What is it?
The Thai phrase ‘nuat phaen boran thai’, translates to ‘the old Thai way of healing with the hands. Over time, this all-encompassing system has evolved into a uniquely Eastern Thai art which includes stretches borrowed from yoga, deep muscle compressions, acupressure, herbal and scented treatments, deep meditation, and Buddhist philosophies.The massage is performed on a mat placed on the floor with the recipient and therapist wearing loose comfortable clothing.The recipient is completely passive as the practitioner applies rhythmic pressure and stretches along the body’s energy lines and guides them through assisted postures that bend the body in a way that is similar to yoga. It involves a variety of massage techniques using the thumbs, knuckle, and hands as well as a small wooden stick. This specifically designed stick is used to stimulate the reflex points on the feet that match up to the internal organs of the body.Thai massage has a unique reputation amongst other forms of bodywork for many reasons but especially for being fun, enjoyable, and safe to practice. The modern discipline of Clinical Thai Bodywork was established during the 20th century, continuing the work of the whole Thai Massage Community (TMC). Detailed education was given to practitioners regarding musculature of the human body, keeping the entire practice safe from legal recourse and any possible injury.
History
The origin of the Traditional Thai Massage of Thailand is found within the story of its people. Throughout the course of it’s history, Thailand has seen an influx of different cultures. The history of traditional Thai medicine is interwoven within the cultural imprint left by a mixture of people.The unique history of Thai Massage is an enduring story which takes us back thousands of years. Thai massage has a lineage dating back to the 1300s and has evolved as it continues to travel throughout the world. In order to give the proper context for what made this artistic form of bodywork we must first acknowledge its roots in the old world. We will explore briefly go through the historical circumstances, key figures and philosophies that brought this classic therapy to life.The development of Thai massage is often credited to the spread of Buddhism from India to the rest of Asia. In India, Buddhist monks commonly practiced Ayurvedic medicine and used healing techniques as a way to manifest their fundamental belief of loving-kindness. The intensive meditative practices of monks and nuns,relentlessly wore down the minds and bodies which brought on chronic physical issues. For many years they suffered in pain from this fatigue until Shivago Komarpaj, a man described as being Buddha-like invented a method of stretches and muscle tension releases to recover from the ailments they suffered.The holy devotees learned and carried on Shivago’s teachings, distilling them into a format which became known as Traditional Thai Medical Massage.The Indian Doctor Shivaka Komarpaj, a friend and personal physician to the living Buddha is credited as the founder of Thai medicine and the Father of traditional Thai Massage. Practitioners still recite a prayer chant to “the Father Doctor” daily in Thailand.The monks with support from Thai royalty, preserved the knowledge.The knowledge of this practice remained in place and in use through history in the verbal form but was not officially recognized until the 1830′s when King Rama III established the venerable *Wat Pho.In 1832 King Rama III ordered all surviving texts inscribed in stone and set them into the walls at Wat Pho, the largest temple in Bangkok, to preserve the valuable records that were left. The epigraphs consist of 60 stone plagues, 30 depicting the front of the body and 30 of the back, each demonstrating the energy lines (sen lines) and pressure points along these lines.These stone carvings are all that remain of the theoretical foundations of Thai Massage as we know it today. Therefore, much of the history and tradition is obscured in time and somewhat mysterious. The epigraphs can still be seen on a visit to Wat Pho, the national center for the teaching and preservation of traditional Thai medicine.In the 1870s, King Rama V ordered the making of a textbook of Thai Massage, finished at the start of the twentieth century. During the early 1900s, Thai massage became a recognized profession within the practice of traditional Thai medicine.At that time, none of the Thai Massage procedures were written down but passed down through the generations orally. Eventually, however, medical texts were recorded including descriptions of the massage techniques. These were held as sacred religious texts in the old Siamese capital city of Ayutthaya until the 18th-century Burmese invasion. Unfortunately, most of the ancient medical texts were destroyed in 1776 during the invasion of Ayutthaya by the Burmese.
In Summary
Since its inception (over 2,500 years ago), Thai massage has migrated around the globe reaching millions of people.Mixing indigenous Thai medicine with the Indian influences of Ayurvedic principles, Hatha Yoga poses, and Buddhist spiritual practices, this together forms a significant basis of what is now Thai bodywork.
Traditional Thai Massage is a very effective Therapeutic technique to energize and strengthen the body. The six key aspects of Traditional Thai Massage are yoga (stretching),exercise,meditation, reflexology,acupressure, and healing power.Combined together,the full benefits of having Thai massage in addition to the use of Thai ancient remedies and herbs penetrate deeper reach troubled areas far beneath the surface.Stress, stiffness, chronic pain, insomnia, loss of flexibility, free radicals, or sickness causes an imbalance in body energy. Traditional Thai Massage not only aids in body development and performance, but also helps rejuvenate and improve the pituitary, thyroid, adrenal, and sex glands. It stabilizes the nervous system to release endorphins, enhances the flow of blood and oxygen inside the body, increases muscular tone, joint movement, flexibility, and elasticity of the spine, supporting improved posture which leads to more energy and positive life force. Traditional Thai Massage also promotes more restful sleep. Long massage is considered to alleviate the pain in the joint and boost up the health of the heart. The various techniques utilized throughout the massage aid in rejuvenating the body and centering the mind, leaving the receiver both deeply relaxed and highly energized.
*The Wat Pho was a series of statues and stone carvings that depicted, visually, the hallowed techniques of Thai Massage.