What is Thai Massage, and how can it help me?
What is Thai Massage, and how can it help me?
When I started telling people about my Thai Massage training, everyone would say the same thing. “Sounds awesome, but what is Thai Massage?” Here, I’ll answer that question, give some context into the history of the practice, and offer an inside look on what it’s like to have a Thai Massage session.
What is Thai Yoga Massage?
Traditional Thai Yoga Massage is a healing art based on fundamentals of Ayurvedic medicine and Yoga. This dynamic bodywork focuses on restoring and balancing your body’s energy system. A treatment works the entire body, focusing on the “sen” (a sen is a physical pathway by which movement occurs in the body), activation of acupressure points, and simple, yet deep yoga stretching.
What are its benefits?
Thai massage helps with both injury prevention and total body recovery, along with long-lasting results like:
Pain Relief
Increased Flexibility
Improved Circulation
Reduced Stress
What is a Thai Massage Session Like?
Before your first session, you can expect to start with a brief questionnaire to determine overall health and wellbeing as well as limitations and precautions. A typical treatment includes an opening meditation followed by “sen” and acupressure activation in various positions, including supine (on your back), side lying, seated and prone (on your stomach).
A treatment is given on a mat, on the floor, while the receiver wears light clothing. Unlike traditional massage, usually there are no oils or lotion used. Techniques include gently moving or rocking of the body while utilizing thumbs, palms, forearms, elbows, feet or full body weight to apply pressure to the energy lines.
Like the opening meditation, there are other factors that make Thai Yoga Massage a holistic experience, rather than just a physical one. All movement is synchronized with the breath of both the practitioner and receiver, and the treatment ends with a closing honoring of the client.
“Because it affects not only the physical body but also more subtle emotional and spiritual planes, the results can seem truly miraculous.” - Kam Thye Chow, Advanced Thai Yoga Massage: Postures and Energy Pathways for Healing
History
The practice of Thai Yoga Massage spans thousands of years, and can be traced back to India and the spread of Buddhism. Doctor Jivaka (pronounced Shivago) Kumar Bhaccha is acknowledged as the founder of Thai traditional medicine. In Thailand, he is known as the inventor of Thai practices of herbalism, massage and acupressure. He was the Buddha’s doctor and the first person to perform Thai Massage on the Buddha. In its traditional form, every morning and before every massage, ritual is practiced to honor Doctor Jivaka.
Why I choose to practice Thai Yoga Massage
I have forever been a lover and believer of exercise and bodywork (i.e. traditional deep tissue massage, hot rock massage, chiropractic, and acupuncture) as a way to maintain a healthy body and mind. I personally experienced Thai Yoga Massage for the first time when it was brought into our office as a perk, with 15 minute sessions offered. After that, I was hooked. I find it to be the best healer physically and mentally for recovery and rejuvenation. Because of this, I have chosen this form of bodywork to incorporate into my concierge services provided through ShipShape.
Beyond its outstanding healing benefits, I believe in how the practice can directly connect my values to the services I provide to my clients. It is my intention, compassion, personal attitude, and loving kindness that are my important healing tools, provided with love and dedication in every Thai Yoga Massage I deliver.
Learn about my services and book your first session here.