Traditional Thai Massage
Known in Thailand as (Nuat phaen boran), meaning "ancient/traditional massage", Thai massage is also known as Thai ancient massage, traditional Thai massage, Thai yoga massage, yoga massage, Thai classical massage, Thai bodywork, passive yoga or assisted yoga.
The massage recipient changes into loose, comfortable clothes and lies on a mat or firm mattress on the floor. (It can be done solo or in a group of a dozen or so patients in the same large room.) The massage practitioner leans on the recipient's body using hands and usually straight forearms locked at the elbow to apply firm rhythmic pressure. The massage generally follows the Sen lines on the body — somewhat analogous to meridians or Channel (Chinese medicine) and Indian nadis. Legs and feet of the giver can be used to fixate the body or limbs of the recipient. In other styles, hands fixate the body, while the feet do the massaging action. Oil is not used in traditional Thai Massage. A full Thai massage session typically lasts two hours or more, and includes rhythmic pressing and stretching of the entire body; this may include pulling fingers, toes, ears, cracking the knuckles, walking on the recipient's back, and arching the recipient's into bhujangasana or (cobra position). There is a standard procedure and rhythm to this massage. In Thailand a two hour massage might cost around 300 Thai baht (about $10 Canadian) depending on location (it may cost ten times more inside a five star hotel).
Origin of Thai Massage
Thai massage originated in India and is based on Ayurveda and yoga, thereafter becoming popular in ancient Siam, now known as Thailand. It was believed that the massage art was brought over to Thailand by Shivago Komarpaj (Jivaka Kumarabhacca), a contemporary of Gautama Buddha over 2500 years ago. The receiver is put into many yoga like positions during the course of the massage. In the northern style based out of Chiang Mai, Thailand there is a lot of stretching movements, unlike the southern style where acupressure is emphasized.
Diagnostic & Treatment
We access client's body during the massage in 2 ways and we modified our treatment according to finding:
1. By palpation through thumb, palm, elbow, experienced therapist can feel the energy flow on Sen lines of human body. Therapist will manipulate the weak or blocked lines to encourage flow of energy and unblock the knots.
2. Therapist will move client's joints in all available range of motions, feel the restriction, or painful feedback. To treat restrictions, therapist will stretch and hold the clients to certain positions, this will bring more mobility to joints and to balance the body.