The Making of Traditional Thai Massage
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 …