WHAT is THAI BODYWORK?
THAI BODYWORK - An Introduction
During a Thai Massage, the receiver lies on a mat in comfortable, stretchy clothes and receives gentle or firm rhythmic pressure along the energy lines of the body, passive/assisted stretching, range of motion work, and joint compression/decompression. Pressure is applied with the feet, knees, elbows, palms, and fingers along energy meridians (sen lines). Thai sessions include some Traditional Thai foot reflexology which feels fabulous, relieves congestion along the energy lines of the feet and lower legs, and coaxes the whole body into equilibrium. Thai recipients enjoy profoundly deep and lasting relaxation, a strong sense of well-being, and contentment. This type of bodywork is performed on a padded mat on the floor with the client dressed in stretchy, comfortable clothing. Thai Bodywork is more effective than table massages, I feel, as I can work the muscles and joints through the full range of movement (without the limitations the massage table presents).
The client does NOT need to be flexible or strong.
I will work within your range and, within time, your flexibility will increase.
Scroll down this page for detailed info on Thai Traditional as well as Clinical Thai Bodywork that I offer.
Thai Traditional Bodywork or “Thai Massage” as it is often called, is in an experience like no other. Many who are accustomed to oil-based relaxation massages, and even those who are used to energy work, find this type of bodywork (traditionally named nuad boran) to be quite different.
In its physical expression, the goal of Thai Traditional Bodywork is to assist our vital energy - prana - to move more freely with a combination of static compression, dynamic movement and passive stretching, which removes stagnation in the body. We then feel happier, more at peace and accepting of ourselves. But beyond the physical, Thai Bodywork is an exchange of metta, meaning loving-kindness in Pali. With metta, the bodywork becomes a meditation in movement, where there is awareness and compassion with what is there in the moment.
In this way, I work with the physical body to become present with the pain behind our suffering. The body reflects what is happening in the other 5 layers of the Self (the koshas). These are our mental, emotional and other energetic states that are more subtle and are not seen. Often, it is our physical pain acting on the material level to ask us to listen and notice what is happening in us in a deeper aspect. Thai Bodywork very effectively brings us into a deep state of relaxation by activating the parasympathetic nervous system. When we’re here, we can with greater ease feel what is going on in those subtle layers. And being in this state also allows for the body to feel safe and secure to activate its own healing process. The body can and will naturally heal itself if we provide the space for it to do so.
In 2000, I crossed paths with this special healing tradition knowing full well that it would be one of my great teachers. I knew it would be a part of my life forever, because it had changed my life in just a few hours. Through the gift of a stranger’s touch, care and metta, I felt so incredibly connected to all parts of myself. I learned to be held, to receive, to fully relax and let go (and that it was even possible!), to deeply listen to another and to myself, and to feel the rhythmic exchange, the honestly beautiful back-and-forth of giving and receiving between two beings. Too, it reminded me so much of what I experience when I practice yoga—through breath and movement, non-judgmental presence and listening, there is an internal space we can occupy where we re-center and remember who we really are.
During a Thai Massage, the receiver lies on a mat in comfortable, stretchy clothes and receives gentle or firm rhythmic pressure along the energy lines of the body, passive/assisted stretching, range of motion work, and joint compression/decompression. Pressure is applied with the feet, knees, elbows, palms, and fingers along energy meridians (sen lines). Thai sessions include some Traditional Thai foot reflexology which feels fabulous, relieves congestion along the energy lines of the feet and lower legs, and coaxes the whole body into equilibrium. Thai recipients enjoy profoundly deep and lasting relaxation, a strong sense of well-being, and contentment. This type of bodywork is performed on a padded mat on the floor with the client dressed in stretchy, comfortable clothing. Thai Bodywork is more effective than table massages, I feel, as I can work the muscles and joints through the full range of movement (without the limitations the massage table presents).
The client does NOT need to be flexible or strong.
I will work within your range and, within time, your flexibility will increase.
Scroll down this page for detailed info on Thai Traditional as well as Clinical Thai Bodywork that I offer.
Thai Traditional Bodywork or “Thai Massage” as it is often called, is in an experience like no other. Many who are accustomed to oil-based relaxation massages, and even those who are used to energy work, find this type of bodywork (traditionally named nuad boran) to be quite different.
