Lauren Swick LMT

Lauren graduated from East West College of the Healing Arts in Portland, Oregon in 2004. She is a member of the Thai Healing Alliance International and the Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals, and licensed through the Oregon Board of Massage Therapists. In 2005 she began studying with Alli Lurie at the Baan Jai Center for Thai Massage and Education. In addition to her practice she also teaches privately and at East West College.

Following her desire to delve in deeper into the world of the Thai healing arts Lauren began taking study trips to Thailand in 2011 and intends to return throughout her life for continued study and connection to this expansive and rich tradition. She has had the honor of studying Thai bodywork through the lens of Thai philosophy and the healing arts with master teacher Pichest Boonethumme in Hang Dong, Thailand, as well as advanced Thai massage and bodywork courses in and around Chiang Mai, and alongside her teachers right here in the Pacific Northwest.

She has also studied extensively with Til Luchau and Advanced-Trainings and incorporates many principles and gifts from the structural integration world within her sessions.

Why Thai Bodywork?

After I received my first Thai bodywork session in 2004, I floated up from the mat and felt…transformed — like I was entirely free to move in which ever way I wanted. I felt balanced and joyful and full of new energy and potential. As a practitioner who started out in the world of dance, the prospect of including ones whole body in session (not just hands to elbows) made so much more sense to me. So I hungrily began the journey to learn all I could about the Thai healing arts. Little did I know that it is a body of knowledge evolving over 2000 years of theory, collaboration, creation. Happily, this learning journey for me is life long!

In my sessions, I also incorporate elements from structural bodywork, guided interoceptive and proprioceptive awareness, breath-work, somatic practices,— whichever tools are called upon for the most benefit. The session unfolds as a conversation rather than a monologue. Whether you are recovering from an injury, dealing with chronic pain/ anxiety, looking to improve your kinesthetic awareness, enhance athletic performance or just wanting a little reprieve from the business of daily life, we’ll work together to devise sessions that meet your particular needs.

It is truly amazing how smart our human bodies are! They already know what they need in order to be well. As I see it, my job is to be present, curious and find out what ‘language’ makes the most sense for each person, and their unique body.

A word about teaching and practicing Thai-based Bodywork as a ‘farang’

I have great respect, appreciation and gratitude for the rich body of knowledge and wisdom woven throughout the  Traditional Thai Healing Arts and how generous my teachers have been with me sharing the wisdom from their lineage. I return as much as possible to study in Northern Thailand, yet I am limited in terms of finances, time, language barriers, culture, pandemics, etc., to study as deeply as I wish from the source.

Although I have learned much through thousands of hours of practice and study over the past two decades, I will always be a student with so much more to learn. This humble awareness fosters within me deep awe, curiosity and delight!

I my classes and sessions I offer what I’ve learned through my Thai teachers, and also what I have learned from my other teachers around the world and within my own experience as a practitioner for 20 plus years.

I offer these teachings and my practice in the spirit of cultivating compassion-based connection and discovery.