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June 28, 2010
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I am glad to hear about the sacrum "miracle" results story. You will most likely get some more such "miracle" results with your Thai Massage practice. 
Regarding the Thai Yogi, all I did was go there and film it. They encouraged me to film it and allowed me to get really close to get good shots. I really don't know much about the significance of all this. Back in the days when I filmed this, my knowledge of the Thai language was minimal, and I did not find anyone there who could explain this to me in English.
I saw the yogi get up afterwards and his legs seemed to be fine.
January 13, 2022
Offline Module 13
One thing I personally learned to appreciate A LOT about Thai Massage is the fact, that it kind of “forces” me to be super relaxed while being “at work”. 
What a gift and perfect work environment! 😉 So it is indeed a win win for the client and the massage therapist, getting "forced” to be relaxed. 😉 Constant focus on breath, Hara, softness and fluidity of the body motion is so beneficial for ME....and of course to the client! 😉
I always use the word “discomfort” over pain. It just has a different energy, since the word comfort is used in the sentence.
Just the other day one of my clients pointed out, that he is indeed in pain (although I did not do too much, but he is VERY stiff and all his muscles are under constant tension), but he said himself, that he can feel that it is a “good pain” and he appreciates it, since he knows, he will continuously feel better after the massage.
I also enjoy consider myself as a massage ARTIST! I very much enjoy how CREATIVE Thai Massage is!!!!
June 28, 2010
Offline Thai Massage seems to fit you like hand-in-glove!
January 13, 2022
Offline Yes!!!!!! I LOVE to wear those magical "Thai massage gloves". 🙂
January 13, 2022
Offline Module 14
Main take away: Always stay connected and transition gracefully! Love it! .....(Just how I teach it in my yoga classes! 😉 )
I practiced the hip rocking motion on a person, who was a bit bigger (around the belly) and I found that my hands where too engaged and I used too much muscular arm force when stretching her lower back. It did not feel comfortable on my end I could feel right away feel how the flow of Hara is blocked and some other (muscular) force wants to take over. But as Shama repeatedly says, pick and choose the techniques according to your liking, your own body type and the body structure and weight of your client.
In this module I also very much enjoyed the informative and inspirational talk between Shama and Deon de Wet.
June 28, 2010
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Muscling the moves reduces the effectivity, diminishes your energy, kills the feeling, and annihilates the flow. Take-away: never work with muscle power if you can do the same thing with body weight and good body mechanics. The difference is like night and day.
And if a technique cannot be done in this way because the client is too heavy, for example, just skip it. Think of yourself first. You cannot help clients if you don't take care of your own body first.
January 13, 2022
Offline Thank you, Shama for the important reminder "Think of yourself first and take care of your own body first!".....and then let the magic happen! 🙂
January 13, 2022
Offline Module 15
I always enjoy those short practice videos……and for my own benefit I integrated a bit more balancing exercise (like tree pose) in my yoga classes. 😉 Over the last decade I already integrated yoga’s sister science “Ayurveda” into my holistic practice. I am delighted to know that with “Thai Massage” I have a wonderful “Holy Trinity” I can be of best service to my clients and students!
I am glad you pointed out, that the abdomen has the largest concentration of organs!
When we commonly talk about the Abdomen…..most people either think about a flat belly with awesome six packs or digestive problems! But there is so much more going on…….and all is orchestrated by HARA or how we call it in yoga the Prana, which flows through the Nadis!
Just to double check: The abdominal massage only needs to be performed on one side and it does not matter on what side of the client the therapist is sitting?!
I am excited to receive more feedback from one of my clients , if that abdominal massage does improve his constipation problems.
But I can already record another “miracle”. My partner had severe cramps in the abdomen area….not too sure what was the cause., but she was almost in tears.
So I did lay her down and massaged super gently in clockwise motions (I did not have my pdf handy so I kind of winged it ;-)) the abdomen area for a few minutes, with the result that the pain decreased significantly! She was absolutely positively surprised that the pain decreased from a 10+ to a tolerable 5 in such a short amount of time.