In its physical expression, the goal of Thai Traditional Bodywork is to assist our vital energy - prana - to move more freely with a combination of static compression, dynamic movement and passive stretching, which removes stagnation in the body. We then feel happier, more at peace and accepting of ourselves. But beyond the physical, Thai Bodywork is an exchange of metta, meaning loving-kindness in Pali. With metta, the bodywork becomes a meditation in movement, where there is awareness and compassion with what is there in the moment.
In this way, I work with the physical body to become present with the pain behind our suffering. The body reflects what is happening in the other 5 layers of the Self (the koshas). These are our mental, emotional and other energetic states that are more subtle and are not seen. Often, it is our physical pain acting on the material level to ask us to listen and notice what is happening in us in a deeper aspect. Thai Bodywork very effectively brings us into a deep state of relaxation by activating the parasympathetic nervous system. When we’re here, we can with greater ease feel what is going on in those subtle layers. And being in this state also allows for the body to feel safe and secure to activate its own healing process. The body can and will naturally heal itself if we provide the space for it to do so.
In 2000, I crossed paths with this special healing tradition knowing full well that it would be one of my great teachers. I knew it would be a part of my life forever, because it had changed my life in just a few hours. Through the gift of a stranger’s touch, care and metta, I felt so incredibly connected to all parts of myself. I learned to be held, to receive, to fully relax and let go (and that it was even possible!), to deeply listen to another and to myself, and to feel the rhythmic exchange, the honestly beautiful back-and-forth of giving and receiving between two beings. Too, it reminded me so much of what I experience when I practice yoga—through breath and movement, non-judgmental presence and listening, there is an internal space we can occupy where we re-center and remember who we really are.
Traditional Thai Massage/Bodywork
(Nuad Boran) -
an ancient art of body therapy for healing, health, & transformation
(Nuad Boran) -
an ancient art of body therapy for healing, health, & transformation
Thai Yoga comes from the healing tradition of Ayurveda.During the Buddha's lifetime, monks were sent to Thailand to set up temples or wats. Here they practiced their healing arts, spreading both Buddhism and Thai Yoga throughout Thailand. This bodywork practice, called nuad boran is the foundation of the Thai Yoga Bodywork I provide. An ancient and mystifying art form, Thai Yoga has the power to heal the body, clear the mind and uplift the spirit. While it is challenging to describe in words, it is very easy to understand through experience.
Each session is like hitting the reset button on your body.Thai Bodywork is a comprehensive, full-body treatment, starting at the feet and progressing to the head. The practitioner uses their entire body- thumbs, palms, elbows, feet, and knees- to move, loosen and stretch your body, working the soft tissues (muscles, fascia, tendon, ligaments) and bringing mobility to the joints. Recipients do not have to lift a finger - the practitioner does all of the work!
Sessions are performed on a comfortable cotton floor mat with the client dressed in comfortable stretchy clothing. Pressure is applied with the feet, knees, elbows, palms, and fingers along energy meridians (sen lines). Thai sessions include some Traditional Thai foot reflexology which feels fabulous, relieves congestion along the energy lines of the feet and lower legs, and coaxes the whole body into equilibrium. Thai recipients enjoy profoundly deep and lasting relaxation, a strong sense of well-being, and contentment.
Thai Massage uses two primary procedures - applying gentle pressure with the hands, arms and feet, and a wide variety of passive stretching movements. With these techniques, applied in a quietly meditative atmosphere, space is created in the musculoskeletal structure, the body begins to open and regain flexibility and ease of movement, while the mind gently returns to calm alertness.
Sessions typically last anywhere from 2 to 4 hours. I hope you will choose a much longer massage if you have several body areas which need more focused work or if you would like a much more profound sense of muscle relief and relaxation. Many people cannot imagine receiving a 3 or even 4 hour Thai massage before receiving a Thai massage. However, everyone who has received these longer massages cannot believe time has come to an end. There are so many different movements available to do in Thai massage - a "normal" Thai massage received in Thailand is commonly a three or four-hour massage. Indulge today and experience this profound healing art with a longer session today.
Dynamic assisted-stretching, deep compressions + energy balancing are artfully combined into a rhythmic dance.This version of bodywork and therapeutic touch is deeply relaxing, revitalizing, and hands-on. You’ll experience a series of flowing, assisted stretches, deep pressure along the body's energy meridians, and energetic balancing. Received regularly, Thai Bodywork will increase mobility and flexibility, and reduce stress and anxiety. The experience is equally meditative and uplifting.
