Thai Yoga Massage

Traditional Thai Yoga Massage

Traditional Thai yoga massage is a unique form of body therapy dating back thousands of years. It incorporates acupressure, yoga, and reflexology along with its own unique techniques of gentle rocking, deep stretching and compression.

In Thailand, Thai yoga is known as Nuad Bo 'Rarn. "Nuad" is a Thai word that translates as "to touch with the intention of imparting healing." Bo 'Rarn derives from Sanskrit and translates as "something ancient and revered." Bo'Rarn also applies to the sutras, the revered texts of Buddhism. Thai yoga is considered a practical application of the Buddhist concept of metta, or loving kindness.

During a Thai yoga massage session, the therapist emphasizes a quiet, concentrated and meditative state of mind, attempting to transmit this state of mind through their touch to the client. The therapist utilizes their feet, knees, elbows, and forearms, in addition to their hands and fingers. Sessions occur on a cotton pad or mat placed on the floor, or on a low table or platform.

Channels of energy, known as Sen lines and which are not dissimilar to acupuncture channels/meridians, are worked throughout the massage in order to balance the flow of energy in the body. Primary Sen lines originate deep in the abdomen near the navel, so some focused attention is given to this region of the body in order to assist the client towards deep breathing.

The movements of Traditional Thai yoga massage assist the restructuring of your musculoskeletal framework with great benefits for anyone who wants to feel both relaxed and rejuvenated. Traditional Thai yoga massage eliminates qi stagnation and blood stasis (impeded or blocked movement of the body's energy and/or blood) to move lymph and assist the functioning of organ systems. Thai yoga massage differs from Western massage in several ways:

Thai yoga massage is practiced with the client fully clothed in loose-fitting clothing.
No oils or lubricants are used.
Thai massage is practiced very slowly
The therapist emphasizes pressing, compression, and stretching techniques as opposed to the rubbing techniques (effleurage and petrissage) of Western massage.

Rather than relying on sheer muscular force, the Thai yoga massage therapist effectively utilizes their body weight to transmit pressure, force, or energy. This more ‘yielding’ approach is also consistent with the principles of most traditional Asian/Oriental healing arts, and it produces a highly therapeutic effect.

Traditional Thai yoga massage is also excellent for athletes, dancers and others who seek to improve athletic or artistic movement performance.

Andrea Sullivan provides certified traditional Thai yoga massage at HealthPoint.

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