Dear Orn,

I was first referred to Orn Chakkapark at Thai Healing Therapy when I was 7 months pregnant with my son.  A friend and physician recommended that I visit with Orn to improve my sense of well-being.  I had the typical back aches, leg swelling, and constipation, but felt that I was doing pretty well, so I wasn’t expecting to get much from my initial appointment with her.  However, Orn quickly and expertly diagnosed many issues with my body that I had been experiencing for so long and that had developed so subtly that I did not realize were causing my bigger problems.  She was then able to manipulate my body precisely and I felt so much better by the end that I returned to her week after week until I gave birth and then also post partum.  As an example, during a visit with her during my 8th month, I felt that my body was doing well, but that my legs were sore from running around at work.  She quickly determined that, not only did I have tightness of several muscle groups in my legs and lower back, but that I also had some leg swelling that I didn’t notice, even when she initially pointed it out.  She then worked her magic on my left leg/low back, and had me compare my left leg to my right; my left leg had become quite a bit smaller than the right and it was then that I realized that I had actually had significant pain in my legs which she had relieved in the treated leg.  By the end of the appointment, I was able to walk away and actually not feel pregnant.  In a similar manner, she was able to treat my constipation and other aches, as well as improve my energy level and sense of well-being in a way I never felt possible.  Post partum, she not only performed massage, but also used herbal compresses, again to help my body heal from the many changes and stresses that carrying and delivering a baby can cause.

Orn’s expertise in the art of Thai massage therapy is extremely difficult to find.  She has extensive training and a great deal of experience.  True therapeutic Thai massage is very different than Swedish or deep tissue massages found at most massage spas.  She has the ability not only to manipulate the body expertly and efficiently, but her greatest strength is her ability to quickly and accurately diagnose problems and their origins.  In this way, she defines herself even from other Thai massage therapists; as I have been to Thailand many times, I can attest that most Thai massage therapists can only deliver relaxation type massages.  My sister, who was also pregnant at the same time as I, but who lives in Chicago was also able to benefit from Orn’s expertise during her visits to Minneapolis.  And though my sister tried to find a therapist closer to home, even with Orn’s assistance, she could not find the caliber of therapy that Orn offers and thus had to travel to Minneapolis for her treatments.

I feel that I have only experienced the “tip of the iceberg” of Orn’s abilities.  She would be a definite benefit to any therapeutic program.  I have not hesitated to refer patients to her on several occasions. 

Sincerely,