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October 21, 2012
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Just started Module I of the Thai Rocking course. Already love it! I've studied some Trager method and experienced the wonderful effects of this sort of rocking massage. Combining this with my Thai yoga massage practice will serve me and my clients dramatically. The stretches and compressions of Thai are just too much for some folks who either have injuries or just accumulated stiffness. The rocking is such a "gateway" into the body's deep holding patterns. Once there, working the sen lines can have their full benefit.
This module was a good overview of what's to come. It covered:
Kinds of rocking (Slow, Fast, Wiggle, Circling, and Swinging) and Benefits of Rocking (Pleasant and pain free, flexible, easy to integrate into any modality, affects more than just the local body part, and stimulates chi flow.
I would like to know if the Therapeutic series of courses (Sacrum, shoulders, arms, etc.) incorporate rockiing as well?
June 28, 2010
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Barrie, welcome to the forum and to the Thai Rocking Massage course!
What you mentioned was a big factor for me why I developed the rocking techniques. Regular Thai Massage is just more than some people can handle. Rocking is a wonderful way of accommodating people who cannot handle lots of stretching or other more intense work.
But even beyond that, in my own practice I have incorporated more and more rocking moves for many reasons. It just flows better, often feels better and in many cases can be more effective than linear type techniques.
I incorporate rocking techniques in all my therapy series videos. There are also lots of them in the Hands Free Massage course and in the Body Mastery for Massage course. There will be some duplication between the Thai Rocking Massage course and the therapy courses, but all these other courses go more into depth with particular subjects and introduce new techniques and ways how to work and stay on on one specific area or part of the body.
Rocking techniques are well represented in most of my courses. I also keep upgrading and expanding the therapy courses every now and then. In the last year I came out with at least 3 upgraded therapy courses, so my material keeps evolving.
October 21, 2012
Offline Module 2 focused on two techniques for activating the client's flow of chi, the Chi Machine and the longitudinal traction technique. I love that we are encouraged to come to a slow fading out of the techniques to allow the client to feel the effects. I find that clients often naturally take a deep cleansing breath after the fadeout. Even if they don't verbalize feeling the tingling, I believe that time allows them to integrate what has changed in their body. The module also introduced assessment of the condition of the hips by noticing the angle of the feet and the willingness of the feet to rock the legs internally/externally, reminding us to always rock into the restriction to create more ease.
June 28, 2010
Offline Slow fading is important for all rocking type techniques, and it is essential for the Chi Machine. In this case, on top of the fading, you need to add a few seconds of stillness without any movement so that the client can feel the effect instead of immediately focusing on whatever you would do next.
From reading your post, I get the impression that you have a good intuitive understanding how it works.
October 21, 2012
Offline Thank you!
I'm enjoying practicing the new techniques. I am loving the meditative impact of the rocking work. Module 3 focused on working the leg lines and the hip joint. I'm practicing doing the leg rocking at the beginning of the massage in place of the usual thumbing up and down the leg lines to experiment with the added benefits of getting the hip joint opening up before I ever engage the hip directly.
June 28, 2010
Offline That's well said, the 'meditative impact of the rocking work". I can almost go into a trance when I do a lot of rocking on my clients. I get into this flow state, and it feels as good to me as to my clients.
A lot of thumbing up and down the leg lines can be a risky thing in the long run, especially if you do it quite strongly. I have learned that this is something that should be minimized in order to save your hands. Some people can handle it and have strong thumbs, but I always advise to take care not to burn out your thumbs. Fortunately Thai Massage has so many body parts we can work with.
You are right, the leg rocking opens up the hip joint in a gentle way and is a great preparation for hip stretches.
October 21, 2012
Offline Module 4 complete:
I love the rocking adaptation to these Traditional Thai moves. In this module we continue to open the hips while giving therapy to the feet, ankles, knees, legs, and back/spine. Lots of good detail about hand position, proper angle of traction force, and things to look out for in our clients' bodies.
October 21, 2012
Offline Module 5: More great adaptations of traditional Thai techniques. Seem much better for stiff Americans! And, lots of my clients get the pain in the iliofemoral crease so I'm glad to have the suggestions for dealing with that. Do you find that after you fingertip-rock the area and the sensitivity decreases that you can then proceed with the knee-to-shoulder stretch?
June 28, 2010
Offline Yes, it definitely helps. Many times it is an interplay of going back and forth between the stretch and the fingertip technique. After I do the fingertip thing I always go back to the stretch and ask them if it feels different. Sometimes I go back and forth a few times until there is definite improvement. If the discomfort persists, I don't do the stretch but do some other circling and rocking techniques instead. Not all all stretches work for everyone, especially in the beginning when working with a new client who has never had this kind of stretching work done. I work my way up gradually to what clients can handle and make sure that I don't go too far.
October 21, 2012
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Module 6
i love that this slowly opens up more and more of the back. While the client is lulled into a trance like state, the back starts to come along more and more with each rock into a spinal twist.
I've already been doing the two-handed hip rock from a straddling kneeling warrior position but like the added technique of sitting down on the side and focusing on lift/rocking one side at a time.
Also, helpful to have the clarifications for working with men versus women.
Thanks again.
June 28, 2010
Offline It seems like this course is working well for you. Rocking techniques are incredibly versatile and have been a major factor of my success in therapy work, and many of my students have experienced the same.
October 21, 2012
Offline Module 7: Belly
love these techniques. tricky to get the client's thighs instead of calves when their legs are over mine, but working on it. love how it feels once you get it right.
good clarification on the belly rock and sandwich rock. I've been doing this without the clear intention of how the hands were coordinated. much clearer now.
love the rib rocking. since that's where i tend to get locked up, i'm always inspired to help others in this area. any more rib opening techniques coming?
barrie
October 21, 2012
Offline Module 8:
Good sternum and ribs rocking.
The shoulder work is a good complement for me to the Ultimate Shoulder course.
I wish my legs were as long and bendy as yours!
barrie
October 21, 2012
Offline Module 9:
This module added the Arm Rolling (and Swinging which I already saw in the Ultimate Shoulder course.). It's sooooo relaxing and needed by every client I see, since they all use their arms and shoulders so much, be it on computers or writing or laboring. I loved and appreciated the Summary - great to see it all threaded together. I think I like the full rocking sessions much better than the sessions filled with big stretches. The subtler work seems to be beneficial for so many.
October 21, 2012
Offline Rocking, 10 & 11
I enjoyed working my way through this course. I spent time on the final six modules over the long weekend with several practice partners. Focusing my energy by coordinating my breath with my leaning in and out while I rocked has been really powerful for feeling much more of what's happening in my client's body.
thanks!
June 28, 2010
Offline Great job Barrie with your final sprint. Congratulations for completing the course. Personally I also like to use more rocking and motion techniques in my sessions rather than lots of big stretches. That's where my style differs from traditional Thai Massage which hardly uses any rocking techniques at all.
I saw that you passed the CE test with flying colors, so your certificate is on the way!
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