Restorative Bodywork

With Natalie Ventilla MRSS

“I couldn’t recommend Natalie enough. Her treatments are tailored specifically to you, to help you feel balanced spiritually, mentally, emotionally and physically. I started going to her during my pregnancy and haven’t looked back.”

— Fiona

Welcome to the homepage of Natalie Ventilla, MRSS - an accredited member of The Shiatsu Society and a children's book author of Mak the Dragon Who Loves to Stretch. Natalie offers various treatments, including Shiatsu, Acupressure Massage, Cupping, and Sound Healing, that help restore balance to your body, mind, and spirit. She provides therapy and relief during times of mental, physical, and emotional discomfort, offering support and guidance through personal investment, growth, and healing.

You can find Natalie at The Healing Body clinic, located in the Urban Office 'The Old Schoolhouse,' a beautifully refurbished 1910 Victorian School in the Kinning Park area of Glasgow. The clinic provides a warm and inviting atmosphere for total comfort and relaxation.

www.thehealingbody.co

Suite 4 Urban Office, 101 Portman Street, Kinning Park, G41 1EJ

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“The energy Natalie releases following a session is pretty amazing. The tension built up from everyday life is lifted off my shoulders. Her sessions are tranquil and relaxing. I would highly recommend for anyone needing a reset to the body, mind and spirit.”

— Jamie

Let’s connect on Instagram.

Listen now on BBC Sounds. The interview with Michelle McManus for the Our Lives series, about my book Mak The Dragon- Who Loves To Stretch, is in my bio now. Have a wee listen if you fancy learning more about the book and the story behind- and ahead of it! Thanks to all of those who have given the book their support- it means so much to me to know my work is being well received. Big ❤️

Hand On Hara. Those who have received Shiatsu will know that treatments usually begin and end with a hand on 'Hara' ( Japanese). Otherwise known as the 'Lower Dantian' (Chinese). My personal favourite is 'Sea Of Ki'. Sometimes it is not appropriate for the receiver and that is OK. We have other ways and means of working with the Ki. English language is limited in respect of the depth of meaning. With the closest translation being anatomical- the 'abdomen' or 'belly'. Although the language is limited, we understand how deeply personal and vulnerable this part of the body feels. We know innately that this is where life began, on a cellular level. It is home to the digestive and reproductive organs, the soil and fabric of our being. Wishing you a calm, connected day. ☯ Image of Ampuku- Abdominal Acupressure, in the woods by @chieramcphotography

Shiatsu in The Herald! ☯️✨ You all know I’m mad about shiatsu and the incredible health benefits of treatment and self treatment. My book @makthedragon, with beautiful dragon illustrations from Vicky Smyth, Shiatsu Practitioner and Teacher, was written to introduce Shiatsu to children in a fun and engaging way. Through interactive and imaginative play. The story began in workshops with my sons nursery and took flight from there. I will be out and about sharing this practice in the community and beyond. Energetic practices are the future of preventative healthcare. It’s so important that children are equipped with this information from a young age. Do let me know if you want to know more about a workshop with the children in your community. Thanks for your support. It means a lot. ✨💛☯️🙏🏼 @theshiatsupress

Out of the mind and into the body. ✨ Are you feeling it? The Earth Phase can shine a spotlight on the overactive mind. Handing the mic over to worry, overthinking and rumination. Over processing and over analysis of our environment can lead to mental exhaustion. Bringing the activity into the body and strengthening the muscles helps us to rebalance, process and accept. I’m connecting to the Spleen and Stomach meridians, with a variation of the Makko-Ho routine. Exercises that practitioners share with clients where appropriate, for self treatment between sessions. Not all exercises shown will be suitable for everyone and should be safely taught by your Shatsu Practitioner. Wishing you a grounded Earth Phase. 🌎

Availability tomorrow. ☯️✨ A rearrangement has opened up a Shiatsu or Acupressure Massage treatment, tomorrow at 12:30pm. £50 in exchange for a one hour session. At the Yoga Extension, 5 Newton Terrace Lane, Glasgow Drop me a message to book. ☯️

You said it.. ✨☯️ I captured it in a little square for the grid. The words we express before, during and following a treatment are powerful. They are intentions, feelings, permissions, reflections and connections. I have some space this Friday and Saturday afternoon for Shiatsu / Acupressure Massage. Also for next weekend. ☯️✨💛 Weblink in bio. Please feel free to send me a direct message with your enquiries.

Earth Types 🌎 You may feel at home this late summer season. It’s a time of harvest, when the Earth offers us the sweetest of fruits and vegetables. Fire creates Earth in the TCM creation cycle. The warmth and light energises. It offers opportunities to spend more time in nature and with loved ones. Where Earths are mostly ‘in their element.’ Earths love to look after others. If you’re an Earth type, you are likely to be the one that prepares something homemade, to nurture and nourish your nearest and dearest at the picnic. You listen with sympathy, compassion and a fair approach to their problems. Offering your support where and when you can. You love plants, flowers and struggle to take a walk without making a new animal friend. Your grounding energy is felt by those in your presence. You are known to be reliable and trustworthy. Earths have a tendency to spread themselves thin, putting the needs of others before their own. They often struggle to say ‘no’ and need to practice healthy boundaries. Earth types can also appear needy, or as though they are smothering others with their care and attention. Earths are sensitive souls and do not deal well with hurt and rejection. They worry too much and often about how others perceive them. Be gentle with yourselves kind Earths. Practice healthy boundaries and take time to nurture and nourish yourselves. Try not to worry about things that have never and maybe never happen. 💛 📸: It’s me and my Betty. A big bit Earth, with some Wood and a touch of Fire too.