A flexible and adaptive body is necessary for performance and wellness. A deep, unhurried manipulation and stimulation of acupressure points speeds repair of injured muscles and soft tissues + restores the body's function. Exceptionally beneficial for athletes, anyone who is in a "repetitive movement" line of work, or those who suffer from chronic tension or stiffness. Sessions can be catered to all body types and levels of flexibility.
Treatments release blocked energy, freeing the body's natural healing potential, thus restoring balance, health + harmony. Sound healing, when combined with Thai Yoga techniques, detoxifies the body and boosts immune system function by improving circulation and flushing the lymphatic system. In addition, muscular tension will be released and the recipient should notice a greater range of motion, unblocked energy, enhanced breathing, and a meditative, theta brain state. The session increases life force (called loom or lom in Thai) and allows you to integrate back into your life with a sense of groundedness and abundance, knowing that your container is full and protected.
Appealing to People
It appeals to people, and is effective, because it treats the client with respect while encouraging them to let go of physical and emotional restrictions and to go beyond their present limitations. There is an opportunity for strengthening our connection to our inner self, to our true spirit, and in so doing, to the universal elements that connect us and give us life. As Arthur Lambert so eloquently said, “Thai Massage assists our innate desire to return to optimal health and optimum performance, contributing to a sense of ease and well-being. One begins to sense the rightness of the inner self, being, and of life.”
This ancient therapy is beneficial for young and old, active or inactive, flexible or inflexible, healthy or not so healthy. While each person will respond to this work in terms of their own experience and present state of health, it is well to remember that Thai Massage has been used for countless generations to treat degenerative conditions and promote wellness. The potential for healing is as great as our consciousness allows.
History
Thai massage is one of the world’s oldest healing arts, and yet it is uniquely effective for releasing modern-day stress and maintaining - or returning to - healthfulness and vitality. By addressing the whole person (body, mind, heart, spirit) within a dynamic physical experience, one can become whole again on a physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual level. It is both deeply relaxing and energizing.
Thai Massage originated in India during the Buddha’s lifetime over 2500 years ago, and tradition tells us that it was brought to this world by a saint, the “Father Doctor Shivago”. Early in its development it spread to Southeast Asia where, for centuries, it was performed by monks as one element of indigenous Thai medicine. The Thai people traditionally saw illness as an imbalance in the body-mind-spirit and sought help at the local temple, where they were treated with nutrition, herbs, meditation, and Thai Massage. While its evolution is clouded by the passage of time and the lack of written records, one can see from the movements (which often mimic asanas) and attention to pressure points (similar to nadis and meridians) that it is greatly influenced by yoga, Ayurvedic medicine, and traditional Chinese medicine.
Each session is like hitting the reset button on your body.Thai Bodywork is a comprehensive, full-body treatment, starting at the feet and progressing to the head. The practitioner uses their entire body- thumbs, palms, elbows, feet, and knees- to move, loosen and stretch your body, working the soft tissues (muscles, fascia, tendon, ligaments) and bringing mobility to the joints. Recipients do not have to lift a finger - the practitioner does all of the work!
Sessions are performed on a comfortable cotton floor mat with the client dressed in comfortable stretchy clothing. Pressure is applied with the feet, knees, elbows, palms, and fingers along energy meridians (sen lines). Thai sessions include some Traditional Thai foot reflexology which feels fabulous, relieves congestion along the energy lines of the feet and lower legs, and coaxes the whole body into equilibrium. Thai recipients enjoy profoundly deep and lasting relaxation, a strong sense of well-being, and contentment.
Thai Massage uses two primary procedures - applying gentle pressure with the hands, arms and feet, and a wide variety of passive stretching movements. With these techniques, applied in a quietly meditative atmosphere, space is created in the musculoskeletal structure, the body begins to open and regain flexibility and ease of movement, while the mind gently returns to calm alertness.
Sessions typically last anywhere from 2 to 4 hours. I hope you will choose a much longer massage if you have several body areas which need more focused work or if you would like a much more profound sense of muscle relief and relaxation. Many people cannot imagine receiving a 3 or even 4 hour Thai massage before receiving a Thai massage. However, everyone who has received these longer massages cannot believe time has come to an end. There are so many different movements available to do in Thai massage - a "normal" Thai massage received in Thailand is commonly a three or four-hour massage. Indulge today and experience this profound healing art with a longer session today.
