Yoga & Therapeutic Massage–Bodywork
'If you touch one thing with deep awareness, you touch everything.' Thich Nhat Hanh
Fiona Straathof
Hi, I’m Fiona. I live in beautiful Haarlem with my partner Cindy and our cats. Here’s a little about the path that brought me to the work I love today.
I originally graduated with a Master’s in English Language & Literature in 2005, followed by a postgraduate teaching qualification in 2006. From 2004 to 2017, I taught in secondary and higher education — a chapter of my life that deeply shaped my love for learning, communication, and guiding others.
Yoga entered my life in the early 2000s, and it quickly became a constant companion. Over the years I’ve practiced and studied Raja Yoga, Iyengar, Vinyasa, Yin, and Restorative Yoga with inspiring teachers, including the renowned Judith Hanson Lasater. My yoga and meditation practice supported me through many transitions, and when I stepped away from education in 2017, I naturally moved into teaching yoga full-time.
My focus gradually shifted from teaching yoga to the therapeutic world of Thai bodywork. I first encountered Thai massage in 2010, but in 2020 I began studying this art with real dedication. Since then, my work has grown into a full-time bodywork practice. I now offer treatments, classes, workshops, and private sessions, weaving together yoga, touch, and therapeutic presence.
I have a strong foundation in Thai massage, having completed multiple basic and advanced trainings, including a 3-year Thai massage therapy program. I’ve continued to deepen my knowledge through advanced studies in Osteothai, Dynamic Thai, and Chi Nei Tsang with internationally respected teachers.
Each year, I travel to Thailand and various parts of Europe to continue studying and refining my skills. I regularly assist my teachers during trainings, which has given me a deeper understanding of the practice and a great appreciation for the richness of this lineage.
For me, yoga and Thai bodywork aren’t just professional practices — they’re a way of living with awareness, curiosity, and compassion. I feel grateful every day to share this work here in Haarlem and beyond, and to be part of a global community dedicated to healing and connection. I’d describe myself as caring, open, playful, and always ready to learn something new or meet someone new.
I’m happy you’re here, and I look forward to meeting you.
Bachelor & Master English Language & Literature, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (2001-2005)
Eerstegraads lerarenopleiding Engels, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (2005-2006)
Yoga teacher training:
- Therapeutic Applications of Restorative Yoga Level I&II with Lizzie and Judith H. Lasater (I'm a certified Relax & Renew® trainer) Munich & London (100 hrs 2018-2019)
- Online participation International Yoga Nidra Conference - Yoga International TT (2020) 30 hrs (2020)
- Yin Yoga Teacher Training (200 hrs)+ Advanced Yin Yoga Teacher Training (50 hrs) - DNYS Amsterdam (2017-2018)
- Advanced Vinyasa Yoga Teacher Training: Creative Sequencing and Embodying the Elements (100hrs) - Daphne Koken DNYS Amsterdam (2017)
- Iyengar Yoga Teacher Training Iyengar Yoga Zeeburg Amsterdam (2014-2015)
- Raja Yoga Foundation Training (2005-2007) + Raja Yoga Teacher Training 80 hr module studying the Bhavagad Gita at La Borde Blanque France (2017)
Next to the teacher trainings I have followed numerous workshops, masterclasses and weekend trainings.
Massage/Bodywork training
- Year training Tao Touch Chi Nei Tsang with Peter Vederer (Tao Touch Institute) 2025/2026
- Osteothai: Freeing the Breath 3 day weekend workshop with Oliver Chamorro (2025)
-
Osteothai: Vitality Boost 3 day weekend workshop with Almuth Kramer (2025)
- Tao Touch Chi Nei Tsang training
Fundamentals of TaoTouch Chi Nei Tsang
Global Body Attitude TaoTouch Chi Nei Tsang
Tao Touch Chi Nei Tsang Institute (June/July 2025)
- Chi Nei Tsang I&II and Karsei Nei Tsang Omsala Therapy & Education, Chiang Mai, Thailand (Jan 2025)
- Lanna Thai - Advanced Stretching Diego Marques, ITM school, Thailand (2025)
- Osteothai for the Internal Organs 2 Lulyani school, school of Thai Massage & Osteothai (2024)
- Osteothai for the Internal Organs 1 Lulyani school, school of Thai Massage & Osteothai (2024)
- Osteothai: Connecting the Heart & the Head 3 day weekend workshop with Flora Bisogno (2024)
- Thai Massage with the Feet weekend workshop with Bojan Babic (2024)
- Lifting the Womb with Pi Jem Thanachon, Chiang Mai, Thailand (2024)
- Thai Massage for the Feet Old Medicine Hospital Thai Massage School, Chiang Mai, Thailand (2024)
- Osteothai for the Lower Back Lulyani school, school of Thai Massage & Osteothai (2023)
- Chi Nei Tsang (Alchemy of the Abdomen) with Kerys Williams from the Sunshine Network in Greece (2023)
- Chi Nei Tsang (Detoxing the Emotions) with renowned Thai teacher Pi Jem Thanachon (2023)
- Osteothai Principles and Overview Lulyani school, school of Thai Massage & Osteothai (2023)
- Osteothai for the Main Joints Lulyani school, school of Thai Massage & Osteothai (2023)
- Therapeutic Thai massage Thai Dee, 2 year programme, The Netherlands. (2022-23)
- Advanced Dynamic Thai massage with Krishnatakis of the Sunshine Network in Portugal (2022)
- Basic Thai massage course with Krishnatakis of the Sunshine Network in Greece, 90 hrs (2022)
- Nuad Thai, traditional Thai massage Thai Dee 1 year programme (2021)
- Introduction course Thai massage Thai Dee (2012)
Courses I have assisted
- Basic Thai massage course with Krishnatakis of the Sunshine Network in Portugal, 90 hrs
(2023) - 2-day Introduction to Thai Massage course with Bojan Babic at Yogamoves Utrecht (2023)
- 5- day Advanced Dynamic Thai with Flora Bisogno at Sunshine School, Chiang Mai, Thailand (2024)
- 2-day Dynamic Thai & Osteothai with Bojan Babic at Yogamoves Utrecht (2024)
- 5- day Advanced Dynamic Thai with Flora Bisogno in Florence, Italy (2024)
- 2-day Dynamic Thai with Flora Bisogno Haarlem, Netherlands (2025)
Other courses:
21-day Northern-style Vipassana meditation basic course - International Center Wat Chom Tong, Thailand.
Reiki 1, Reiki 2, Shin-Do (2017-2018) Nederlof centrum Amsterdam
Mediumship, Trance Energy Healing (2020) Spirituele Praktijk Miraja