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Reclaiming Power Through Ritual
This week on The Sassy Show, we welcome Giap Tongsayor, a transformative facilitator specializing in conscious embodiment practices and healing rituals. Weaving together breath, sound healing, sensory stimulation, and kink dynamics, Giap shares her mission to create inclusive healing spaces, particularly for women of color and those involved (past and present) in sex work. Through her work, she offers a path to empowerment through conscious kink, while honoring the traditions and rituals rooted in her Thai heritage.
Tune into the podcast or watch as Giap demonstrates the power of intentional space-holding by guiding our host Bethany through one of her sessions - from the lighting of incense to reading cards, shibari and wax play, Giap shares how she creates a sacred space for deeply embodied (and often healing) experiences.
Walking into Giap's space, the air feels different – intentional, sacred. Incense burns at the threshold, symbolizing ancestors, the Earth Mother, and the Divine, creating a tangible threshold where clients are invited to "leave their shit behind" and enter with clear intention. "Everything is ritual, and every ritual has a meaning," Giap explains. For her, the deliberate preparation of sacred space mirrors the deeper essence of her work: healing through intentionality, presence, and surrender.
But Giap’s journey to becoming this space-holder for others was shaped by profound personal challenges. Growing up in Thailand, she was immersed in a culture heavily influenced by Western sex tourism. "I understood that my worth as a Thai woman was always connected to my partner's net worth," she reflects. "For women in the village, marrying a Westerner was the pathway to financial freedom, to safety and security—for yourself and your entire family."
When you're raised in a country where sex tourism is a reality but still taboo, there's so much miscommunication for women.
These societal expectations left deep imprints on Giap’s relationship with self-worth and intimacy. "When you're raised in a country where sex tourism is a reality but still taboo, there's so much miscommunication for women." Over time, Giap began to unravel these cultural narratives, transforming her understanding of sex, intimacy, and power. "That conditioning played a huge part in my path to sexual trauma, but it also led me to the path of healing," she shares. By reclaiming her story, she began crafting rituals and practices that are not only personally healing but offer a roadmap for others. "When I went back to Thailand and looked at the rituals, I realized everything is ritual. Tantra is everywhere—in the temples, the paintings. It made sense why sacred sexuality and tantric practices felt so natural to me."
At the core of Giap's work is the idea of intentionality. Whether exploring kink dynamics or guiding a breath centered session, her focus is on presence and connection. "Being conscious about anything is being intentional," she explains. "Even if you're exploring kink, if you do so intentionally, you’re being conscious. We meet ourselves wherever we are."
When women understand their own bodies, their own pleasures, and their own boundaries, they reclaim their power.
This perspective extends to her understanding of power dynamics. Rather than traditional "Dom/sub" language, Giap reframes the relationship around surrender and trust. "I would never ask someone to submit to me. I'll offer you the opportunity to surrender to my guidance, and in that surrender, I will take you to places you've never explored before. That, to me, is a beautiful dynamic—a beautiful dance." Central to these practices is breath. "Breath is really important," Giap notes. "It's your anchor point to check in with your body. Where are you in your arousal? Where is your body leading you? Breath keeps you grounded and out of your mind so your body can lead the way."
Informed by her own experiences, Giap is intentional about creating spaces where women of color and those with lived experience of sex work feel seen, heard, and empowered. "In so many wellness spaces, I felt like I had to tone myself and my experiences down to be accepted. I didn’t feel like I belonged." This exclusion led Giap to build the spaces she wished she had—safe, inclusive, and rooted in community. "When women understand their own bodies, their own pleasures, and their own boundaries, they reclaim their power," Giap emphasizes. "That reclamation doesn’t just shift their personal dynamics—it creates ripple effects. I truly believe that through healing and empowering women, we heal the world."
Your body will talk to you, and that's how you know "does your body want me, or am I forcing your body to be in a place that I desire it to be?"
For those curious about exploring this work, Giap offers a gentle invitation: "Ask yourself, is your hesitation coming from excitement or fear? Neither is right or wrong, but know there’s a space with me for both." Her upcoming Valentine’s Day workshop offers a perfect introduction to conscious embodiment practices, blending breathwork, guided rituals, and opportunities for deep exploration in a safe, supportive environment. (Get 20% using this special link).
As Giap continues to share her wisdom and hold space for others, her message remains clear: "Wherever you are on your journey, you're always going to meet yourself where you are. And that’s where the magic begins."
Watch the full interview below:
Keep up to date with Giap's work on IG @tongsayor or head to her website for more information about her workshops and offerings.
Be sure to catch Giap's Valentine's Event for couples - it'll be a beautiful way to reignite magic or stepping even deeper into your embodied desires.
Giap is offering a special 20% off for Sassy readers - use this link and be sure to catch her 241 offer for solo tickets celebrating the Lunar New Year.
Interview and portraits by Bethany Burgoyne @bxsassy2
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