering somuch.
Speaker 3 (00:44):
Thanks for joining me , sonia Nolan, around the warm
table, or the tavola calda as myItalian papa used to call a
welcoming table of acceptance,positivity and curiosity.
My Warm Table podcast aims tocreate that and more, as we
amplify stories of WesternAustralians making our
communities better.
My Warm Table, season 3, isproud to be sponsored by Females
(01:06):
Over 45 Fitness, with a studioin Victoria Park and also online
all over Australia.
So now please take a seat andjoin us for Season 3 as we
explore stories of hope.
I've been a long time bigadvocate for the portfolio life
and the multi-dimensionality ofparticularly women who juggle
(01:30):
family, homemaking work and allthings that life throws in the
mix.
Today's guest is a woman whoinspired me with her quiet
confidence and philosophy to geton with things, be a good
person, do the right thing andcontribute to community.
Tamala Bosveld is a mother offive, a massage therapist and a
(01:52):
marathon runner.
She's my guest around the warmtable today and I'm delighted
and looking forward to learningmore about her.
Welcome, tamala.
Speaker 1 (02:02):
Thanks, sonia, it's great to be here.
Speaker 3 (02:03):
It is great to be here and you know what?
Know what?
When we met, we were actuallyabout to sit in front of a
microphone, like we're doingtoday, so it's a little bit deja
vu.
And at that time we weretalking about the Soul Runners
and the support your runninggroup was offering, the charity
that I chair the EssentialsCollective.
So tell me about the SoulRunners and then I'm going to
(02:24):
shamelessly tell you about theEssentials Collective.
I'll get my word in first.
Get your word in first.
That's right, tell me about theSoul Runners.
Speaker 1 (02:31):
Okay, so my husband and I love to run my husband
more so than me.
Speaker 3 (02:36):
He's actually just gone for a run just as we're
recording this podcast, yeah.
Speaker 1 (02:40):
Dropped me off and ran.
So we love to run and take partin organised events.
However, Sunday is our worshipday and most organised runs were
held on Sundays and instead of,you know, complaining and
whinging that we can't join in,we sat down with some friends
and we said, right, let'sorganise a run that we can do
(03:02):
and get others to join in.
And we thought afamily-friendly event to get
people in families joining in,to get active, enjoying the
sunshine.
So, yeah, we sat down and weasked some more friends to join
us in the committee and SoulRunners came about and it's a
5-kilometre, 10-kilometre or21.1 half-marathon event that we
(03:23):
hold once a year.
Speaker 3 (03:24):
That's wonderful, and so the term Soul Runners.
That, I guess, reflects thefaith-filled Christian ethos of
the group.
Speaker 1 (03:32):
Exactly.
We love what we've been givenand we love to give back and to
be able to run and enjoy.
Creation is definitely a gift,so our soul is very much
enriched with the running andthe friendship and everyone's
support.
Speaker 3 (03:47):
So we're all runners and it's a big event.
I had the privilege of runningin it this year and I'm
shamelessly telling everybodythat I ran a marathon which is,
look, it's a little bit of astretch, really.
Look, there was a marathon inthe title of the event, correct,
even though it was a halfmarathon and I the five
kilometre version of that.
(04:08):
But you know it was a marathonevent.
I'm going to stick with that.
Yes, and I'm proud of you.
And look, and everyone'sshocked that I did a five
kilometre marathon but it wasgood fun it was.
Speaker 1 (04:19):
It was a great day.
We had wonderful weather and,yeah, families, everybody can
join in.
Speaker 3 (04:25):
I was astounded at what a big event it was actually
, Tamala.
So tell me what goes intoorganising something like that.
Speaker 1 (04:32):
Okay, so we have a committee of nine people now.
Everybody has their jobs, soit's towards the event itself.
It gets quite hectic, butleading up to it, you know, we
have somebody who organisedcouncil permissions and somebody
else will organise the toilets,the facilities that we need,
and other people, medals, shirts.
(04:52):
Then there's also, you know,selling the tickets.
We have a ticketing system,someone organises there's
insurance.
Oh gosh, so much isn't there.
Advertising, facebook work,yeah.
Speaker 3 (05:04):
And I think you had about 750 runners this year, is
that right?
Speaker 1 (05:07):
Yes, we sold that amount of tickets, 10% to 20%.
Don't turn up on the day, butyeah, we had quite a few there,
about 700 running.
