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June 28, 2010
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"When you have worked the hip flexor and more rocking techniques when would you recommend to have someone come back to try to improve the mobility?"
This is generally more a question of how often someone can afford it. You could easily do Thai Massage on someone 3 times a week without overdoing it.
"How has someones SI joint been with some of these techniques and or lower back fusions?"
That's a question which is hard to answer in a short post here. Actually I have produced a very large course, Thai Back Massage, with 23 modules which goes into great detail about back work, sacrum work, SI joint issues and sciatica problems. There is a lot that can be done.
June 10, 2014
Offline Module 15
It was very interesting with the chest rib area. I have worked many thoracic cavity techniques, it is great to see the rocking with the sternum. Also with the male the elephant walk up. Question with that technique and trying to keep breath equal to the client... each time you rock or press down it creates more external breath. I am thinking don't go with their breath but a comfortable rock elephant rock. Also with shoulder work and rocking but more with the rib cage more.
I have used a technique of like a stretch similar to the left and right rock pushing. And wow do the clients love that and this technique.
P.S. I have been told about reasons for not going that direction for the stomach work. Basically counter clockwise. Creating backup with bowels.
Thanks
James
June 10, 2014
Offline Module 16
I really appreciate the remembering of the alway having contact with the client. Very valuable. It has been amazing from the feedback from clients with the shoulder techniques and scapula work the one with the arm on the leg. I have man clients with shoulders very tight and working the rib cage and upper front chest to try to relax the muscles and slowly with a few minutes the shoulder pull and trying the circles have worked well.
I have been finding it hard with the shoulder work and stretch with the foot. The shoulder I find will stay high.. well this is hard to explain.. basically maybe I should talk with the client more explaining to try to let go and let their body just melt and relax. Just does not feel smooth for me.
Thanks
June 10, 2014
Offline Module 17
The arm and hand massage I enjoyed watching it a number of times. These techniques have made it easier on myself instead of forcing and over working my wrists. When you did mention the palm sliding it is true with lotion or not. I have just watched when I was working, kinda not trying to slide and feel like I fell off the palm...it worked. I am still working the back side of the palm and wrist. Easily with clients I have done a good 10-15 minutes over the area and would get lost in time. It was just possibly soothing for me, well kinda hoping I could get that hand stretching done on my self.
Well I can alway teach my coworkers.
Thanks again,
James
June 10, 2014
Offline Module 18
Have you worked one side of the body like arm then leg and transition to other leg and then other arm? Or does this make someone feel lopsided... When I have done massage techniques really depending on what they are looking for or what their need is I have alway modified styles. But when just for relaxation sometime felt more comfortable like I mentioned arm, leg, leg then arm.
The rolling was well received by some clients. Also the figure 8 move. It was been really hard for me just because I need to find someone to work on me.
This has been great really rewatching the videos and having access to this.
Just fyi thank you prior for your feedback about the back and SI joint.
Take care
June 28, 2010
Offline Regarding following the breath: It is ideal to follow the client's breath if it can easily be done. However there are techniques where you just cannot synchronize the breath, like in some rocking techniques. In such cases the idea is to just maintain your own breath awareness. You cannot force following the client's breath if this is not happening easily and naturally. For example if you change from a pressure technique or a linear stretch to a rocking technique, you cannot follow the client's breath anymore.
Regarding the direction of the digestive system: This would be clockwise, moving from the right side of the abdomen to the left side, seen from the client's perspective. The idea is to follow this direction as much as possible. However this is not an absolute rule. It applies especially to deeper work. If you work gently or do rocking moves, you will not obstruct or block the digestive flow regardless of direction. Just like with the breath, none of these rules are absolute. You can apply them if it is possible, and if it is not practical or possible, then you don't have to follow them. Generally your common sense and intuition will guide you better than a set of rigid rules.
Regarding the shoulder and foot work: First it needs to feel smooth to you, and then you can get the client involved with relaxing more. First you have to be sure that you are doing the technique correctly. If you are not sure and it doesn't feel smooth to you, then asking the client to melt into it won't work. When I feel resistance from a client, I will often gently ask them to relax. However this can never be a compensation for my not doing the technique correctly in the first place.
Regarding the sequence of arm and leg: Typically in Thai Massage one leg is done, and then the other. Then you progress to the upper body and do one arm, followed by the other. However, as I am sure you have noticed by now, I am not a proponent of rigid rules. If you want to work the left leg and left arm and then do the other side, there is not problem with that.
Personally I find that it flows better if I do both legs, then hip and abdominal work, and then both arms. That's my preference, however changing this isn't wrong either.
