Contact Clara

Whether you’re seeking a creative, sustainable path into professional bodywork—or you’re in the midst of your own healing and recovery journey—Clara is here to support you.

At West Coast Zen Thai, we offer Zenthai Shiatsu Bodywork, Acupuncture, and Canada’s only certified Zenthai Shiatsu training program. These offerings are built on a foundation of functional anatomy, delivered with care, and guided by a deep respect for the human experience.

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7033 Central Saanich Rd, Victoria, BC

info@westcoastzenthai.ca

About Clara

“Zenthai to me is a profoundly therapeutic movement art—an embodied practice that restores health on all levels of being through the simple acts of loving awareness and mindful touch. It invites us to meet ourselves deeply, to notice what stands in the way of true presence and joy. It springs from the heart and is carried by the warmth of human connection.”

Clara is a therapist, facilitator, and acupuncturist based on Vancouver Island, weaving together the somatic wisdom of Zenthai Shiatsu Bodywork, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and Qi Gong. On the most foundational level, her work is about presence and loving touch. Clara believes that knowledge and techniques can only take us so far, and that true healing arises through our inner and outer relationships. She emphasizes finding true connection with one’s own body-mind-spirit and the intelligent messages being sent in the form of pain, discomfort and even illness. She also encourages taking a look at our connection to nature and its rhythms within the seasons, and attuning our lifestyle and practices to these cycles. Finally, Clara believes that our health is directly tied to our sense of belonging and connection within a wider community and aims to support all in discovering this.

Approach & Philosophy

With a deep respect for the complexity of the human experience, Clara offers trauma-informed care that nourishes the emotional, energetic, physical, and spiritual dimensions.

Clara’s journey into the healing arts has been shaped by her own path of self-discovery, recovery, and transformation. Along the way, she has cultivated a wealth of wisdom and knowledge, and a spacious, non-judgmental presence. Her sessions are informed by years of devoted practice, intuitive listening, and a reverence for the intelligence of the body.

Over her life and continuing today, Clara has explored and spent many dedicated hours practicing:

  • Meditation including mantra, vipassana, qi gong, and zen- 12 years and counting
  • Ashtanga Yoga with Harmony Slater, Jeff Litchy, and Arielle Nash – 3 years
  • Traditional and Medical Qi Gong with Sifu Eric Tuttle, Michael Smith, and Noel Taylor – 7 years and counting
  • Chen style Taiji Chuan with Sifu Eric Tuttle – 4 years and counting
  • Traditional Amazonian Plant Medicine Healing 6 years and counting

She believes that true wellness includes the capacity to give and receive support, to move through life with authenticity, and to feel connected—to ourselves, to each other, and to something greater.

Therapeutic Offerings

Private Sessions

  • Zenthai Shiatsu Therapy
  • Registered Acupuncture
  • Pregnancy Massage & Acupuncture
  • TCM-based diet & lifestyle coaching
  • Medical Qi Gong prescriptions

Community & Group Work

  • Zenthai Shiatsu Trainings & Retreats
     (9-month Therapist Certification + short courses)

Teaching Style

As a facilitator, Clara holds space with a balance of clarity, compassion, and playfulness. Her classes are known for being both grounded and heart-centered, with clear instruction, gentle challenge, and an underlying spirit of curiosity and connection.

She draws inspiration from her love of all things movement, from the changing seasons of the natural world, and from the many beloved teachers and friends that have blessed her life.

Clara is committed to cultivating community-based healing and believes this to be a fundamental component towards health as well as a catalyst for growth and awakening. She is so grateful for the foundation of togetherness that Zenthai Shiatsu has brought into her life.

Areas of Focus

She also welcomes clients who are in life transition, seeking reconnection, or navigating grief, confusion, or burnout.

Clara brings sensitivity and skill to a wide range of concerns, including but not limited to:

  • Physical pain (chronic or acute)
  • Emotional trauma and nervous system regulation
  • Psychedelic Integration
  • Pregnancy and postpartum support
  • Menstrual health and fertility
  • Digestive imbalances
  • Anxiety, PTSD, and depression
  • Sleep disturbances and insomnia

Training & Qualifications

Zenthai Shiatsu

  • Zenthai Shiatsu Therapist – 500hr, 2017
     Ninderry Healing Centre with Gwyn Williams

  • Zenthai Flow Facilitator Training – 150hr, 2017
     Bali with Gwyn Williams & Sally Meredith

