July 7-11, 2010 at the Omni Orlando Resort. To know more about Bamboo-Fusion please click on the following link :

Testimonials: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-O8aR_kweY

Nathalie explaining the technique and the sets: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_UjH07JV2U

Bamboo-fusion team

By Sonia Osorio

Originally published in Massage & Bodywork magazine, May/June 2008. Copyright 2008. Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals. All rights reserved.

Long before paper was invented, the Chinese recorded their history on thin slivers of bamboo. In fact, the material was used in a multitude of ways, ranging from musical instruments to elaborate decorations, artwork, and even agricultural tools. Since bamboo was incorporated into so much of daily life, it wasn’t long before it was used as a form of creative and spiritual expression, which quickly took on ritual and healing connotations.

Chinese, Indonesian, and Japanese festivals, rituals, and myths abound with bamboo symbolizing life energy, prosperity, longevity, sexuality, and fertility. In China, stalks of bamboo still symbolize eternal youth, strength, prosperity, and peace. What may seem like a new technique, bamboo massage, has ancient roots and perhaps deeper associations than simply bodywork. Today, bamboo massage is touted as Bamboo-Fusion, Tian di Bamboo Massage, or simply promoted at high-end spas as the latest in exotic treatments or for massage therapists as a new tool, but bamboo can be seen as much more than a new trend or accessory.

Bamboo massage is a technique that incorporates bamboo stalks of varying lengths and diameters to provide deep-tissue work. (The Japanese name for bamboo is take, while the Chinese call it chu. It is from this word that the cho sticks, used by some bamboo massage practitioners, take their name.) Some practitioners combine elements of shiatsu, traditional Chinese medicine (where bamboo cups or the ends of the stalks are used in specific ways), Thai massage, lymphatic drainage, and even ayurveda into the technique, and sticks are sometimes heated or essential oils are incorporated into the massage. The massage itself promotes circulation, sensory nerve perception, and lymphatic drainage and provides a deep sense of relaxation and well-being. An added benefit for the practitioner is that using the bamboo sticks helps to reduce stress and strain on hands and fingers while still allowing for deeply penetrating maneuvers.

Bamboo Structure and Benefits
Although bamboo matures fully in approximately seven years, most bamboo flowers only once in 60 to 120 years, with large heads much like those of sugarcane. After blooming, all the bamboo plants of the same species die, which occurs worldwide at the same time. Overall, there are more than 1,200 species of bamboo, all of them related to sugarcane and corn. Bamboo is, in fact, a giant grass: the bamboo stalk can be cut, leaving the root system intact for rapid regrowth. This makes bamboo a highly renewable resource. In a favorable habitat, it can grow as fast as one foot in 24 hours and will grow back to full-size in a few years.

In addition to its sustainability, bamboo is also recognized for its suppleness and resilience. With its unique combination of strength and flexibility, bamboo lends itself to a variety of uses. Because of its hardness, bamboo has been used for bridges, floors, furniture, gutters, masts, utensils, and vessels. Because the fiber is soft and can be finely crushed, it can also be used for clothing, bedding, and towels.

Part of what makes bamboo hard and straight, yet flexible and light, is that its outer cell walls are covered with silica. This creates a crystalline-like matrix, much like that of a quartz crystal or our own connective tissue. Some practitioners believe that releasing tension or fascial adhesions held within this matrix can help restore and rebalance the body’s electromagnetic field. In his article, “Bioenergetics of Man,” for the Academy of Applied Osteopathic Association, osteopathic physician R.B. Taylor writes, “Manipulative pressure and stretching are the most effective ways of modifying energy potentials of abnormal tissues.”1

If we look closely at what’s just beneath the surface of this statement, it takes us directly to what’s beneath the surface of both our bodies and the structure of bamboo itself. Crystalline-like matrices are known to exhibit two very specific properties: piezoelectricity and pyroelectricity. Piezoelectricity is activated with pressure and pyroelectricity with heat. On a physiological level, these two properties are believed to contribute to some of the healing effects seen in bamboo massage.

Piezoelectricity is the ability of some materials (notably crystals) to generate an electric potential in response to applied mechanical stress or pressure across the crystal lattice. The word itself is derived from the Greek piezein, which means to squeeze or press. In the case of massage, pressure along the fascia, which is also a crystalline-like matrix of tissue, would generate this same effect.

