In a world obsessed with instant results and weekend certifications, are we losing our appreciation for the slow-cooked nature of mastery? We are told that we can download a skill, watch a video and know a subject. But the human body is a living, breathing history that requires a specific kind of listening.
My first Thai massage training was a year-long one. We came together as a group every couple of months or so to learn new techniques and to practice under observation. We could ask questions, received feedback on our form and approach and worked on precision and quality of touch. In between these modules I had to do homework. And at the end I had to present 30 detailed case studies of the massages I have given.
It was a lot of work but it was only the beginning. I continued my studies taking courses with different teachers. They offered different perspectives and focused on different aspects of the practice. And that was not all. I was curious about muscles so I delved much deeper into anatomy, making sense of muscles, fascial lines, connections in the body. I read endlessly about pain, trauma, the nervous system and the way we move. My yoga studies were complimentary and I also started a somatic psychology training.
Now, 7 years later I still feel I have only just scratched the surface. At the same time, my treatments have changed so much from those early ones, you can even say that I am not the same therapist anymore.
When I place my hands on a client today, those 7 years and all my teachers are there with me.