I also LOVED the analogy to use our hands as a listening instrument. SOOOOO helpful!!!! I agree, we are SO “trained” to DO things with our hands, but seldom let them just be and receive!
The e-book about the 11 Healing Arts Systems of Thailand was beautiful to look at and informative read! You are indeed putting all your love, energy and passion into your work, Shama! Thank you!
June 28, 2010
Offline “Holy Trinity” - I like that one!
"The abdominal massage only needs to be performed on one side and it does not matter on what side of the client the therapist is sitting?" - For the purposes of the Complete Thai Massage course, it is enough to sit on just one side.
However we have an expanded and more in-depth version of abdominal massage in a separate course, and in that one, you change positions from one side to the other.
Abdominal massage can indeed perform miracles for constipation. Once I did a purely abdominal one-hour massage session on someone who was severely constipated, and after the session, she had diarrhea for three days with the body flushing out all the fecal matter.
I will have to call you the 'miracle lady' now. That's a good path to be on. I am convinced that you will have many more such 'miracles' in your Thai Massage career.
January 13, 2022
Offline Module 16
Watching the "Spirit of Thailand Video" was such a delight. Seeing all those smiling faces and feeling all the joy they have. I can imagine, that everyone feels like a winner on a day light that!
I find the Contraindication PDF very supportive and helpful to gain trust in myself, that I can be of best service to my client and cause no harm!
The l longer I practice Thai Massage I find asking myself, why not all types of massage are done in the way Thai Massage is practiced. It is almost some kind of “waist” of time, money and energy, when massage is only done mechanical. I am (and so are my “guinea pigs”) grateful, that I am learning the REAL DEAL here……a truly magical, healing massage!
I have a questions: Would I skip the technique (where the tip of the elbow is pointing upwards, the wrist is bend and the finger tips are pointing down to the toes) in elderly people, who suffer from Arthritis and have not so flexible wrists and finger joints any more. Or would I prepare (e.g. shaking them out loosely and/or circle them around) the wrist prior to that stretch?
June 28, 2010
Offline "Would I skip the technique..." - Yes, that's one of the techniques that you would skip on very inflexible clients, or the ones with arthritis in hands or wrists. There are other ways to accomplish the same with different techniques, for example in the sitting position, as you will see. Never feel compelled to do all techniques on everyone. The techniques are options to choose from, not mandatory sequences.
January 13, 2022
Offline Module 17
YES and NO to Anatomy knowledge!!! I admire people like Shama’s wife, who is an outstanding massage therapist, but clearly states, that she does not NEED to know the names of the muscles. That speaks for being confident and full trust in herself and her work, which is based on experience (her own and that of our countless clients) and intuition, rather than on medical information.
For us Westerners, we still have to battle with things like the Thinking Mind and the Ego, which are pulling us away from an universal intelligent and power (Hara) into the feeling of uncertainty, not being good enough and needing more……more information, more education, just more…..the ego is never satisfied! 
Amused I read the article about "Weird Massage Experiences". I have to be honest, that even here in the West "Thai Massage" is often associated with a Happy Ending. I can even sense that when I tell my friends that I am learning Thai Massage, that I am getting this wondering look and a smirk. 😉
So I started to use terms like "Thai Yoga Massage" and the emphasis goes away from sexy to traditional yoga and a "Blissful Ending". 😉
January 13, 2022
Offline Module 18
I appreciated the fluid and elegant way of transitioning from one side to the other side of the client’s body. It is also good for the therapist's body to move in-between the techniques and stretch and work their own muscles. 😉
With the shoulder work I quickly noticed (since my practice client was a big bigger and also had bigger breasts) that my wrists and hands didn’t like that technique much. Although I used my body weight, there was lots of “client weight to move” 😉 I also had a hard time reaching all the way down below her shoulder plates and get a “good grip. But I can see that with and for a petit person that move will be enjoyable and fluid.