Pyroelectricity is the ability of certain materials to generate an electrical potential when heated or cooled. The name is derived from the Greek word pyr, meaning fire. As a result of a change in temperature, positive and negative charges move to opposite ends or poles of the material (the material becomes polarized), thereby establishing an electrical potential. Very small changes in temperature can, in fact, produce an electrical potential due to a material’s pyroelectricity. Thus, heating a bamboo stick and applying pressure with it could create this effect. This pyroelectric effect is also present in both bone and tendon.

All pyroelectric materials are also piezoelectric, the two properties being closely related. These two properties could, therefore, be easily stimulated as pressure is applied using the bamboo sticks to penetrate deep into the tissues. “Skillful manipulation [in bodywork] simply raises energy levels and creates a greater degree of sol (fluidity) in organic systems that are already there, but behaving sluggishly,” writes Deane Juhan in his book Job’s Body.2

Stimulation of the tissue by the bamboo sticks is believed to relieve this “sluggish state,” by dissipating the heat that results from an accumulation of toxins and poor circulation, much the same as what would occur through deep-tissue work, trigger-point activation, or various acupressure techniques. Some recipients of bamboo massage have described these releases as a whole-body tingling or a warming sensation.

Bamboo Fusion
One of the first people to develop a bamboo massage technique specifically for North American clients was Nathalie Cecilia, a certified Thai massage therapist currently living in Sarasota, Florida. Cecilia, originally from France, came to the United States five years ago. She discovered this approach when one of her larger male clients kept asking for deeper pressure on his upper trapezius muscles. “I was using a long bamboo pole to keep my balance when walking on my clients’ backs sometimes [during a Thai massage session],” she says. “As I was working on this gentleman in a sitting position, my eyes caught the two bamboo poles that I used for the back walking. I had the idea to use one of the poles for tapotement on his upper trapezius. So I stood about six feet from him, tapping on his shoulders with this long stick, and he told me that it felt really great.”

From that point on, Cecilia began developing new ways to integrate bamboo sticks into her practice, eventually using sticks of varying lengths and compositions, creating what she now calls Bamboo-Fusion massage. Shortly after she created this technique, other therapists started asking her how to incorporate bamboo sticks into their treatment sessions. Cecilia then created an entire massage routine using bamboo and rattan of different shapes and sizes. The routine is now documented and Cecilia is approved by the NCBTMB and the state of Florida to teach this modality to other therapists. She now teaches workshops across the United States and her technique is gaining popularity in other countries as well.

“While doing traditional massage, I experienced pain in my thumbs and wrists after only two months of opening my business,” Cecilia says. “The Bamboo-Fusion technique allows you to easily adjust the pressure, making deep-tissue work easy. I can effectively palpate using the bamboo and am able to easily locate muscle tension and treat trigger points. Using bamboo is now like a continuation of my fingers. There is also a beautiful quality to the material, it has a luxurious feeling and both you and the clients feel very energized and revitalized, but also relaxed. Aesthetically, I’ve also noticed that the skin actually becomes more supple.”

Cecilia’s approach incorporates a large 12-inch bamboo stick that she uses to knead the muscles and do a crisscross technique that stretches the fascia in all directions. She also uses two short pieces of bamboo, cut in half, the size of her hand, to work more specifically in smaller areas, such as under the scapula. Her technique includes the use of oil or cream when doing a full-body massage on the table. She warms the bamboo sticks in a special heating pad before using them on her clients. “The bamboo is easy to heat and clean, unlike with hot stones since there isn’t a Crock-pot or water involved,” she explains. “With the heating device I use, the bamboo stays warm and clients love the heat, especially in cold climates.”

What also distinguishes Cecilia’s technique is that her bamboo sticks are custom-designed and made from bamboo and rattan, both ecological and sustainable resources. “The small wood pieces that I have cut in half are made with rattan [a climbing palm tree], since rattan is solid. They also fit easily in the palm of my hand, which makes it easy to apply deeper pressure. For the larger sticks, I use bamboo, which is a great tool to deliver long soothing strokes.” Cecilia has her bamboo sets made by a local woodworker, in the early days, she actually created them herself.