Speaker 3 (05:16):
Yeah, it was amazing, and it was along the Swan River
on the most glorious morning.
Speaker 1 (05:20):
It was, and just to run around that distance.
If you've done it before or youhaven't, it's a distraction.
Yeah, it makes running so worthit.
Speaker 3 (05:28):
Yeah, it was wonderful.
So is it held in every April?
Speaker 1 (05:32):
Yes, it usually works around school holidays.
We try not to keep it in theschool holidays, but yeah, it'll
be either before or after inApril.
Speaker 3 (05:40):
And that's wonderful.
So it was April this year, 2024, the Swan Half Marathon and run
by the Soul Runners.
So an excellent, excellentthing to be doing just to keep
healthy and fit on a Saturday sothat it doesn't interfere with
the Sunday worship for yourfaith yeah, wonderful.
What was really special for meand how I learnt about it, was,
(06:03):
of course, because of theEssentials Collective.
So each year you choose acharity through the Soul Runners
chooses a charity to supportwith the ticket costs.
Is that correct?
Speaker 1 (06:13):
Yeah, that's correct.
So we have sponsors who kindlydonate money and funds and we do
advertising for them in return,and then the ticket sales is
what usually is the gift to acharity at the end, and we
usually choose a charity thatreally helps the underprivileged
, you know, because, like I saidbefore, we've been given so
(06:35):
much we can give back.
So, while the charity is notthe BL and the reason of the run
, it's just that by-product that, yeah, gives us much joy.
Speaker 3 (06:46):
It's just such a lovely tie-in and something so
generous, and so the EssentialsCollective was the beneficiary
this year and we were delightedwith the amount that we were
able you were able to raise forus.
And just an aside, as I said, Iwas going to shamelessly tell
everyone about the.
Essentials Collective.
So I'm very privileged to bethe chair of that, and the
(07:09):
Essentials Collective is a verygrassroots WA charity which
supports disadvantaged people,particularly women and children,
and what we do is we collecthygiene essentials.
So things like shampoo, soaps,toothbrushes, toothpastes If you
can think of what you did thismorning to get ready to face the
day all of those products arethings that we take for granted
(07:33):
and yet they are really hard tocome by for some people who are
at a very low point in life.
So we work with thebeneficiaries, so we work with
organisations that supportpeople of disadvantage and we
supply it to them becausethey're actually not funded for
those essentials which we werejust so surprised to find.
(07:53):
So we fill that gap.
Speaker 1 (07:56):
And what an amazing difference to a day.
If you can feel clean andprepared, your life might not be
going great, but just to havethose basics is an essential of
life.
Speaker 3 (08:06):
It's an essential of life.
Yeah, and it's just that firststep that helps you then get out
and maybe go to that jobopportunity, or makes you feel a
bit more confident inyourselves to be a kinder mother
that day, or whatever it is'rereally.
We're so excited by the supportfrom the slow runners, so thank
(08:28):
you for that.
The other thing that you do, asI said, you're a marathon
runner we talked about that butyou're also a massage therapist.
Tell me about your massagetherapy, tamala.
Speaker 1 (08:39):
Oh it's a job I love.
I do it from my home, I can doit around my children school
hours, other family churchcommitments.
I studied back in 2012, and itwas never a career I actually
thought for myself.
I was never really verytouchy-feely Is that the word?
(09:01):
Touch-orientated?
However, my husband had aaccident and he the scaffold
collapsed at a friend's job sitethat he was at and he shattered
his foot and in therehabilitation of that his
physio said well, you go homeand you get your wife to massage
your foot every night.
I did make him put it inwriting.
Speaker 3 (09:21):
yeah, yeah, are you sure that's what they said?
That was exactly what.
Speaker 1 (09:26):
I thought, and yes, the physio actually wrote that
on a note for me.
Yes, and then I thought, well,I actually don't know what I'm
doing.
Yeah, so I found anintroductory massage course and
I just fell in love.
It was a two-day course, it washands-on, and it was just like
how amazing we can make changesto the body or to make people
(09:47):
feel better by touch.
And so then I just from there Iwent and I completed my diploma
and yeah, oh wow, Wow, I didn'trealize it had such an
interesting start.
Speaker 3 (09:58):
Your massage therapy Okay.
