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Elephant Massage

9/24/2012

12 Comments

 
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What is a trip to Bali without an elephant ride? Well, this wasn’t the usual elephant ride! As I climbed up a platform to the seat on Shuli's back, a bar came across me like on a roller coaster to hang on to. As I got settled in, I took my shoes off and tied them up around the bar. I placed my feet on her back. As she started to walk towards the woods filled with palm trees and huge ferns of all sorts, I proceeded to stroke Shuli with my feet and used my toes to rub gently across her back, from her neck to her sides where I could reach while still being attached to the seat!

As I moved my feet in different ways, I massaged her elephant-style. This is actually a form of Thai massage which is used with the feet and toes. It is a wonderful modality where the therapist uses the legs, feet and toes to stretch parts of the body to relieve muscular pain. Well, Shuli started flapping her ears fiercely back and forth. When I asked my guide, Madey, what that meant, he replied, “she is VERY, VERY Happy!” Her back started rippling like small bubbling water currents, and her tufts of coarse hair stood on end…Just like we do when we get goose bumps! It was quite exciting. I felt very bonded with her.

Madey has been guiding and taking care of Shuli for 12 years. All the 30 elephants come from Sumatra and are smaller than the elephants from India and West Africa. Nevertheless, Shuli seemed pretty big to me! But sweet! After my half-hour ride, we returned to a pool where she cooled off, and I was able to feed her. She ate many handfuls of bamboo. I wonder where my next animal massage experience will be? Humans are not the only species that benefit from massage therapy. Horses get regular massages, as do dogs, cats, and even snakes, but I won’t go there! What experiences have you had massaging animals? And what behaviors did you notice? I hope to get to Borneo one day to maybe massage an orangutan!

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12 Comments
Dennis link
10/6/2012 05:41:25 am

What a great experience to massage an elephant! I once had an opportunity to adjust a horse! I held a contact on his atlas and he turned his head into it. So cool to bond with them like this!

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rachelle neher
10/16/2012 12:25:18 pm

Animals are so receptive and really respond to touch and good energy...and if its not good, they bite you!

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gunter schwegler
1/18/2013 11:58:25 am

If you did this to a Tasmanian devil;, would it turn into a Tasmanian angel?

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rachelle neher
1/18/2013 12:01:45 pm

Depends, Maybe a ga- felta-fish!

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Marge
1/22/2013 01:26:31 am

I've not had experience with animals, but babies LOVE massages. it does a lot to calm fussy babies, just as much as it calms and soothes us out-of-sorts adults.

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Rachelle
4/18/2016 11:06:42 pm

Hi Marge, Tough is beneficial; for all living things. We even Massaged the backs of fish in a huge pond in Puerto Rico and they kept coming back for more! It was amazing!
Rachelle

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Henry Samuels
5/1/2014 02:42:37 pm

That's a great story-I feel like any living creature can appreciate sincere affection like the elephant. Also, thank you for the kind note that you sent me.

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rachelle
5/1/2014 03:11:41 pm

Thanks Henry. Let me know the exact time and date of your recital. How were the holidays? Hope you are doing well. see you soon.

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Judy S
4/18/2016 04:50:22 pm

I am a strong believer of cross-species communication and bonding - I am certain that she was thrilled to have you on her back!

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Rachelle
4/18/2016 11:07:55 pm

Hi Judy,
I was so equally happy and excited to be on her back! She was such a gentle soul. And she appreciated my massage on her head!
Rachelle

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Saunas Michigan link
1/29/2021 04:06:38 am

Lovely blog you havve

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rachelle neher
1/29/2021 07:32:44 pm

Thank you for joining my mini vacation! I hope you are well and staying safe! Can't wait for my next vacation where I do do swaps with people from around the world wherever the wings take me! Have a very Happy, Joyful PRE VD!!!!
Rachelle Neher@ back in motion massage therapy

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