FSN Sport Science. Episode 1 - Free Runners 型到癲！

Thai elephant泰象行

My legs are long, as you can see. But what you cannot see is that my massage partner’s legs are even longer. See them in the pic? Of course you cannot!

Sorry, I should be as serious as I am professional (it is what I am trying to affirm myself each day right now)! Let’s talk about the pic this time. What are we doing? Doesn’t it look like a murder scene? Or that I am trying to kill, if not hurting her? But wait! why does she look so comfortable?

Because, in fact, she is enjoying the pleasure of pressure- I am using my body weight to press on her back, right after finishing the thai fish. This sequence is called the“elephant walk”, though it looks more like a walking downward-dog in yoga! But the name cannot be more correct and precise – like having an elephant on your back, this pose heavily and effectively PRESS and SQUEEZE your back muscles, which are mostly tight and weak for common sedentary people. Other than releasing the tightness of the back muscles, its main benefit is to improve the circulation of blood flow on the back, while pushing all the CO2 out of your lungs- you would not believe it until you try it yourself!

Oh! I love cooking the thai fish, but I also love this elephant. But this time, knowing how pleasurable it is, I love to be a receiver better!

Warning: like doing downward-dog, arms should be straight and shoulders should be externally rotated all the time while acting like an elephant on someone’s back, otherwise ( such as if your bend your elbow and or not opening your chest enough), not only the receiver will not enjoy the pleasure of pressure, the giver might hurt her shoulders joints as the result of this unstable position and wrong body mechanic.

Thai fish + cobra泰飛魚與眼鏡蛇

See? I am obsessed. I can’t take the fish pose out of my head and I am sure I will keep thinking about it until it is all written down.

The difference between thai-yoga fish pose and yoga cobra pose is that, with the assistance of a giver, the fish pose is more powerful than the cobra pose. The giver, while kneeling on the back of the receiver, uses her body as leverage to lift the receiver up by leaning backward, the receiver then “uses” the giver also as leverage to lift up herself more easily and effectively. The result is that the cobra pose originally in yoga, become more powerful: the receiver can almost effortlessly enjoy the benefits of the cobra pose without needing to engage too much of her arms muscles to get into the final pose; at the same time, the “leverage” from the back (i.e. the giver) enables the receiver to open her chest into a deeper level. As a result, the receiver will be able to lengthen more of her front deltoid and pectoralis major, whilst engaging the mid-trapezius to make it stronger to counter balance the collapse of the mid-back resulted from sitting too long. Moreover, this pose is done without the need to sacrifice the stability of the shoulder joints (i.e. the shoulder joints are effectively turned into a externally rotated position). This way, it protects, opens as well as strengthens these joints... all in all, doing 1 fish pose can yield 3 benefits for the shoulders! not to mention how it helps strengthen the lower back, how it lengthens the front hips, how it...!!!

The only drawback of the thai-fish pose, is that it is done and finished too quickly. 2-3 repetitions then done and you will have to say goodbye and move forward, unless the giver is kind and attentive enough so that you can ask for more without worrying you will be charged higher! Consider this, you are so blessed to have someone, such as me, around who knows and practices thai yoga massage, and who is not intended to charge... at least for the time being...!

PS: special thanks to my massage partner for her permission to publish the fish pic taken together.

My thai yoga massage泰式按摩之旅

The more I look at the photos taken the other day, the more self-obsessed I become. What a great picture I took with my partner doing the fish-pose in thai massage! I can't wait to share with everyone! But since so far I haven't asked for her permission to pose this pic on this blog, that i decided to have her face blurred into non-existence!

Can't you see? isn't it the cobra pose in yoga! a cobra pose which stretches the abs, hip-flexors, the spine, the chest and the shoulder joints! but it is a cobra pose practiced with a partner! The reason I am interested in thai massage is that it reminds me of yoga/partner yoga, both of which emphasis the importance of relaxation, balance, compassion and loving-kindness. One of the things that keep impress me, is that thai massage combines many things- thumb-pressing, 經絡, indian 印度醫學, yoga, chinese 醫學, acupuncture, to name a few...... so much to learn, so deep a science it is! and you can reap the benefit of having your whole body relaxed right away after a single session!

But of course, when you switch to become a giver of the massage, thing turns differently. Not only it is like you have completed an hour of exercise, it is also like you have sent messages to the world that you have great power and ability to heal yourself and other.

(this photo is private, taken by one of my friend, all right reserved, nobody should try to circulate la!)