IAMA WELLNESS AND BODYWORK

Amma Therapy

Traditional Chinese Medicine, Massage

Now booking for October 2025

About

Welcome to Iama (ee-ah-mah) Wellness and Bodywork, specializing in Amma Therapy. Amma Therapy combines the knowledge of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) with the therapeutic benefit of massage. Amma Therapy focuses on maintaining balance in the body, and can help address a wide range of symptoms and health issues.

What is Amma Therapy?

Amma, the oldest Chinese word to describe massage, is a specialized form of bodywork rooted in TCM. Amma combines deep, therapeutic pressure with acupoint manipulation to address imbalances in the body according to TCM theory.

Like acupuncture, Amma focuses on the balance of Qi (energy) in the body according to Traditional Chinese Medicine theory, while simultaneously addressing the musculoskeletal system.

What to Expect in a Session

Each session begins with discussion and assessment to understand individual client needs. The treatment utilizes deep, therapeutic pressure and acupoint manipulation. Amma is a hands-on treatment and does not involve needle insertion. The Amma Therapist relies on the strength and sensitivity of the hands to manipulate acupoints. Post treatment may include individualized recommendations depending on client needs.

Treatments can include:

Cupping
Gua Sha
Moxibustion
Chinese Herbs

The treatment room serves as a dedicated space to focus on health and wellness, as well as a place to relax and restore.

What can Amma Treat?

The foundation of TCM integrates a holistic approach, understanding the whole mind-body complex as one unified system. Sessions utilize an individualized treatment protocol.

The practice is open to all people at any stage of healing be it to simply have a space to come unwind, or to help address a complex condition.

Amma Therapy is focused on restoring and maintaining balance in the body and can serve as complementary care to help address a wide range of conditions including:

Body pain
Headaches
Digestive disturbance
Menstrual/Menopausal issues
Sinus issues/Allergies
Anxiety and insomnia

Amma Therapy is also a wonderful option for those simply seeking to de-stress and enjoy bodywork.

Meet your Therapist

Claire Papoulis

Amma Therapist

OR LMT 23054

NASM CPT

I am a graduate from the Amma Therapy program at The Wellspring School for Healing Arts. After nearly 9 years in practice at clinics in Oregon and then Massachusetts, I returned to Oregon to found Iama Wellness and Bodywork. This practice is a culmination of the skills I have accumulated over the years, and I am grateful to share it within the local community.

As a practitioner, I strive to create a comfortable space for clients to heal. I have found tremendous value in the holistic model of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and am dedicated to delivering this treatment method with the utmost care.