June 10, 2014
Offline Thank you for all the info Shama.
Module 19 Summary
Working with the flow of legs, hips, shoulders. I am still working on becoming smoother and not stopping on what should happen next. I know a work in progress.
Module 20
Prone position
Achillies tendon circles and work. I have never really in my years of practice thought about working both achillies at the same time. I have grabbed the feet and pulled. This has been a great eye opening and understanding for me to work together in different types of work. Also the push and pull technique has been well received and loved. Still working with ergonomics. I like the idea of props work neck and larger breasted ladies, at work I have a breast "t" cushion which has been working quite well.
Module 21
It is a really good point with being in the prone position and having the feet and knee angled inward. I think I have just taken this for granted that some people will be in that position, but know watching more carefully that some are just inward and others are straight not outward.
Still getting comfortable with body positioning and maneuvering around each area.
Thank for the info.
James
June 28, 2010
Offline Isn't it interesting how we can work for many years with massage and never work on a particular area like the Achilles tendon. There are also many therapists who never work the sacrum, or the abdomen, and who find it fascinating that everything can be covered with Thai Massage.
June 10, 2014
Offline Module 22
Modifying the stretching per client and yourself- adapting to clients specifics. It has been great trying to think outside the box and modify and adapt to different clients. The quad stretch where the heel is to the buttocks and modify it with heel outward and hand on hamstring with your knee being stability to avoid twist. I have been worried for years about this but am trying it here and there.
question if no flexibility in quad just lighter pressure on the foot and shin to get the same thing done?
Module 23
Sacrum work SI. Circle sacrum use good pressure slow speed - clockwise. (just info for me)
It has been great rewatching the videos and for me trying to keep in mind that asking the question "How does it feel 1-10". I always had clients respond fine and slow is pressure ok they keep saying ok. But leaning into an area and being soft in areas have been greatly appreciated by me and clients. Such as the rib thoracic area in previous videos.
The SI work is great. Over the years like you mentioned not really worked extensively. I am going to have to work little bit longer with the knee and glute rocking. But the percussion technique i have used for couple years. I have alway enjoyed that.
Module 24
Thumbs and wrists
I had questions with elephant walking and wrists but you have answered them in next videos. I have been watching couple videos and rewatching and applying techniques and writing questions I have found and rewatch again. It is really amazing now watching the videos of the back in prone position - I have been trying similar techniques before I have watched these - just from watching your movement from the supine position and rocking maneuvers. Glad I am not that far off with learning and thinking outside the box.
Module 25
Working down and away movements from spine and erector muscles.
Question when working over an area and lets say finding a more ridged area or tense is it better to work proximal to the area, above and below, to loosen the muscle between it or on it?
The weight issue and using the 1/3 technique it good. It made me thing of when I took a karate class and using 30 and 70 weight techniques. There was a question on the test about how many techniques were used for this. you mentioned 3 but really showed 4. What would be the best answer.
Module 26
Back prone 3
Thumb work with Thai traditional techniques - I have been really trying to stay away from thumb and wrist moves. I have some good friend who needed surgery because of wrist issues. Boy it is hard to stay away from the thumb or over doing the wrists, like the butterfly techniques. I know when I have tried the elephant it turns into a butterfly if you will and applying pressure then I notice my elbow would flare out and next not even with spine. Boy I do have work to do and try to become more aware at times. lol I have been using the swedish face cradle instead of the pillow like mentioned in this video. I have a client who has issue with sideways laying because of neck but also hard time with face cradle. I love the pillow for the chest and smaller for the forehead. I am going to try this in a few weeks with her when she comes back in.
With the traps being squeezed and the neck being pinched. is it better to have a bigger grip and pulling up? Just because some people thought I was pinching I guess you would say, but they were really tight in the neck.
Module 27
Trap work and circles
Not everyone is bi-laterally equal. do you change the techniques or move one are more than another with working neck, spine I know legs and hips but what about them? I have done the scapula stretch for years and wow do people love it!!!
Just watching you and trying these techniques on clients I want this done - such as the spinal twist. People have mentioned shoulder, chest, neck feel good. Thank you for all this information. It has been really well received.
I really appreciate the lower back work and SI area. I really believe that if hips and sacrum tight or off really creates issues all the way up the spine. I just can't wait to see the heavenly head massage video....
Take care
James
June 28, 2010
Offline Q: "If no flexibility in quad just lighter pressure on the foot and shin to get the same thing done?"
A: "Exactly, you can do this stretch with very light pressure.