Speaker 1 (10:00):
And so this husband who shattered his foot I mean,
it's not all my doing, but henow runs ultra marathons, 200
milers, and all on this footwith half screws and lots of
little bits floating around inthere.
Speaker 3 (10:12):
And some fabulous massage therapy along the way.
Yeah, oh gosh, so it started.
Did it start with feet therapyor did you sort of then move up
the body?
Speaker 1 (10:24):
Yeah, no it was just going to that course was full
body.
But yeah, I asked questionsthere about the feet and they
told me how to you know workaround it and with injuries, the
pain, and, yeah, how we couldmake change.
Speaker 3 (10:39):
So tell me more about that.
So what is the benefit ofmassage therapy?
Speaker 1 (10:44):
Numerous, you know.
We can help rehabilitation frominjuries, chronic conditions
such as, you know, fibromyalgia,pain that people have had all
their life.
It can relax them, it cancreate more movement, joint
movement, create more movement,joint movement.
(11:06):
Yes, there's just so much.
It's hard to tell.
Speaker 3 (11:08):
It's hard to articulate it because there's so
many benefits.
Speaker 1 (11:13):
There is and it goes mental, physical, spiritual yeah
, that touch is.
So many people actually livethis life without touch.
Speaker 3 (11:23):
And bringing that to someone is a real blessing,
isn't it?
It is, yeah.
Speaker 1 (11:27):
And we can do that in peace, or they can.
Sometimes I feel like acounsellor.
I should probably have somemore training in that but no, we
can have some greatconversations or we can just be
in harmony and peace while wework on their body.
Speaker 3 (11:41):
Do you feel people or have you seen people get really
quite emotional during thetherapy session and actually be,
you know, sort of tears andfeeling quite emotional with the
touch?
Speaker 1 (11:53):
Yes, definitely, and there'll be times when they
don't even know it's going tohappen.
They'll either be talking orthey'll be in peace, and next
minute you feel them likeshudder and they may be crying,
or they may just be in a worldthey've not been able to get to
before in their mind.
It's quite powerful, isn't it?
(12:13):
It is, yeah.
So lots of remedial.
Remedial is really abouthelping injuries or issues that
they have, but it's not just thephysical aspect.
So we have a lot ofrequirements to call it a
(12:34):
remedial massage assessmentbeforehand to see where and
what's going on, and then wealso have the treatments and
afterwards the aftercare we haveto give them.
But it's never, you know, tohave a provider number, say for
HBF, that's what's required, butit's never mentioned the whole
(12:55):
body effect that we have.
Speaker 3 (12:57):
Yeah, the whole experience of it.
So you do remedial massage butyou also do oncology massage.
Yes, I really wanted tounderstand that, because that's
special, I think that's special,it is and it's so close to my
heart.
Speaker 1 (13:12):
I've lost my father to cancer five years ago and I
was able to help him with painreduction.
There's anxiety.
It helps nausea.
It gives relief for nausea.
There's anxiety, it helpsnausea.
It gives relief for nausea.
So many factors come into playwhen you're having treatment
through cancer and neuropathy.
(13:38):
The chemo treatments give somuch pain and there's
constipation from painmedication and these people are
so busy going everywhere totreatments so it's just getting
them on the table.
It's a gentle touch and just tobe able to give back to
somebody who is suffering somuch.
Speaker 3 (13:56):
Yeah, that's a gift, that's a real gift, tamala.
Speaker 1 (13:59):
Yeah, and it just fills my cup.
And we've had friends that I'vebeen able to work on and then I
thought you know they're goingthrough so much.
What if I'm not doing the rightthing?
So then I went training for it.
There's special courses, justso you know the
contraindications, where youshouldn't massage or where you
(14:22):
should.
You know they have medicaldevices, radiation, where
they'll have burns, yeah.
So just where you should andshouldn't, yeah, and how you can
help.
Speaker 3 (14:34):
And also, I guess, the skin sensitivity.
You talked about the burns, butsometimes your whole skin is
sensitive.
Yes, and so knowing which oilsto use yeah, there's a lot to it
.
Speaker 1 (14:43):
There is positioning like a lot of people get PTSD
from other radiation or alwaysbeing in medical care.
So you know, maybe face downisn't right, so and some people
prefer to be fully clothedbecause you know they feel very
exposed with all theirtreatments already.
So it's just working aroundevery issue they have.
Speaker 3 (15:05):
So do you spend a lot of time just getting to know
your clients?