Dynamic assisted-stretching, deep compressions + energy balancing are artfully combined into a rhythmic dance.This version of bodywork and therapeutic touch is deeply relaxing, revitalizing, and hands-on. You’ll experience a series of flowing, assisted stretches, deep pressure along the body's energy meridians, and energetic balancing. Received regularly, Thai Bodywork will increase mobility and flexibility, and reduce stress and anxiety. The experience is equally meditative and uplifting.
A flexible and adaptive body is necessary for performance and wellness. A deep, unhurried manipulation and stimulation of acupressure points speeds repair of injured muscles and soft tissues + restores the body's function. Exceptionally beneficial for athletes, anyone who is in a "repetitive movement" line of work, or those who suffer from chronic tension or stiffness. Sessions can be catered to all body types and levels of flexibility.
Treatments release blocked energy, freeing the body's natural healing potential, thus restoring balance, health + harmony. Sound healing, when combined with Thai Yoga techniques, detoxifies the body and boosts immune system function by improving circulation and flushing the lymphatic system. In addition, muscular tension will be released and the recipient should notice a greater range of motion, unblocked energy, enhanced breathing, and a meditative, theta brain state. The session increases life force (called loom or lom in Thai) and allows you to integrate back into your life with a sense of groundedness and abundance, knowing that your container is full and protected.
Appealing to People
It appeals to people, and is effective, because it treats the client with respect while encouraging them to let go of physical and emotional restrictions and to go beyond their present limitations. There is an opportunity for strengthening our connection to our inner self, to our true spirit, and in so doing, to the universal elements that connect us and give us life. As Arthur Lambert so eloquently said, “Thai Massage assists our innate desire to return to optimal health and optimum performance, contributing to a sense of ease and well-being. One begins to sense the rightness of the inner self, being, and of life.”
This ancient therapy is beneficial for young and old, active or inactive, flexible or inflexible, healthy or not so healthy. While each person will respond to this work in terms of their own experience and present state of health, it is well to remember that Thai Massage has been used for countless generations to treat degenerative conditions and promote wellness. The potential for healing is as great as our consciousness allows.
History
Thai massage is one of the world’s oldest healing arts, and yet it is uniquely effective for releasing modern-day stress and maintaining - or returning to - healthfulness and vitality. By addressing the whole person (body, mind, heart, spirit) within a dynamic physical experience, one can become whole again on a physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual level. It is both deeply relaxing and energizing.
Thai Massage originated in India during the Buddha’s lifetime over 2500 years ago, and tradition tells us that it was brought to this world by a saint, the “Father Doctor Shivago”. Early in its development it spread to Southeast Asia where, for centuries, it was performed by monks as one element of indigenous Thai medicine. The Thai people traditionally saw illness as an imbalance in the body-mind-spirit and sought help at the local temple, where they were treated with nutrition, herbs, meditation, and Thai Massage. While its evolution is clouded by the passage of time and the lack of written records, one can see from the movements (which often mimic asanas) and attention to pressure points (similar to nadis and meridians) that it is greatly influenced by yoga, Ayurvedic medicine, and traditional Chinese medicine.
BENEFITS
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E F F E C T S
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E L E M E N T S
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A flexible and adaptive body is necessary for performance and wellness. A deep, unhurried manipulation and stimulation of acupressure points speeds repair of injured muscles and soft tissues + restores the body's function. Exceptionally beneficial for athletes, anyone who is in a "repetitive movement" line of work, or those who suffer from chronic tension or stiffness. Sessions can be catered to all body types and levels of flexibility.A flexible and adaptive body is necessary for performance and wellness. A deep, unhurried manipulation and stimulation of acupressure points speeds repair of injured muscles and soft tissues + restores the body's function. Exceptionally beneficial for athletes, anyone who is in a "repetitive movement" line of work, or those who suffer from chronic tension or stiffness. Sessions can be catered to all body types and levels of flexibility.
Clinical Thai Bodywork (CTB)
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Clinical Thai Bodywork (CTB) is highly effective in reducing or eliminating patterns of pain and restriction, often in cases that have failed conventional medical treatment. CTB gives the student specific tools to assess and design effective treatments for the most common client complaints. Clinical Thai Bodywork was designed to bridge the gulf between traditional Thai approaches and modern western clinical environments. The framework of CTB constitutes one of the most efficient and effective approaches available for orthopedic rehab, relief of chronic and acute pain, recovery from injury, and correction of myofascially derived dysfunction.
