Thai Massage

Thai Yoga Massage or affectionately dubbed 'the lazy person’s yoga', merges assisted yoga postures with acupressure techniques. During a session, the therapist guides the client through yogic stretches while applying pressure to muscles along the body’s energy lines using hands and feet. This practice is rooted in the principles of acupressure, which stimulate the Sen lines to harmonize the body's energy system.

The gentle stretching employed in Thai massage aids in loosening the body, promoting increased flexibility, and alleviating tension in both muscles and joints. Typically starting at the feet with the client lying face down, Thai massage is more dynamic and invigorating compared to traditional massages. Therapists utilize their hands and feet to apply pressure, and sessions are usually conducted with the client fully clothed, though oils or lotions can be incorporated upon request.

Thai massage offers numerous benefits, as it employs various techniques and pressures to manipulate muscles, releasing tension and triggering the release of endorphins, which promote a sense of well-being. The underlying theory behind these benefits draws from Chinese medicine and acupressure philosophy, which posit the existence of meridian lines and acupressure points within our bodies. According to this theory, stimulating these acupressure points facilitates a healthier flow of energy, known as Qi or Chi, along the meridian lines, promoting overall wellness.

The main benefits of Thai massage are:

• Improved flexibility and range of muscle movement through assisted stretching
• Blood flow is increased, and circulation assisted
• Release of physical tension to relieve aches and pains
• Release of emotional tension held within the body, combating stress and providing a feeling of relaxation 

In addition to these benefits, like all massage, the stimulation of the nerves and skin cells can improve skin quality and muscular function, and contribute to an overall sense of well-being. 

Jivaka Kumar Bhaccha was a close friend of the Buddha and also the physician of the Sangha, the order of Buddhist monks and nuns. He is mentioned in the Pali Canon, the scriptures of Theravada Buddhism, which is practiced today mainly in Sri Lanka, Burma, Laos, Cambodia and Thailand.

Jivaka Kumar Bhaccha is regarded not only as the inspiration for the massage techniques used in Thailand today, but also as the source of knowledge about the healing powers of herbs and minerals. Aspects of Indian ayurvedic medicine can still be found in Thailand and - along with herbal treatment, steam baths and massage - comprise the services offered at the Massage Hospital run by the Foundation of Shivago Komarpaj in Chiang Mai in Northern Thailand. Even today, Kumar Bhaccha is respected and honoured by many Thais as the "Father of Medicine". 

Religious ceremonies (called Pujas in Pali and Bucha in Thai) are conducted to remember him. A prayer in Pali language is chanted on these occasions: "Om Namo Jivaka" - Jivaka, symbol of Cosmic Unity. "I venerate the compassionate Jivaka with good conduct...".  The ceremonies, called wai khru in Thai, are still a daily ritual at the Massage Hospital in Chiang Mai and are performed twice a day

The instinctive act to touch, rub, or knead different parts of the body when there is pain or discomfort can probably be traced back to the beginning of human evolution. Many different kinds of mammals will rub themselves with their paws or lick wounds that hurt them. With our superior intelligence, we learned to memorize, differentiate, and systematize our ways of touching and their effects on our body; hence, various systems of massage developed. 

The earliest historical records of massage appear to be from China over 5,000 years ago during the reign of the Yellow Emperor, Huang-Ti. Recommendations for massage as a means of helping the body to heal itself also appeared in the Indian book of Ayur Veda around 1800 B.C. There are also numerous references to the benefits and uses of massage in the medical literature of many other cultures around the world. Even in the Bible there are many references to the "laying-on-of-hands" as a method of curing sickness .

Until recently, not only in the West, but in Thailand too, the popularity of massage has been marred by the general population's puritanical attitude towards the body. Massage is now once more regarded as a legitimate method of health care because of the surge of interest in the many alternative approaches to conventional medicine, particularly in the types of body-oriented therapy. 

Over time, the art of massage has been developed into many different schools. There are institutes or teaching centers in many countries around the world. The most popular are, currently, the Swedish style (which, in fact, was developed from Chinese massage by a Swede named Per Henrik Ling) and the Japanese massage (shiatsu or acupressure). 

Traditional Thai massage is believed to have come from India along with the expansion of Buddhism and Indian culture into Thailand. Some scholars speculate that possibly there might have been Chinese influences on Thai culture, through trading relationships over a long period, which also played a part in the development of Thai massage. This, of course spanned many centuries of history and during this time the art has been refined and shaped into its present system.

At present traditional Thai massage is still taught and practiced at many Buddhist temples and massage facilities throughout the country. The most well-known school is at Wat Pho (the Temple of the Reclining Buddha) in Bangkok. 

Massage exemplifies the "Four Divine States of Mind", of Buddhist teaching: loving kindness, compassion, vicarious joy, and equanimity. These are collectively known in Thai as the "Promwinan See". They embody the spirit in which Thai medical services were traditionally given, as opposed to the motivating forces of commercialism which are SO apparent nowadays in Thailand 

For this reason, traditional Thai massage had a clear role to play in the activities of the Buddhist temples. It formed part of the social services for which the temples took responsibility. However, with the advent of government-funded health care, the role of the temples has become unclear. The government has promoted and financed primary health care services in the villages which concentrate on a Western medical approach; therefore the popularity of Thai massage has declined. At the same time there has been an over- reliance on treatment by drugs.These drugs are often

The Foundation for Village Doctors - a group of concerned physicians, pharmacists and other health professionals based in Bangkok - has set up workshops in many provinces of Thailand, in a project called "Thai Massage Revival Project", to try to re- awaken Thai interest in the traditional art of massage. The foundation is also trying to set up medical formal profession. courses in massage which it is hoped will in time gain official recognition by the  inappropriately prescribed, are very costly for the villagers and may cause harmful side effects.