Module 8

The information in this lesson really reinforces the idea of using the whole body and not to try muscling into any stretches. Also, the idea of the hip pie concept really gives me a greater focus on the specifics of each stretch.

As is normal, I watched this video a couple of times before working with my practice partner and then when we actually work together, I follow the video exactly, pausing it and going back several times so that he and I can discuss how it feels to him and also to gain his perspective on what you are demonstrating and are saying. We began this session by going back to the leg warm ups first to help with any discomfort he was experiencing. My practice partner is a 21 year old male, with lean muscle, little fat and works out a few times a week. He was also experiencing testicular torsion that day, so we worked within his comfort zone.

After the warm ups, I tried a few different ways of doing the stretches. For him, doing them the same as you do with his foot in my groin felt the best, even though my size would dictate using the power version. This version felt awkward to me and I did feel like I had less control. To him, it didn't feel as if I had the same level of strength or control, as well. I followed the 1, 2, 3 for the pressure points, but will admit that if I was asking him for feedback at the time, I would do more than the 1, 2, 3 which brings me to ask if that is an absolute. I have noticed that with my hand size, adding a 4th point seems appropriate at times.

The gentleness of rocking back and forth was very beneficial in relaxing my partner, not just in the hip, but the low back and the entire thigh. It took a bit more practice to get the circles down and I was definitely better at it when I moved to his second side. All together, he and I spent roughly  1 hour working on this video, working from each side. 

I also worked with 2 others with these techniques, but not while using the video, I just did what felt "right". The first, a 42 year old male, was actually more flexible than the younger male and his feedback, though similar, was able to help me feel the differences in different body types. To him, the stretches felt better than the rocking and warm ups because of the deepness they offered. The second, a 66 year old woman who suffers from arthritis in her sacrum and experiences severe discomfort on a daily basis felt the greatest benefit from rocking the hips and then going into the stretch. Her session was on a table as she is one of my weekly rehab clients. I was definitely able to feel her gluteals and QL's give and release a bit more than usual and with a little less effort.

I have added some of the techniques from this course (adjusted a bit to work with the table)  that I have learned so far into my daily sessions and the response has been very positive, both in client/patient perception and in what I observe. I have discovered that the biggest challenge for me thus far is breathing properly, though this was a problem for me when I began massage, so I am sure that it will come with more practice and be more natural when I am thinking less about what I am doing. 

Module 9

As I progress through the modules, I can tell my movements between the different moves are becoming more fluid and natural. I started the module with my practice partner by beginning with some of the warm ups. I also worked with 2 other people for this module. With each, the results were varying. The test for checking the adductors to see if they are tight and then bouncing the leg gently to help to relax the inner leg was very useful and I achieved good results with this. Hearing you say that tight muscles will use extra energy was one of those things that I knew, but just hadn't thought of. This is something that I will remember to tell my clients going forward.

When moving the leg into the 90 and 45 degree angles, my practice partner demonstrated tightness, and he communicated with me well so that I worked within his comfort zone. We placed a pillow to support his leg and to prevent me from accidently going past what he was comfortable with. With the other 2 people, one had no discomfort and enjoyed the stretch and the 'elephant walk' as well. With the other person, the session was on a table, so the stretch was applied a bit differently and without the elephant walk. This stretch felt strong, but not uncomfortable. All 3 people I worked with liked the feel of having their hips rocked while in the angled position. One had even said that if that was all that was done for the hips, it would be useful.

The hamstring stretch was awkward at first because I struggle to get that extra at the end by leaning forward, but I played around with it and managed. Truthfully, none of the people I worked with actually required the deeper hamstring stretch, so it wasn't really an issue. 

While crossing the leg over the body and placing the foot next to the opposite knee, I found the biggest challenge was hand size. The heavier the person, the more difficult this was for me and working with my dominant hand was much easier than my non-dominant hand. I am confident that with more practice, this will begin to get easier and I will adapt to make it work for me.

I really feel like my body is learning Thai massage and that I am not just going through the motions. I find that my knees and ankles aren't experiencing the same level of discomfort that I had during the earlier modules and I am not as stiff as I move from each new position. I definitely have a long way to go, but the improvements are noticeable. 

