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Breaking the mold

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I had a conversation with an associate where I was discussing business, marketing and how to draw clients in the 21st century. She has a small niche business she’s trying to grow as I’m working on my own and we were comparing notes. She mentioned that it sounded like I’d escaped the system. I found it odd but thinking on it I realize that it’s living in a city with so much tech industry. People often work for large corporations like Dell, Apple etc. Workers are concerned about downsizing, losing jobs and have high stress levels but I seem relaxed comparatively.

My choice to focus on healing work does not equal all joy with no work or stress. I’ve no insurance and have lived hand to mouth for the entire 10 years I’ve worked as a Thai massage therapist. Many times I’ve wanted to choose another field that would offer security, benefits and the chance at a better life but when I sit to think what I’d do, farmer is the closest to what I would choose. Healing work isn’t a job, it’s a calling. I do it because I’ve no other choice, not in the sense that it’s hopeless but in the sense that I simply have to follow my heart.

Part of my stress is seeing others like tech workers who’ve made choices that they deem necessary but then come to me with large amounts of stress and back pain. For ten years people have told me how much they hurt and ache, how little money they have and the untold amounts of time and energy pressure they’re under to keep performing in whatever roles they’ve chosen. I accept it, just comes with the job but usually I’m telling clients in a small humble way to change your life. Then you’ve no stress or at least less.

A client was late today and I had about 40 minutes of alone time before his Thai massage. I hung out, doing forward bends opening my hamstrings and breathing. A few downward dogs, half moons and headstands down the road then I did half downward dog against a wall. Upon standing I realized I was more calm, more balanced and my nervous system was free. It’s not bad for a break at work. I get to do yoga for a living. It doesn’t yet buy a home but that’s a matter of time. Breaking the mold will help you escape the system.

Think outside of the box, follow your dreams and let no one tell you that it’s impossible. Most who say it cannot be done have simply never tried.

Teaching Thai massage

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In teaching Thai massage I’ve a daunting task. How does one pass down the traditional bodywork of a people whose country I’ve never visited? I’m a Scots-Irish kid from south Louisiana, I’m from the land of gumbo not coconut curry!

I learned Thai massage from a well trained and thoroughly versed teacher over the course of two years and was a teaching assistant for her classes in three different states. When I called my teacher one day and said, “I want to teach.” She just told me to, “Go! You know it, go teach.” That was enough for me.

In the midst of sharing this work I’m sharing ten years of in depth study of anatomy/physiology and my yoga practice. Everything is being slowly distilled into my students and I give the meaty chunks of the work, little is light or topical. A vein of ten years worth of practice is tapped to help people with posture problems and back pain. If students pay attention and absord what I’m passing along it’s no longer just Thai massage, it’s Thai massage from a western bodyworker and yoga instructor. That’s to say, you’re getting far more than you pay for.

Students can save their hands, work more efficiently and learn things that will help their clients long term. It’s not just a single session, we’re educating them so they can educate their clients. What we’re really teaching isn’t Thai massage, it isn’t western massage, it’s healing. Healing has no copyright and can’t truly be taught. I pass along techniques, you pick them up and with heart centered focus use them until you intuitively grasp the healing that can be done.

Yoga isn’t just learned in India, nor Thai massage in Thailand. Healing is where you find it. If you want to learn Thai massage, take a class with me soon.

Thai massage seated twist

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This is good for people with upper back and neck pain. It’s an easy way to help someone open their chest and allow their shoulder blades to begin the process of coming off of their upper back. You’ll want to avoid this movement on people with herniated discs or any sort of spine surgery like fusions but otherwise go slow and communicate with whoever you’re working on. When in doubt, don’t.

Enjoy!

Thai massage neck pt. 2

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Here is another technique for accessing the levator scapulae and muscles along either side of the neck. You minimize hand work and effectively stretch the cervical musculature. This combined with the previous video make for a solid Thai massage for the neck.

People with headaches, neck pain, upper back pain and excess tension in their neck and shoulders can benefit from these techniques. Share them with family and friends.

Thai massage for the neck

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This is a simple, easy to use Thai massage technique for family and friends. Those who just took my Thai massage class around Austin will notice that this is done seated. We learn the seated series in the Thai massage certification track. You’re pressing into the posterior neck muscles and those with headaches, TMJ dysfunction or chronic neck pain will love you for doing this to them. Try it at a party around Austin, you’ll make many friends.

Siddartha

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I’ve worked in Thai massage and bodywork for ten years. In relative obscurity I’ve continued my work. People often ask me what I do. If I say bodywork they say, “Oh, you work on cars.” I dislike saying massage. Massage has preconceived notions for westerners in the US. Massage means a table, cream and a whole lot of glide. On a typical day at work I do none of this. A typical day is spent clothed, on a mat on the floor while pushing, kneading and opening a persons body so their nervous system can be free.

Austin, Texas is no different than any other American city when it comes to body awareness. People are slowly trapped by their physical form. Thai massage and yoga allow one to soften their shell and be born anew. Doesn’t matter how old, doesn’t matter how out of shape. The posture slumps, life takes it toll and people slouch. Aches and pains develop and people get so used to them that they’re not even aware they can go away except from pain medication. Thai massage and yoga work together to harness your breath, your body and everything You are to heal yourself from the inside out. You can do it, I’m just a guide.

Doesn’t sound like massage does it? Cause it’s not, not really. Thai bodywork is just what’s done in Thailand and has been done since time immemorial. Its history goes back so far it’s just what the ancestors did.

My days are spent breathing, stretching, pushing, leaning into my own body to heal it. It’s continual work but the benefit is I notice others around me get sick but I don’t. Others around me have back pain but mine doesn’t have the same duration. My health is good, yours can be too. It’s what I teach. It’s what I do to myself.

If you want six pack abs go find a personal trainer. If you want a nice car go see a car salesman. If you want to heal and run at optimal health, come see me.

I leave you with a quote from Siddartha, by Herman Hesse.

“Everyone gives what he has. The warrior gives strength, the merchant
gives merchandise, the teacher teachings, the farmer rice, the fisher
fish.”

“Yes indeed. And what is it now what you’ve got to give? What is it
that you’ve learned, what you’re able to do?”

“I can think. I can wait. I can fast.”

“That’s everything?”

“I believe, that’s everything!”