Q: when working over an area and lets say finding a more ridged area or tense is it better to work proximal to the area, above and below, to loosen the muscle between it or on it?
A: This depends on the size of the area. If it's a tiny "knife edge" area, you have to go in with fingers and thumbs on this very spot. If it's a larger area, I like to start out with motion techniques like circling and rocking movements to warm up the entire area, and then follow it up with stronger techniques which apply more weight.
However this depends on the location of the tight area. You can work with much more weight and direct pressure on the lower back than on the upper back since there is generally less muscle mass and you can easily apply too much pressure on the ribs.
In general you always want to work a larger area than the specific problem area even if you spend most of your time on that.
The correct answer for the number of knee techniques in module 25 on the test is 3.
Q: With the traps being squeezed and the neck being pinched. is it better to have a bigger grip and pulling up?
A: Yes definitely, you should reach around the neck as far down as you can reach, otherwise it will feel like a pinching on the back of the neck.
Regarding module 7 - I always work with the client's body according to how it feels to me. I don't necessarily do the same routine on both sides if the two sides feel quite different.
June 10, 2014
Offline Module 28 summer of Prone
Module 29
would it be good to have a body pillow to hold with side lying? I have been using just a warm up technique and it has been well received. With tight hamstrings and you mentioning the technique of the blood stop and helping with tight legs, do you think that this helps with getting fresh blood into the legs helps nourish the legs?
June 28, 2010
Offline I am not sure if I understand your question correctly. I always use two support pillows for the side position. But I am not clear what you mean by relating the pillow in the side position to the blood stop. Could you rephrase your question please?
June 10, 2014
Offline Module 30
Elephant walking up the spine are there restrictions with lumber fusions? I thing with leaning into an area I have been holding back (lol), just thinking how much pressure they are feeling. I am trying to ask how they feel from 1 - 10 but I keep on forgetting. Just asking how they are doing it has always been said , "good, or fine". This will have to be a continued work to get used to all the concepts and techniques. With all the spinal twisting from even the other modules. Wow after clients relax and let go they have loved them. With leaning into areas per breath is it fine to hold longer? Just sinking into an area or not?
Module 31
Side position 4
Shoulders being rolled forward for years and even with me working massage for years, this has felt great when I had another therapist work with me. Over the other modules and even this one it has been very informative when you have mentioned to watch out for certain techniques for being a strong stretch.
A question with restrictive clients - I am wondering if you have ever thought about having a video with a possible non yogi, I have been working on lots of client restrictions in range of motion, I am just wondering how you modify this or use of techniques?
Module 32
Shoulder techniques are awesome, along with the tractions. It was very informative. I have been using similar techniques I have used for years but it was great seeing this in a different modality. The one techniques with the kneading under the arm, you might have come across someone with tight serratus anterior muscles do you just stay around this area until this relaxes?
I really wish I could have been worked on with all these techniques. Thanks for all the information.
James
Module 33
Sitting position 1
Watching this the first time, I was thinking how can someone sit straight that long. I was good for your information with being supported with your body and also having a yogi would be good. I used a stool for sitting in practicing. The shoulder and arm pulling was good and explanation of people being inflexible and sometimes hard and uncomfortable.
Module 34
side position 2
the first part of the video was a good explanation of what you and what clients expect. I have done some items similar to this and explained to clients and females what to expect and what we are doing. Sometimes it is just to presentation I feel goes above and beyond starting a technique. It will take me a little practice to balance on my toes without falling over. Good maneuver. The head tile and pressure over the neck I have tried warming up the neck first which seemed to help loosen this up.
Thank for all this information again. I can't believe this is already module 34.
Take care
Module 35
Client communication
this was very helpful in doing the intake. I wish I could have seen this first. But it was very helpful to end the series like this. Good job. the one to ten method i am trying to incorporate that in my profession with deep tissue and myofascial release techniques. Great on explanation with the cell and muscle memory even with tragedy and how it lessens. Really good way to explain the 3 different ways people process.
Thank you for the amazing journey....
James
June 28, 2010
Offline I generally never hold positions during stretches - I just go in and out like a wave.
Regarding non-yogis - actually none of my models for the videos have been yogis. It's just that Thai people in general are more flexible. If a stretch is too strong or too much for a non-yogi, I just skip it.
Regarding the tight serratus anterior - it depend on the purpose of the session. If a client is overall very tight, you can't stay on each and every muscle until they are all totally relaxed. So it's a matter of choosing what you want to focus on in a session and leaving less urgent issues for another session. That is, unless you do 3 hour sessions.
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