Thai massage is done with the recipient fully clothed. Wear comfortable, loose clothes that allow you to move easily and don’t have any uncomfortable buckles or seams. Yoga clothes or gym clothes are ideal. Even though I keep the room warm, it’s also good to have a few layers with you as you will be lying fairly still for a while and it’s important to feel comfortable.
I’ve been studying Thai Yoga Massage since 2016. I did my basic training with Holistic Bodywork from 2016 to 2019 and alongside this, I did many self-directed practice sessions with colleagues and friends. Recently, I completed the Anatomy Trains Structure and Function basic course with Tom Myers – a renowned expert on everything related to fascia. I am currently working my way through the body reading course, also by Tom. I love to read and study bodywork, neuroscience, non-duality, anatomy and physiology etc. etc. You can see the kind of research I like to do on the Knowledgebase page.
From October 2020, I will be studying for my Heilprakiterin certificate. This will mean that I able to offer a much greater range of treatments and it will deepen my understanding of how and why massage treatments are so effective.
I’m also a trained facilitator in the Sedona Method which is very powerful hands-off technique which supports my work as a massage therapist
I began my professional practice in 2019 and since then have completed around 500 treatments.
It can certainly happen that massage can trigger deeply buried trauma. It may be a technique, a type of touch or a certain position of the body that reactivates a body memory. It could even be that as a recipient, you feel comfortable enough to really let go of some old stuff. While I was on my training, I found that I was really able to let go — and fully experience the treatments – when I felt safe with the practitioner, so a strong treatment can be a sign that you trust and connect with the person doing the treatment.
Studying trauma, what it is and how to work with it was a very important part of our training. I have had my own experiences of powerful trauma releases through massage and our during our training, we were taught how to handle this kind of situation. Our approach is to allow the energy to move through the body and release itself. We stay by the person’s side, and in gentle contact with them, but we do not interfere with the process. The person will eventually come back into the world and once they are back in more active contact with us – indicated by by easy eye-contact and restoration of calm and stillness in the body — we can assume that the first layer of the storm is now over. This can feel very cleansing and relaxing.
This approach is inspired by the research and teachings of Peter Levine and Stephen Porges among many other wonderful academics and therapists.
None of this does applies if you are likely to become violent and/or you are dealing with complex trauma. If that is the case, you need a different kind of therapist, or advice from your therapist that it is safe for you to come for a massage. I am a massage therapist and do not have any psychotherapy training or qualifications, and it’s important to be aware of this.