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Studies have shown that over 80% of pain complaints presented at clinics are likely to be caused by myofascial trigger points rather than actual tissue damage. Unfortunately, most practitioners tend to interpret pain as a symptom of an injury, leading to ineffective, side-effect-laden treatment approaches like drugs, steroid injections and surgery. CTB has a high rate of success with even very serious pain across a wide variety of diagnoses
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How Clinical Thai Bodywork (CTB) Differs from Traditional Thai Massage:
* Source of information: http://www.thaibodywork.com/clinical-thai-bodywork.php
While CTB uses some techniques from traditional Thai massage, CTB is not Thai massage. There are many important differences!
Thai massage is passive on the part of the receiver--known as "lazy man's yoga", the work of Thai massage is done with little or no conscious engagement on the part of the client, who may even be asleep or in a deep state of relaxation. While this is fine for general relaxation sessions, we have found that true resolution of serious pain cannot occur without involving the receiver at a conscious level. Some of the ways we engage the client are with breath, muscle activity via contract/relax, reporting of tenderness and other sensation, and most importantly, an experience of conscious, pain-free movement during the session. This is compatible with modern ideas of neuroplasticity and the neuroscience of chronic pain.
Clinical Thai Bodywork practitioners are fully trained to address specific pain issues and are highly competent trigger point therapists. Traditional Thai massage trains practitioners to use their intuition along with standard techniques and sequences, and does not deal with muscles or treatment design for specific issues. Traditional therapists tend to follow standard routines which may be adjusted for specific client complaints, but are not generally competent to reliably and completely address specific clinical issues, nor do they have the clinical language to communicate with other medically-oriented practitioners.
We design treatment protocols based on the needs of the client, and avoid putting joints through extreme range until the relevant muscles on both sides of the joint have been treated. Traditional sequences, and in fact predetermined sequences of any kind, ignore the specific realities of a given client's body issues, and often stretch and shorten muscles that have not been touched in a session. Clients with relatively few serious issues can tolerate this approach, but for those with significant dysfunction, it is likely to make things worse. Unfortunately, cyberspace is replete with stories of people whose pain was aggravated by overly aggressive traditional Thai massage practitioners going through their "standard routine".
Our treatment protocols are designed to visit all the muscles that are relevant to a particular regional pain complaint, based on years of research into direct and satellite referral patterns, functional relationships, perpetuating factors, nervous and vascular impingement and processing of the kinetic chain.
We pay particular attention to shortening muscles, which often block movement through painful dysfunction during shortening. This causes the body to engage the antagonist muscle group to protect the body from pain.
We employ other modalities in conjunction with our work, which may include various forms of heat, electronic point stimulation, PIR and muscle energy techniques.
We view the CTB session as a refined form of Trigger Point Therapy with a strong movement component. We are highly educated trigger point therapists who use Thai techniques. We use compression to treat trigger points and taut fibers, and employ various means of providing feedback to muscles as they change length. This allows us to teach muscles how to lengthen and shorten without the disabling pain response caused by trigger points and dysfunctional muscle spindles.
Traditional Thai training involves little or no anatomy, because that was not the basis of the traditional medicine. Some schools today provide rudimentary anatomy exposure that is poorly integrated into the rest of the training, if at all. We are successful only because we fully understand muscular anatomy and function. Our practitioners have a deep understanding of functional anatomy. We don't abandon the energetic viewpoint of traditional bodywork, but add a great deal of clinical knowledge to it.
The focus of CTB is the restoration of normal, pain-free movement. The techniques combine compression of tender points, traversal of key lines and joint movement to find and eliminate taut fibers and tenderness to unlock the compensatory splinting patterns that are the body's attempt to stabilize painful and unstable areas.
We use poses in a specific way to achieve muscular effects, and to provide a conscious experience of normal movement.
Our goal is not to replace or invalidate the energetic aspect of healing - we retain the energetic and intuitive components, and add clinical knowledge as an additional layer.
* Source of information: http://www.thaibodywork.com/clinical-thai-bodywork.php
While CTB uses some techniques from traditional Thai massage, CTB is not Thai massage. There are many important differences!
Thai massage is passive on the part of the receiver--known as "lazy man's yoga", the work of Thai massage is done with little or no conscious engagement on the part of the client, who may even be asleep or in a deep state of relaxation. While this is fine for general relaxation sessions, we have found that true resolution of serious pain cannot occur without involving the receiver at a conscious level. Some of the ways we engage the client are with breath, muscle activity via contract/relax, reporting of tenderness and other sensation, and most importantly, an experience of conscious, pain-free movement during the session. This is compatible with modern ideas of neuroplasticity and the neuroscience of chronic pain.