Speaker 1 (15:09):
Yes, and they love to talk to somebody who
understands what they're goingthrough, but it's not telling
them what to do.
They have us for an hour orwhatever time that they have
with us and they can talk abouttheir concerns, they can ask
questions.
They can ignore that they'reunwell.
(15:31):
So it gives them lots of relief.
Speaker 3 (15:35):
Yeah, and people come to you or do you travel, oh?
Speaker 1 (15:39):
I can travel, but most of my clients that
currently are well enough tocome to me or be taken to me.
Speaker 3 (15:46):
Yeah, and that's in Golden Bay, isn't it?
Speaker 1 (15:48):
Yes, yeah yeah, beautiful Golden Bay Beautiful
suburb?
Speaker 3 (15:51):
It is, yeah, just south of Rockingham there, yeah,
yeah, tell me about cupping,because that's another thing
that you do.
Speaker 1 (16:00):
Yes, so there is different types of cupping,
because that's another thingthat you do.
Yes, so there is differenttypes of cupping.
It can cause negative pressure,so you use, like the cup, it's,
a plastic or silicon devicewhich you create suction in and
it brings blood flow to thesurface.
So my type of cupping is it'scalled dynamic, so the cups are
mainly moving.
You also get the stationarycupping, where people therapists
(16:22):
will put cups on your body withquite a large amount of
pressure and leave it there fora while and you get those big.
Speaker 3 (16:28):
Oh yeah, the big round, the round circles like
avians, have landed.
Speaker 1 (16:32):
Yeah that's right, but you don't do that you just
keep it moving.
No, I do it moving, yeah, andthat just releases the fascia,
softens the fascia, changes theshape of the cells, brings in
water and fluid.
It's not permanent change.
Otherwise, you know, peoplewould be doing it for weight
loss and they'd be walkingaround with cups on their body
24 hours a day.
That could be interesting.
Speaker 3 (16:51):
Because I've been asked.
Do you know what?
Don't discount it, becauseanything is possible in the
future.
Speaker 1 (16:57):
really, Well, this is exactly it.
But yeah, no, it's just.
It really softens the fascia,which is one of the biggest
organs in our body.
It travels through all ourorgans under our skin, and that
is really what massage is about.
It softens the fascia, it getsmoving and flowing, so skin and
(17:20):
organs, they can all move on topof this structure called fascia
.
Speaker 3 (17:23):
Fascia it gets moving and flowing, so skin and organs
they can all move on top ofthis structure called fascia.
Fascia, Ah yes, Now I've heardabout, you know, fascia massage
and how important the fascia is,but I hadn't really understood
it.
So tell me more about thefascia.
Speaker 1 (17:33):
Yeah, like I said before, it's the structure in
the body that just connectseverything.
I don't know if you heard as akid you'd say you know, if you
didn't have your skin, your bodywould fall apart.
Actually, you have your skin,it's the fascia that keeps it
going.
Ah, okay.
Yes, that connects everythingand it's only recently been
discovered as a major thing towork with in the body, like it
(17:58):
used to be, say.
I mean this might sound a bitawful, but like when they were
doing autopsies and that theywould just remove parts of the
fascia to get to see what waseverything was wrong.
But now they realise that thatactually is what connects it all
and flows through the body, andso where it may hurt in one
part of the body, that connectsto another, because it's
(18:19):
connected by the fascia and theissue is not always where the
pain is.
Speaker 3 (18:24):
That's so interesting , and so with the massage, it's,
it's warming it's releasingthat.
Speaker 1 (18:33):
So any adhesions in any places that you know the
structures aren't moving overeach other smoothly, warming up
the fashion can help releasethat.
Speaker 3 (18:42):
Oh, very good.
Oh, there we go.
So we're learning something.
And how does that work withthem with deep tissue massage?
Speaker 1 (18:49):
Okay.
So massage increasesinflammation, so inflammation
can be healing.
It brings blood flow heat tothe area, so it loosens things
up.
I'm not very great atdescribing these things.
Speaker 3 (19:03):
No, you're doing a great job.
You need to just describe it tolike the five-year-old me, so
then I can understand it.
Speaker 1 (19:10):
Okay.
So basically, inflammation isit healing blood flow?
So blood carries so many goodproperties and we are just
getting that to move and changestructures in the body.
So we're not.
