Register
Log In
Home
November 22, 2011
Offline
I have now begun the New Hip Therapy course. I just completed the first module talking about evaluations and hip considerations prior to session work. The information on imbalances and conditions such as bursiitis and arthritis is very helpful. Also the tests for tightness in the hip. In the aging population tight and tense muscles are a concern but arthritis and other issues are usually present as well and need to be addressed. This module reminds me of those concerns the need to address those issues before beginning any Thai session. Looking forward to the therapeutic modules now.
June 28, 2010
Offline
Since you have gone through every single one of my courses, many things will be familiar to you in this course. But I am sure you will find some nuggets and additional information and techniques which will be helpful in your work. I always appreciate your comments and observations here in the forum.
November 22, 2011
Offline Module 2 is completed and how I do love the rocking techinques. I use a lot of the pelvic and sacral rocking and find they help the clients relax when nothing else seems to work. I may have tried pressure and stretches and just end up back at rocking. I haven't thought about rocking extending the joint range as much as I have it causing the muscles to relax. I can see after this module a few ways I might use the rocking now to increase range. I have a client that has a bad hip and the doctor says it doesn't need to be replaced. He says there is still cartilage there. I'm not so sure as it hurts when she lowers the leg from straight leg raises and it pops a great deal beyond 90 degree flexion. Her other hip has been replaced. I have gained a great deal of range and she walks better after a few Thai sessions but still puzzled about a few of her symptoms. I will see her Saturday and plan to add some extended rocking with more body weight and see what happens. It should be better tolerated than a few of the stretches I've done and hopefully more beneficial.
June 28, 2010
Offline 
I know, rocking really rocks! Years ago I started using it a bit, and now I am an addict and my clients love it. 
I keep finding new ways to use it. Many of my students really like it and use it extensively.
November 22, 2011
Offline Module 3 complete. Here covering knee, forearm, foot and hand variations. Reminded when to use variable pressure, rocking, linear and circular pressure and movement.
November 22, 2011
Offline Finally got to finish module four. It covered the pie visual for the hip. I had seen this in the previous training but probably paid more attention this time. LOL It works well for teaching and describing hip work. I do a lot of traction but had not specifically used this technique before so plan to put it into play.
June 28, 2010
Offline Also the hip pie is covered in more detail in this course and it includes some new techniques.
November 22, 2011
Offline Just completed Module 5 and yes there is quite an expansion on the hip pie concept. There are a lot of variations for #3 and options for 4 in this mod. I use the circling a lot in my sessions to get clients to relax and let go before moving into deeper hip stretches or even hamstring stretches. I have used hands and forearms in the addctors but have not tried the knee.
June 28, 2010
Offline It will be hard to surprise you with brand new, never seen techniques, Mark. But this is not what I had in mind anyway. The idea of all the therapy courses is to assemble all the right techniques for a very specific job, add some good theoretical knowledge to it, and assemble a tool kit which works for very specific applications.
At some point in Thai Massage you don't need more and newer techniques, you need more knowledge how to apply them better, gain a deeper understanding of them, and combine them in specific and creative ways to get a specific result. And I think that's the stage where you are at.
November 22, 2011
Offline Some good stuff in module 6. When using pie position 5 I run into the tight groin a lot. It is very helpful to get a release on the hip prior to moving into the 5 stretch. I like the positions and variations you show. It reminded me of things I don't always pay attention to as I should.
November 22, 2011
Offline I completed 7 today and wow. There is a lot of new stuff here for sure. Pie position 6, 7, and 8 have a few challenges. I like having the techniques and have clients that can use them and tolerate them. Even more, it is very helpful having alternatives to use for 6, 7, and 8 when the client doesn't tolerate them well. I have plenty of those too. The rocking technique in #7 will require a lot of practice on my part. I will have to view this several times and practice to remember these.
June 28, 2010
Offline I am glad to hear that you are still finding new nuggets in this course, in spite of having a huge repertoire of Thai Massage knowledge already.
November 22, 2011
Offline Shama, Two and a half years of studying and doing Thai massage and such a long way to go. The more I learn the more I realize I don't know. There are many many techniques I do not know nor have incorporated into by arsenal. Even more, having been educated from a western medical and religious model, the energy theory has been a challange. I have a masters in theology from a fundamental Christian University and my father was a western M.D. This has been quite a stretch for me the last few years. As a Yoga teacher (RYT) with additional training in yoga therapy and Thai massage, the subtle body aspects have all come after 55 years of age. I guess we never stop growing and changing. Thai massage and yoga have taught me to look at the total individual comprehensively. Probably rambling.. LOL. I apprectiate your insights and teaching. Thank You
November 22, 2011
Offline I worked with a new client yesterday. It was a 76 year old gentlemen referred to me for extreme inflexibility. I used some of the gentle rocking techniques on his hips and hamstrings to get him to loosen up. Some of the specfic sideways rocking and gentle circling learned in the last two lessons were very helpful.
June 28, 2010
Offline You have an interesting background there! Must have been quite a shift to get where you are now.
I don't know every technique under the sun either, and that's not necessary anyway. We have to be good at something that suits us. Nobody can be good at everything. Thai Massage has a huge amount of techniques, but at some point it is more important to go deep than wide, i.e improve the quality of touch, the connection with the client, the sensitivity of your touch, etc., instead of trying to accumulate the biggest repertoire of techniques in the world. The whole purpose of my 'therapy courses' is to facilitate the 'going deeper model'.
November 22, 2011
Offline Completed Lesson 9. I of course like the options of using knees and forearms on the hip and do so often. I have a lot of heavier clients that require quite a bit of pressure. Rocking techniques are always welcome. Sometimes I swtich around to save the hands. Other times, when I am doing quite a few in the same day, I try dfferent and new things to keep it interesting to me. We, the therapists get bored sometimes and need a change too.
November 22, 2011
Offline Finished 10 and 11 this afternoon with some extra time. Module 10 had a few new tidbits for me I can make use of now. I have several clients with tight hip flexors and have tried most everything. I got some new ideas now. The hip therapy program is awesome and as promised comprehensive. I would highly recommend it to anyone wanting about hip work. I will write a more detailed review later on for it. For now though, it is well worth the money and time. Thanks again Shama.
June 28, 2010
Offline Thanks Mark for your appreciative comments. It always means a lot to me since I really put my heart and soul into my courses.
1 Guest(s)