Clinical Thai Bodywork practitioners are fully trained to address specific pain issues and are highly competent trigger point therapists. Traditional Thai massage trains practitioners to use their intuition along with standard techniques and sequences, and does not deal with muscles or treatment design for specific issues. Traditional therapists tend to follow standard routines which may be adjusted for specific client complaints, but are not generally competent to reliably and completely address specific clinical issues, nor do they have the clinical language to communicate with other medically-oriented practitioners.
We design treatment protocols based on the needs of the client, and avoid putting joints through extreme range until the relevant muscles on both sides of the joint have been treated. Traditional sequences, and in fact predetermined sequences of any kind, ignore the specific realities of a given client's body issues, and often stretch and shorten muscles that have not been touched in a session. Clients with relatively few serious issues can tolerate this approach, but for those with significant dysfunction, it is likely to make things worse. Unfortunately, cyberspace is replete with stories of people whose pain was aggravated by overly aggressive traditional Thai massage practitioners going through their "standard routine".
Our treatment protocols are designed to visit all the muscles that are relevant to a particular regional pain complaint, based on years of research into direct and satellite referral patterns, functional relationships, perpetuating factors, nervous and vascular impingement and processing of the kinetic chain.
We pay particular attention to shortening muscles, which often block movement through painful dysfunction during shortening. This causes the body to engage the antagonist muscle group to protect the body from pain.
We employ other modalities in conjunction with our work, which may include various forms of heat, electronic point stimulation, PIR and muscle energy techniques.
We view the CTB session as a refined form of Trigger Point Therapy with a strong movement component. We are highly educated trigger point therapists who use Thai techniques. We use compression to treat trigger points and taut fibers, and employ various means of providing feedback to muscles as they change length. This allows us to teach muscles how to lengthen and shorten without the disabling pain response caused by trigger points and dysfunctional muscle spindles.
Traditional Thai training involves little or no anatomy, because that was not the basis of the traditional medicine. Some schools today provide rudimentary anatomy exposure that is poorly integrated into the rest of the training, if at all. We are successful only because we fully understand muscular anatomy and function. Our practitioners have a deep understanding of functional anatomy. We don't abandon the energetic viewpoint of traditional bodywork, but add a great deal of clinical knowledge to it.
The focus of CTB is the restoration of normal, pain-free movement. The techniques combine compression of tender points, traversal of key lines and joint movement to find and eliminate taut fibers and tenderness to unlock the compensatory splinting patterns that are the body's attempt to stabilize painful and unstable areas.
We use poses in a specific way to achieve muscular effects, and to provide a conscious experience of normal movement.
Our goal is not to replace or invalidate the energetic aspect of healing - we retain the energetic and intuitive components, and add clinical knowledge as an additional layer.
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WESTERN SCIENCE
Modern science has shown that muscles can develop trigger points that not only cause local pain and tenderness but also can refer pain to other areas of the body. These pain patterns in muscles follow specific nerve pathways and have been readily mapped to allow for identification of the causative pain factor. We use these maps to identify and treat your individual pain pattern. Many trigger points have pain patterns that overlap, and some create reciprocal cyclic relationships that need to be treated extensively to remove them. |
EASTERN TECHNIQUES
Treatment begins with powerful Thai techniques to treat and deactivate the trigger points. Once the trigger points are deactivated the muscles are then elongated to resolve the strain patterns... otherwise muscles will simply be returned to positions where trigger points are likely to re-develop. This involves stretching the muscle using combinations of passive and active stretching to be effective. Both Thai stretches (passive) and PNF stretches (active) are utilized. |
This type of therapy is well suited to treat:
Shoulder pain
Back pain
Hip/groin pain
Leg/thigh/knee pain
Foot/calf pain
Arm/wrist pain
Headaches and facial pain
Clinical Thai Bodywork combines the best of both Western Science & Eastern Techniques!!
Shoulder pain
Back pain
Hip/groin pain
Leg/thigh/knee pain
Foot/calf pain
Arm/wrist pain
Headaches and facial pain
Clinical Thai Bodywork combines the best of both Western Science & Eastern Techniques!!
