Today we’d like to introduce you to Amy Hastanan.
Hi Amy, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I’m originally from New York, the Bronx to be exact and mixed Thai and Puerto Rican. I now call Hawai’i home because I couldn’t hack the eastcoast winters and wanted to give up the grind of the city. I have spent the last 18 years dedicating myself to complimentary and alternative medicine – specifically massage and acupuncture.
I was curious about “medicine” from a young age because most of my family members are in the western medical field, but I did not know how (or if) I was going to follow in their footsteps. I remember meeting with my guidance counselor senior year of high school in the South Bronx and asking her about nutrition or alternative medicine school. She seemed perplexed and suggested beauty school. I was disappointed – mind you the internet was still fairly new and the notion of complimentary and alternative medicine in academia and culture had not permeated the far corners of the South Bronx as yet. So I was on my own; seeking out the information to create a lifestyle and follow a calling.
My first memories of massage were at home. As early as 5 year old, I would see exchanges of foot and shoulder massages or I was asked to walk on someones back; so fun as a kid (still so fun today!) Throughout my early twenties, New York City’s Korea town on 32nd street was my next impressionable introduction. I would go with friends late night to soak, scrub and decompress. But when it became real for me, when I knew I had to take it upon myself to discover more about massage and spa life, was as a young traveler exploring Asia. Varying methods of selfcare were everywhere, it was common place, integrated into daily life and it was accessible. I made a point to try different therapies of massage and bodywork from Bangkok to silent meditations in the southern provinces of Thailand, and later acupuncture and herbal medicine in Shanghai. Initially, it was a way to engage my heritage. I began studying Traditional Thai Bodywork on the island of Koh Tao. I fell in love with it all; the whole process. It was one of the first times in my life I felt a strong interest and calling. Could I be innately good at something? My curiosity was fueled my passion and self discovery. I immersed myself. I wasn’t always enthusiastic about conventional learning of books and classrooms; I wanted to make things; use my hands. I wanted a real tangible skill.
It’s pretty magical how I came full circle in finding a way to blend the very two things I loved the most; massage and travel. Today, I am an NCBTMB Certified Sarga Bodywork® Instructor. I want to help spread the knowledge of barefoot bodywork, educate other LMTs in this wonderful healing art which offers longevity and renewed passion and a creative approach to the body. Sarga Bodywork is a Hawai’i born barefoot modality rooted in aspects of ashiatsu but uses the support of a silk fabric attatched to a massage table rather than traditional overhead bars. The “Sarga” or “silk” allows the practitioner stability and use of tensional and gravitational force to deliver consistent, oblique pressure with the broad contact surfaces of the feet. From the moment I began using my feet I was sold. I now felt complete becasue I was able to use my whole body more ergonomically. The objective has always been to seek longevity in this career; a labor of love.
So besides running a full time practice on O’ahu, I take Sarga on the road 3-4xs a year teaching courses throughout the US mainland and Mexico.
I started hosting retreats as an answer to the need for higher-quality education & immersion-style trainings; creating a container for focus, support and camaraderie.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Being passionate made my career choice easy. And maybe my stubborn and persistent nature allowed me to stay on this path this long. The path wasn’t always clear and definitely not linear; I just kept following my interests and I maintained focus on what brought me joy.
I don’t think anybody would say running a business is smooth. There’s always going to be ups and downs, sweet and salty. But there is no other way to learn but through this dual nature of things. I’ve had different challenges at varying points of the timeline. In the beginning, as I was trying to establish myself, I worked for other people. Massage therapists tend to be an independent breed and this was very hard for me because at times I felt like a workhorse for other businesses. So starting my own private practice was its own hurdle but extremely worth it. I’ve come to the point where I realize that it usually takes me about two years to fill my books. I’ve learned this because I’ve held a massage license in (going on) four different states: New York, Oregon, Hawaii and now Utah. Somewhere after the 10 year mark, expansion was on my mind and so bringing on other practitioners to my practice and sharing space was a huge endeavor. Having a brick and mortar location with high overhead in Honolulu was something to navigate for sure. The pandemic — I think we all understand and I don’t need to go too much into detail with that – I learned a lot and my businesses survived and I would say that was one of the most challenging times to date.
Today taking the show on the road, traveling and teaching courses in different states and regions; it’s a lot of logistics. Every past experience has prepared me for the next one and I just have to remain adaptable and resourceful. The best part of it all is I am my own boss and I have a lot of freedom — that’s all I ever wanted.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
I recently hosted a Sarga Bodywork pop-up course in Ogden, which sold out in a matter of weeks. An outpouring of interest has come from many therapists in the area who would like to take more barefoot bodywork courses, as well as receive mentorship to hone their skills. The pandemic had a twofold effect on the field of massage therapy. I think many left the industry but then there was a great need. And so people are now entering the field and higher education is important and necessary to be competitive in the market.
I’ll be returning in March 2023 for another Sarga pop-up. I am now licensed in Utah and will begin mentoring massage therapists who are interested in refining their barefoot skills. This work is nuanced and learning happens in layers. I feel a deep responsibility to support my fellow body workers who are passionate about providing for others.
Utah, with all its beauty evokes health and wellness as do many of the neighboring states with their wild and captivating nature. It’s inevitable that such a place is drawing more people to come live and explore for the engagement with the great outdoors. I have noticed a correlation between massage therapists who are drawn to Sarga and those who seek nature. Maybe it’s because as trained alternative medicine practitioners we honor the importance of grounding and recharging. The beauty of my work is that it is a lifestyle. Sarga suits the adventure seeker type massage therapist perfectly because it is a physically demanding modality; requires corrdination and balance and it is also mobile. The equipment is minimal and easy to break down. No overhead bar system is needed as in most barefoot styles and so it frees us from the confines of a typical office setting if you so choose. As more people move to SLC and the city expands; I foresee massage as an industry continue to grow. I am thankful to be welcomed in Utah by the bodywork community as well as host locations like Vitalize Community Studio in Sugarhouse where I will be teaching this spring.
Pricing for Licensed Massage Therapist Courses & Mentorship:
- Sarga 101 | 4 days | 24 CEUs | $895
- Sarga 102 | 2 days | 12 CEUs | $450
- Sarga Mentorship $300 pr/hr
- Sarga Immersion Retreat (price varies)
Pricing for Clients:
- 90-120 min Sarga Bodywork Out-Call Session | $250-$300
Contact Info:
- Website: www.themanoahouse.com
- Instagram: @sargawithamy
Image Credits
Carly Wesolowski – Utah Photos
Heather Lee – Joshua Tree Photos
Jacob Sierra – Teaching photo at The Mānoa House; girl in blue, Amy in brown, fern plant in back
