Wan Kru...more Thai Massage...and a physical mutiny...

About a week and a half ago (Jan 16th) was "Teachers Day" or (Wan Kru) in Thailand. It is a day to honor and worship the spirit of the teacher. I was lucky enough to make it out to Pichest's for a couple of hours to witness the festivities.

Things got started at about 9am and went through the day and into the night.

I missed this, but apparently in the morning a ceremony took place where those taking part prepare by 'leaving the body' to make room for the spirit of the teacher. There are prayers, chants, songs and dances aimed at clearing the mind and body in order for the spirit to come in. So in a sense, Pichest was not Pichest that day, he was an embodiement of the spirit of the teacher.

By the time I arrived things were in full effect. There was a 10 peice band playing traditional songs, tables of food and drink, Thais dressed in ceremonial wardrobe singing and dancing, and a number of students just sitting around taking it all in.







As I walked in was a bit hesitant. I felt that I was invading in a sense, but immediately I was greated with warmth and invited to have some food and drink. Pichest was sitting in the front of the studio with another teacher....I offered him some flowers, payed my respects and quickly moved of to the side to hang out with some of the other students.





At one point Pichest (or the spirit of the teacher) was offering some students blessings for protection. These blessings are meant to protect not only the receiver of the Thai Massage, but the giver as well. A nice part of the ceremony that I was quick to take part in.

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The next week I was back at Pichest's for more Thai Massage training. A group on retreat from New York/Seattle(including an Icelandian) arrived to study for two weeks. It was really nice to connect with them and talking about New York after all this time away reminded me I want to go back. ; )

We also started over from the beginning of the massage sequence so I was able to brush over some of what I had already done the previous weeks (which I have yet to commit to memory).





Again I am struck by Pichest's strength and keen ability to notice where problem areas are. Within the first hour, before anyone had even moved from their seated position, he pointed around the room at peoples body parts..."Problem with sacruum... you problem with shoulder...you problem with ankle...you problem with emotion." Of course I wasn't safe..."You..very stiff..oh terrible!" But soon enough we got into a rythm of exchanging massages and finding our way around the sequence. It is amazing how receptive we can become to the more subtle workings of the body once we stop long enough to pay attention. As we worked, every so often Pichest would jump in and take over...the difference was incredible.





As I have said before, I came to Thailand not so much to aquire a certification in Thai Massage as much I wanted to gain a deeper understanding of my own body.

Since I have been here I've had many experiences that have done just that. Between working at Pichest's, receiving Shaolin Tendon Massage from a Kung Fu master of 35 years, and practicing Thai Chi, my body has completely shifted. And with these openings I had only really experienced positive effects (such as more mobility, increased energy, greater focus and clarity).

That Thursday at Pichest's I was used as an example for the Side Position sequence. As I was being worked on, my body started to open (again) to its deepest levels. It felt amazing...I had a totally free range of motion in my hips I hadn't experienced before (again).



When Jason was done, I sat up and moved comfortably into a lotus position (for the first time ever) without padding, blocks or blankets. I laughed again at the fact the I was accessing poses never before possible and I hadn't practiced yoga in almost 6 weeks.

What happened next was interesting.

As all of these teaching talk about nature and its way, they point out the existence of opposition. At that moment I was experiencing my highest height of openess...what was to come would be one of the darkest times of sickness and fever I have had to date.

Over the next few days my body went into revolt. I was coughing, lost my voice, I couldn't hold any food and was running a fever that at one point had me considering going to the emergency room. By Saturday my fever had reached its peak, and right when it was at its worst, it broke and I began to come back down to earth.

Fortunately as life in Chiang Mai will repeatedly prove, if you are open to the flow of grace and maintain an open heart, what you need will be presented as you need it. In my sickness I was surrounded by some incredible beings who took their time to bring me back to health and to whom I will be forever grateful. Grateful not only for their help, but for my fortune of crossing their paths in the first place (magic is out there).

By Monday I was able to move around again and by Wed (today) I am feeling almost up to full strength.

So what was it? Why did my body revolt? Well that is where we could debate for hours. Some would say in my opening, I released long held toxic energy that has been latent deep in the joints and muscles for years. That as we experience life we store those experiences in the body and after time they build up. If they are not released...they turn into sickness and disease. Some would say I just got sick from food or a flu. My intuition is with the former. This was no flu.

