Thai Together by Christine Townley
Traditional Thai Massage is often referred to as
Thai Massage, Thai Bodywork, Thai Yoga
Massage or applied yoga for lazy people.
A Thai Massage session has more
ingredients than a yoga workout.
It has a blend and fusion of exquisite Asian techniques
including thumb pressure, similar to Chinese
acupressure which works along energy lines rather
like meridians or nadis. Thumb-pressing along
these sen lines, as they are known in Thailand,
aims to release blockages, creating a free flow
of energy and prana throughout the body.
Another important part of Thai Massage is the
Buddhist and spiritual influence. Students are
encouraged to recite a short prayer silently in
pali (the Buddhist language) before commencing
the massage to focus and quieten their mind.
Thai massage reflects the Four divine states of
mind of Buddhist teaching.These are loving kindness,
compassion, vicarious joy and equanimity. A
Thai Massage given with metta (meaning loving
kindness) is essential rather than given in a
mechanical or forceful way.A lovely description
of Thai Massage is “the physical application of
loving kindness”. Buddhist monks traditionally
performed Thai Massage in temples as a means
of invigorating the mind, body and spirit.This
unique ancient healing tradition originated in
India and dates back to 2,500 years ago.
YOGA
Many yoga postures may be included in a Thai
Massage treatment. Forward bends, backward
bends, cobra, spinal twists, locust positions
shoulder stand and the plough.The dynamics of
Thai Massage are very similar to ashtanga yoga asana to another.The use of body weight, correct
body mechanics and rhythm is essential for
performing a good Thai Massage. It is like a
yoga dance and a meditative experience for
both the client and practitioner, the practitioner
also benefiting from their muscles being
stretched and strengthened.
With the close relationship of yoga, more
yoga teachers are enjoying learning the art of
Thai Massage and experiencing the benefits for
themselves. Clients are able to go deeper into a
posture when assisted by a Thai Massage practitioner,
enhancing their flexibility and encouraging
deep relaxation in each pose.Ashtanga yoga
can greatly improve the flow and rhythm of a
Thai Massage practitioner. Iyengar yoga can also
help to feel the degree of stretching necessary,
so that a practitioner can feel how far to take a
client into a posture and ensure the stretching
is within the client’s limits and comfort boundaries.
The pressure and stretching is measured
and matched to the client’s physical ability and
needs.A practitioner will learn to feel how far
to take a client into a stretch.This is indeed an
art, working slowly with mindfulness, watching
facial reactions will help the practitioner to feel
the point of resistance and maximum stretch
for the limbs.Watching the movement and
transition from one posture to another is
important for the student to learn the art.With
practice it will flow creating a lovely dynamic
rhythmic sequence with the minimum amount
of effort.
BENEFITS
Thai Massage has many benefits and is suitable
for people of all ages irrespective of their level
of flexibility. Sportspeople, yoga and Pilates
practitioners,Tai Chi teachers, physiotherapists,
health practitioners and those with no previous
experience all love the benefits of giving and
receiving Thai Massage.With the meditative
qualities it works very deep on an emotional
level and with the yoga stretches it also has a
profound effect on a physical level.
It is very good for back pain, sciatica, shoulder
and neck pain.There is an emphasis on stretching
the legs into various yoga positions to alleviate
the lower back. Stretching and loosening
the hamstrings and opening the hips greatly
enhances the flexibility of the back.There are
many upper-body stretches to open the chest
and improve the flexibility of the shoulders and
neck.The numerous slow stretching movements
free the tension held within the body.They
increase flexibility, relax and elongate tense
muscles, mobilise and open joints, thus energising
and nourishing the client by allowing the
prana to flow more freely around the whole
body.Thai massage relieves aches, pain and stiffness,
stimulates and improves the range and
freedom of movement and co-ordination.The
stretching movements affect the entire body by
releasing both deep and superficial tension and
re-educating the client into a better alignment
and improved posture.The result is an opening
of the body, which leaves one feeling both
relaxed and energised at the same time.
Thai Massage soothes the nervous system,
and has a positive and calming effect on the
mind inducing deep relaxation with the meditative
qualities.The circulation of blood and lymph
is improved. Internal organs and the immune
system are stimulated. It aims to balances all the
systems of the body.This transformative therapy
produces a powerful feeling of wellbeing,
restoring inner balance and equilibrium.
THAI MASSAGE SESSION
It is a very thorough treatment of the whole body lasting for
1½ or 2 hours, the latter being more thorough and able to
address more specific problems.There are a range of techniques
suitable and appropriate for each client, and practitioners choose
techniques to suit their client’s varying needs and abilities.
Students learning Thai Massage learn over 3 hours of techniques
and will tailor Thai Massage treatments for their clients depending
on size, flexibility and needs. It is a very intuitive massage.
The massage is carried out clothed on a futon mattress.The
client will lie on their back (supine) position and, before commencing,
the practitioner recites a short prayer in the Buddhist
language silently to focus the mind and energy.The mantra thanks
Jivaka Khuma Bhacca, the founder of Thai Massage and friend of
the Buddha, and wishes the client good health. Relaxation techniques
of palm walking are then applied to the feet and legs,
allowing both practitioner and client to become acquainted with
each other’s energies and to establish a rhythm which creates a
key foundation to the massage.This rhythm is very important for
soothing the client’s nervous system.Various thumb presses similar
to reflexology are used on the feet to ground and balance the
client’s energy before commencing to work on the energy lines
of the legs. Palming techniques are then followed by slow moving
thumb pressure to release blocked energy along the sen lines.
A series of slow powerful stretching movements are performed
on one leg to stretch the hamstrings, to create mobility in the
hips, elongate the muscles and improve circulation throughout
the body.This is repeated on the other leg.The practitioner then
uses more stretches on both legs together. Palm pressure, gentle
rhythmic rocking and soothing massage techniques are used for
relaxation between the dynamic yogic postures throughout the
massage.A relaxing abdominal massage is then carried out massaging
the stomach and internal organs.The practitioner then
works the energy lines of the arms, moving on to the chest, with
maybe some shoulder stretches in this position.
A soothing face massage may be performed in supine or at the
end in the sitting position.The client will then turn onto one side
and the practitioner may further open the shoulder and pelvic
area with some more stretching movements.This is repeated on
the other side.Techniques will then be performed with the client
lying prone on the stomach, various leg stretches and palming
and thumbing the energy lines of the back.The client is then
placed into sitting position which focuses mainly on the spine,
shoulders and posture. Each movement is carried out in a continuous
movement and flow
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Acknowledgement
To read the article "The Richness of Thai Massage" published in Positive Health Issue 115 Sept 2005 -Click here www.positivehealth.com
