Our Practitioners
Ana Bott. She/Her/They/Them
Advanced Clinical Massage Therapist, Specialist in Transgender bodies. Founder.
Ana became the world's first Advanced Clinical Massage Therapist to specialise in Transgender Bodies and their work in Trans anatomy is currently used internationally to support Transgender patients. They co-wrote on the qualification for LGBTQ+ inclusivity in manual therapies and were awarded Inclusive Therapy Business of the Year 2021-2022. They are the proud founder of Silk!
Their work focuses on providing a safe and inclusive environment for LGBTQ+ people to reconnect with their body, experience the deep parasympathetic nervous system and explore touch safely. They believe in reducing the body's pain levels through downregulating the nervous system and are experienced working with chronic pain pathologies and disability. Their original background was in front line SA trauma and they continue to bring this awareness and understanding into their work.
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They are embarking on this next chapter as Founder of Silk and continuing their practice from within her walls. Their favourite muscle is still the sternocleidomastoid.
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You can read more about Ana's story here.
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Lou Thomas. They/Them
LGBTQIA+ Yoga, Bodywork. Deep Tissue Massage Therapy
Lou runs Body Bits Brighton, is a yoga teacher, massage therapist, and creative arts facilitator, who helps people connect with their bodies, themselves and their communities through playful embodiment and radical rest. They specialise in trauma-informed, accessible, and therapeutic approaches to wellbeing, and working with LGBTQIA+, disabled, and neurodivergent communities. They work slow, soft and gentle, to help people feel taken care of, as a tonic for the nervous system, and to build trust and reconnection with the body.
Tommy Dargie. He/Him
LGBTQ+ Inclusive TCM Acupuncturist, Naturopath and Facial Enhancement Acupuncture Practitioner.
Tommy is a LGBTQ+ Inclusive Acupuncturist, Naturopath and facial enhancement acupuncture practitioner. In his work he incorporates the philosophy and tradition of Chinese medicine to meet his patients where they are at now, in a modern and urban world.
Zelda Violet Star She/Her
Astrologer and Healer
Zelda is Mistress of Ceremonies and the vessel for Airstrology - connecting you to the music that transforms your life.
A vastly experienced Astrologer and Healer; Zelda now exclusively offers Airstrology - deploying her astrological knowledge, skill and experience - and plenty of humour - to pinpoint the musicians and composers who affect your own unique energy signature to offer deep healing and assistance with anything you might be experiencing.
"An Airstrology session is an immersive experience. We sit down on cushions and fluffy blankets (or chairs, if you prefer) under mood lighting; we talk through your astro and where you're having difficulties or where you're looking for the means to reach for your goals and to help you make your dreams a reality; we play some tunes, maybe we laugh and maybe we cry and maybe we dance and maybe we don't; but all the way through, we're connecting to all parts of you and meeting them with love; and we're doing this through music - one of the most profound and powerful forms of magic."
Gabi Parkham. She/Her
LGBTQIA+ community yoga. Pregnancy & postnatal yoga. Birth & postnatal doula
Gabi is a yoga and movement teacher specialising in accessible and trauma informed yoga for LGBTQIA+ people. She has a particular focus on pregnancy and the postnatal period and offers birth and postnatal doula support around Brighton and Hove. Gabi is interested pain science and the rich history and ethics of yoga which informs all of her classes. Gabi loves to dismantle systems of power and centres consent, autonomy and equity in her work. She wants to empower you to find ways to move your beautiful, unique body that feel good and bring you joy.
Alongside teaching yoga, Gabi works as an educator and consultant for yoga studios and wellness professionals who would like to make their work more welcoming for LGBTQIA+ people.
Quartz. They/Them
Rope bondage practitioner and teacher, partnered touch, movement and consent educator.
​Quartz is an LGBTQ+, neurodivergent and disabled rope practitioner, performer and teacher. They blend Japanese-informed rope bondage with trauma-informed touch, biomechanics and grounding techniques. Quartz teaches at Brighton Rope and offers private rope classes and tying sessions. They also lead non-rope workshops on exploring intimacy for couples, thruples and polycules. Quartz’s work is not therapy, but they believe that in the right context, touch (alone or with trusted partners) can be therapeutic.
Emmas Thomas. She/Her
Clinical Ayurvedic Specialist and Sound Healer
Emma is a Clinical Ayurvedic Specialist and sound therapist. She joins us at Silk as a LGBTQ+ ally and advocate for inclusive wellbeing.
On joining Silk, she says:
“I am a second generation Ayurvedic practitioner following in my grandmothers footsteps. She was an ayurvedic healer from India, who helped others to heal and achieve their balance and herself lived until she was 100 years old.
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I absolutely love what I do and seeing people transform and regain their glow and heal is such a wonderful privilege to witness. I am dedicated to making my practice as inclusive as possible because that’s where my heart is.
As someone who is half-Indian there were times when I felt that I didn’t fit in anywhere. When you experience racism from both sides you think deeply about why these labels placed upon loving beings even matter. I have always felt accepted, understood and loved within the LGBTQIA+ spaces.”
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Brighton Rope
LGBTQ+, disabled and neurodivergent led and centred rope bondage.
Brighton Rope is a local CIC who offer regular classes and events teaching Japanese-informed rope bondage.​ They are LGBTQ+, disabled and neurodivergent led and centred. They strive to create an environment where people of all identities and bodies can feel safe to explore their vulnerability. Brighton Rope are passionate about consent, emotional and physical safety, and they believe that anyone (18+) can tie and be tied. As long as you follow their principles of mutual respect and consideration, you are welcome.
"Although rope bondage isn't a therapy, we passionately believe that learning how to hold and be held and explore vulnerable emotional states in a trauma-informed way can be therapeutic. This is in the same way that cuddling your friend, partner dancing or mindful movement can be therapeutic. We make no claims about rope as a healing practice.
The Japanese-informed rope bondage we offer is derived from shibari/kinbaku, which developed in the mid 20th century in Japan and was adapted and evolved by western practitioners. Our training is handed down from Japanese bakushi (restraint experts), however we do not adhere to any specific school of rope, but draw influences from biomechanics, grounding techniques and theatre.
Our hope is to enable a shared experience, in which the boundaries and needs of both rigger and rope bottom are honoured, and the rope bottom feels safe and cared for whilst exploring their desires and capabilities."