PRACTITIONER PROFILE
ATMS Member Interview Naman Sinha
Which modalities do you practise ? I use mostly use Sports Therapy , Trigger Point and Myofascial techniques in conjunction with other Remedial Massage Therapy techniques .
How long have you been in practice ? I have been working as a massage therapist since 2015 ( Therapeutic ) and full time since 2016 ( Remedial ) at LakeSpa and The School of Integrated Body Therapy where I completed my Diploma in Massage Therapy in 2016 .
What have been the major influences on your career ? Since childhood I have been interested in health and exercise . I was taught Yoga at the age of 3 and started martial arts at 9 . This lifelong study led to formally studying Exercise Science at the University of British Columbia ( UBC ) in Canada . I completed my undergraduate degree in 2004 . The major influence outside of this academic setting was traditional Chinese Martial Arts . I began studying those in 1999 and I use the lessons learned towards my understanding of health as a lifelong pursuit .
What do you like about being a natural medicine practitioner ? My practice is that of health . The current role I play is a conduit to understanding the body through the prism of massage . In Canada I helped people with injuries in a more traditional medical model , hospital , physiotherapy clinic , etc .
I like the tone of natural medicine being part of a person ’ s journey towards health . If they need a different practitioner or medical intervention then the nature of my role changes . Helping people understand that their health is an ongoing process is what gives me the most satisfaction .
What advice would you give to a new practitioner starting out ? I would tell a new practitioner to seek to work on all aspects of being a massage therapist . That may be active listening , more purposeful implementation of techniques . Make time to follow up on things you do not know and research online and keep up to date with common injuries , techniques , and other modalities .
What are your future ambitions ? When I came to Australia in 2013 and started my training at LakeSpa SIBT I was surprised at the extent of the disconnect between the medical field and natural therapy practitioners . I hope to work towards making connections and creating common ground between those practitioners and professionals whom the clients may meet and interact with on their road to recovery
What are your reflections on the present state of the natural medicine profession and their direction for the future ? When I first arrived in Australia in 2013 , discussing natural medicine and massage specifically with practitioners , I got the distinct impression that there would be an inevitable attempt to change Remedial Massage Therapy in Australia towards international standards . With greater pressure to scientifically validate natural therapy approaches there will have to be an expanding and inclusive discussion . Natural Medicine will always have a role but navigating the current medical system can be daunting for clients .
In addition to increasing professionalism within modalities there needs to be a clear connection between medicine and natural medicine to clarify for clients who to turn to for specific issues .
Final comments Remedial Massage Therapy is a powerful and useful tool when used correctly and clients trust practitioners with their health . This needs to be at the forefront of a practitioner ’ s mind when making decisions regarding their client ’ s treatment .
JATMS | Autumn 2021 | 39