Keep it freshly squeezed

One of the (so many) things I love most about Thai Massage is that it's practical. You don't need a special massage surface or sheets or oils or any fancy equipment to help someone feel better. All they need is you and all you need is them.

Sometimes, you don't even need them! You just need you. You can be both the person who needs to feel better and the person who helps you feel better.

Here's a tool to experiment with: squeezing. Squeezing helps to rejuvenate a stuck area of the body and free restrictions by compressing, lifting and separating the tissue all at the same time.

Once you get the hang of it, you can use squeezing to massage your own quads (tops of thighs), hamstrings (backs of thighs), and calves. But it's easiest to start with your neck:

1 - Bring your hands behind your head, elbows bent and palms facing the same direction as your eyes

2 - Interlace your fingers and place them on the back of your neck, palms still facing in the same direction as your eyes

3 - Bring your elbows toward one another (or together, depending on your size and flexibility) in front of you, allowing the heels of your hands to cup and squeeze your neck as you do

4 - Hold as long as you like

5 - Release and repeat

This self-massage technique is easy and fast enough to perform at your desk, on your couch, or even standing in line (just put your phone away).

Give it a try - and I'd love to hear how it goes!