Register
Log In
Home
July 7, 2016
Offline
Module 1
Wow. Thank you Shama. I recived my intro video and loved it. What I liked most, was how you pointed out the art and energy portion of Thai Massage. Ive taken other thai courses and this "metta" of loving intention brings about what Thai is all about. In my field I work on a lot of professionals who follow Western medicine. So having my knowlege of thebody is an important credential. But as I see it. Having understood proper body mechanics and breathing instills stillness. And brining about the shen flow initiates healing. So I really enjoyed the introduction. Your a very good teacher and I enjoy how you come across.
Thanks
Heather Park
June 28, 2010
Offline
Hi Heather, welcome to our forum and the Complete Thai Massage course. I am looking forward to helping you become a first class Thai Massage therapist. 
Please familiarize yourself with our Certification Check List:
The certification posts need to be numbered and refer to specific video modules. I will number your first post for you (which was a very nice post, by the way), and then you can follow up with module 2 of the course whenever you practice it.
The idea is that you write about your practice and experience with each specific module. Of course you are free to write about any massage experience here in your thread, as long as you also address all the modules of the course for certification purposes. Just making sure we are in sync about this...
Anyway, I will help you get there!
July 7, 2016
Offline Module 2
Heather Park Thai Massage Video notes
Chi Machine
Today I had my partner lay on our lawn. And after watching video 2 I spent a few minutes getting my body ready in the right way to perform this specific thai move. I used a pillow for my knees and really made an effort to place and check to see how I was sitting and getting comfortable. I took a few minutes to just sit and breath. Then I place the feet in my palms and watched my partners hips and began rocking. It took several tries to get a really good rythm. I had to start and retry many times to get comfortable. After a bit I focused on his hipes and noticed his head and neck moving. I was doing it well. It seemed to relax him considerablly.
Heather Park
June 28, 2010
Offline Now you are spot on Heather! 
Although you don't have to include "Heather Park Thai Massage Video notes" in the post since this is already in the topic title on top of your thread.
The Chi Machine is actually one of the more challenging moves, but when you get it down, it feels really wonderful for the receiver.
July 7, 2016
Offline Module 3
So in the last few days Ive spent some time practicing on module 3. Ive been working on my 6 year old daughter. So my experience is when I have started at her feet, Im really taking time to be extra soft and getting into a rythm. Ive noticed when I have taken time to gently go back and forth placing my fingers on the points of her feet, rocking around in a counter clockwise circle and moving my thumbs up and down her points. My daughter instantly relaxes. She has a hard time relaxing and working her feet really does something for her. Even for a few minutes. In fact when I did this in practice yesterday she fell asleep. Thai massage is so gentle and effective. When I do it I feel calmer myself. Very nice.
June 28, 2010
Offline I am always amazed at how many course students work on their young children and how much those kids are enjoying the experience. Of course later when we get into some major stretching work, it won't be quite as gentle as when working on the feet. However it is very beneficial to practice those techniques in a very gentle way first since in that way you develop a lot of sensitivity.
By the way, you don't need to recopy my answer to your posts. That's just a duplication, and in order to keep the thread clean and uncluttered, I will take it out of the thread.
July 7, 2016
Offline Module 4,
So Module 4 gave me some extended foot work, I took some time deciding what best tecniques would feel good for my partner. What I used the kneading method, and the circling on top of the foot and, pushing in and traction. I also used the pressing the feet down from the top. All of these methods were done kind of over and over.
I got into a rythm my partner really like the feeling on their feet. They also like the gentle massage on each foot that I did. I noticed when I breath and rock my hands relax and their whole body seems to rock. My partner feel asleep after a while. Im planning on incorporating this simple foot technique in all my massages.
June 28, 2010
Offline If you put someone to sleep with your massage, that's always a good sign!
July 7, 2016
Offline Module 5
So I have taken some time to work on my husband. While doing warm up's on his legs, I did the butterfly technique. I also did the hand rolling up and down his calfs and thighs. My husband really enjoyed these techniques. I also work in feet in light palm pressing on his ankle and lower calf up and down. And did the feet pressing stretching and I press his foot points. I asked him if he liked how I was leaning into his legs. He told me its softer and more comfortable then regular massage and he prefers it better then swedish massage. Also he likes his legs and feet lightly worked and not so much in other areas. Thai seems to be a better choice for him as an adult.
