NEWCASTLE FACILITATOR

Sonia is a Senior Zenthai Shiatsu Therapist, teacher and facilitator based in Newcastle, passionate about helping people reconnect with their natural intelligence through movement, stillness and touch.

Sonia connected with Zenthai in 2010 at Woodford Folk Festival. Something lit up inside her, at her first point of contact, seeing it on the programme.

Initially the Flying Therapeutic side was most intriguing but she soon realised that every layer of this work was laced with incredible nectar, it was like finding gold, over and over again.

Growing up in Newcastle Sonia was a very enthusiastic gymnast, starting at the age of 6, she spent years immersed in both disciplined and incredibly playful training. At 12, she began coaching gymnastics herself after returning from a training scholarship at the Australian Institute of Sport. This early experience shaped something that remains central to her teaching today, the beautiful balance between discipline and play.

Sonia believes that the competency comes in this practice, when we have the space and patience to play, eventually with the spirit of a humble learner and heartful warrior it becomes an embodiment, fueled with intention.

Sonia’s dedication is for students to be taught clearly and well, and she has continued her own learning with many wonderful teachers and mentors across Chinese medicine, body mechanics, osteopathic techniques, yoga, qi gong, meditation, mindfulness, self-enquiry, Ayurveda, acupressure, abdominal work, pregnancy, nature connection and more.

Before Zenthai became her central path, Sonia worked in outdoor adventure education, teaching various activities on the land and water, to groups of various sizes, ages and cultural backgrounds. She loved the unpredictable nature of sailing in particular, and the feeling when people learnt how to work with each other and nature.

Looking back, Sonia sees a strong connection between those sailing adventures and teaching Zenthai. There is a similar process of learning to listen, respond to what is present, adapt and offer intentional clear direction.

Sonia has facilitated Zenthai intensives in Newcastle and surrounds since 2018 and has been facilitating the Zenthai Therapist Programme in Newcastle since 2021. Alongside her teaching, she offers one-on-one treatments, facilitates workshops and Zenthai Flow classes, mentors students and practitioners, and helps create community events including Lovefest.

At the centre of all of this is an intention to create more opportunities for people to know themselves, make great choices, and be well, experiencing the best that life has to offer.

FOUNDER

Gwyn began his first steps into the foundation of the Zenthai artform in his teenage years with a fascination and complete absorption with  life force energy (Ki) . A self confessed life force fanatic,  his earlier years involved in using the  life force to fight and compete. As a serious martial artist and later a competitive mountain runner, the focus was on expending Ki, however when he later moved into alternative therapies and yoga in 1997, he realised that the real focus needed to be on sustaining and containing life force to utilise its full power. This has carried through to the present day sharing the importance of embracing a Yin and Yang aspect in daily life.

‘Life force is like a huge hose – when it is strong it not only has the capacity to purify the body and create vitality but also the strength to constantly move debris and stagnation that collects in our body, mind & spirit.’

After graduating from the Queensland College of Oriental Medicine and beginning a clinical practice as a Zen Shiatsu therapist in the late 90’s Gwyn began exploring the integration of Traditional Thai massage. In 2002 he ventured further afield and began the first of his now annual trips to Chiang Mia, Thailand, to train under the masters. It was during one of the expeditions he discovered osteopath Arnaud Le’ Hermitte who has combining osteopathy with the art of Traditional Thai Massage. On his return he began integrating this work with his background and clinical practice as a Oriental therapist. Hence, the seed of Zenthai had been planted.

Gwyn has authored three incredible books that connect us to the true nature of ourselves, filled with poetic wisdom and honest reflections of his unfolding life journey.

He travels abroad throughout Europe and Australia sharing his movement based therapy, philosophy and understandings around living an undivided life at yoga retreats, festivals, and bodywork intensives.

Fortunately he makes an effort to meet students coming through the therapist programme where possible and also offers post graduate trainings in both Australia and Overseas.