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December 23, 2014
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Hello! First I must express my excitement for signing up for this course. I have had about 3 weeks of Thai massage training in massage school. I fell in love with Thai massage on the mat. I totally felt awkward with trying Thai techniques on the table.
I have already learned so much from the first 2 modules and look forward to upcoming modules.
Let me share an experience from my first day at the student massage clinic. My first 90 minute session, I was nervous and was too mechanical through half the session before I could let my mind go and move more freely. The second half of the session I was more relaxed and worked on my ergonomics and breath. At the end of the session my client's feedback totally revealed how I felt throughout the session. I know I shouldn't be that surprised that the client could feel my energy transfer. Now my sessions come more from metta and the feedback shows from the clients at the clinic. In module 1, you gave a great overview of the tools used and positions. In massage school it was not clearly defined like you have done.
module 2: Chi Machine
Oh my gosh... Totally love performing this during my sessions. My practice partner felt the tingling and warming sensation in about 1.5 minutes. I have used a chi machine at school and I'm thrilled that this can be done without a machine.
I am eager to learn more about the art of combing and work on the magical touch.
Thanks for being and awesome instructor.
June 28, 2010
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Hi Rochelle, welcome to our forum and the Complete Thai Massage course. It sounds like you are off to a good start!
Please take a moment and familiarize yourself with our certification check list (although it seems that you have it figured out already):
Certification Check List
I am looking forward to working with you and following your progress. 
December 23, 2014
Offline Module 3
Wow! These videos are amazing and filled in depth description that is much appreciated.
I prefer this foot sequence over the one taught to me at massage school. My practice partner feels your foot sequence feels more oceanic and the flow is more fluid. After several rounds of practice my partner kept falling asleep. I take that as a good sign.
I find that I need more practice on my flexibility for doing moves that require sitting. Being an avid runner I need pay more attention to keeping my hamstring and lower back loose.
June 28, 2010
Offline If your partner is falling asleep, that's always a great sign. Personally I love to drift in and out of this half sleep-half awake state during a good massage. You must be doing something right!
December 23, 2014
Offline Module 4 - foot part 2
I'm glad that there is a big emphasis on not just memorizing sequences but more focus on quality of touch. I have received a massage from a student who had all the sequenced memorized but it was so mechanical and it did not feel as good as another student who was more in tuned with the quality of touch.
During my practice sessions I focus on developing my sense of feel and stay away from doing the same sequences over and over in the student clinic. I like having more options in my tool box during a session to tailor to a client's needs.
I have gotten a lot of positive feedback from using the kneading technique on the bottom of the foot. I have tried out the foot sequence on a few guys at work who are on their feet for 10-12 hours a day in steel toeboots... It's priceless to see theIr smiles after a short session.
June 28, 2010
Offline Yes, that's a priceless feeling when you see such reactions!
Mechanical massage is lifeless, soulless. It doesn't feel good no matter how many techniques someone knows. You will see that throughout this course I keep stressing the quality of touch and the more subtle elements of Thai Massage which turn it into a healing art versus a mechanical performance.
December 23, 2014
Offline Module 5 - leg warm up
The push - pull thigh technique is my new favorite. This technique compliments the butterfly technique very well. I have added a few of these techniques to my current leg routine to make it feel more complete. I am really enjoying being intuitive and listening to what my clients body is needing.
My practice partner is sure enjoying all the practice I have being doing and the steady progress of become more confident in performing the new techniques.
June 28, 2010
Offline Great, you have the correct approach right from the beginning.
December 23, 2014
Offline Module 6
I sure did get to practice foot massage and the leg work over the past few days while on vacation. This was a running vacation and I had the privilege of working on some marathoners. One of the many draws to Thai massage is using your whole body instead of muscling it. I had many people ask it it hurts my hands or makes me tired after giving back to back massages. The beauty of using the forearm techniques is that there is very little "work" required and it more like having fun. In massage school my instructor calls this sanooking because it's fun and doesn't require much work at all to be very effective. All you have to do is lean in with the body ... It amazes big muscle guys on how effective this can be and that you don't have to be super muscular to give a relaxing yet effective massage.
June 28, 2010
Offline And the best proof for this is that here in Thailand thousands of diminutive female therapists can work on much bigger and heavier western men and still be very effective. Thai Massage is the "great equalizer" because you have excellent leverage and can use your body in a highly efficient way.
