Traditional Thai Massage(Nuad Thai) Thai massage is an interactive manipulation of the body using passive stretching and gentle pressure along energy lines.
What is Thai Massage?
More and more tourists are returning from Thailand with
lasting impressions of a massage that is more like yoga. Performed through
your clothes, Thai Traditional Massage leaves you in a state of sublime
relaxation.
As featured in Here's Health magazine Its mechanics show a
strong Indian Ayurvedic and yogic influence, but a very disciplined
emphasis on energy channels betrays a link with Chinese Traditional
Medicine.
Thai Traditional medicine has existed for over 1000 years, in
pretty much the same form that is used today. Its recent world-wide spread
has been quite phenomenal.
What happens?
You lie on a mat on
the floor, fully clothed except for shoes and socks. The practitioner uses
thumbs, palms, forearms, elbows, feet knees and even shins to press and
stretch your body. Thais believe that good health and freedom from pain
result from the unhindered flow of vital energies through the body's
tissues.
The main 'channels' for distributing these energies are called
'Sen'. There is no general agreement as to the exact number of Sen but
those who know something of Chinese Medicine quickly recognise that the
Thai
practitioner is effectively working along the Chinese Qi
meridians.
Pressing is the mechanical process used to stimulate energy
flow in the Sen, and to release blockages or stagnation which result in
pain. This part of the massage is very thorough.
Each Sen channel is
pressed repeatedly from every direction, with the relative positions of the
limbs and trunk being constantly changed.
The process is very thorough.
When the practitioner is satisfied that all soft tissues have been
adequately pressed, stretching begins.
This will be subtle at first but
gradually progresses to the elegant, large scale stretches for which Thai
massage is renowned. Every muscle and joint is treated.
What does it
do?
Thais have long recognised that most musculo-skeletal pain and lack
of mobility of the joints is the result of muscles shortening under the
influence of repetitive strain.
The pressing techniques of Thai
massage prepare muscles for stretching by increasing their permeability to
the flow of Sen energies. The manipulations are designed to stretch the
muscles a little more than would be possible unaided.
Even advanced
yoga cannot compete with the stretching capabilities of Thai massage when
applied by an expert.
Tension and spasm in a muscle are the result of a
vicious circle of events involving the muscle and its sense organs; those
muscles that are antagonistic to it and the brain.
The more tense
the muscle the shorter it gets, and the brain interprets this as
contraction, so inhibiting the function of the antagonistic muscles, which
weaken as a result.
Regular Thai massage stretches the muscles back to
their normal resting length, which deceives the brain into 'thinking' that
all is well and it stops inhibiting the antagonists. Before long, tension
disappears and joint mobility is restored.
Muscles are the masseur's
ultimate target but fibrotic connective tissue and weak circulation are
also treated during the massage.
How does it feel?
Different from
other forms of bodywork - smoothness, rhythm and flow are three words that
come to mind.
Nothing is hurried; there are no sudden changes of rhythm
or speed. Every technique melts into the next with total economy of motion;
it looks like a beautifully choreographed performance.
First time
recipients of the massage react differently; some find the pressing
techniques - particularly those done with the thumb - a little
uncomfortable; others are shocked at the degree of stretching their stiff
body can achieve.
Almost all feel relaxed, refreshed and much more
flexible afterwards, and those who have regular Thai massage come to enjoy
the deep pressure techniques and spectacular
manipulations.
Origins of Thai Massage
And the effects
…
There are many, all of them positive, provided of course, that the
massage is applied expertly.
Benefits of regular Thai massage include
relief from constipation, IBS, headaches, sciatica, back and neck
pain.
For the Thais this is not surprising. They regard balance and
unimpeded flow of Sen as vital for good health. A good Thai massage
achieves this and can correct emotional problems as well as physical
ones.
Who can have it?
There are some contra-indications to
this kind of massage - very much those that apply to massage in general.
For those in reasonably good health - regardless of age, lack of
flexibility and obesity - Thai massage is highly beneficial.
So much
of feeling 'old' comes from what is often regarded as the inevitable
stiffening of joints with advancing years. Regular Thai massage quickly
proves that this is not so as it restores long lost mobility
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