You know, as a massagetherapist we can't diagnose
anything, we don't necessarilyheal anything, but we promote
(19:32):
healing.
So, and that's the same when itcomes to oncology massage, we
can't do deep tissue becausethere is so much inflammation
going on in the body.
Deep tissue actually couldcause more pain.
Your body's already under greatstress, Say, if you've got
biochemical treatment like thechemo, the fatigue, it'll just
(19:54):
be too much.
Speaker 3 (19:54):
So that's a soft, slow movement, trying not to
create inflammation, yeah, andmore holistic and more I think
you used the word cradling thebody.
Speaker 1 (20:09):
Yes, yes, and just as a whole, it's whole hand touch
it's being present.
So it can actually be hard forsomebody who's used to a life of
deep tissue massage, you knowbeing.
They come in they say, oh, I'vebeen belted up all my life, you
know, and I like the elbow yeah, yeah, and I and I said I'm
(20:32):
sorry, I just can't, you will.
You will thank me tomorrowbecause if I did what you really
would like me to do, you'd bein a world of trouble.
Speaker 3 (20:43):
Yeah, yeah, no, so you know what you can and can't
do.
Speaker 1 (20:47):
Pain is not always the greatest game, or it doesn't
always give the greatest game.
Speaker 3 (20:51):
No, no very good words.
Tell me about pregnancy massage, though, because, again, that
would be something that you'dneed to be quite careful with.
Yes, because, again, that wouldbe something that you'd need to
be quite careful with yes, Ithink with pregnancy massage.
Speaker 1 (21:04):
Again, it's people want to be treated how they were
before, but their body ischanging.
There's so many hormones,there's the relaxant going
through them.
So while you can give a firmmassage, you can't be going in
too deep and it's more of anurturing one.
There is, of course, involvedwith hips and back pain, but
(21:26):
it's more, uh, just to relax thewhole body is to give relief in
a way that people don't aren'texpecting.
They they think that you haveto, like I said before, the no
pain, no gain thing.
They think that you have to,like I said before, the no pain,
no gain thing.
They think that's what has tohappen.
But no.
So pregnancy massage issomething you know I didn't have
(21:49):
a lot of during my pregnanciesand I had one and it was quite
unsatisfactory and I thoughtright, this is where I have to
go in and do training, so I knowhow to improve that for others.
Speaker 3 (22:05):
That's a good reason to do it.
I remember with my first child,I did have reflexology, yes,
which I loved.
It is great, it's amazing.
And my baby responded Like they.
You know, she would just go,you know, crazy.
I'm assuming she liked it, ormaybe she just didn't.
She's like this is great, thisis awesome, yeah.
But yeah, and again, you haveto be careful with which areas
(22:27):
you stimulate when you're doingreflexology on a pregnant person
.
Speaker 1 (22:31):
That's exactly correct.
There are points in the bodyand this goes back to Chinese
medicine, which is incredible.
They feel can induce labour.
So you've got to be verycareful over those areas.
You know the spots in the ankle, in the shoulder, so you learn
how to avoid them or to work onthem different without direct
pressure.
Speaker 3 (22:49):
Yeah, yeah, so.
Is that the sort of stuff thatyou've learned as well as a
massage therapist the connectionwith the organs and the
different parts of the body.
Is that something that you do,or is that more sort of Chinese
medicine that relates to that?
Speaker 1 (23:04):
So remedial doesn't really cover that type, and
every year with remedial massageyou have to do more training.
So it would be the way that youchose what courses you chose to
do.
So I haven't really gone downthat path only because I've been
led others.
But there is definitelymind-body connections.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, it's quiteincredible.
(23:26):
And the Chinese medicine goesback for many years and they are
just so intuitive Totally, andthere's so much we can learn.
Speaker 3 (23:33):
Oh, definitely, absolutely yeah, if you can get
a really good Chinese healer,yes, quite extraordinary, quite
extraordinary the deep knowledgethat comes there.
Speaker 1 (23:43):
It is so I quite often see it like acupuncture
Just brilliant.
And we have adapted that in ourWestern massage with Pressure
points.
Yes, pressure points,acupressure, even the dry
needling yes.
So we use the acupunctureneedles on acupressure points.
Speaker 3 (24:03):
So you do that as part of your no.
No, that's not something thatyou, that's not a course I've
done yet.
Speaker 1 (24:08):
It's very intense.
