Moving Meditations

Honored and delighted to share these amazing Thai massage photos by the wonderful ! 📸 It has been *years* since I’ve had professional photos taken, and I’ve been reflecting on the ways my practice looks different and the ways it looks the same 💆‍♀️

In general, my Thai massage practice has gotten a lot simpler and more straightforward. For many years, I believed massage was both more complex and more effective at accomplishing certain goals (physically breaking up fascia “adhesions,” for example), when in reality many popular claims are not supported by the evidence. Now, thanks to more interdisciplinary education (and lots of great practitioners and researchers here on social media!), I feel more humble and accepting of the role that manual bodywork plays in pain reduction and movement support. Like all healthcare, the quality of the therapeutic relationship plays a large role! And, ultimately, factors beyond our control like the social determinants of health will have the largest impact.

At the end of the day, we try to help the people as they are in the ways we can - shifting what we are able to shift while accepting our current limitations. This is where my yoga practice leads the way: in devotion to doing the work while encouraging self-determination and autonomy. Ultimately, my practice has become so much more about connecting with clients by trying to understand them in the context of their lives, by providing respite, comfort, and reassurance, and by encouraging whatever feasible action is possible - the next best step. Sometimes this means we keep working together, sometimes it doesn’t! I would rather my clients take the next best step even if that means not continuing to receive Thai massage or practice yoga, mobility, or strength training with me. I want what’s best for them!

So, my Thai massage practice looks humbler now, because it is humbler now. And I’m so grateful to and to and to for also helping make this photo shoot possible. I couldn’t do my work without the support of my friends, family, and clients!