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May 17, 2012
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I agree, I like working closer to the floor and having space. I feel like it is more stable and helps maintain that fluidity. I like the foot massage techniques and the information I learned in the foot massage videos. This is where I had left off previously. I feel like watching the video and doing it at the same time, really helped to get a feel for the techniques (especially now that we're moving to the leg massage techniques).
May 17, 2012
Offline I am practicing what I have learned so far on a daily basis. I want the movements/ techniques to become second nature. I don't want to think, I just want to sense what needs to be done and execute it. I have thrown memorizations out of the window 
The leg techniques make me think of classes I have previously taken on meridian sedation, I know it isn't the same but its the thought of stimulating the energetic pathways. I am enjoying the leg techniques. I am trying to always be consciously aware of the posterior knee where the joint is in respect to my knee when their knee is on my leg. I know that this area can be very sensitive and pressure in the wrong spot could be painful or injure the joint.
June 28, 2010
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"I don't want to think, I just want to sense what needs to be done and execute it. I have thrown memorizations out of the window."
That's exactly where I want my students to get to. Nobody ever became a good therapist by memorizing techniques only. Training yourself to feel more and sense more is much more useful than memorizing sequences. In the end it all comes down to your quality of touch and your energy.
Learning the mechanics of the techniques is easy, but to execute them in a sensitive, connected, and flowing way, that is where the art comes in.
May 17, 2012
Offline At first I thought the program was going to be too slow. Ignorance of course (ha). But now I feel it's a bit fast (the video every 3 days part). I actually would it mind getting the videos on that particular area at the beginning of the week and then having the whole week to practice. But that's just my personal preference and everyone is different. I am really throwing mtesla into the material and also into school (Bachelors in Ayurvedic Studies) 
June 28, 2010
Offline You are in good company. Everyone thinks in the beginning that one video every three days is too slow, and a while later they are struggling to keep up with it. Can you imagine if you would receive one a day, or all of them together on a big DVD! I think the three day rhythm is a good strategy. You know I have had several students who asked me to accelerate the course and send them a whole bunch of modules at once. I had done that (I don't do it anymore), and as far as I know, none of them ever completed the course. You can't rush it learning Thai Massage, it just doesn't work.
May 17, 2012
Offline Oh wow! I definitely wouldn't accelerate it. Not with a modality that goes beyond the physical and mechanical. You take you awareness to another level and have to maintain it during the entire massage. I'm enjoying it and both of the individuals I am working on consistently have both given positive feedback.
June 28, 2010
Offline That's great to hear. I am happy for you that you are getting such good results.
May 17, 2012
Offline I am progressing through the videos. Tonight I will be practicing what I have learned up to this point. I really like the lectures and am enjoying watching them and learning the techniques. I will post feedback.
May 17, 2012
Offline Last night was a great practice night. Before I finished the foot massage portion I could notice when my son went from his usual state to being very relaxed. It was great feedback. At times I feel a bit overwhelmed because I am working on my bachelors at this time and also doing this course. But I think my success will be in making sure I am practicing what I am learning in this course on a regular basis. I am trying to practice everyday so that it becomes second nature
June 28, 2010
Offline Practicing within the family is a great thing. Here in Thailand it is quite common that family members massage each other. However here the tables are turned and it is the children who massage their parents normally.
May 17, 2012
Offline I apologize for delayed response. I felt I needed a little extra time getting used to the legs warm ups and introductory leg stretchs. I really like the fact that your courses encourage and remind us of proper body mechanics (ergonomics). I am one of the therapists who prefers to use their hands and recently started to notice that I rarely use other parts such as my elbows and forarms. And I have have experienced my hands locking up on me. Which worries me because I am only 29 years old (young). I guess in my studies I am trying to lean more towards thera pies that encourage the body to heal itself. Yoga is one way we can do this. I am a practitioner and I am also pursuing my Bachelors in Ayurvedic Studies. I want to facilitate more versus trying a more aggressive approach. That does not mean I will not do therapeutic massage it just means I want to use a slightly different approach.