June 28, 2010
Offline Good, you have one convert already. There are a number of reasons why Thai Massage appeals to many people. One big one is that you don't have to take your clothes off and there is no oil all over you. The other big reason is that Thai Massage has all those manipulations and stretches which hardly any other modalities offer - but you didn't get there yet in the course. Let's see how your husband will react to those!
July 7, 2016
Offline Module 6
Worked again on my husband and started the sen line forearm technique. Also worked on leaning in as I press on heal and calf on all three areas. My husband responded that it really relaxes him. In fact last night he slept without waking up. It must be the energy response. I also did the Chi Machine and a little gentle foot rubbing and circling. He really likes the foot thing. I noticed my husbands leg is shorter then the other one. Wonder if thai is balancing this body imbalance.
June 28, 2010
Offline This imbalance might get corrected, but it will take take time and the appropriate techniques. Many people have such an imbalance. If it is just a small difference, then it is no big deal, but if the difference is pronounced, then working on it is advised.
To figure out what the issue is, you would need to make a postural evaluation to see what might be causing it. What I mean is to check if the hips and shoulders are level or if one side is higher than the other in standing position. That will give you a clue as to the overall alignment of the body and tension areas on a particular side of the body.
July 7, 2016
Offline Shama said
This imbalance might get corrected, but it will take take time and the appropriate techniques. Many people have such an imbalance. If it is just a small difference, then it is no big deal, but if the difference is pronounced, then working on it is advised.
To figure out what the issue is, you would need to make a postural evaluation to see what might be causing it. What I mean is to check if the hips and shoulders are level or if one side is higher than the other in standing position. That will give you a clue as to the overall alignment of the body and tension areas on a particular side of the body.
Yes Shama
In fact after watching module 7, I noticed I need to work on this to see if hips are out. Thanks for the tip.
July 7, 2016
Offline Module 7
So I took time time to watch the video to understand the legs and feet. Then while working on my partner I deliberately looked at the way his feet were laying and they both were turned out. So his hips are good. But the imbalance of one leg shorter makes his left leg tighter then the right leg. So warming up his legs and performing sen line with my forearms I noticed really superficial tightening in his quads. I spent more time warming them up really well. I really hadnt noticed it before.
Then I spent time doing the angle and leg hamstring stretch. He commented that it relaxed his hamstrings and felt really comfortable on his legs. He really likes the techniques Im doing way more then other techniques Ive done. Very nice.
June 28, 2010
Offline Great, you are doing serious therapy work already!
July 7, 2016
Offline Module 8
I really like this module because it has so many options on legs and hips to take from. One of the techniques Ive tried is the calf stretching and knee rubbing. Ive performed this technique on a client of mine recently and he like it becuase his knee hurt and it was light enough that it made it feel better. This client really like the calf pulls. They were light and he stated his legs were sore. Im going to be practicing on my partner the same techniques and find out what he thinks
Another technique Ive used is the shaking and rotating the hip. Ive used this once or twice on my partner and it helps when he is stiff.
June 28, 2010
Offline Once you learn all the "hip pie" techniques, you will be really good at doing a complete hip treatment. Shaking, rotating, rocking, wiggling, are what I call "motion techniques" which are often more gentle and excellent for rather stiff and locked up clients.
July 7, 2016
Offline Module 9
Today Ive taken some time with my daughter to work through legs stretches and more hip pie. She was complaining her legs and calfs hurt. So I practiced on her. And did some elephant walking on her inside with the leg hip pie. She actually said she was sore so I did more light shaking and rocking. I also did some calf elephant walking. I did the leg over hip stretching and she liked that. Now she wants to take a nap. Im catching up.
July 7, 2016
Offline Module 10
So continued with the hip twist. I used this technique on my daughter to see if she would like it and it was very comfortable for her. I used the technique to stretch her legs over and just held the stretch. Because my daughter is small it works without much effort. But after I did the techniques my daughter fell asleep. I believe because of the relaxed intension I have the techniques are really gentle. In fact Im going to do this again on my husband.
July 7, 2016
Offline Module 11
I worked on my husband, and went step by step over 3 times the sequence to get a good flow going and basically going over the techniques. I was able to work in several stretching techniques that my husband really liked. I really focused on breathing and slow methodical approach making sure I was relaxed. And it felt so much better. I went over some quad stretching several times and hip pie angles a few extra times he was a bit stiff and tight. He seems calmer and more relaxed after I work him.
8
1 Guest(s)