Combine the best of two worlds... the benefits of Thai techniques, Modern myofascial pain and dysfunction, plus Travell & Simons' Trigger Point Therapy. Click "Learn More" below for more information on Clinical Thai Bodywork (CTB), including how it differs from Traditional Thai Bodywork.
This uses Trigger Point Therapy using Thai Bodywork techniques to address acute or chronic pain complaints, limited range of motion and anything which limits your day-to-day quality of life.
The client does NOT need to be flexible or strong. I will work within your range and, in time, your flexibility will increase.
This type of bodywork is performed on a padded mat on the floor with the client dressed in stretchy, comfortable clothing.
This uses Trigger Point Therapy using Thai Bodywork techniques to address acute or chronic pain complaints, limited range of motion and anything which limits your day-to-day quality of life.
The client does NOT need to be flexible or strong. I will work within your range and, in time, your flexibility will increase.
This type of bodywork is performed on a padded mat on the floor with the client dressed in stretchy, comfortable clothing.
Clinical Thai Bodywork (CTB):
Foot, Ankle & Lower Leg Pain
Foot and lower leg pain can be debilitating and severe, and cause other problems up the kinetic chain due to disturbed gait. This area is also one in which Clinical Thai Bodywork techniques can have some of the most profound benefits. Trigger points in this area may lead to diagnoses such as Achilles tendonitis, big toe pain (which can be misdiagnosed as gout), pain following breaks and sprains, balance problems, calf pain and tenderness, chronic conditions such as hyperpronation and hammer toe, claw toes, cramps (leg and/or foot), dragging toes, fallen arches, foot calluses, foot drop, foot slap, frequent fractures or sprains, heel spurs, instep pain, IT band syndrome, "stuck patella" muscle, limp when walking, medial shin splints, nail in heel, plantar fasciitis, posterior compartment syndrome, rigid ankles, sore feet, unstable ankles, or weak ankles. We also cover perpetuating factors related to this area of the body, and how to not only resolve our clients’ pain issues, but how to teach them lifestyle changes and self-care techniques that will keep them out of trouble.
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Hand, Elbow & Forearm Pain
Many of these muscles cause pain in these areas in depth, and diagnoses such as arthritis of fingers, band of wrist pain, can hardly hold a pen, carpal tunnel syndrome, cervical radiculopathy, clicking in shoulder, clumsy thumb, frozen shoulder, Heberden's Nodes, lateral epicondylitis, limited range of motion, loss of coordination, needle-like prickly sensation, nodules in palm, numbness, pain grasping large objects, pain using scissors, palm soreness, rotator cuff tear, stiff fingers, tendonitis, tennis and/or golf elbow, thoracic outlet syndrome, tingling, trigger finger, unable to hold coins in cupped hand, weak grip, or Weeder's thumb.
Clients with the above are often excellent candidates for Clinical Thai Bodywork. Many diagnosed "conditions" often are actually the result of the myofascial trigger point referral and can be easily treated using CTB techniques. We also cover perpetuating factors related to this area of the body, and how to not only resolve our clients’ pain issues, but how to teach them lifestyle changes and self-care techniques that will keep them out of trouble |
Head, Neck & Facial Pain
The effects of daily migraines on a person's life are truly devastating. Many of these clients have had daily pain for decades, having been through pain clinics, painkillers and other treatments with no success but have become pain-free after a few sessions of Clinical Thai Bodywork.
