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September 3, 2020
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Oh I do like to do Glutes massage and now with your techniques added on I can be there all day 🙂 I am Danish and I found in England that people are so scared about their bodies compared to back home, it is really sad. Like you said in the extra video That if your mind is pure.... Sadly not all clients minds are pure ahhh. cant win every time.Â
 Module 24 – Prone back 1
Im extremely happy that you dont do the thumb pressure style or the wrist bending type of thai, as both of mine are quite sensitive as it is. Im used to working quite fast so it was a bit hard for me at first to work with the breath on the back. Somehow it has been fine when leaning into the legs with the breath. The constant circling with hands on top of one-another was the easiest to do but my guinea preferred the small circles with the hands side by side, and working with the breath, the best. The cross fiber wiggling was good too, but the up and down rocking I found a bit strange to do but guinea said it was nice, same with the offset wiggle. Seemed like a simple class but still quite tricky in practice 🙂 Tried this on another client too and she especially liked the up/down wiggle, said that really felt like it was loosening things. Normally this client really likes hard pressure but she thought that for this move, pressure wasnt even necessary!
June 28, 2010
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Once you get 'in the flow' with the wiggling techniques, they are surprisingly effective without much effort or power. For the client it feels good and intense at the same time because there is so much movement happening quickly. And it doesn't hurt your hands. I know how important this is since my thumbs and wrists are quite sensitive as well.
I abandoned the thumb-pressure-wrist-bending techniques very early on in my career since they had almost killed my Thai Massage career before it got off the ground. Plus those intense pokey thumb pressure techniques on the back really don't feel so good anyway, and they are not nearly as effective as the wiggling and circling techniques.
September 3, 2020
Offline yes you are right again:) Also people have an idea that painful massage must equal a good thorough massage, when personally I find a relaxing massage actually loosens a lot more than any deep thumb pressing massage ever would!
Module 25 – Prone back 2
I had picked a special client who likes a lot of pressure for this module. I liked your combination idea with the heel of hand pressure on the ES and then into the shoulder, that flowed really nicely. On this lady the spine and ES are so close/almost cover the spine so it was a good call on finding the spine with the fingers 1st and then placing the elbow in between. For the knee lower back massage it was quite interesting how much weight this client could actually take. I didnt expect to be able to do your extended back leg version, but she didnt even bat an eyelid! I also did it on her buttocks like in a previous module, love this move (aswell) 🙂
I was starting to panic I dont have enough time to finish the extra modules in the year time frame, but just seen that its only section 1 which is needed to do the certification? I read that before and though noooo that cant be right, but now im thinking sweeet I dont have to stress after all (although I do need to get on with more practice which this forum inspires me to do...) But what to do when Im through the classes I mean with the certificate? Thank you Sharma
June 28, 2010
Offline Yeah, the no-pain-no-gain devotees...I had never subscribed to this philosophy, and I agree with you - it doesn't work anyway.
The modules that are included in the certification program are 1-35. The bonus courses are not part of it. Anyway, don't worry about the one-year time frame. I have never actually enforced it. It is mostly meant to encourage people to go through with it without procrastination, but it is not a rule that is set in stone. If I see that someone is working with the course material and completes it, I will issue a certificate even if it has taken a bit more than a year.
The only thing is that the CE test questions expire after one year. This is not our software, but a third-party outfit. So if you signed up for a CE certificate, then you would need to complete the test questions within one year. If you only signed up for the international certificate, then you don't have to worry about it.
September 3, 2020
Offline Puh Im very happy to hear that, thank you. I didnt expect time to disappear on me like this. Its been a funny year with first not so many to practice on because of lockdown then suddenly noone to practice on because everyones back at work haha. Dumb excuse I know. What had me confused was this text :
September 3, 2020
Offline Module 26 – Prone back 3
I did this module on my strong back client and it was very effective. Normally I feel like I am breaking myself when massaging her “normally” so to just lean in with the forearm on the ES is just super welcoming. She is a big lady though so felt that when I sat on the floor next to her, that I didnt have much leverage, so ended up sitting on a leg. Adapting at last:) I can do this in a table massage too Im sure, must try that tomorrow. (update: yes that also works really well) I didnt quite find that spot in the shoulder where the arm just fits in though, but her shoulders are quite tight and also she is a big lady so maybe it was covered... The elephant walking and galloping got good feedback, especially the one either side of the spine. When doing that I also had to be up on a knee because otherwise I would be sat on her buttocks (haha me and my little legs again) but would it be ok to sit on her buttocks whilst doing the elephant walk? Standing up whist doing it was also quite good and so much weight on her too which this lady likes.