But again going forward I am able to choose and match techniques to my clients. 
Thank you so much for bringing us for a visit at the Elephant Nature Park! So amazing to watch!!!! Can’t wait to go there in person myself one day (hopefully soon)!
January 13, 2022
Offline Module 19
I love those summary sessions, where a complete piece of Thai Massage Artwork is created.
I personally would love the have a audio recording as well, where Shama guides us verbally through a complete Thai Massage. That would be an amazing tool to work on a client following with Shama (and no need to watch at the computer screen) . No explanations would be needed, rather than a verbal guidance from one move to the other Right now I still have a difficult time to remember all those moves., Especially since they don't really have names. Since I am also a visual learner having just a picture of every move (as a reference) would be great. But I guess I soon will have to go through all those modules and just download pictures of my favorite 20 techniques and practice them until they sink into my system,.
This brings up the question for Shama: "Are you going to publish a book one day"? 🙂 🙂 I am certain the world would benefit from it!!!!
June 28, 2010
Offline "So I started to use terms like "Thai Yoga Massage" and the emphasis goes away from sexy to traditional yoga and a "Blissful Ending". - I never had to battle this kind of association. But I guess it helps that people don't generally associate a middle-aged man with a happy ending. This is typically associated with female therapists. If a change of wording helps, then by all means use it.
"Although I used my body weight, there was lots of “client weight to move." - That's definitely an issue that you will come across. And that's the reason why it is so important to know many techniques so that you can pick and choose and modify and replace depending on the client's size, weight, and condition. If a technique is too hard on someone, just skip it - nothing wrong with that.
"Are you going to publish a book one day?" - There are so many things I would like to do, a book being one of them. I would also like to add transcripts to all courses, add more supplemental material, make more articles available as pdf downloads, create more informative videos, improve our website, do better marketing, etc., etc.
The last two years slowed me down quite a bit since we were moving around a lot and I did not have the time and the facilities that I used to have before. Let's see what the future holds.
January 13, 2022
Offline Thank you for replies, Shama!
In regards of all the many things ones would like to do I feel with you, Shama! I also had to move 5 times last year.....
But what I learned over the last years is, that all good things happen at the right time! 🙂
Anyways as long as we are happy and healthy.......and have internet 😉 to be able to teach and learn all is well! 🙂 😉
I am very grateful, that I found you and can study Thai Massage with you! Your teachings (incl. videos and texts) are EXCELLENT!!!!!!!
Although I can very much relate to the human need to always be better and improve (for us Germans maybe an even stronger curse/blessing) I can assure you, that the content AND the context you are delivering is OUTSTANDING already!
January 13, 2022
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Module 20
Perfect timing! My elderly client has exactly that problem! He barely can lay comfortable on his belly. Also his shoulders are VERY STIFF and the pillow under his chest is a big relieve! Since he has a damaged right ankle, his foot is not relaxing at all. But I used two rolled up towels and put it under the wrists of the feet and it made is so much more comfortable for him.
Thank you for stressing out, how important a super relaxed state of the client (on body and mind) is. As well as the meditative state of the therapist!
Thank you also for the Article “Who is it like to live in Thailand”! Easy on the eye and enjoyable to read!
June 28, 2010
Offline You made my day with the compliments about my training!
January 13, 2022
Offline Module 21
Prone position: NOT laying straight on the knee cap, rather than pointed highly inwards! So valuable!
I especially appreciate the PDF to the module, which points out again, the difference between leaning and pressing! So true! I
My new mantra: “Surrender to the power of softness”! 🙂
The short video “No pain no gain myths revealed” by Shama and Jane was an important message entertaining delivered! I love the way you teach, Shama! You and your wife make such a great team!!!!
I also very much enjoy those “Spirit of Thailand Videos’. The Kanom Pad production is one I watched a few times…..since it is sooo telling how joyful Thais are. BTW….no wonder you felt in love with Jane. Her presence and smile is enchanting! As said earlier….you make a great couple!
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