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March 20, 2014
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Module 1
Even though this was an introduction, I was still able to practice the quality of touch. My partner preferred the gradual leaning over muscular pressing, and it was easier for me to simply lean forward and back. This is very similar to how we are taught to assist yoga students - with breath, with a good foundation, and with sensitivity to touch.
June 28, 2010
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EVERYONE prefers the leaning over the muscle pressure. Muscling people in Thai Massage feels just as bad as forcing a yoga position. Although Thai Massage is generally not taught with yogic principles like breathing, some teachers with yoga backgrounds have re-introduced the yoga connection. After all that's were it all came from initially.
My main attraction to Thai Massage, when I started out with it 15 years ago, was this very connection to yoga. Luckily I had the yoga background which made it easy for me to combine the two systems. You will hear a lot more about that throughout this course.
March 20, 2014
Offline Module 2
My partner and I practiced the "chi machine" tonight and the hamstring stretch with proper body alignment. His ankle was clicking during the chi machine so I tried sitting further up with his calves resting on my thighs and that felt better for him. I had him do it to me and I enjoyed it but felt like my knees were locking (they also somewhat hyper-extend) so also preferred to lie closer in. I found that it is much easier to get the whole body moving simply by moving my own.
June 28, 2010
Offline The Chi Machine is not an appropriate technique for people with hyper extended knees. Ankle clicking sounds is something that happens quite a bit. When I hear that I generally switch to working on the ankle directly. Often our client's body gives us clues what it needs or wants.
March 20, 2014
Offline Module 3
I practiced the foot massages on my partner and asked them for a lot of feedback about how my touch/pressure felt. My partner did not seem to like me bending the feet out, so I decided that for them I would just lean in more and bend the feet out less. When they tried it on me I thought it felt fine (I am more flexible). As the video said, quality of touch is more important, so not everyone will feel things the same way and that's okay. Whatever feels good to them is right.
Question: Do you ever ask the client any questions before you begin a massage if you do not know them/their body very well? Do you ask for feedback during massage?
Making sure my posture is correct has taken some practice but I am getting better - I know that if a move feels like it is tiring me out then I must not be doing it right. This was very helpful during the hip rotation move (where you turn the leg in and press then turn the leg out and pull), because it only felt like it flowed when my knee was under my partner's knee and their body was straight. All I had to do was lean forward and back in a rowing motion.
June 28, 2010
Offline Yes I do ask for feedback. You will hear a lot more about this throughout this course. I have several questioning methods which I use. One is the one-to-ten method (explained later).
The other question which I ask a lot is "Does this feel good, bad, or neutral?" Everything I do is supposed to feel good or at least neutral. If it feels bad, something is wrong.
Another question I use is "Is this a good pain or a bad pain - good pain=releasing sensation - bad pain=sharp, not releasing or getting worse".
Actually there is an entire module, #35, entirely about client communication.
I can see if bending the feet out will work well or not simply by observing the angle of the feet. If the angle of the feet is too steep and there is too much resistance, then the hip is locked up and I work on the hip first and I skip the foot bending technique.
I also always encourage my clients before I start the session to give me feedback immediately if anything does not feel right for them.
March 20, 2014
Offline Module 4
The foot massages are going much better now. I am getting a feeling of how to move myself and flow during the moves (like switching clockwise and counterclockwise). My partner does have stiff ankles, so they said it was very helpful to rotate both ankles in circles as the video showed. Once I got a good idea of how to move my body in the other moves it was easy to catch on to the new moves (kneading and massaging the feet).
I like the the idea of learning by concept so that we can make our own sequences. Some people might just want a foot massage, so it's nice to to know a variety of moves as well!
March 20, 2014
Offline Module 5
I practiced the new leg warm ups this evening with my partner. The feedback was all positive. The push/pull thigh stretch was very easy for me and it did a great job at warming the leg muscle. With practice everything is coming together - moving with breath, making sure the elbows are striaght, etc. It is more fun and more natural when I just focus on how my partner and I are interacting (not worrying about technique so much). I have found that I need cushions for my own knees once in awhile if I am going to be sitting for a long time.
I practiced all of the warm ups and it took me about 40 minutes, so picking and choosing is good or else it takes up a lot of time!
June 28, 2010
Offline You would be amazed what you can do with foot massage. Actually I have an entire course just about Thai Foot Massage. I get those regularly here in Chiang Mai. It is one of my great pleasures in life!
Learning by concept and not getting too hung up about following sequences definitely makes learning more intuitive and less stressful.
You are just in the beginning of the course and it took you 40 minutes for a few techniques. Imagine the material you will have available once you get through the entire course! Clearly there is no way to put it all into a single session, and that is not the idea anyway. The techniques are not mandatory sequences, but options to choose from (One of my "famous" quotes 
).
March 20, 2014
Offline Module 7
This module was very informative and helpful. I appreciated the beginning about "reading the body". I heard that all the time in yoga teacher training but you made it clear how to do that on a physical level. I've noticed in many yoga classes that peoples' feet point up and not out, so I imagine that tight hips are common. The hip stretch was great for my partner, because their hips are tight - I need some bigger bolsters to support their leg because the knee is so high.
I have tried to practice on flexible and stiff people - massaging the stiff person is more tiring but many of our yoga students are actually more on the stiff side!
Module 6
My partner and I loved the forearm techniques for warming up the legs because their muscles are very stiff and strong. The rocking motion was also great for them for the same reason. I had them try the rocking on me and I found it very grounding and relaxing. I have had to take some notes so I can remember my own body position for each stretch, but I am hoping that it will become automatic if I practice a few times a week.
