NEWCASTLE FACILITATOR

Sonia is a heart led, playful and passionate human who has a background in the movement and teaching arts from a very young age.

She has a clear way of sharing her knowledge and great understanding of the learning process and this human experience.

She continues to learn and practice and loves the holistic nature of Zenthai and the 5 Elements of Chinese medicine.

She connected with Zenthai initially in 2010, at Woodford Folk Festival, her heart lit up and she is still in Awe with this mode of bodywork. In her mind she thought she would learn massage but no modality ever called her until….

She had the experience of flying therapeutics, and this continues to be something she loves sharing, it offers so many incredible benefits physically and emotionally.

She is a very practical person, originally focussing on the physical, remedial aspects of Zenthai like injury rehabilitation, postural imbalances, joints and tight muscles. She has continued to expand and evolve in many ways.

Investing in fantastic mentors and trainings in a huge array of what is entailed in Zenthai, including meditation, mindfulness, self enquiry, yoga, qi gong, ancestral movement, belly work, reiki, pregnancy zenthai, ayurveda, chinese medicine, acupressure, life coaching and more.

And practicing the skills of being an empty vessel, receptivity, listening, mindfulness, boldness, and discernment through various disciplines including contact improvisation, somatic work, being an auntie and organising community events.

Young Sonia was an acrobatic Gymnast and enjoyed the world of movement, dance and sports immensely. Spending a lot of time training, with a lot of discipline and an even greater amount of play. She loves this balance in Zenthai, to learn the sequence with discipline and then forget the sequence as it is embodied and allowing exploration and curiosity take over.

At the age of 12 Sonia was coaching gymnastics, after returning from her elite training stint at the AIS. Her love for supporting others to move and feel better, be kind to their bodies and to learn and gain confidence has been a great passion for her whole working life.

Her inclusive nature, dedication and joy in the practice is woven into all she does.

Before Zenthai her role was teaching outdoor adventure skills at Sport and Rec centres. Her favourite activity was sailing, because it was unpredictable, every lesson was different and the fulfillment, seeing people and herself move with nature and learn how to adjust and adapt to reality was great.

Whilst teaching Zenthai was not on her mind then, if she was to compare teaching Zenthai to anything she has taught before it would be these sailing adventures. Taking people through the 9 month programme, or even a shorter programme, is also incredibly fulfilling, seeing people to step into their true nature and learn better how to move, to adapt and adjust to life situations and reality.

She has run the therapist programme in Newcastle since 2021 and supported many programmes working alongside Gwyn before that. She looks forward to continue sharing the magic and creating healthy, enriching, conscious community.

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, usually visiting to teach in one of the course modules in Newcastle and also offers extra trainings in Queensland and Bali, that allow students to dive deeper into the practice.