What Is a Bamboo Massage?
Contributor
By JanW

eHow Contributing Writer

Article Rating: (0 Ratings) Spa candles add to the relaxation of a bamboo massage.
spa ii image by studio vision1 from Fotolia.com Bamboo has been introduced into rituals for life energy, sexuality and fertility for thousands of years. Today, these ancient rituals have been reintroduced by modern spas through bamboo massage therapy, which incorporates bamboo in deep tissue massage.
Bamboo Defined
Bamboo is a woody plant with hollow stems. It can grow a foot in 24 hours, which makes it an important renewable resource.
Function
A massage therapist uses warmed bamboo stalks of varying sizes and diameter to apply a deep tissue massage by kneading the muscles with the bamboo stalks. Not only does this sooth sore muscles, but it also increases circulation and aids in providing a sense of deep relaxation.
Benefits
Using special massage oils, the therapist rolls the stalks evenly over the client’s muscles, which is warming and relaxing. As a method of stress management, bamboo massage also can help with migraines, arthritis and respiratory problems.
Massage Style
The therapist begins at the feet and slowly moves up to the head. The therapist then turns around at the head and works back down to the opposite foot. Different size bamboo stalks are used for different muscles groups. The feet require a small 4-inch stalk, while thighs require a 16-inch stalk about 1 inch in diameter.
Time Frame
Most therapy sessions last 45 to 60 minutes, with effects lasting several days.

Bamboo-fusion® massage therapy is the latest and greatest spa treatment to hit the industry in years! It is easy to implement and the massage therapy training can easily be provided at your location to minimize travel for your staff, thus keeping expenses to a minimum.

Massage therapy training classes are readily available across the country specializing in warm bamboo massage. Bamboo-fusion has been featured in top spa magazines and trade publications making massage training for bamboo massage in high demand.

Nathalie Cecilia, originally from Nimes, South France is the original source in the United States for a brand new spa treatment she calls Bamboo-fusion. This trademarked treatment is in high demand by luxury spas and is gaining in popularity. Ms. Cecilia uses bamboo pieces cut into different shapes and sizes as extensions of her fingers during a massage treatment. She also “warms” the bamboo to allow the bamboo pieces to penetrate and relax the muscles quicker.

She originally discovered this form of massage during a massage treatment where the client kept requesting “deeper pressure” on his upper trapezius (shoulders). At a little over 5’ and only 100 lbs, Nathalie began to experience pain in her hands within only 2 months of doing traditional massage. As a Thai therapist, Nathalie sometimes did back walking while using bamboo poles that are 6 feet in length for balance. “As I was working on this gentleman who was in a sitting position, my eyes caught the two bamboo poles that I used for balance when back walking. I had the idea to use one of the poles for tapotement on his upper trapezius. So I stood about six feet from him, tapping on his shoulders with this very long stick, and he told me it felt really great!”

Small repetitive movements performed by the massage therapist when doing traditional massage can result in repetitive use injuries such as carpel tunnel. With the Bamboo-fusion massage, the bamboo tools allow the massage therapist to easily address deep pressure requests. Ms. Cecilia explains that she has noticed that after a few bamboo massage treatments, the client’s skin can actually become more supple.

In 2004, shortly after becoming a massage therapist, Ms Cecilia first started using bamboo and rattan tools to perform a flowing Swedish type massage. Imagine a skilled therapist using warmed bamboo to dissolve knots and tension throughout your body. These hand crafted tools are custom designed so that even the smallest therapist can give an effective deep tissue massage that is easy on their body, hands and wrists. This ecologically sound and sustainable product is currently made by skilled woodworkers, however when Ms. Cecilia first began bamboo massage, she actually made the pieces herself by hand.

Her bamboo tool sets have evolved over the past few years and are now made with 100% solid bamboo which is pressed into different shapes and sizes to match her Bamboo-fusion massage routine. The new bamboo tool sets, designed for full body massage, hold heat well and are very comfortable for the therapist to use. In addition to making bamboo sets that are commercially available, she also offers massage therapy training to other massage therapists. Her massage training offering for top quality professional massage training is well received by high end spas that need to offer unique treatments to their discriminating client base.

“There is a beautiful quality to the material; both you and the client feel very energized and revitalized, but also more relaxed.” Her technique uses massage oil or cream when performing a full body massage on a client. Shorter pieces of bamboo work well for smaller areas such as around the scapula. A 16” bamboo stick is also used to knead the muscles and do a “criss-cross” technique that stretches the fascia in all directions.

