Stressed, tired, or just need a little TLC? Look no further...Thai Yoga Massage could be for you!

As those who know me can attest, I am a bit of a ‘massage junkie’ (that has previously been in the receiving rather than the giving)! I often feel cheated unless the therapist really ‘works’ on my body. I want to feel the knots and tensions melt away... none of that airy fairy gentle stuff for me!  I love the whole atmosphere of getting a massage; candles, relaxing music, the permission to ‘switch off’ and just relax for one whole indulgent hour. After a treatment, I expect to come out feeling renewed, rejuvenated, calm and fully pampered!! Bliss!

For Christmas my dad bought me a gift certificate for a Hot Stone Massage. It is said that by using the Hot Stone’s, we are meant to be able to relax 4-5x quicker (not sure how they measure that one but so be it!). Well, after my first Hot Stone treatment I literally felt like I was walking on clouds and for the next few hours nothing (even two energetic children!) could bring me back down to earth! At that moment I had thought that I had found the epitome of all massages.... but that was only until I had my first Thai Yoga Massage.

After taking Nick’s yoga classes for a few months (he is also fully train in Thai Yoga Massage), I decided to book an hour long TYM session (again - thank you DAD for the gift!!). This was a first for me and I wasn’t really sure what to expect, especially as there are many misconceptions swirling around the Western world about this type of treatment (sorry guys, there are no ‘happy endings’ given here!). For those of you have are not familiar with Thai Massage, it is deemed ‘Yoga for lazy people’. The therapist uses different parts of his/her body (thumbs, fingers, palms, elbows, feet) to dissolve problem areas or energy blocks in your body.  It is a very deep but relaxing way to open up the body, bringing physical and mental harmony and restoring the body’s natural balance.

When I walked into the room, the atmosphere was perfect:

ü  Candles

ü  Soft music

ü  Comfy mattress to lie down on (in Thai Massage you lie on the floor rather than on a massage table)

I was even brought a lovely cup of herbal tea! However there was one BIG difference....I was instructed to keep all of my clothes ON! (Thai Massages are done fully clothed so if you do decide to have one, make sure you wear loose, comfortable, clothing.)  I had never had a massage with clothes on before so felt extra dubious about how beneficial this was really going to be for me. However I must admit that it did put my mind at ease as I didn’t have to worry about how the upper thighs looked (girls, you know what I mean!) nor did I have to struggle to stay concealed under the miniature towel other types of masserus often give you to cover up with!  

So for the next hour, I lied down on the mat, completely LET GO and allowed myself to experience the MOTHER of all massages. From the minute Nick started working on my feet, I knew there would be no going back to traditional ‘rubbing type’ massages. I had found a truly holistic approach to massage therapy and it ticked all of my boxes:

ü  Energising

ü  Relaxing

ü  Restorative

ü  Healing

Could this get any better? Well...it does! The big surprise for me was that there was another box that had been ticked which I didn’t even know was important to me or could be achieved through massage.

ü Caring

When I got home, John asked me how the massage was? The only thing I could say (apart from AMAZING!) was that, "I felt very CARED FOR". 

The feeling I had is this: it is like when you are away from home for a long period of time (maybe for the first time after going to college/university or from being abroad) and you return to your parent’s house. Your mum gives you a hug, makes you a cup of tea, does your washing, cooks you dinner and runs you a bath. Then you just sit and relax in your cosy, familiar surroundings. Sounds amazing doesn’t it? Well, this is exactly how I felt after receiving my first Thai Massage (thank you Nick!).

I have to be careful not to promise too much! Please remember that this was MY experience and the feeling of euphoria that I had was due to a combination of factors.

·         Finding the right practitioner for YOU. It should be someone who you feel comfortable with and feel you can trust. 

• In order to get the most out the massage, communication is SO important (making clear how the pressure is, if you are experiencing any pain, etc..)

·         Being OPEN to what comes up during the massage and not judging any feelings, emotion or physical tensions that arise

·         And in my personal experience, staying PRESENT throughout the session. When the mind wanders bringing it back to focussing on the present moment (rather than planning what you are going to have for dinner that night!)

 I felt such a strong connection with this type of massage that I decided become certified in TYM! Now when I give a massage I feel that I am truly helping people by created a loving, caring and safe environment for them to release and relax. I get so much joy from being able to work away blockages and deeply held tensions. On a more esoteric level, I can often feel a process of genuine healing begin – for me, this is the beauty of Thai Yoga Massage.

I am only one-third of the way through my training, and so far it has been a real source of joy and inspiration for me. I never thought I would enjoy giving a treatment such as this (ask my husband, I huff even when asked for the slightest back rub!!), but I look forward to every practice session and always finish feeling more energized and refreshed myself (another unexpected benefit)!

If you feel inspired to book a massage, have a look at Nick’s website: www.nicholasbarrett.co.uk. And if you are a Tunbridge Wellian and wouldn’t mind being a guinea pig for me to practice on, get in touch and we can sort out a date!

Think well. Live well. Be well.

Kelley x

Mens sana in corpore sano “A sound mind in a sound body”