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After being so sick, I feel as if I am coming out of a cocoon and again my body has a sense of rebirth and newness. No doubt these are powerful practices I am tinkering around with. Again I am humbled and again I feel this is just the beginning. I will be taking easy for the rest of the week and starting back again after I feel fully recuperated. There could be nothing more foolish than not respecting the wisdom and voice of the body...and right now I am all ears!

Here are a few more photos to finish up with...I have been drawing this meditation that illustrates (maybe?) some of the energetic experiences of the meditation. Hope you enjoy... ; )









Also there are a couple shots from around town...







I hope you all are well and look forward to seeing you soon.

Much love, peace and easfulness.

Kevin

On the Nature tip...

In the wake of the Thai Chi course (and my brief look into Taoist philosophy), my attention has been hijacked by nature. I thought this tree leaf had something going on ... hope you enjoy...













anyway...

Schedule wise...after having the last few days off, I start back up at Pichest's tomorrow for more Thai Massage study. I am anxious and excited to get back into the mix with this master. And as some of you know I have extended my stay for another month. Even with this extra month, I feel I am just scratching the surface of what these teachers (and this place) have to offer. But, I am running out of money, so I gotta come home!

Much love.

Ringing in the new year Thai Chi Chuan style...

The first few lines of the Tao Te Ching read:

'The tao that can be described
is not the eternal Tao.
The name that can be spoken
is not the eternal Name.'

So I guess the fact that I am finding it hard to find any words to describe the last ten days makes perfect sense. But for the sake of telling some stories here it goes..

I just finished a Thai Chi and Meditation 60 hour course. Starting an intensive like this on the first day of the year just seemed like the right thing to do. The days began with morning meditation and Qi Gongs (Energy Skills) followed by the study of a basic set of Thai Chi postures that built up (to about a 45 minute sequence) over the 10 days. The afternoons were spent polishing the movements, meditating, and studying Taoist Philosophy (including the I Ching, the Tao Te Ching and other texts).

I had taken one or two Thai Chi courses in the past and kind of expected this course to be a relaxing break from the intensity of my Thai Massage study. I couldn't have been more wrong. Although in the end, practicing Thai Chi is really relaxing, being introduced to this much (this fast) proved incredibly demanding.

Keith Good was our instructor and his presentation and devotion to the topic was so heartfelt and well rounded it made the tough times bearable and inspiring. He has been studying Thai Chi for roughly 12 years but has spent the last 30 some odd years studying eastern philosophy, yoga, etc... He is extremely forthcoming with his own personal experiences and does well by using them to bring the teachings of the Tao Te Ching to life. If you are in Chiang Mai and interested in the course go to http://www.taichithailand.com/ to get more info.



We all worked together over the 10 days developing our skill, deepening our connection to spirit (or Shen), and all in all just had a great time. Here are some pics to give you an idea of the beautiful space we were in.

Click to enlarge:









Again, I feel the most valuable thing I am taking away from this experience is my time spent getting to know some of the incredible people met in the course. From human rights activists to Chinese Medicine healers...Yoga teachers to Shiatsu practitioners...it was an inspiring group. And in the end the hard work paid off as I leave with a 45 minute Thai Chi sequence I can practice daily, a better understanding of 'The Tao', an entirely new understanding of energy and how it relates to the flucuating states of nature and the human body, and eight great new friends.





We capped the 10 day experience off with a wonderful dinner on the roof. It was a fitting end and great to decompress with some food and wine after the hours of meditation and rigorous practice. As the Taoist philosophy goes...everything in moderation.





I also had the fortune (again on the advice of Chris Ray) of working with one of the most sensitive and thorough thai massage practitioners in Chaing Mai. Her name is Jang, and if anyone is ever in Chiang Mai (or headed that way) just shoot me an email and I will send you Jang's contact info. She is sincere, thoughtful and here massage will leave you feeling balanced, energized and at peace. It took some convincing, but I got her to take a photo with me:



Some random photos...















Much love and thanks to everyone who has sent emails and made posts. Every one I receive reconnects me to home and keeps my heart at ease.

All the best,

Kevin