I thought I’d cracked the code on how to survive this massage without injuries, but as she moved from my legs to my arms, unease crept in. The balance in the massage was off and anyone could see it. The right leg got way more love than the left. Knowing this bugged me so much that I couldn’t focus on anything else. If this keeps up, I might end up walking funny. Even if that’s a stretch, there’s bound to be some tiny imbalance. Maybe my left thigh will bulk up more, or my right foot will tire faster. 🤔
But, I wasn’t confident enough in my Thai to voice my concerns. Even if I was, I wouldn’t dare tell someone with muscles five times bigger than mine. Who knows? They might crumple me up like a piece of paper. So, I decided to find the reason behind the imbalance. If both legs got the same treatment, why did the latter feel lacking? If I could figure that out, everyone, including the masseuse, would be happier. 😊
I often bike on weekends and always felt the ride back was shorter, even if the distance was the same. Scientists call this the ‘Return Trip Effect.’ Theories vary, but I think it’s because the brain worries less on familiar paths. Life is like that too. As kids, time drags, but as we age, it flies by because we already know most things and tension eases. We can handle almost anything. 🚴♂️💨
The massage felt the same. The right leg was like the return trip, the adult’s time. Realizing this, I felt at ease again. The masseuse was not at fault, nor was I. I wouldn’t leave limping. 😊
While finding my peace, her attacks moved to my back. I had to lie face down for the back massage, so I couldn’t see her moves and prepare. My mouth went dry. 😅
She pressed her knee from the base of my spine, sweeping outwards with force. This technique was refreshing in past massages, but not this time. Each press sent pain shooting up my spine. Typically, knees press between the vertebrae, but she pressed right on them. I winced with each press, unsure if I should move with the pressure to absorb it or tense up to minimize spine movement. They say to relax during a massage, but this felt like a battle. I feared if I didn’t react, I might end up paralyzed. 😳 As she moved from my lumbar to my thoracic spine, my vertebrae felt like scattered marbles inside me. It hurt a lot. 😖
When she reached my cervical spine, she switched to her hands. I thought I was saved because hands are weaker than knees, but my neck was weaker than my torso. Her grip was stronger than her feet. When she grabbed and shook my neck, my upper body swayed. 🌀
I remembered a scene from a documentary exposing animal cruelty. Chickens, helplessly held by the neck, resigned to their fate. I finally understood how they felt. The pain was one thing, but the embarrassment was another. 😔
Why does an hour and a half feel like an eternity? It feels like forever has passed.
Why are Thai people so diligent? She doesn’t take a minute’s break. 😅
Maybe thinking about something else would help me forget the pain. What should I think about? I decided to ponder the qualifications of a good massage therapist. Is she a good one? Not for me. Why? Too much strength? Physical facts don’t define qualifications. What matters is ‘how that strength is used.’ Clients want to relax tight muscles and refresh their bodies. Her strength should be used to achieve this safely and efficiently. 💪 It reminded me of a hero. A hero should only use their strength to safely stop villains. Misuse can harm citizens or destroy the environment. She should’ve used her strength for muscle relaxation, not tearing muscles or scattering bones meant to stay together. 🦸♀️
While I was deep in thought, she suddenly tapped my back, signaling me to sit up.
‘Why?’
I unknowingly asked in Korean, but she didn’t answer. Instead, she snaked her arms behind me, locking me in and shaking me side to side. I knew I should relax, but at that speed, letting go might snap my spine in two. Why am I paying to feel like my life is at risk for an hour and a half? Maybe I shouldn’t have worked. Or been born. 🤷♂️
And that’s how I ended up questioning my existence during a massage. 🤔
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