June 28, 2010
Offline I am glad that I could bring "reading the body" more to life for you. You will find more about that throughout the course.
Yes, stiff hips are quite common, and I am sure yoga students are no exception as you know very well. Actually I have had so many clients with hip issues that I even created an entire course just about working on the hips for those who want to specialize more in therapeutic work. But the Complete Thai Massage course will keep you busy for the next few months!
March 20, 2014
Offline Module 8
The "pie" of hip motions was very helpful for remembering the stretches (stretches for all angles). My partner really enjoyed all the extra warm up techniques and really needs it because they are stiff. It's useful being able to massage/stretch a muscle or muscle group in different ways for different bodies since no two clients will be the same. I've been practicing a lot so it's a nice break to use the forearms and feet to massage and not only the hands.
The hamstring/hip stretch was simple and effective, and it's nice that it is easy to adjust for more or less pressure - although my partner is stiff in many areas they can do deeper stretches in some places. I was able to stretch their hamstring pretty far in that technique and they were just fine.
June 28, 2010
Offline That's one of thing I really love about Thai Massage - that you can use forearms and elbows and knees and feet. What a great way of relieving our hands and making sure they don't get overworked!
March 20, 2014
Offline Module 10
I liked the idea of working from the hara when moving and massaging - I used to do tai chi and I remember a similar idea called the dantian. We were told to move from the dantian/our center/core and let the limbs follow it.
I tried the blood stop in the adductor stretch on my partner after asking if it was ok. They said they felt a warm gush after I slowly released and they enjoyed it on both sides. In the yoga lotus position I have read that one of the purposes of binding the foot over the thigh is to cut off blood supply temporarily in a similar way.
Module 9
I have continued to work with the hip pie idea with my partner. It seems like once you get the hang of the first hamstring stretch the others are easy because it's mostly just the angle changing. I have been asking for a lot of feedback about how the stretches feel and about how my posture feels for them. I am thankful that my main partner is bigger than me because I get to practice many of the modifications regularly - if they were my own size I probably wouldn't practice them as much.
Using props has also made the massage with my partner easier. I make sure my knees are well padded and that any spaces under their body are comfortably cushioned. I like to have a few blankets rolled up and available to slip under the knees/ankles/my own knees.
March 20, 2014
Offline Module 11
For this module I practiced a whole flow with my partner. I started by warming the feet with my hands & thumbs and the legs with rocking & forearms. It flowed very well and I kept myself comfortable with posture and by moving props around with me. I only asked for feedback when I wasn't sure of my partner's experience so that they could relax. They love the blood stop now so I did that again but only for about 10-15 seconds.
The leg work took me about 40 minutes. I felt good during the massage but afterwards I felt like my own lower back was sore or overstretched. I did a variety of yoga poses for myself and it was fine - I am not sure what happened because I was comfortable during the massage.
June 28, 2010
Offline Yes, the hara and the dantian are basically the same concept.
Props both for you and your clients like blankets and pillows are very useful. I always keep several sizes handy during my sessions. That alone can turn a session from uncomfortable to pleasant.
Regarding feeling uncomfortable - this is always an ergonomics issue. Try going through all the techniques and adjust your position until it feels most comfortable. Make sure you use body weight as much as possible, keep your back straight, and find the ideal angle to work in. This takes some creativity sometimes since this can change depending on the difference between your size and the client's size.
Actually working in the ideal way is a skill that takes some time to develop. It comes when you don't have to think about the techniques anymore and you can put your full attention on your body, your hara, your energy and your breath. In other words it generally does not work perfectly until you have learned the techniques so well that you don't have to focus much on this aspect anymore. Then you will suddenly reach another level where it all flows and everything feels totally comfortable.
Of course part of this is that you will learn through practice that there are some techniques that you should skip if the client is too large or too heavy or too stiff, otherwise the session can feel like you are trying to drive a square peg through a round hole.
March 20, 2014
Offline Module 12
I practiced many of the calf stretches on my partner and they really enjoyed the version where you sit and pull back on the foot with both hands – this was also easier for me because I am shorter than my partner. The sacral stretch with elephant walking on the knees was a success – I had my partner do it on me and felt a gentle movement in my sacrum which I’ve never felt before. Rocking the body has always given good feedback, so I have been ending many of these sessions with something similar to the chi machine.
March 20, 2014
Offline Module 13
This module was very helpful for learning how to communicate with a client so that they have a good experience. Of course, with my partner we talk casually, but it’s good to have a way to ask for feedback professionally. All of the modifications I have learned have been useful so far, especially for my partner because they are taller and tighter. Lots of people are tight, so I know I will use this information often.
I tried the last stretch of the “hip pie” with my partner gently and my partner did enjoy it – it’s almost a twist and a stretch for the lower back. I added a small rocking motion as well and my partner always seems to react positively to the motion.
June 28, 2010
Offline Just like you, I often just add in a rocking motion which generally works very well.
By the way, there is an entire module about therapist-client communication at the end of this course which I think you will appreciate.
March 20, 2014
Offline Module 15
I am so pleased that we learned some abdominal massage in this course - my partner really enjoyed the gentle circular motions and the connected feeling it gave. Explaining the hand as a listening tool is a great way to convey the artistry of working on someone. It is an idea I will apply to all of the moves now as I practice.
Module 14
All of the rocking techniques so far have given positive responses, and makes it much easier fo rme to work on a big person. I put support under my partner's knees for the hip rocking since the legs go back and forth a lot. They loved the pulling technique on the lower back, even though I couldn't bring them into as deep of a stretch as in the video. The pivoting motion from one side to the other is very helpful, and it gets easier with lots of stretching in squats.
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