Understanding the Language of the Body

Step 6, Understanding the Language of the Body, shifts the focus from treating symptoms to understanding the person behind them. Every body has its own story to tell. Physical discomfort may be influenced by movement patterns, breathing, lifestyle, emotions, or the way we respond to life’s challenges. By observing these patterns with an open mind, we begin to see the body not as a collection of isolated symptoms, but as an intelligent whole that is constantly communicating with us.

Listening to the Language of My Own Body

Before travelling to Thailand last February, I regularly suffered from migraines. Deep down, I knew they weren’t appearing out of nowhere. For years I have taught about the close relationship between body, mind, and energy. But knowing something and truly living by it are sometimes two very different things.

Life had gradually become more demanding. Running my own business, maintaining a long-distance relationship that meant spending many hours travelling, caring for my ageing parents, and trying to stay connected with friends all began to take their toll. It wasn’t simply the amount of time everything required; it was the emotional involvement. I wanted to be there for everyone. And the harder I tried, the more I felt I was falling short.

My mind was constantly busy. Even while walking or enjoying a cup of tea, I was already thinking about everything that still needed to be done. Eventually, my body did what it so often does when we stop listening: it applied the brakes.

Something changes every time I go to Thailand.

I deliberately travel there alone for several weeks each year. I attend courses, work on projects—such as rewriting a course manual—and spend the rest of my time walking, reading, or simply enjoying the slower rhythm of daily life. Although I often accomplish a great deal, it never feels stressful. My attention is fully focused on whatever I am doing in that moment.

Then one day, I realised something.

It wasn’t Thailand itself that made the difference.

It was the space in my mind.

Since then, I have started organising my days differently. I create dedicated time for both work and rest. But more importantly, when I am working, I am fully working. When I am resting, I am genuinely resting. I no longer spend those quiet moments mentally rehearsing everything else that still needs to be done.

Every day I now make space for small moments of genuine pause. Not moments spent checking my phone or running through my to-do list, but moments when I simply let everything else go. Small moments that feel like a mini holiday in the middle of an ordinary day.

Since making this change, I haven’t had a migraine for more than six months.

Does this mean migraines are always caused by stress or emotions? Of course not. The human body is far too complex for such simple conclusions. But in my case, my body was telling me something I had known for years, yet had temporarily forgotten to live by. The constant mental pressure, my deep sense of responsibility, and my desire to take care of everyone had kept my nervous system in a continuous state of alertness.

Fortunately, I recognise those signals much earlier now. Whenever I notice my mind becoming crowded again, I know it is time not to push harder, but to pause. To breathe. To create space.

My body was speaking.

I simply wasn’t listening carefully enough.

Perhaps that is one of the greatest lessons our bodies can teach us.

Our bodies are not working against us.

They are quietly guiding us back towards balance.

If this story resonates with you, Step 6 of Deepening your Thai Massage – An East–West Approach to Thai Bodywork explores the language of the body in greater depth. Rather than attaching fixed meanings to physical complaints, it invites practitioners to become curious and discover the subtle connections between body, mind, and energy.

Curious to explore further? 
Deepening Your Thai Massage – an East–West Approach to Thai Bodywork is a book and video course in one — inviting you to not only understand, but also experience the work in practice.

One of the central themes is learning to look beyond techniques. By bringing together the wisdom of traditional Thai massage and modern Western anatomy, the book encourages practitioners to develop a deeper understanding of the relationship between body, mind, movement, breath, and energy. The more we begin to recognise these connections, the more meaningful and effective our treatments become.

Available via major online bookstores worldwide, including Bol.com in the Netherlands and worldwide on platforms like Amazon.

Beyond every symptom lies a person with a story worth listening to.