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August 24, 2012
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I have started my first module. Once again, I am so grateful to have found Shama. It is awesome to see that Thai Massage is not just another "Technique" or mechanical modality. It is an integration of spirit, body, and soul. The exchange of energy in the process of giving a Thai massage is a profound one. It involves the wholeness of the individual, bringing emaotional, physical, and spiritual healing.
Shama is such a spiritual and devoted instructor. The videos do not just inspire me to learn more. They actually motivate my soul with his inspiring charisma. Thanks!
June 28, 2010
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Vidal, you have expressed very precisely what I am trying to convey throughout all my courses. In my Thai Massage course I am gradually building up to this conclusion, but you 'got it' right in the beginning. That's why the name of this thread 'A great beginning' is very appropriate:) Glad to have you onboard!
August 24, 2012
Offline Thanks a bunch Shama!
I have learned so much from Module 2. The importance of ergonomics and touch. I am a very flexible person since I love to take care of myself but after practicing Shama's instructions I realized how wonderful it feels to use your body weight instead of just your muscles or certain parts of your body to apply pressure.
June 28, 2010
Offline Yes, the difference between body weight and muscle pressure is like night and day. I can instantly feel if someone is muscling me during a massage. Once you have experienced working with or being massaged with body weight, you never want to go back to the muscling style. Plus it is so much better for the health of the therapist.
August 24, 2012
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After watching Modules on Foot Massage I practiced the techniques several times and was very happy to hear my partner say how beneficial the massage was for them not only to improve their fitness as active individuals but also the inner self and the sense of being healthier. My subjects felt the massage increased in them good blood circulation, relaxed their muscles, relieved stress, increased energy and reduced tiredness. Not to mention I personally received energizing benefits myself since my body was in tune with my partners and the exchange of energy was amazing. Of course, Shama was the main motivator in the whole process.
June 28, 2010
Offline If that is what your subjects feel after you just started the course, I am really looking forward to hear their feedback once you went through the entire course! I love reading about feedback like that:)
August 24, 2012
Offline I have completed Module 4. I am so happy with the way Shama stresses over the importance of using your whole body and not just parts of it o a few muscles only. I have also realized that even if you tried to incorporate Thai massage on a table, it would not work as efficiently as on a flat surface or on the floor.
How long must you wait to give a subject another Thai massage? I have a client that recently began to have chronic pain around the ankles. What do you recommend in this case? Is Thai foot massage advisable?
Shama, following you on the videos is like a ray of light. I can't say this enough but you have a way to grasp our attention that is very spiritual. Great job!
June 28, 2010
Offline I have quite a few students who start working on clients very quickly. You don't have to make it a full fledged Thai Massage session, but you can just add some Thai Massage moves into whatever massage you do and see how it is working out and what response you get. I also heard from students that they just mention to their clients that they are studying Thai Massage now and ask them if they would be interested to experience some of those techniques. Generally they say yes and find it interesting to be your guinea pig for a few moves. I would not do that with a new client, but only with regulars whom you have a relationship of trust with.
In regards to ankle problems and foot massage, Thai foot massage can definitely help. Actually I am planning to do an entire course just about foot massage at some point which will be very much in depth about foot and ankle problems.
Certainly you have more options and better ergonomics when working on the floor. When you adapt Thai Massage to the table, you can do a lot of moves, but you cannot get right on top of a client, so you lose this advantage that you have in Thai Massage on a floor mat, that you can use your body weight in the most efficient way. On a table you also cannot elegantly transition from one side of the client to the other as you will learn later on in the course.
I am happy that the course is working well for you!
August 24, 2012
Offline The techniques showed by Shama in Module 5 are very effective for reflexology massage. As mentioned by him, the traditional Thai massage usually starts with the feet and it is so important to keep in mind that they are so neglected by most of us when in fact they are the ones that keep us going all day. Not to mention how related they are to many organs and major system of our body. I am really enjoying this journey. Thanks Shama!
August 24, 2012
Offline The rocking technique on Module 6 is awesome. My subjects have expressed so much satisfaction that they would love to experience it again. However, I am sure it is not just the technique, it has a lot to do with what Shema says constantly about the importance of having a special touch. Using forearms is a great help, especially when you work on big individuals as Shema says. This journey is awesome!