December 23, 2014
Offline Module 7
I really enjoyed the portion that covered the hip evaluation via the feet. This is a super helpful tool and yet so simple. Practicing the hip walking stretch on a larger client made me feel a bit uncoordinated but after practicing and more practice it's slowly getting better. In the student clinic I get many clients that have super tight hips and the gentle rocking movement and the circular hip lift cross pull stretch seems to be a hit with them.
December 23, 2014
Offline Module 8
So far this segment has been the most challenging because my practice partner's hips were very tight and also heavy legs to work with. Only few of the techniques were comfortable for my practice partner. She enjoyed the rocking technique and the use of rocking into stretches. At least after several rounds of practice the hips did loosen up a bit.
June 28, 2010
Offline Locked up and tight hips can be quite a challenge to work on. In many cases you are trying to undo and reverse something that took years or decades to get there. And yes, if people have big and heavy legs, it is more challenging. However you will learn plenty of techniques to choose from in this course to make it easier for you to be effective.
December 23, 2014
Offline Module 9
I had the opportunity to do a comprehensive review of techniques learned from module 1-9. It was great to be more intuitive on what the client needed instead of going through the sequence given to me at massage school. I love having so many additional tools.
Of course many clients that come to the student clinic are so tight and can't handle many of the stretches. In the past few lessons you have given some great alternatives that I use a lot especially for the adductors. Bouncing, rotating, and rocking are all well received techniques.
I really appreciate that you include alternate techniques for for short therapist.
I know I must be doing something right when I have repeat clients at the student clinic.
June 28, 2010
Offline Repeat clients are indeed a vote of confidence and a good sign.
Alternate techniques are one factor that distinguishes "massage mechanics" from healing arts practitioners. Nobody can ever become a good Thai Massage therapist by just following a pre-programmed sequence. It's all about creativity, listening and sensing, and being intuitive.
December 23, 2014
Offline Totally agree with your previous post Shama!
Module 10
I like the reminders of the anatomy of Thai massage move. Before my practice sessions I like to review them so that they are fresh in the mind. I deal with a lot of extremely tight clients and the rocking into a stretch works wonders for them. The spinal twist has been a big hit with my clients and I simply love how simple the technique is. The blood spot has had mixed reviews the people who do like it report a sense of enlightenment.
Module 11
Great overview of utilizing the leg techniques learned in the previous modules. I had the opportunity to perform 2 - 60 minute sessions just focusing on the legs. The sequence you showed in the video flowed very well and as always was enjoyed by the clients.
I had a runner that came to the clinic and complained of soreness in quads, hamstrings, and TFL. I worked on her hips and sen lines for almost an hour and she reported the next day on her run that it was much better and she was able to run at a faster pace .
June 28, 2010
Offline That's wonderful news. Two 60 minute sessions even though you are only up to module 11 is quite impressive. And your runner's feedback is a testimony that you are doing something right! Congratulations!
December 23, 2014
Offline Module 12
Thanks for showing several variations of the same stretches. Being a smaller/shorter therapist I really appreciate the time you spend showing techniques that will make me more effective. The elephant walking on the knees to target the sacrum is well liked by the clients.
Module 13
Wow, you showed some very strong stretches. My practice partner was very patient with allowing me to go through the motions of the stretches but she is not that limber. She did enjoy the scooping and circular movement to massage the points of pain. I will keep these hip pie stretches in mental tool kit. Most of the clients that I see in the clinic not flexible at all but they do enjoy the rocking into a stretch.
June 28, 2010
Offline The rocking makes Thai Massage much more flexible and adaptable in general. It can be used in a myriad of creative ways. Your imagination is your limit! And if your imagination is not enough, I have a Thai Rocking Massage course as well.
December 23, 2014
Offline Module 14
Hip rocking has been a huge hit with the clients at the clinic. The massage program that I am enrolled in does not teach rocking during the Thai portion. Also, thanks for covering how to transition from one side to the other of the client. I still need a bit of practice on moving over the client in one graceful move.
Module 15
Working the abdominal area has been a lot of fun. So far the reaction from the clients have either been ticklish or really guarded. Using light pressure and moving slowly helps but it takes a while to feel the area loosen up. In massage class it was mentioned that it was probably not a good idea to work this area in the initial session but ok if client is a repeat customer. I have been asking first time clients if it's ok to work the area first then go from there.
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