May 21, 2025
I started my massage career doing energy work or practicing Eastern philosophy. I was trained in therapeutic and sports massage—very Western, very clinical, very results-driven. Early in my career, I considered myself the type of therapist who didn’t buy into the “woo-woo” stuff. But I was always curious, always hungry to learn, and completely fascinated by how the body heals.
I was lucky enough to work for someone who brought in Thai massage training for our team. I didn’t know it at the time, but that class would end up shifting the entire trajectory of my career—and honestly, my life.
Giving my first Thai massage felt like a dance. There was a rhythm to it, almost meditative. I wasn’t just treating pain; I was caring for someone. The kind of care you give your best friend or your parent. I remember falling into this flow where giving the massage felt almost as good as receiving it. I was in it. Fully present. And then it happened:
While working on the sen (energy) lines in my guest’s arm, I felt something new. Like I had tapped into a river—a subtle but powerful current. I could sense movement, or the absence of it. I could feel where energy was stuck, and where it was flowing. That moment flipped a switch in me. I realized I was listening to the body in a way I never had before. It was the biggest lightbulb moment of my entire massage career.
From that day on, I was obsessed. I started integrating Thai massage into everything I did—adapting it to the table, blending it with Western techniques, and using it to create better outcomes for my client. I began listening differently. Moving differently. Stretching and mobilizing the body in ways that were more intuitive, more connected, and honestly, more effective.
What makes Thai massage so powerful is its foundation: Metta, or loving-kindness. Thai approaches the whole person—body, mind, spirit, and energy. It brings the essence of meditation into physical form.
That’s what makes it such a deeply restorative experience. Most people who receive it drop into a state of profound relaxation, almost like a moving meditation. They get off the table and feel more open, more grounded, and more in their body.
One of my longtime client still tells the story of how his chronic back pain disappeared after a session. He swears I “cured” him. I’d say we just created enough space and opening for his body to heal itself—which is the whole point.
If you’ve never tried Thai massage before, here’s what you should know:
- It’s traditionally done on a floor mat, with the clientfully clothed. (No oils, no undressing.)
- It’s often called “lazy man’s yoga” because of the deep assisted stretches and mobilization.
- It’s completely non-sexual and deeply respectful. This is real therapy, real connection.
- It includes palm pressure, rocking, stretching, breathwork, and sometimes heated herbal compresses or targeted acupressure points.
- It’s customized to your needs and your body’s unique movement and rhythm.
- Thai massage is generally offered in longer sessions—90 or 120 minutes—to allow time for full-body work, integration, and deep relaxation.
Think of it like a full-body tune-up. You’ll feel the difference—not just in your muscles, but in your energy, your mood, your breath, your whole self. It fits perfectly into our 360 philosophy at Symmetry, where we focus on full-circle wellness and helping you feel good in your body, your life, and your world.
If you’re curious, we’ll guide you. If you’re nervous, that’s okay too. But if you’re ready for something that’s deeply healing—not just relaxing—Thai might be the missing piece you’ve been looking for.
In Gratitude
As is tradition in Thai culture, I want to offer deep gratitude and respect to my teacher, Hillary Hilliard of Denver Integrative Massage School. I was part of her very first group of students nearly 18 years ago, and she’s still teaching this beautiful work to this day. Hillary, thank you for your guidance and generosity—I carry your lessons with me in every session I give and every class I teach.
To the client who trusted me enough to try something new—you were my greatest teachers. And now, as I pass this art on to our Symmetry therapists, I’m continually inspired by our students, who remind me that learning and sharing this work is a gift that never stops giving.