The pillow under the chest and head is also good for getting to the clients neck. So many people are very closed in the neck and it can be hard to get proper access, so this was very good indeed.
June 28, 2010
Offline I guess there are two types of sections in this course. I will need to clarify this a bit better in the membership portal.
I think it would be better to straddle her buttocks rather than sit on it, if possible.
September 3, 2020
Offline No worries 🙂 I did a practice sequence on a girl last week and she was definitely the best person so far Ive practiced on as she was very relaxed and just going with the movements instead of fighting as most do - and also quiet 🙂 But then when I did the glutes shake with my knees, she absolutely cracked up laughing then she started coughing then laughing some more. Oh dear 🙂 It wasnt that she found the move silly or funny, it totally just came out of nowhere and took us both by surprise. Either way this girl needed a good laugh so im glad it happened. Shes had several sports massages from me but said the Thai is much better 🙂
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Module 27 – Prone upper back
I like that you mention that the people with the scapula's where you cannot get under it, is the client who needs it the most. I actually see that a lot in massage, and its been making me frustrated at times and thought I was maybe doing something wrong since I couldnt get it to lift. Sometimes it just takes a bit of wiggling and shoulder rotation etc but others... Anyhow this guinea lady is a “tight scapula" one, but for once I didnt get frustrated because of your comment. She also really liked the shoulder stretch with the hand pressing on the back, and so did I, it was very simple and very effective.
The cobra 1 and 2 went really well but I didnt do the full cobra as I didnt think she was that flexible and also not sure if I could physically have pulled her into it if she was...Â
I tried the cobras again in my sequence test (above txt) and she was much more flexible, do need to communicate well tho, I can feel its easy to go too far in this one, unlike in other techniques where its easy not to go for enough 🙂Â
June 28, 2010
Offline Every now and then I have experienced surprising reactions from clients - laughing, crying, remembering old trauma, emotional outbursts. There are certain spots on the energy lines in Thai Massage where this tends to happen. These are still rare cases in general, but I have seen it several times.
September 3, 2020
Offline Module 29 – Side position 1
I practiced all the side-lying modules on two clients and what a difference. One very flexible and the other not at all. The flexible one I really struggled to keep her on her side, even with pillows she just “splatted” out onto her belly, until I noticed that she was resting her head on the bottom arm, with the arm extended straight (inline with the spine if that makes sense), instead of bend underneath her throat like your model does! Changing her arm position made all the difference.
I was surprised to sit on their thigh, but both said it felt nice, unlike the hip work they both said that was really deep work and “wow didnt know I was that tight there”, think its the best technique yet for the hip. For the raised leg/hip stretch my flexible guinea really like that, but the not so flexible one said she was not used to her leg doing that! Ha. Overall they both liked this module especially the percussion and the palm circling on the hip.
June 28, 2010
Offline I know, in the beginning many course students are terrified to sit on someone's thigh, and clients love it because it is deeply relaxing and not at all painful, if done right. 
September 3, 2020
Offline Module 30 – Side position 2
The elephant walk is sooo easy and it almost make me think that surely this is “boring” for the client as its sooo easy for me, but both my ladies said it was really nice. The version where you are kneeling and leaning onto the ES and the hip is also quite clever and found that to be better than the thumb elephant walk for my bigger client.
For the two spinal twists I started with the rocking motion and then the full twist, so on my flexible guinea that all went almost according to plan, she was quite relaxed and the rhythm was easy to find, then a little tricky to get her arm round her back but then once there it, she was happy in the spinal twist. One my not so flexible lady the whole thing was a disaster ha. She was too controlling and very confused about the rhythm for the rocking twist, then super confused about the arm going behind her back and then too ridged to do a twist ahhh. Although frustrating it was good because thats real life clients right there.