June 28, 2010
Offline As of this writing I have two regular clients who are both male, large, heavy and stiff. I use mostly forearms, elbows, knees and feet on them when working on the stiff muscles. This is one of the greatest benefits of Thai Massage that you can use so many body parts.
For stretching techniques the issue is generally not stress on the hands, but using your body weight correctly. If I were to write a mini formula for success in Thai Massage, it would be something like this:
1. When working on muscles, learn to use as many body parts as possible.
2. When doing stretching, learn how to perfect your ergonomics and use your body weight efficiently.
3. For the overall feeling of the session, learn how to use your breath, energy, intention and intuition.
4. Learn how to replace linear moves with rocking or motion based moves.
5. Look at Thai Massage not as a technique, but as an artistic, graceful, flowing way to transmit and move energy.
August 24, 2012
Offline So right about being an art and not just technique. Module 6 was awesome as well. Using the whole body to apply pressure and massage the thighs is amazing. I noticed that when you use just certain muscles or certain parts of your body and not whole your body to apply pressure, you develop some stressful pressure points on your back and other parts of the body. That was my mistake when I first started massaging. Thanks to Shama and this training I have refined my skills much more. One question is, when working on someone's thighs who happened to be very hairy, would that create some kind of friction when applying pressure?
Thanks for the great positive energy.
June 28, 2010
Offline Normally hairy thighs are only a problem when you do oil massage and slide over the skin.
First of all, in Thai Massage we work of fully dressed people. I always keep a pair of simple Thai cotton drawstrings pants around. If a client is dressed in a way that is not so practical, I ask them to change into the long Thai pants. That's one way to eliminate the hairy issue.
If you work on someone who has short pants and the hairy thighs are exposed, just make sure not to do any movements that might pull skin and/or hair, and you will be fine. Direct pressure is not a problem with hairy skin, only techniques where you move your fingers over the skin.
The whole-body-working-style is truly amazing. It is so simple and yet so many therapists are totally conditioned to muscle people. This is what creates pain and stiffness in the body of the therapist. Muscling clients should be avoided as much as possible. There are some techniques where you do need some muscle power, so that cannot be totally eliminated, but it can be minimized, and that's the goal.
August 24, 2012
Offline Shama,
I am very thankful for all the insightful information and references. I have just completed Module 7 and the energy that can be developed and experienced when doing it just right, not as a new technique or modality but something that is artistically a source of energy, healing, renovation, and life is so indescribable. The fluency and rythm in the moves are just like a spiritual dance. Working on another person's body that way brings a deep and personal connection that creates an atmmosphere of healing and deliverance. Thanks Shama.
June 28, 2010
Offline You are certainly picking up the spirit of Thai Massage, not just the techniques. I am sure that your clients will love what you are doing with Thai Massage.
August 24, 2012
Offline I have completed Module 8. A few things Shema stresses out there has given me a broader understanding of the importance of reading a client's body, not becoming mechanical, types of bodies, and the fact that Thai massage is NOT one size fits all. Also, it is very refreshing to realize that CONCEPTUAL THINKING is far better than following steps. Here I have found the difference between been mechanical and allowing the flow of energy and art of Thai massage take place. Simply put, AWESOME!!!!
June 28, 2010
Offline That's the key right there: the difference between mechanical massage work and the true healing art of Thai Massage.
August 24, 2012
Offline Little by little with each module I am learning the full scope of Thai Massage. Module 9 once again gives insights on the importance to have an open communication with the client when performing certain types of massage. Full awareness, correct btreathing, use of whole body, correct ergonomics, and working woth body weight are very important aspects to keep in mind. Take into consideration client's stiffness and ROM when working on a person. There are several variations of stretch to choose from. It is very important to keep the fleuncy of the massage artstic, spiritual, full of energy, and envigorating. Love it! Thanks Shama.
June 28, 2010
Offline Actually the final module of this course is 100 percent about client communication. This is a very useful skill to have. I have had amazing results just by using good communication skills along with the massage.
August 24, 2012
Offline Hi,
I just completed modules 10, 11, 12, and 13. Great stretches and great demonstration by Shama. Loved the part about anatomy of the move and hara, the flow of energy. Working on the calves and hips can be fun but you must be very careful what type of client you are working on. Also, how to handle pain when it occurs during the session. Great sessions!
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