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February 27, 2014
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I'm not sure how this whole forum thing works yet but here goes:
Wooohooo! Just watched Module 1 for Thai Rocking Massage. I'm very excited to start using these techniques. I already feel like I've learned a lot from the 1st video.
June 28, 2010
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You seemed to have it figured out how this 'whole forum thing' works. 
I am glad to hear that the first module got you excited. Maybe at the end you will be doing somersaults! 
I am looking forward to reading how your practice sessions are working out.
February 27, 2014
Offline Thanks Shama! Just finished Module 2 - The Chi Machine. I think I'm going to make my husband watch these videos so he can do this to me 🙂
I have already started integrating a little of this into table massage on my clients. They have no idea what I've been doing but I get great feedback.
The tractioning rock looks awesome and I want to try this one out soon. I love what I've been learning so far.
June 28, 2010
Offline Definitely get your husband into it. My wife and myself work on each other all the time, and it is a great way to have an excellent and beneficial interaction.
I am glad to hear that you are getting good feedback so far. It will only get better, I guarantee you!
February 27, 2014
Offline Today I watched #3. It was my favorite so far. So much great info to learn.
I do have a question to Shama or anyone else who uses more table massage than floor work. Where I'm at there is not a mat for me to use only massage table so I'm integrating this into my regular work. My question is regarding placement. There was a lot of info and specific instructions about your legs being open when rocking clients legs and about knee placement. Is there specific placement when your standing or is it to just be as close as possible? And also make sure to use good form so you do not hurt back? Also wondering if there is specific way to stand when doing the opposite leg from the inside? Any feedback on this would be great!
June 28, 2010
Offline Personally I never do Thai Massage on a table, however quite a few of my students do. The main advantage of floor work is that your ergonomics are easier since you can get right on top of people. So when you work on a table, your primary goal should be to adjust your body position in such a way that you do not stress your body and to work with body weight as much as possible.
Not all techniques in this course will work well on a table, but since there are literally hundreds of techniques and adaptations in Thai Massage, you will find plenty of them to work with. It is easier to give precise instructions for floor work. When you work on a table, its height and width are factors. These are not factors on a floor mat where you don't have physical limitations such as having to bend over a table.
So my main advice is to experiment and be creative until you feel comfortable with a particular technique on the table. The principles are all the same, and many of my students are practicing those techniques successfully on a table.
February 27, 2014
Offline Thank you Shama. Experiment and be creative I can do. Eventually I would love to have a spot where I can do floor work but for now I have to stick to the table except at home.
I just finished Lesson 4. I will try out the squeeze, lift and rock technique on a client in a couple hours and look forward to doing so. I do have a question that might seem silly but I want to make sure I'm doing it right since I'm restricted to table work. When doing the move (at min 14 I think) where you keep body in straight alignment and do the compression/contraction move, do you recommend using the bolster under clients leg since I'm not able to use my own leg? I just don't know if it puts any strain on their back if I do or don't. Or if I'm able to just use my arms/hands to hold leg up? Sorry to be a pest with these table questions! I just want to make sure I'm using the best form possible in my circumstance. Thanks so much!
Chrissy
June 28, 2010
Offline You are not a pest with your questions at all - they are perfectly valid.
The best way to find out what works best is to work with a partner who is not a client and test out some variations and get feedback how it feels. The technique you are referring to is a little more difficult on a table since your ergonomics are not as good as on the floor. If you are sitting on the floor you can bend your arms at the elbows and easily work with your body weight. On a table you are much higher up which makes it harder to work with your body weight.
What I would do in such a situation is modify the technique. Here are some ideas. If you have a stool to sit on, you could get yourself into a position where you have more leverage. Or you could change the technique to a more rapid back and forth rocking motion while turning the foot in and out.
Or you could go into a yoga-lunge-type position to lower your body and just push the foot forward a few times. Then you stand upright again and pull the foot back a few times as in tractioning it. Just make sure to use one hand to hold the foot and the other hand to hold the ankle. Just forget about turning the foot in this case. This version is similar to my previous suggestion, only it is done as two separate techniques, one compression and the other traction, and it happens much slower than the back and forth rocking.