June 28, 2010
Offline Exactly, you can't win them all - that's part of the job description.
It's not about perfection, but about trying our best. We won't get perfect results every time.
September 3, 2020
Offline Module 31 – Side position 3
I initially did all the side lying modules on 2 ladies but have since also tried this module on a couple of massage clients and have had good feedback for especially the shoulder rotation with the added finger circling massage. And yes it is funny that on one person it works best to massage with say the right and then you go to the next client and then for this client its finger circling with the left hand. Shoulders and necks are peculiar. Also the rocking is very clever, as with your other rocks it really does trick people from being tense – at least for a tiny while in some. The big arm circle I am still struggling with but at least found that the clients with whom Ive struggled the most, they are (some) also the ones who would like to keep doing it, whereas normally I would be tempted to just back out of moves where I meet confusion/ limited movement. And lastly the trapezius pressure with the shoulder stretch is so deep, I cant believe its never been mentioned in my massage books. So clever too because on one client where we had especially good communication, she could 'control it herself' how much pressure she wanted by the amount of shoulder stretch. Good thing it is with the palm of your hand or it would be too intense for many. Thank you again 🙂
June 28, 2010
Offline I am glad to hear that you are finding some nuggets here!
September 3, 2020
Offline Module 32 – Side position 4
The first technique in this module with the elbow overhead is quite interesting, like a triceps stretch and a shoulder massage at the same time, I like it:) Also very funny to see the difference in a flexible and not-flexible clients on this one. But the release of the scapula is the best, and my guineas said they could really feel that I am getting right in there to the niggling bits. Its is always quite awkward with the scapular, I have really enjoyed all your different techniques, and these non the less. Especially the one where you pull with both hands.
I have one client she always just wants pulling “Pull it off” she says so obviously she really liked the shoulder and arm traction / lean. Its quite simple but yet it did actually take a few goes to get the lean and pull right. The kneeding Ive got down though ha! But then the torso lean, every time, I end up turning it into some homemade little side-extension stretch instead of just leaning down.Â
The arm traction where the arm is behind the back I had some fun with the other day when I tried it on a woman with really long arms, as I couldnt have my knee by her back and also her hand on my thigh, but otherwise that one is also super at stretching the pecs and gives a satisfying pull on the joint. Initially Id forgotten about the body rotating sorrryyy but adding that on was a big difference. It went from feeling a bit strained to almost relaxing! it would be interesting to see a video of your wife giving you a thai treatment with your height difference 🙂
The shoulder wiggle is great as always with wiggles and Im sure Ive already said that, but I really have started using all sorts of wiggles in my massage and its a hit:) Even just the simple pull on the shoulder gets good feedback.
June 28, 2010
Offline Regarding the height/size differences, there are some techniques that you would just skip if the height difference is so big that you can't do it comfortably. You don't have to do every technique on everyone.
September 3, 2020
Offline No thats true, its more often that I try to do a move and only then realise ohhh the clients arm or leg is super long, Im sure I will get better at spotting this before going into moves. I have learned my lesson for some moves where the client is just too heavy...Â
September 3, 2020
Offline Module 33 – Sitting position 1
I know exactly what you mean about many clients don't have the posture to have a seated massage done, as some they just seem to collapse underneath you, and also agree that it does not seem fitting to end a session with although I do very much like the techniques.
The neck squeezing with the palm of your hand is very nice and I can even practice that on myself yeah! And good idea with the different knee support ways, very clever especially the sideways one.
I got especially good feedback on the back bend with the shoulder stretch. I struggled a little with the wiggle so did more of a back massage with the feet. But I really enjoyed leaning back and also having bit of a stretch myself 🙂 I added in a forward lean afterwards though and did a gentle elephant walk with my hands up her sides of spine, not sure why ha. I would do that in yoga I guess.
The twist is indeed gentle, which is quite nice and reassuring. It felt really good my guinea said, the legs gave really good support which she found comforting:)
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