While not all headaches are due to muscular causes, the great majority are--and can be easily treated using CTB techniques. Dentists are generally taught something about trigger points because facial muscles can cause pain in the teeth that could easily be mistaken for problems requiring dental intervention. Yet, one of my instructor's most serious headache cases was an orthodontist who as he was treating him, realized that he actually owned the Travell and Simons books, but had suffered with daily headaches for over 20 years. Trigger points in this area may lead to diagnoses such as behind ear pain, behind eye pain, behind neck pain, can't turn head/neck, difficulty swallowing, drooping eyelid, eye blurring, eye twitching, jaw clicking, jaw pain/spasm, jaw stiffness, lump in throat, migraines, nose pain, restricted jaw opening, sinus attack, stiff neck, shortness of breath, sinus headache, swollen glands, tension headache, tinnitus ear, or tooth sensitivity,. Not only will I help to treat not only the pain but the perpetuating factors that make it come back, including postural, lifestyle, structural imbalance, faulty breathing habits, and more. You will be surprised at some of the seemingly unrelated issues that can set up these pain patterns. |
Hip, Knee, Thigh & Groin Pain
Pain that appears to involve major joints causes clients great concern, and is often misdiagnosed as joint damage or dysfunction. Myofascial trigger points may easily generate pain patterns that cause these concerns, yet the pain can be resolved through the use of CTB techniques by a knowledgeable therapist. Trigger points in this pain area may lead to diagnoses such as Achilles tendonitis, aching thighs, appendicitis, arthritis, back of knee pain, balance problems, bloating, bursitis, calf cramps, diarrhea, groin pain during weight bearing, groin pain or pull, hamstring pull or tear, heartburn, heel spur, hiatal hernia, IT Band syndrome, knee buckling, knee and hip joint degeneration, impotence, low back pain, "Lumbago muscle", medial shin splints, pain climbing stairs, pelvic pain, plantar fasciitis, pulled hamstring, restlessness while sitting, sciatica, SI pain, sitting discomfort, stooped posture, "stuck patella" muscle, tailbone pain, thigh aches, torn hamstring, torn meniscus, trochanteric bursitis, or trochanteric sciatica. Unfortunately, these diagnoses are often made without sufficient clinical evidence and then lead to procedures that have permanent and damaging consequences, or at best are ineffective.
We also cover perpetuating factors related to this area of the body, and how to not only resolve our clients’ pain issues, but how to teach them lifestyle changes and self-care techniques that will keep them out of trouble. |
Low Back, Sacral, Gluteal & Pelvic Pain
Trigger points in this area may lead to diagnoses such as Achilles tendonitis, appendicitis, balance problems, bloating, buttock pain, can't touch toes, chronic pelvic pain, colicky baby, dysmenorrhea, gallstones, groin pain or pull, heartburn, hamstring pull or tear, hamstring attachment tears, heel spur, hiatal hernia, hip joint degeneration, impotence, low back pain, "Lumbago muscle", medial shin splints, one-sided back bulge, pelvic pain, plantar fasciitis, restlessness while sitting, rotational problems, "sciatica", scoliosis, SI joint pain, sore hamstrings, spine pain, stooped posture, tailbone pain, trochanteric bursitis, vertical back pain, or visceral pain.
We also cover perpetuating factors related to this area of the body, and how to not only resolve our clients’ pain issues, but how to teach them lifestyle changes and self-care techniques that will keep them out of trouble. |
Mid-Back, Chest & Abdominal Pain
The middle thorax and abdomen are closely interrelated and often exhibit confusing symptoms and pain patterns. Many perpetuating factors contribute to this and can be addressed, including dysfunctional breathing habits. Trigger points in this pain area may lead to diagnoses such as anorexia, appendicitis, bloating, carpal tunnel syndrome, chronic pelvic pain, colicky baby, disc problems, dizziness, dysmenorrhea, excessive tearing, falling, gallstones, groin pain, heartburn, heart arrhythmia, heart disease, hiatal hernia, kidney problems, nausea without vomiting, organ pain, pain when breathing, pseudo thoracic outlet syndrome, scoliosis, shortness of breath, SI joint pain, sore throat, stitch in the side, thoracic outlet syndrome, "tilted bed", unilateral deafness, or vision disturbances.
We also cover perpetuating factors related to this area of the body, and how to not only resolve our clients’ pain issues, but how to teach them lifestyle changes and self-care techniques that will keep them out of trouble. |
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Shoulder, Upper Back & Arm Pain
Shoulder pain is a very common and often misdiagnosed complaint that leads to life upset, unnecessary surgeries and inappropriate treatments. Pain that is ascribed to a torn rotator cuff or frozen shoulder is very often a result of myofascial issues. Clinical Thai Bodywork provides an excellent framework for resolving shoulder pain. Trigger points in this pain area may lead to diagnoses such as ache inside the skull, anterior shoulder pain, appendicitis, blurring vision, clicking in shoulder, pain in the eye, posterior shoulder pain, (pseudo) thoracic outlet syndrome, rotator cuff tears, rounded shoulder posture, shortness of breath, shoulder joint pain, sinus headache, spine pain, stiff neck, stitch in side, tennis elbow, and visceral pain.
We also cover perpetuating factors related to this area of the body, and how to not only resolve our clients’ pain issues, but how to teach them lifestyle changes and self-care techniques that will keep them out of trouble.
We also cover perpetuating factors related to this area of the body, and how to not only resolve our clients’ pain issues, but how to teach them lifestyle changes and self-care techniques that will keep them out of trouble.