Module 29.  Totally different than the previous module and definitely a challenge. My daughter was ready for supine. When I showed her the picture of how to lie on her side, she moved into it quite easily. She is only 4'8" tall with short chunky thighs, but enough room for some elephant walking, quite a bit  could be done on one side ,and not as much on the other side because she got ticklish. She did not want the next technique but I did practice it with my granddaughter's doll, just to see how to do it.  I will need a real person when it works.

Without pillows this is a hard series of hip moves to do  because, as you clearly demonstrate in the video, the hip flattens out. And then there is no action taking place.  At least I see now how important being prepared with pillows for support is, and how sensitive a hip can be, because I tried it without pillows and nothing really happened. I could also not work much doing the palm circling on one side, again my daughter was ticklish. I leaned in with one forearm, however,  and felt that it was not much effort because I was up on my toes and leaning in. That technique went well. Percussion was good for my daughter, and it relaxed her.

For the stretch, my daughter lifted her leg for me, a big surprise, but I did get my forearm underneath to hold the leg, and then I could do the adduction and hip stretch. The rocking felt very good, the leg moved, it was slow and easy.  Her other leg was more difficult and we ended it there. She was happy.

I learn a lot from the times a technique is just not coming together as  I do when it goes well, and it prepares me for an improvement the next time around. 

And lastly Shama, I was thinking of the benefit of several types of pillows available to support someone, remembering the abundance of pillows I used to use for pregnancy massage!  Thank you!

Module 30. Practiced pulling up the torso then added a pillow under the thigh. Elephant walking started out very nicely and helped get my rhythm going. I had to switch to using a modified fist  for the middle torso of my daughter, as it got ticklish for her with the palm.  So it really wasn't elephant walking with the fist feel, and it was slower so I could get on the erectors.  Leg support with wider knees kept the balance okay.

Above the torso I could use the  palm of the hand for the elephant walking, and also the thumb. Rocking made it easier. Coming up on one knee felt good and I remembered to stabilize my arm. I moved both hands, leaning and staying as best I could on the erectors, for which I had to slow my pace to find them, and then moving back down when indicators of tickling triggered my daughter. We both laughed at this. I showed her the picture in the transcript so she would understand what was happening next.

Her arm was in front, bent near her face, for the first spinal twist. I barely moved with just a stretch when my daughter indicated it was ticklish on her shoulder. I experimented and then retried doing it very slowly, inch by inch,  but the movement was not comfortable to my daughter. So I tried the rocking,  and it was very good at this point, and relaxing to her.  Now, I could hold the shoulder and move the lower hand up and down, lightly, and it turned out to be just what my daughter needed but the zone of ticklishness was very evident.  Luckily there are lots of other Thai massage options when something doesn't work. A change of pace for her was super good. She was done at this point and we finished without any attempt at the hip flexor, quads and lower back stretch. It was a very good lesson overall, adaptation the name of the game.  Thanks!

Module 31. What helps me a lot is a presentation of logical steps, clearly stated and reviewed techniques, with the sequence from A to Z, no rush. I tend to want to go A,B,C and then X,Y,Z to get to the end. In these modules I've learned the value of going slow, of hearing it said in different ways, with different video angles of seeing the same technique, and always presented with a sense of humor and a smile. It makes me excited to hear "Welcome Back" and, later, " I will see you in the next video." My motivation continues at a good level and I'm drawn every day to do some aspect of Thai Massage work. 

My daughter easily got on her side with my knees up against her back. Keeping her arm back  behind her kept her in position, and she knew I'd be working on her shoulders. Circling the shoulder in both directions showed me a difference in tightness, as well as left and right shoulder differences. I could do the circling. Palming on the shoulder was easier than fingertips, but I was able to settle in and feel the security of both hands doing opposite things. One side was easier than the other side for the fingertips on the traps also. I was moving in a circle the whole time. The built-in stretch was very effective. I kept checking in with my daughter and she was calm and relaxed. I used the written steps of the process to confirm I had it right, and other than my daughter wanting to "help" with the circling of the arms, we both settled in to a very nice move.

If I went really slow with the arm circling, then my daughter let me do it by myself, and I think it might have been tight on one side and she wanted to get through that 200 degree turn. The body weight technique didn't present any problems and I was careful and slow. 

I've always enjoyed shoulder work and I most appreciate that I'm feeling good afterwards, not sore or tight.  Thanks!

Module 32. I somehow lost my whole write-up for this module when I tried to submit it, so this time it will be shorter. I supported my daughter's back with me knee when able, since she ended up halfway between on her side and on her back. I was careful bringing her arm up and back and I used the technique for the less flexible shoulder.  I jumped ahead to the push/pull moves to help relax her several times.

A hand towel under my daughter's arm helped a lot with her usually ticklish responses, and it helped later with leaning on the torso. I found the towel helped with at least getting a feel for her scapula, palming circles for a while before attempting fingertips there, and then returned to a rocking for the shoulder. So, I could not release her scapula but I could tell how tight it was in most areas. Then I was able to move the towel away from the scapula and make palming circles without her reacting. Shoulder and arm traction was okay, again with a towel.  Sandwich rocking was a good way to move some of the energies out, an alternate technique for transitioning out. Oh yes, she did like pulling the shoulder back too.

Thanks Shama!