History of Thai Massage
Thai Massage originated thousands of years ago and its roots are in the Indian practice of Ayurvedic medicine. The stretching movements of the Thai massage can be seen closely related to yoga. The pressure points and energy lines of Thai massage known as "Sen" follow the flow of energy through the body's form and are similar to the energy channels of Chinese Acupuncture and Japanese Shiatsu. However, Thai massage, which is called "Traditional massage" in Thailand is a unique and very effective type of healing and different from other types of massage.
The legendary founder of the art of Thai massage is Jivaka Kumarabhacca
He was a physician for the first Buddhist priests and a close friend of Buddha. The original texts of ancient Thai massage were recorded in the sacred Pali language of ancient Buddhism. Most of the ancient medical texts were destroyed in 1776 in the Burmese invasion. King Rama III had the surviving traditional knowledge carved into stone inscriptions in 1832 which were set into the walls of the temple in Bangkok called Wat Poh.
Traditional Thai Massage
Thai massage is an ancient art of body therapy for healing, health, and transformation. It is also an interactive manipulation of the body using passive stretching and gentle pressure along energy lines. These movements help to:
The effect is uniquely relaxing as well as energizing
Receiving a Thai massage is a bit like doing yoga without putting forth any effort while also getting acupressure treatments. Sessions typically last 1–2 hours and are performed on a floor mat with the client dressed in comfortable loose clothing. Thai Massage uses two primary procedures: applying gentle pressure with the hands and feet and a wide variety of passive stretching movements. Using these techniques applied in a quiet meditative atmosphere space is created in the musculoskeletal structure and the body begins to open and regain flexibility and the ease of movement, while the mind returns to calm alertness.