  • Pregnancy Zenthai – 32hr, 2022
     With Merryn Pennington

  • Fluid Zenthai – 32hr, 2022
     With Gwyn Williams

Traditional Chinese Medicine

  • Acupuncture Diploma – 2190hr / 3 years, 2021
     Pacific Rim College — Valedictorian

  • Prenatal Acupuncture – 16hr, 2022
     With Stephanie Doerksen

Energetics & Movement

  • Qi Gong Teacher Training – 200hr, 2021
     With Dr. Michael Smith (Soma Dao)

  • Medical Qi Gong Practitioner (in training) – 200hr, 2025
     With Noel Taylor (Shen Journey)

  • Acro Yoga Instructor Certification – 100hr, 2018
     With VanCity Acro

Where Clara Practices

Private Clinic – Saanich Peninsula

Clara offers one-on-one sessions from her cozy, home-based studio on the traditional lands of the WSÁNEĆ peoples. This healing space is sun-filled, peaceful, and full of heart—a gentle alternative to a conventional clinic setting.

Clara has two treatment spaces. One is a giant sunroom with lots of plants. She usually uses this one for Zenthai treatments, which helps with Zenthai’s intention towards feelings of expansiveness and freedom. The other space is quieter and more like a cocoon; primarily used for a deeper feeling of rest, Acupuncture and occasionally Zenthai (when the sun room is too hot!).

Please note: this is a shared home. While it is generally quiet, there may be some movement in other areas.

Trainings & Retreats – Vancouver Island

Clara offers a 9-month Zenthai Shiatsu Therapist Certification as well as the 4-day Level 1 Practitioner Training, and workshops in various locations across the island. The training courses provide embodied learning, relational presence, and hands-on practice.

Explore Current Events & Course Locations

A Welcoming, Inclusive Space

Clara offers trauma-informed, heart-led care in a space that is LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC friendly. She welcomes all people in all bodies, and is committed to continued education and unlearning in service of equity and belonging.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Zen Thai Shiatsu?
Zen Thai Shiatsu is a holistic bodywork therapy that integrates Traditional Thai Massage, Japanese Zen Shiatsu, and Osteopathic techniques. It’s performed fully clothed on a mat on the floor and combines gentle pressure, stretching, and energy line work to support the body’s natural healing processes.
How is Zen Thai Shiatsu different from regular massage or acupuncture?
Unlike Western massage which focuses on muscle tissue, Zen Thai Shiatsu works with energy meridians (sen lines), the nervous system, and fascia to restore flow and balance. While acupuncture uses needles, this therapy uses hands, feet, and body weight to apply rhythmic pressure and stretching.
What should I expect during a typical Zen Thai Shiatsu session?
You’ll lie on a comfortable mat, fully clothed in loose-fitting clothing. The practitioner will use palms, thumbs, elbows, and gentle movements to release tension, improve flexibility, and rebalance your energy. Sessions are deeply relaxing and grounding.
Is Zen Thai Shiatsu based on Traditional Chinese Medicine?
Yes, it draws from Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) as well as Thai and Japanese traditions. It focuses on meridian pathways and energy flow, supporting the body’s ability to heal and return to homeostasis.
Are Clara’s treatments insurance-billable?
Yes! As a registered Acupuncturist, Clara’s acupuncture and bodywork treatments are covered under most extended health-care plans. She does not, however, offer direct billing. She would be happy to help explain the process and ease of self-billing!
Is Zenthai safe during Pregnancy?
Yes! Zenthai is not only safe, but supportive to many pregnancy related discomforts and concerns. From nausea, to pelvic pain, heavy swollen legs and back pain, edema, low energy, and so much more, Zenthai can help you find relief and greater connection to the incredible journey of growing a baby! Pregnancy Zenthai is it’s own whole modality, in which Clara is trained. You will be “fluffed up” with many extra pillows and supportive offerings so that you can surrender and feel at ease.
What is your cancellation policy?
Your appointment time is reserved just for you. A late cancellation or missed visit leaves a hole in Clara’s day that could have been filled by another patient. As such, we require 24 hours notice for any cancellations or changes to your appointment. Patients who provide less than 24 hours notice, or miss their appointment, will owe a cancellation fee equivalent to:

100% value of the treatment for same-day cancellations or no-shows, or $50 for appointments cancelled between 8 and 24 hours prior.

Get in Touch

Let’s Begin

Whether you’re seeking relief, reconnection, or a deeper understanding of yourself, Clara would be honoured to walk alongside you.
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