Modules 1-4, Review. Practice today was to get a more cohesive feel of the HHM Thai Massage for each of the four modules. I reviewed the PDFs and went back to the video for Module 4 to catch some of the points that make this work better.  I liked the focus on going slow, maintaining touch with sliding down the arm, getting in touch with my breath to her breath to the techniques. My daughter was again compliant and allowed me to go through each of the modules, with two complaints. She didn't like much pressure on the shoulders with compression and let me know. She also did not like the 4th neck warming technique of grabbing the muscles next to the spine and pulling them out, right and left, press with the fingertips. She has a short neck with lots of tissue and I think I was taking too much tissue in my hands. I apologized and thanked her for the lesson today.

Finding the collarbone was easier, the sternum was identified and she didn't mind the thumb pressure or rocking. The second rib on the left side was a bit tender and my daughter shook her head as I moved out on it; maybe my thumb wasn't in the right position or it just is going to be sore for her. She laughed at the upper body twist and slight rock, so that move became easier. Slowing down for the second side was better too.  Thank you.

Module 5. My daughter was very relaxed tonight and wanted to start with the Chi Machine. Her body was rocking and moving well, and I could see she liked the motion. Gentle on the shoulders and down the arms, then careful on the upper sternum, first rib only, flat hand on sternum. All of this was modified to her response to asking if she'd like a few more times with a technique. Rocking on the sternum was good, pressure on the collarbone was a light touch with the flat thumbs. She didn't want the ribs again, the pecs were ticklish, she asked for the upper body twist/hold. She didn't want the twist, just a hold in the pose. Yes to all of it. Then I moved to the new techniques on her neck. She smiled at the feeling of the hair coming off her neck and she liked the stretches. She opened her eyes as I moved very slowly supporting her head, 100%, breathing at how much can be done in slowing of the movements and the connection with her. Her eyes closed as I slowly lowered her head and released it. And then she wanted Chi Machine again. I was yawning now too. The recommendations on how to do this module were so valuable and appreciated. Thank you.

Module 6.  Shama, my daughter turns 30 years old in two weeks. I'm getting old! She is my greatest teacher and I appreciate what she brings to my life every day.  She was willing to do this module because 1) I reminded her how much she enjoyed the last module on the neck, and 2) we made cookies first.

This module was great to do and I see how each little part contributes to a relaxing Thai massage. I need more practice. I had this funny trick of not resting my forearms on my thighs for full support, but would half-rise up a bit, and then my lower back would respond.  This tells me how much more practice I need to understand the steps, apply them over and over to where I settle into them and cement them into me, and also to breathe. Breathing happens in subsequent reviews of the video more easily, as you probably know.

Some of the techniques I was familiar with, but again it is the refinements that make the difference. My daughter watched me for barely two cycles of the first one and then she closed her eyes and breathed. I could synchronize with her more easily.

The reviews for the sections is very helpful. The pictures in the PDF offer a lot too.

I didn't quite get the optional twist yet to offer it to my daughter, but I like how it looks and works in the video. Thank you.

Module 7.These are amazing techniques, Shama! I'm super careful with my right shoulder but it feels very protected under my daughter's neck and on her shoulder. It was actually my left shoulder that I had to adjust.  I can roll her head without issues but only did one circle stretch since she did not like it, and going halfway was not getting the stretch, so on we go, just like you indicated as a good way if it is not working for personal back/shoulder problems. I think my daughter felt secure with my hands wrapped around her neck, a pause in there to tell her what I was going to do and a nice lift, but only once. I was happy with that one time, just to get a feel for it.

She's never had the neck vertebral problem that some people with Down syndrome have, and her neck is nice and thick, so turning just the head felt right. I was focused on what my hands were telling me and about any tension.  Chin up for the neck stretch, but we did not go the full 90 degrees. I adjusted my daughter's head several times during this sequence so she was straight and to give me a chance to get back into breathing. I seemed to forget to breathe and probably would have done better if we could have done a second round. I'm the one with neck problems and I realized I could breathe through any awareness of my feelings.

The knee against her forehead supported her and the alternating hands on her neck was A-Okay. She breathed and relaxed. I watched the angle and enjoyed the calmness.

It really was an amazing session, baby steps to learning what I could, grateful for these absolutely wonderful techniques, videos and material. Thank you.

Module 9.  My daughter was like putty in my hands with the ear work. She let me go through the sequence twice.  I supported my legs with blankets rolled up under my knees since cross-legged is not comfortable otherwise. I also sat on a blanket and tucked a rolled up blanket against my lower back.Yes, I love my props! I recognize a few of these techniques from both Swedish Massage and also from a few Chinese Acupressure techniques for my yoga class; they will really like some additional ear work.

I took time to move my daughters hair out. The wisps liked to keep moving back so I took time to go back and forth, one side to the other or to press my wrist/forearm in to hold the hairs steady. It was nice to not just squeeze the earlobes with the thumbs, and in the second part with the fingers,  but to make circles. It was a reminder to breathe. Pressure together on the earlobes and pulling out was very good, very gentle.  Are the ridges the same size? One felt easier to take hold of for the downward pressure. It took a minute to do the circles with fingers below the earlobe and the hand heel above the earlobe. Sliding down, groove work and scissors technique went well and I had the PDF pictures to help me get right to the ear placement. The notch was nice to work with and finishing up with the quiet hold over the ears was a relaxing way to end. So nice! Thank you.

Module 10.  Very enjoyable on the head and able to get smooth motions going as we went through the different head techniques. My daughter got out her blanket, said she was ready, and it became a relaxing time for her. The difference between rubbing and friction is not complicated, holding is a nice pause at the end and I liked practicing it with the other techniques. Lift jumping is sweet and light. The leaning pressure feels good. Shampoo motion made my daughter laugh (almost her bath time), rapid fingertip rubbing was quick, and stroking is always wonderful.  Variable pressure with circling activates those nerves that need stimulation and becomes part of the body circling, and it is nice in the middle to change to lifting her head to pull out hair on one side and then the other. I liked the alternating pressures, like with the claw hand versus finger circling, and the pressure of shampooing versus smooth circling with finger and thumb over the head. Thumb crossing is a nice activation for the midline.

Very wonderful sequence, sighs from my daughter, then she asked for the belly massage, which we did, then we did the sternum palm down and rocking, then we moved to the Prone Legs, Module 20 in the Complete Thai Massage Course.  Many thanks!

Module 11.  I think I use the word "Heavenly" for HHM every time I do it. It feels really good to me.  I am thankful for the directions for each of the head techniques in the PDF because some of them can look exactly alike until you follow the directions.   The description is right after the highlighted name of the technique and it is not difficult to get it pretty quickly. It's like this little surprise, "Oh, this is what you do!" The difference in each one is amazing and it was fun to do them with my daughter, who lay there on the floor with her eyes closed the whole time.  I also loved the review at the end, following it along on my own head, except that my fingers substitute for the thumb techniques.

What helped to make this a really good experience is the great variety: of contrast of strong then light, palm of hand versus fingers, hair grasp and then hair pull, direction of stroke, use of fingernails, midline thumbs....and all of the techniques. Some of them I stayed with, practicing longer than others, just going with the flow and the breath. Some techniques I knew, but I can say that I learned a lot with just this module because people love this aspect of a massage and there is nothing more relaxing than head massage.  Many thanks!