I think some of them are likebasically 80 hours of anatomy
theory and that before youactually even get to the
hands-on, which is reallyreassuring.
Speaker 3 (24:19):
Oh yes, if someone's going to stick a needle into you
, that they know exactly whereit's going to go.
So I'm really pleased thatthere's that level of rigour in
the training.
Speaker 1 (24:26):
And I've focused on this oncology massage so at this
stage, I'm leaving that oneyeah.
Speaker 3 (24:31):
But you've also done hot stone massage.
Is that right?
Tell me about the hot stones,because that's you know, every
sort of day spa that you look atdoes a hot stone therapy.
So what's so good about it?
Because I've never actually hada hot stone massage.
Speaker 1 (24:43):
It's glorious, is it?
It's relaxing, there's thatjust constant heat going through
your body and you don't have togo deep with it because the
heat of the stones would do thatwork for you.
And it's more.
When you say spa, it isactually the relaxation side of
massage that just can have suchgood effects without having to
(25:06):
be put in pain and you can justdrift away on your own.
Yeah, so hot stones is good forthe therapist as well.
Speaker 4 (25:14):
I love holding stones .
Speaker 1 (25:18):
This hot stone therapy I was taught it's quite
intense, so there's a lot ofpreparation work, the cleaning,
the sanitizing and cleaning upafterwards and just safety
measures with your client fromthe table.
So it's quite an expensivemodality but that's only because
(25:40):
of the extra work that'sinvolved.
Speaker 3 (25:42):
Well, that explains it actually, because they are
always more expensive than theother treatments that you can
have, probably why I haven't hadone.
Speaker 1 (25:50):
Well, you'll just have to try that.
Speaker 3 (25:52):
I might just have to, tamela, I might just have to.
So, in regards to the massagetherapy that you've done, you've
got ideas of wanting to do moretraining in this, or are you
very happy in the oncology spaceand giving what you're giving
there?
Speaker 1 (26:08):
I love my oncology but there's more I can do for
that.
So I do hope to do lymphaticdraining massage, because that's
a lot to do.
That's included in the oncology, but I'm not a specialist in
the lymphatic, so to get moretraining on that would be
amazing.
A lot to do, that's included inthe oncology, but I'm not a
specialist in the lymphatic, soto get more um training on that
would be amazing.
And scar tissue oh right,because there's a lot of surgery
, yes, quite often involved withcancer treatment so and
(26:32):
sometimes the scars can becomequite fibrous and, um, very
thickened, and then it restrictsmovement, causes pain in
internal structures.
So just to be able to releasethat for clients as well.
Speaker 3 (26:47):
Yeah, oh yes, there's so many elements that I guess
we don't think about.
Yeah, tamla, you also mentionedfibromyalgia, which is one of
those illnesses that peoplereally struggle with being taken
seriously.
That they've even got it it'sreally contested, but you treat
(27:07):
that as well.
Speaker 1 (27:08):
Yes, and not through any training or aiming for it.
I just have a number of clientswho come in and they have
chronic pain, skin issues.
It's an autoimmune disease sothey never know or they're not
always sure what brings it onwhen they're going to have the
flare up, but they just findthat when they come in for
massage it can calm them down.
(27:30):
It calms down the symptoms, itcalms them down and it just
helps them to function in life.
Totally not looked at seriouslyin lots of cases and it's just
not fair.
Speaker 3 (27:45):
It's just not.
No, no, it's not.
So I'm glad to hear that you'vegot some.
You know you provide thattreatment for them in the sense
of therapy, massage therapy.
That at least validates thefact that they are feeling some
pain.
Speaker 1 (28:01):
I have a sister-in-law who suffers from
it and probably without knowingher and knowing her situation, I
might not have even been awareand been the same as everyone
else.
So I suppose it's what you gothrough in life, and who you
know and who you experience thatyou learn so much.
Speaker 3 (28:18):
Absolutely.
That's the beauty of it, isn'tit?
Yeah, definitely, tamala.
I'm interested in the factyou're such a giver, you're a
real giver, and I dare say that,as you, you know, do these
amazing therapies for people andyou're giving and giving.
How do you feel after you'vefinished a massage?
(28:42):
I mean the person's feelingamazing.
How are you feeling as atherapist?
Speaker 1 (28:47):
Amazing too.
Yeah, yeah, it's just to bewhen you see them even relax.
They don't have to say anything.