Cooling Summer Heat. 🍅 Did you know that foods carry energetic properties in TCM? Tomatoes are typically ready for harvest in Late Summer, the ideal time to eat them. They are ‘cooling’ in nature .Tonifying the Yin, clearing summer Heat and assisting with healthy digestion. Particularly beneficial to the Stomach and Liver. (I’m excited about these little tomatoes in my garden.) 🌎🍅

Do you feel it? 🌎 Wishing you a lovely, restful Sunday. ☯

Thank You. ✨ To all of you awesome souls who have recommended Shiatsu with me to a friend. It means a huge amount to me and my wee business. Allowing me to continue on this journey, doing what I love to do. Have a beautifully balanced weekend- like these wee Yin Yang dugs. ✨💚

So excited to share... That I and Mak The Dragon ( My children’s book about stretching the body for emotional, mental and physical health) had a lovely chat with the awesome Michelle @ladym_mcmanus yesterday at the @bbcradioscot studios. Michelle is a dream to chat to. We talked Shiatsu, mindful movement and my vision to help children and their grown ups connect to their bodies, feelings and emotions with the @makthedragon story and workshops. I don’t know when the show will play out on BBC Radio Scotland yet. You’ll find out here, I’m told it’ll be later this month. Thank yo Michelle @ladym_mcmanus and Lynda-Marie @yankee_in_auld_reekie for having me. 😘

The Art of Shiatsu. Receiving Shiatsu means different things to different bodies. It is also a different experience from one treatment to the next. This is probably why I love it. There is no set routine. The direction of the treatment can’t be planned ahead. It’s naturally about what the receiver intends for the treatment. It’s also about what the body says energetically, postural observations, facial expressions and hues, the tone of voice and which elements are presenting. Primarily the treatment is crafted around which imbalances present themselves during assessment of the ‘Hara’. An ancient form of ‘diagnosis’. It’s something quite unlike other modalities but equally a fusion of many. Have you tried Shiatsu yet? ✨☯️ 📸: By @chieramcphotography

Fire Season 🔥 We are all of the Five Elements, with a predominant element or two. In Traditional Eastern Medicine, understanding the elements allows Practitioners to identify traits, symptoms and imbalances which may commonly occur. Is Fire a bit of you or someone you know? Tag the joyous 🔥 in your life who brings the laughs and love. Have a good day out there.

The Energy Of The Heart. When we work with the Heart in Shiatsu, we know that we are working with the mediator of thought, emotion and action. This work is central and interconnected to all of the Organs, as the primary generator of energy. Electro-magnetic energy which charges every cell in our being. The Heart is The Emperor, protected by the three other Fire meridians. The 'divine spark' of consciousness, also known as The Shen resides in the Heart. It is who we are at our core, our identity on all levels of being. The transformative nature of Fire, integrates the experiences which shape us, literally taking them to Heart. You have probably heard of heart transplants, where the memories, likes, dislikes, loves and even the languages spoken and understood, have transferred from giver to receivers consciousness, along with the physical organ. So many stories like this have been documented. Each of them amazing, perhaps not so surprising when we consider the energy of the heart. Image by @chieramcphotography ❤️ ( cropped to show a close up, heart shot.)

Shiatsu or Acupressure Massage Opening. Tomorrow - (Saturday 23rd) at 12pm. Not on my website but you can drop me a message to book. I'll be at The Yoga Extension, Charing Cross, Glasgow. 1 hour or 1 hour 30 mins. What's your body saying? Image by @chieramcphotography

Summer Yang Mode 🔥☯️ Screamadelica Live was just the ignition my fanning flames were needing. Dancing, singing and sweating in a crowd, under a big tent can’t be underestimated. I promised myself a summer of connection. Connecting to my family, music I used to love, myself, my intuition. I’d spent so much time going within and I think, we can sometimes lose a bit of ourselves if we go too deep. Who has the answers to this life stuff anyway? We just keep going.. Hope you’re having an awesome summer out there. 🔥☯️

The Shen. 神 The Spirit of Summer. If you don't know, now you know. 🔥🔥🔥

Happy Pride Month. 🌈 Here is a wee collection of some beautiful photos, celebrating diversity and love across a rainbow of beautiful individualities. Chinese medicine philosophy is founded upon the concept of Yin-Yang, which is one of duality. Often misinterpreted as a symbol of opposing forces creating balance, in it's 2D, stagnant representation. Yet balance and harmony are maintained in the constant movement of energy, through Yin and Yang. Within Yin there is Yang and within Yang there is Yin. There are no absolutes. No boxes to squeeze into but millions of possibilities, within the cyclical nature of life. 'Shiatsu is not for those who want to put everything into boxes' said a wise teacher of mine. ❤️ Celebrating love, connection and 'the 10,000 things' this month and every month with Pride. 🌈☯

July Dates. ☯️🔥 I have just updated my availability for next month. I’m taking off to the Lake District in the middle for some nature immersion. I’ll also be navigating camps and day trips with my little people and pooch. Can’t wait for all of it.. I’ll still be doing my body therapy thing on the following days, at The Yoga Extension: Friday 1st Saturday 2nd Friday 8th Saturday 9th Friday 29th Saturday 30th Bringing all of the Yin feels to the Yang Fire of Summer. ☀️ Web link in bio and you can always DM too. I’d love to hear from you. ☯️🔥 📸: @calfacialist my model receiver. @claremcdowallart

Shiatsu/ Acupressure Massage This Friday. I’ll be at The Yoga Extension and have availability at: 10:30am 1:30pm 4:45pm DM or book via weblink in bio. Begin the weekend with all the good feels.... ☯️ 📸 @claremcdowallart With @calfacialist receiving the goods.