Shantam — Massage Therapist & Founder of Meditative Touch
Shantam is the Director and Founder of Meditative Touch Rebalancing, a Massage Therapist and experienced massage trainer with 15 years of experience in massage and bodywork. He is also a qualified Yoga Teacher, Meditation Facilitator, and Master of Clinical Hypnosis. For him, bodywork is not simply about learning techniques; it is about developing awareness, sensitivity, presence, and a deeper understanding of the body. Over the years, his own experience has shaped the way he works with clients and teaches students.
For the past 10 years, Shantam has been teaching Meditative Touch Therapeutic Massage through hands-on massage training courses in India. He has taught students from many different countries and backgrounds, including complete beginners as well as people with previous experience in massage, yoga, bodywork, and other healing practices. His teaching is practical and personal, with students learning through direct hands-on practice. Along with massage techniques, he encourages students to develop sensitivity in their hands, conscious touch, proper body mechanics, awareness, and the ability to listen to what the body is communicating.
Shantam has been practicing massage and bodywork for 15 years, working with different techniques and approaches including Deep Tissue, Myofascial Release, Core Integration, Rolfing, Rebalancing, Joint Mobilisation (Trager approach), and assisted Yoga stretches of Ayurvedic and Thai origin. Rather than following only one style, he has learned from different approaches over the years and integrated what he found most valuable into his own way of working. This continuing experience forms an important part of the foundation of Meditative Touch Therapeutic Massage.
Meditation has also been a major part of Shantam's life for more than 25 years. This long experience with meditation has helped him develop greater sensitivity, awareness, and presence, which he brings into both his bodywork and teaching. For him, touch is not only a physical technique. The quality of attention and presence behind the touch can make a significant difference to the experience of both the practitioner and the person receiving the massage.
Every session is unique because Shantam adapts his approach to the body and condition of each person. He has worked with people of different ages and backgrounds, including pregnant women and seniors. Before each session, he takes time to prepare and bring awareness to the condition of his own body and mind. During the session, he becomes like a “reflection” for the client, allowing him to listen more deeply through touch and connect with the areas that need attention. He respects the individuality of every person and believes that the body often communicates more than words can express.
His experience as a Massage Therapist, Meditation Teacher, and Hypnotherapist has also given him a deeper understanding of the relationship between the mind and body. This understanding is an important part of his massage training. He believes that learning therapeutic massage is not simply about memorising a sequence of techniques. Students also need to learn how to be present, how to use their own body correctly, how to listen through their hands, and how to respond to the person in front of them.
Shantam is passionate about sharing what he has learned through his years of bodywork, teaching, and meditation. He believes that when you give, you receive in return, and he considers teaching massage and working with the body to be meaningful ways of touching people's lives. He feels fortunate to support people on their journey towards greater relaxation, self-awareness, and wellbeing. Shantam feels that massage is like a prayer because the human body is a temple, and he treats it with honour and love. For him, bringing feeling and awareness into the body is essential when working with both students and clients. The body is a microcosm in itself, with an extraordinary capacity to balance, adapt, and heal.