You can see the change in theirdemeanour and the way that they
leave and chat to you andyou're like we've made a change
and they feel better, and thismakes me feel better.
Not always the case, you know.
(29:09):
There's always some peoplewhich it can be an energy thing.
I don't really know how toexplain it, but sometimes you'll
have a client on your table whocan drain your energy and it's
not even necessarily the waythey are to you.
You might have a pleasantconversation, but either they
needed something from you that Ididn't have the energy to give
(29:31):
today and I might think that isprobably not the best massage.
I didn't give them the best,but they will be back, yes, and
that improves over time.
So I think that's part of it aswell, like we share a space and
if we feel safe, then reallywhatever goes on in the session,
if you feel safe, you will feelbetter.
Speaker 3 (29:56):
And that energy, so you can really feel the energy
of your clients.
Speaker 1 (30:02):
Yeah, not in a woo-woo way.
Speaker 3 (30:04):
Yeah, that's right.
Yes, yeah, but I can.
Speaker 1 (30:06):
I can feel, as I'm working on them, whether they
actually respond to thetreatment or whether they're
like I'm not ready to take thistoday, right, yeah, but they
feel they are.
They don't always know what'sgoing on and why.
They need that time out, yeah.
Speaker 3 (30:26):
I guess we live such busy, harried lives and you know
sort of fitting in a massage isanother thing for some people.
Speaker 1 (30:35):
you know They've got to squeeze it in, whereas that's
not the point, is it?
No?
And some people will make apoint of making a regular one
because they know that it helpsthem to function and keep going
on in life and it makes themjust feel ready to cope with
things.
And other people are like I'mreally sore, I'll just get this
done.
Can you fit me in today?
And you can tell when they're alittle bit upset if you can't,
(30:57):
but you know, it's not thatthey're angry at you, it's just
that they are feeling the needfor something and you just
haven't been able to help themat the time.
Yeah, but we always try, wefind a good time and we get
there.
Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 3 (31:10):
So when you say we, so you've got positive impact
remedial massage, so is thatyour?
Are you a sole trader or you'vegot people who work with you?
Speaker 1 (31:18):
No, I'm a sole trader .
I used to work under my ownname.
Don't really like puttingmyself out there too much, so
I'd change it to a business nameand then, with the hopes in the
future, to expand.
Yeah, yeah, oh fantastic Maybetake someone else in, do
something else.
Speaker 3 (31:34):
Well, I take it you're very busy and you've
always got someone coming in andalways got room for growth.
Speaker 1 (31:41):
Yes, yeah, so I have all my regulars and my books are
pretty well booked out a fewweeks in advance.
But yeah, there's.
You know, there'll always bespaces where I can take time for
myself or a new client can comein.
It's just we're looked afterthat way.
Yeah, what's needed is given.
Speaker 3 (32:02):
Yeah, that's lovely.
And, of course, aside from avery busy massage therapist
practice, you are the mother offive children, which in itself
is a full-time plus role.
So tell me about your familylife.
Speaker 1 (32:15):
Oh, they're amazing, Of course.
So only four live at home withus now, four boys.
The oldest girl she's the onewho made me a mum, beautiful, I
was very proud of her.
She's beautiful, she's afull-time.
Oh, she studied as a nurse andnow she's in the army and 10th
Light Horse and she worksbasically full-time there at the
(32:38):
barracks in Irwin now and she'salso just taking a break at the
moment but studying medicine.
What an exceptional woman sheis.
I'd say to my husband shecertainly doesn't take after me.
Speaker 3 (32:52):
You've got to take credit here, tamala, you've got
to take credit.
Speaker 1 (32:57):
No, she's a real go-getter.
And then I have the four boys.
And yeah, Caleb, he's amazing,he works as well.
He does what his dad doesfitting cabinets.
And then there's Logan, ourmiddle child.
He's great too.
He's doing an apprenticeship atthe moment.
And then I have two at school,still one going through year 12,
Rory he's a real studier.
(33:18):
He works very hard, he's verydedicated.
And then there's Fletcher, theyoungest.
Speaker 3 (33:23):
There you go, so you're still very much in mum
mode, with kids still at schoolas well.
Speaker 1 (33:28):
Yeah, but they've been so good for me as well, and
they help out at home and yeah,so they've allowed me to work,
which I think is great.
Speaker 3 (33:43):
They do get very upset because I don't always
give them a massage very often.
