SOME INTERESTING FACTS AND INFORMATION ON
THAI MASSAGE
Traditional Thai Massage is an extraordinary 2500 year old healing arts system based in Ayurvedic Medicine, Buddhist spiritual practice, and Yoga. More than just massage, Thai Massage blends gentle rocking, rhythmic acupressure and deep assisted stretches to open, exercise and tone all the systems of the body. Thai Massage is done comfortably clothed on a floor mat. Thai Massage feels as wonderful as it looks. Deeply therapeutic, fluid and meditative. Thai Massage relaxes, refreshes and revitalizes, both giver and receiver. Thai Massage ancient origins are linked to Yoga, Ayurvedic and Chinese Medicine, as well as the local indigenous healing practices of ancient Siam. Traditional Thai Massage is still used in Thailand today as part of the healing regime for many different ailments of the body. Thai Massage is a combination of gentle rocking, range of motion, acupressure, reflexology, energy work and stretching, a form of passive yoga. Joints are loosened and opened through manipulation and peripheral stimulation, muscles are stretched, internal organs are toned, vitality is increased and a deep state of relaxation can be achieved. The work is very rhythmical and meditative, enabling both the client and practitioner to voyage together into deeper realms of consciousness.
The massage is done in a Thai Spa, on a floor mat with the receiver wearing loose, comfortable clothing. This gives the practitioner a lot of leverage and the ability to use their body very effectively, it also allows for movements that are not as effective, or impossible on a table. Therapists are trained to respect everyone's varied amount of flexibility and can therefore benefit the limber athlete, as well as the those who are not very limber, by stretching everyone to their own personal limits.
There are four positions in Thai Massage. The "front" or prone position, "side" position, "back" or supine, and "seated" position. The majority of the treatment is in the front position, with a lot of the treatment on the legs. Taking the legs through a complete range of motion and working on the energy lines of the legs has a very benefical effect on people with low back problems. The back neck and shoulders, which seem to be the area most westerners have problems with, can be worked in all the positions. Thai Massage is concerned with the whole body, the stretching movements open the joints, increase flexibility and release body tension. The Thai's believe in long treatments, they say one hour is good, two hours is better, three hours is best. Time seems to go quickly in these sessions and a three hour treatment never seems to last that long whether I am the therapist or the client. The work can be very effective even in short sessions. Thai Massage is based on system of energy lines called Sen, which follows energy as it flows through the form of the body. There are said to be 72,000 Sen which cover the entire body 10 of which are the major ones that are used in actual practice. The Sen are closely associated with the Nadis of Ayurvedic medicine and the Meridians of Chinese acupuncture, all of which can produce internal effects from stimulation of external points on the body.
In the 1690's the French liason to the Thai court in Ayutthia wrote, "When any person is sick in Siam, he begins by causing his whole body to be moulded by one who is skilled herein." The tradition has been mostly an oral one and handed down from teacher to student quite often within the family. The little written texts of medicine and massage were inscribed in stone by King Rama III in 1832 and set into the walls around Wat Pho, which continues to be a center for education in Traditional Thai massage and medicine. "Massaging is a way of treating sickness, it started from body twisting and self massage when tired and weak............Moreover, Thais love the arts of fighting like boxing and fencing, so when some injure or accident occurred, they learned how to cure themselves from pain and later developing to traditional massage until it became a theory. Massage is one of the precious arts of Thai Medication, it is the custom of taking care of each other when getting sick, " Dr Pennapa Subcharoen, Director of the National Institute of Thai Traditional Medicine, Department of Medical Service, Ministry of Public Health.
Nuat Thai Massage facilitates and promotes a harmonious state of being.
The ancients carefully recorded various states of disease and imbalances of the body, mind and psyche. Creative and practical , they devised methods for influencing the course of these imbalances. It was known that life cycles out harmony with nature often keep people from experiencing life in a full and productive way. The healing practices are seen as opportunities to learn a balanced way of living with nature. The nature that is outside of ourselves and the nature that is within. These remarkable teachings regarding restoration and maintenance of life have now been passed on to this generation.
Thai Massage (Nuat Thai) incorporates elements of mindfulness, gentle rocking, deep stretching and rhythmic compression to create a singular healing experience. This work, as it brings fundamental elements and energy into harmony; creates wholeness of mind, body and spirit, in the client and the practitioner as well. Nuat Thai, Thai Style Body Work Therapy, is an excellent alternative form of oriental body work. It is suitable for rehabilitation, pain relief, and stress reduction. Nurturing, calming, and enlivening it will expand your ideas of what body work can be.
Among the many benefits of Nuat Thai Massage, the following have been noted:
Enhances the Body - Mind - Psyche Connection
Reduces Stress and Enhances Sense of Well Being
Relaxes and Loosens tight muscles
Reduces Pain and Referred Pain from Trigger Points
Reduces Swelling and Edema Increasing Circulation of Fluid and
Oxygen to All Deficient Areas.
Increases Range of Motion
Effective treatment in Psycho-Somatic and Psychological Illness
Effective Treatment in many kinds of Soft Tissue Related Disorders
Stress Related Infertility and Impotence
Chronic Fatigue and Related Syndromes
Balances The Four Essential Elements of Life ( Earth, Water, Wind
and Fire )
Karmic Blockage and Stagnation
Unlike many Western forms of massage, Thai Massage (Nuat Thai) is generally received fully clothed, Proper attire consists of loose-fitting, comfortable clothes.
Nuat Thai uses the whole person to treat the whole person.