I have consistently been working on my son and daughter. Although my daughter has a tougher shell to crack I do not feel I am not getting enough hands on time with adults. I am doing a health fair in two weeks and I thought of possibly using some of these techniques as a fun and informational hands on demonstration. It would give me a chance to work on a variety of different people. I was thinking of using the chi machine and some of the foot massage techniques. Is that okay?
June 28, 2010
Offline Sure, it is lots of fun presenting Thai Massage at health fairs. It generally stimulates quite some interest since it is something unusual or different, I have found. Just use whatever techniques you feel comfortable with.
Regarding your hands locking up on you, I am very aware of this. I have managed to preserve my health and my hands during my career because of my skills of using other body parts frequently and using excellent ergonomics. Luckily Thai Massage lends itself to this perfectly.
May 17, 2012
Offline Do you still do table massage? I ask because I am wondering if it is uncommon for a therapist to exclusively use Thai massage or other modalities exclusively. I know it can possibly limit your clientele but for those of us who see that our massage career could be cut short because of such issues as I mentioned (hands locking up), then it may be the way to go correct?
June 28, 2010
Offline I have never done Thai Massage on a table ever. I much prefer the floor work which gives me much better leverage and better ergonomics. I have quite a few students who adapt it to the table, but I prefer the traditional Thai way of doing it. The only time I worked on a table is when I did lots of Heavenly Head Massage sessions in a spa setting. Sitting on the floor in the same position for hours is just too much for your legs and knees. Aside from that I have never done Swedish style massage.
I have specialized in Thai Massage and related modalities (like Heavenly Head Massage or Abdominal Massage, both of which integrate very well with Thai Massage) for my entire career, and it certainly was never a limitation for my practice. On the contrary, I was always known as a unique therapist and I was always as booked as I could handle it.
So in my experience this never limited my clientele but established me as an authority in a specific modality which in my mind was better than doing half a dozen different things and not standing out for any particular one.
Plus Thai Massage enables me to do lots of intense work without stressing my hands which is a huge advantage.
May 17, 2012
Offline As far as my Thai Massage practice time, I have finished up through the leg exercises. And as I feel this is a very significant part of this modality and I feel like I need a few days to review before moving on. Thank you for the above mentioned post response. I had another question, do we need to invest in a commercially made Thai Massage mat For our practice? I really feel like Thai massage is going to be a major focus in my practice upon finishing this course.
June 28, 2010
Offline The truth is that when I was in the US, all I ever used were two exercise mats from a sporting goods store which I connected with velcro and covered with a sheet. So the answer is: no, you don't necessarily need a commercially made mat. Of course there is nothing wrong with having one either.
May 17, 2012
Offline That's what I figured. I've been looking at some different options. I've though of using a memory foam mattress topper, or exercise mats. I just want to ensure comfort ability. Being in Florida where we work with a lot of the older retired age group, I worry that they will have apprehension about getting down on the floor. But at the same time there is also difficulty with getting up on my massage table.
June 28, 2010
Offline I wouldn't worry too much about people not wanting to get down on a mat. In all my years of practicing Thai Massage I have never had a single person complain about that. And if someone does say something, you can just truthfully explain that Thai Massage involves a lot more motion than Swedish massage, and the larger surface on the floor provides a lot more stability for them than having their limbs hanging off a massage table for many of the stretches.
May 17, 2012
Offline That's a relief to hear. I was really worried about that. As previously posted, I spent a little extra time practicing everything up to the end of the leg stretches. I am glad I took a little extra time practice because I feel like I am moving with more fluidity and am getting more comfortable with the techniques. I have continued to receive good feedback. I know that my techniques will improve with time and practice. I would like to practice on a variety of body types and sizes. I know that our techniques and routines will vary from person to person and am looking forward to exploring more
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