Unlike warm stone massage, the bamboo is easy to heat without the use of a roaster or crock pot. In the heating device she uses, the bamboo stays warm (which of course the clients love), and there is little clean up between sessions. During the Bamboo-fusion massage training classes, we also offer suggestions to incorporate the use of a few hot stones into the treatment for those that desire to mix bamboo and stones.

As therapists and clients continually search for new approaches to massage therapy, bamboo is at the forefront of the industry, offering the most basic solution. The use of a renewable and sustainable resource that connects us to ancient times allows our modern need for deep tissue massage to be addressed. Nathalie is the pioneer of bamboo massage and is a leader in the massage and bodywork industry. Massage therapy training in bamboo massage is great for seasoned massage therapists or for those in school or new to the industry. Massage therapy training classes in bamboo massage can be held just about anywhere. The bamboo sets are very lightweight and easy to carry making the massage training classes portable.

Many Asian countries treat bamboo with great reverence since it has played a significant role in feeding and housing them. It is very common for bamboo to be used in making musical and surgical instruments, furniture, eating utensils and storage baskets in addition to hundreds of other uses.

Bamboo is a highly renewable (sustainable) resource and boasts more than 1500 different species that grow naturally throughout most Asian countries in addition to South and Central America. The Chinese and Japanese have used bamboo since ancient times; however is just now becoming main-stream in the American culture.

In the United States, bamboo is primarily symbolic and is gaining in popularity due to the fact that it is a highly renewable resource. It is also beautiful and considered “lucky” by many people that possess bamboo stalks commonly arranged in a small vase. Many high end resorts and spas are now decorating with bamboo in the form of flooring, furniture, and artwork. Clothing and linens made of bamboo fibers are also very popular. Top resorts and spas take this a step further and incorporate bamboo into their spa menus as part of a new exotic treatment that feels luxurious. The massage therapy training class covers all aspects of implementation, ranging from the initial massage training to writing a description for your spa menu.

Nathalie and her team of instructors are in high demand by individual therapists and spas/resorts seeking massage training in this new effective treatment using bamboo. To address this demand, Bamboo-fusion massage therapy training classes are offered in various locations in the United States and are approved by the state of Florida and the NCBTMB for Continuing Education (CE’s) for license renewal. Classes are offered at several training facilities on a regular basis in Sarasota, Florida where Nathalie resides, as well as taught in Everett, Durham, and Cincinnati. She also offers onsite massage therapy training at spas and resorts across the country.

In addition to massage therapy workshops, Cecilia also offers DVD’s and specialized bamboo sets for each of her techniques which are for use on the table for full body massage and on the chair through clothing. In addition, Ms Cecilia just created a new French facial massage called Bamboo-Visage which utilizes a delicate tool set hand crafted from bamboo and rattan. This treatment was introduced at a recent spa show in Las Vegas and intrigued massage therapists as well as estheticians and spa directors. Retail products and bamboo massage therapy training class information are both available by visiting the founder’s website at www.Bamboo-fusion.com.

Just ask yourself these simple questions:
Do you need training in massage?
Do you need training in massage using a tool?
Do you need training in massage using heat to help warm the muscles?
Do you need training in massage that is easy on your hands and wrists?
Do you need training in massage for either deep tissue or relaxation massage treatments?
Do you need training in massage to earn CE’s?
Do you need training in massage to help your practice blossom?
If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you need training in massage with Bamboo-fusion.
Don’t delay – Contact us today!