I was just going to ask whetherthere's any free massages going
in your house.
You'd be full-time employedjust in massaging all five of
them plus your husband.
Speaker 1 (33:53):
I honestly don't do it enough, and that is one thing
I do feel bad enough about.
But they're very forgiving.
Speaker 3 (33:59):
Yeah, fair enough.
Fair enough.
Well, you can't do everything.
You can't do everything.
No, that's right.
Well, Tamala, there's just somuch going on with the way that
you approach life.
You know, like I said at thebeginning, like I'm just so, I
was so inspired when I met you.
We just really clicked likethat time when we were going to
talk about the half marathonevent and you know, you were
(34:20):
talking about the Soul Runnersand I was there to talk about
the Essentials Collective onSunshine FM, I think it was we
were being interviewed and wethen went for coffee and I was
just so inspired by you and thework that you do and just who
you are as a human.
So I just wanted to, you know,revisit that conversation by
bringing you around my warmtable, and I'm just so delighted
(34:43):
that you said yes to coming totalk about your work.
Speaker 1 (34:46):
Oh, thank you.
When we went for coffee, I wasjust like this is just somebody
I could talk to for hours.
Excellent, she was lovely.
You're such a great listener.
Oh, thank you.
Yeah, you're welcome and you'rejust encouraging.
So, yeah, you're welcome andyou're just encouraging.
So, yeah, that was great.
Oh, thank you and like, yeah,you're so accepting.
You know, like, we livedifferent lives, we do different
things in our life, but we arewho we are and you just love to
(35:08):
learn about people.
Speaker 3 (35:09):
I really do, and that's the whole purpose of the
warm table is, you know, that,curiosity and acceptance and
just constant learning.
So I'm delighted, and I'd liketo end with a quote that I saw
on your website Positive ImpactRemedial Massage and it really
does sum up what you're doing inyour life, which is a single
(35:32):
act of kindness can causeripples of healing.
I loved that.
Speaker 1 (35:37):
So true, so true.
We don't know how we can affectpeople with just words, deeds,
actions.
It's yeah, and I think that'swhat we have to aim for in life.
Like I said, we've been givenso much.
We have our faith, and what canwe do but share the joy and the
(35:57):
love?
Speaker 3 (35:58):
It's a wonderful thing and I'm just so delighted
that we crossed paths and thankyou for coming around my warm
table.
Speaker 1 (36:04):
Thank you for having me.
I've had a great time.
Speaker 2 (36:11):
Hi everyone.
I'm Kelly, the founder and headcoach of Females Over 45
Fitness, or FOFAs we like to becalled.
The studio is located inVictoria Park and we also have
an online program for women allover Australia who are unable to
attend the studio.
Foff is proud to again sponsormy Warm Table podcast with Sonia
(36:31):
In Season 3, we are bringingyou stories of hope.
Speaker 4 (36:38):
My name's Lisa.
I just recently turned 50.
I'm a Valentine's babe.
Where did that time go?
I'm super lucky to have abeautiful partner, adorable
rescue fur baby and amazingfamily and friends.
I love traveling, music andanything to do with the water.
The beach is my happy place.
I train at FOF two days a weekand it's been a game changer for
(36:58):
me.
I'm a four times cancersurvivor and finding FOF helped
me regain my sense of myself andincrease not only my physical
health but also my mental healthtoo.
It's the safest exercise spaceI've ever come across, full of
supportive, non-judgmental,caring and inspiring women.
Hope for me means knowing thateven in your darkest hours
(37:20):
there's always something to lookforward to and a reason to
smile.
I know growing older is aprivilege not afforded to all
and waking up each and every dayis a blessing.
With all of the beautifulthings life has to offer and all
I've been through, I'm gratefulto wake up older each and every
day.
Speaker 3 (37:39):
Thanks for joining us around the warm table.
My warm table is produced,hosted and edited by me, sonia
Nolan.
It's my way of amplifyingpositivity and curiosity in our
community.
I invite you to share thisconversation with family and
friends and follow my warm tablepodcast on Facebook, instagram
and LinkedIn.
And follow my Warm Tablepodcast on Facebook, instagram
(38:01):
and LinkedIn.
Also, you can subscribe andfollow my Warm Table on Spotify
or Apple Podcasts, and maybeeven leave a review, because it
helps others to find us moreeasily.
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