Just play with these ideas a bit. Try the bolster and get feedback. Try my suggestions and just be creative. Don't try to exactly duplicate the technique in the video. Instead try to come up with a modification which is similar but works better for you on the table.
February 27, 2014
Offline Thanks! I have been using some of the techniques you've taught and so far feedback has been great. I don't even tell them I'm practicing on them, I just do it. The past couple days I have used techniques from #3 and 4 and modified as you suggested. I also am more aware of clients that may have hip issues and how to identify easily if they do. Today I watched #5. I am working tomorrow so I will try a couple of those stretches out. Thanks again and goodnight 
June 28, 2010
Offline That's one good thing about the rocking techniques. You can use them for Thai Massage sessions - and you can sneak them into any kind of massage session as well. This system is not limited to one kind of massage style, and it can be used in bits and pieces or in a more coherent way. Both are fine.
February 27, 2014
Offline Just finished lesson 6. Learned about hip rocking techniques and also rib cage and spine got involved. I liked how the movements are so flowy and easy from armpits all the way down legs. I have received lesson 7 already but haven't had time to view that one yet. I'm hoping this evening I can do that. I get excited each time I get a new lesson.
February 27, 2014
Offline Watched both 7 and 8 this evening. Got a TON of info to use. I'm definitely going to be watching those again tomorrow to let some of that sink in. I loved the abdominal work in lesson 7 with the push pull technique and the 'sandwich'. I appreciate how you remind us to work with our whole body and not just arms.
In lesson 8 I learned about rib cage rocking, chest and torso rocking. I liked how you show us how to breathe properly for best effect on client and proper energy flow. Then the shoulder moves look awesome. It looks like it would be so effective for increasing range of motion and really loosening up tension. I want someone to do this to me but there is no one in my area that does this. If I could I would fly to Thailand to get this done by you tomorrow!
June 28, 2010
Offline You know, the truth is that it is not so easy to get all this rocking done to you. This is not standard Thai Massage, but it is a system which I created to modify and improve the traditional system. The fact is that I have never received a Thai Massage session which involves all the rocking moves since here in Thailand nobody is doing it except myself. I have worked on hundreds of clients who love it and I have taught it to hundreds of students. Maybe some of us have to form a rocking support group where we can exchange this type or work!
February 27, 2014
Offline Session 9 notes: In this lesson I learned about arm swinging both up and down and also circling. These movements come out of our entire body. I also learned these are good techniques for releasing holding patterns. I liked how you advise to communicate with the client making them aware they are locking up and they can have a part in getting their body to relax. Visualization techniqes for client. Great communication tools!
I do have a question and I'm not sure if you already told us this in previous videos but what is the amount of time you recommend for each technique? Is there an approximate amount of time or do we just go with the flow and let their body and ours tell us when its time to move on to next technique?
June 28, 2010
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You answered the question yourself perfectly. I am not a proponent of rules regarding how long to do something. For example if a client is seriously locked up and the swinging is not working freely, then I might work with this technique for as long as it takes to get the arm to swing freely. And that might be 5 or 10 minutes. I mean I don't do the exact same thing for 10 minutes - I use modifications and communication tools at the same time. However if it swings freely instantly, I might only do this technique for 10 seconds.
February 27, 2014
Offline Lesson 10 Notes:
I loved Lesson 10 and I can't wait to try some of these techniques out. It was about rocking techniques for the sacrum. You showed the difference between circling and rocking and also what to do if client is larger in size. Also how to do specific trouble spots with thumbs. I think I liked most was how you encourage students to use breath to get rhythm down and that by using your breath and synchronizing which will get chi to flow through you transmitting to client. This will help clients body to have an easier job healing itself.
June 28, 2010
Offline And it makes the session flow better, it feels more connected, and it is more enjoyable for the therapist as well to work in this way instead of just mechanically going through the motions.
February 27, 2014
Offline I finally had a chance to watch Module 11. It was about working along the spine, traps and scapula. I liked how you show how to really get under the scapula. I do a version of this with my table massage but all these extra tips are wonderful with the back and forth or circular movements and knee placed under shoulder. I know all these lessons are adding to the effectiveness I can bring to my clients and have already been getting results! Wooohooo
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