Module 10

With the introduction of the the Hara concept, some of the other concepts come together a bit more easily, for me at least. "Thinking softness" as you put it and working soft and slow with the client/partner is a bit easier. Though the concept of Hara is new to me, if I think of it as where my energy comes from, I have noticed that this really does slow me down and gives me a better focus without really requiring any additional thinking. Being a smaller therapist, I have always known the importance of working with my entire body to be effective, but feel that this is even more important as I learn Thai massage so that it is comfortable for both myself and my client. Without comfort, the client won't be able to enjoy the massage and it won't be effective.

 I worked with 2 different people with this module. The spinal twist technique was favorable to both, including the stronger variations. My size did effect the strength somewhat, but I tried different positions and found what worked best and felt best to both myself and my practice partner. While stretching the leg straight and across the body, I practiced the 3 different strengths. The first 2 positions were comfortable for both partners, the 3rd with the foot in front of my knee was uncomfortable, and with one of my practice partners, I actually did not even attempt to fully go into this version of the stretch because of how tight his hamstrings are. Transitioning this technique into a spinal twist was comfortable to myself and my partners. 

The next technique, I started my partner with an angle above 45 but below 90 and gradually was able to get it to just above 90. Placing my ankle under my partners ankle and lifting by raising my heel and rocking to my toes as demonstrated did not really feel like it was doing much, but each partner said that it was effective. I was actually surprised at how little it took to work. My first practice partner did not like the blood stop, though his feedback indicated that having his leg angled in a abducted stretch probably was a strong contributor to this. My second partner had a little better feedback for this, but said he could understand why my first partner didn't like it. I know a lady who lived with her family in Thailand for a few years, and she was talking about the blood stop technique  a few weeks ago. Her experience with this was mixed, depending on the therapist who worked on her, so I do feel that as I continue to progress and develop a better sense of working softly with my entire body, I will also learn to feel my clients comfort zone as I do with table massage.

I usually feel a little awkward and even off balance the first time I work on someone with the video and when I switch sides and do it again, I do feel a little more comfortable.  I also develop better flow when I work with additional partners, which is usually without the video. I have begun to feel more comfortable adapting the techniques to work best with my own size and what feels more natural. In the beginning, I was trying so hard to do things exactly as you do, that I was over thinking it but you have been reassuring that everything does not need to be so exact and it is important to feel natural doing the techniques.

Module 11

This module demonstrated a lower leg session in real time including foot warm ups and stretches and leg warm ups and stretches. Though this was definitely too fast, it still gave me the opportunity to follow a full lower body/leg session and practice moving slowly from each position and to also move my partners legs in a way that was both safe and comfortable for him.

Something I noticed right off that I can't recall from the original video that demonstrated the Chi Machine, I see that your partner is laying in the anatomical position with her palms face up. I often ask my partner to lay with his hands at his side when practicing this and other techniques, but haven't really been specific as to how to lay. Does this matter? I do know laying in anatomical position is better for keeping the shoulders in a more correct position and can be helpful in reducing forward rolled shoulders, so it does seem that there is a benefit from this.

My partner likes that Thai massage starts at his feet and agrees with your statement that you only get one chance to make a good first impression. The foot techniques are among his favorite. The concept of the 8 different things that can be done with the foot has really given me more focus and a more thorough technique with the foot. 

When practicing the first 10 modules, I have always made sure to spend enough time on warmups, feeling they are very important for both a relaxing and a safe massage. I was glad to see that you spent quite a bit of time on warmups, as well. I do sometimes wish that there were an overhead view added to the lessons so that I could see the angles a bit better. However, I do watch the videos several times and with consistent practice and good feedback from my partner, I eventually get it figured out.

My partner and I followed what you did with the video for each leg, and then I worked on him without the video. On my own, I went slower and used his feedback to determine which techniques to use. I am still a little clumsy, but I am fairly pleased with the progress I have made thus far and am actually quite surprised at how little discomfort I experience. Starting this course, my biggest concern was the discomfort from kneeling and sitting on my feet. I was certain I would do well at learning the techniques, I was worried that I wouldn't be able to execute them. This I am happily finding isn't so.