 Bamboo-Fusion Bamboo-fusion® massage therapy is an amazing way to meet clients’ needs for deep-pressure muscle work, while preventing strain for the therapist. The style is easy to implement and the massage therapy training can easily be provided at your location to minimize travel for your staff, thus minimizing expenses. Nathalie Cecilia is the creator of a brand-new spa treatment she calls Bamboo-fusion. This trademarked treatment is growing in popularity, and is in high demand in luxury spa settings. Ms. Cecilia uses bamboo pieces of varying shapes and sizes as extensions of her fingers during a massage treatment. She also “warms” the bamboo so it can penetrate and release the muscles more quickly. Because of the small, repetitive movements used in massage, massage therapists can incur injuries such as carpel tunnel. For this reason, many are seeking massage training in the Bamboo-fusion technique. With the Bamboo-fusion massage, the bamboo tools allow the massage therapist to easily address deep pressure requests without physical strain. In 2004, shortly after completing her massage therapy training, Cecilia first started using bamboo and rattan tools to perform a flowing Swedish type massage. These hand crafted tools are custom-designed, allowing even the smallest therapist to give an effective deep tissue massage which is easy on the therapist’s body, hands and wrists. This ecologically sound and sustainable product is made by skilled woodworkers. Bamboo is a highly renewable resource. More than 1500 different species of bamboo grow naturally throughout most Asian countries, in addition to South and Central America. The Chinese and Japanese have used bamboo since ancient times, and it is quickly becoming mainstream in the American culture. These tool sets are made with 100% solid bamboo, which is pressed into different shapes and sizes to accommodate the Bamboo-fusion massage routine. The tools, designed for full body massage, hold heat well and are easy and comfortable to use. In addition to making commercially-available bamboo tool sets, Cecilia also offers massage training to other therapists. Her top-quality professional massage training is well received by high-end spas, satisfying their need to offer unique treatments to their clients. The Bamboo-fusion technique implements massage oil or cream in addition to the bamboo tools. Shorter pieces of bamboo work well for smaller areas, such as the areas around the scapula. A 16” bamboo stick is also used in a “criss-cross” technique that stretches the fascia in multiple directions. Unlike warm stone massage, the bamboo is easy to heat—no roasters or crock pots are required. The bamboo stays warm and there is little clean up between sessions. During the Bamboo-fusion massage training classes, students will also learn to incorporate the use of a few hot stones into the treatment for those who want to combine warm stone and bamboo techniques. As therapists and clients alike search for new techniques in massage therapy, bamboo is at the forefront of the industry. Massage therapy training in bamboo massage is great for seasoned massage therapists or for those just beginning their massage training. Massage therapy training classes in bamboo massage can be offered almost anywhere. The bamboo sets are very lightweight and portable, making the massage training easy to offer in a variety of settings. Bamboo-fusion massage therapy training classes are offered in various locations in the United States. They are approved by the state of Florida and the NCBTMB for Continuing Education (CE’s) for license renewal. Classes are offered at numerous training facilities on a regular basis in Sarasota, Florida where Nathalie lives. They are also offered in Everett, Durham, and Cincinnati. Ms. Cecilia also offers massage therapy training at spas and resorts across the country. In addition to massage therapy training workshops, Cecilia also offers DVD’s and custom bamboo sets for each of her techniques. These can be used on the table for full body massage and on the chair through clothing. In addition, Ms Cecilia has created a new French facial massage called Bamboo-Visage which utilizes a delicate tool set hand crafted from bamboo and rattan. This treatment was introduced at a recent spa show in Las Vegas, and captured the interest of massage therapists, estheticians and spa directors alike. Retail products and bamboo massage therapy training class information are both available by visiting Ms. Cecilia’s website at www.Bamboo-fusion.com.

Invest in your future with quality massage therapy training with Bamboo-fusion® massage. This new and innovative treatment allows the massage therapist to deliver a luxurious deep tissue or relaxation massage which is easy on the therapists’ hands and wrists. Whether you are a seasoned professional or just out of school, we can help you learn an effective treatment that has a great return on investment.

Bamboo-fusion (on the table) is a full-body massage that utilizes “warmed” bamboo tools of different shapes and sizes. Deep pressure is made easy using our routine and simple to learn leverage techniques taught in class. Our massage therapy training classes and workshops are a great deal of fun and very informative – you will gain the necessary skills, knowledge and confidence to put the Bamboo-fusion treatment on your menu the very next day after class completion.

Our latest creation is called Bamboo-Visage (Visage means “face” in French),which allows the therapist or esthetician to deliver a soothing bamboo facial massage using a delicate tool set designed especially for the face. We also offer bamboo massage therapy training for chair massage. Our bamboo tool sets are portable and easy to carry for outcalls or for marketing events.

Train with the original source for bamboo massage – since 2004. The modality founder, Nathalie Cecilia, originally from Nimes, South France is approved by the NCBTMB and the state of Florida for CEUs (Continuing Education). We offer bamboo massage therapist training classes and courses across the country. If you have a large group to train, we also provide onsite massage training services at your location for a discounted/group rate. If you are looking for a way to add a new dimension to your service contact us for very unique massage therapist training courses.