Thai Massage

The first time I had a Thai massage was in Prague. What I remember about it most was the pressure the little Thai lady was able to exert on my body but she had one trick up her sleeve which was really effective. I was lying on my stomach on the floor and felt a good strong pressure on my back. I looked around to find her actually standing on my back. I was quite surprised because it didn’t feel like I was being crushed under her weight, it just felt good.

There are now a number of Thai massage schools in the UK and many practitioners and of course this form of massage has been imported to the west from Thailand. Thai massage is described as an art and is a tradition that dates back over 2500 years. The art is described as being handed down from master to student. The founder of the art is believed to have been a doctor from northern India, known as Jivaka Kumar Bhaccha, he was a contemporary of the Buddha and personal physician to the Magadha king, King Bimbisara.

“Traditional Thai Yoga Massage is an ancient form of therapeutic healing that has roots in Indian Ayurvedic medicine. After the death of the Buddha, the earliest Buddhist monks who travelled to Southeast Asia were accompanied by Ayurvedic doctors. These doctors practiced a healing art that would later evolve into traditional Thai massage. Thai Yoga Massage is based on working the energy lines (sen) and specific acupressure points in order to open blockages and restore and balance the body’s natural energy. In addition to acupressure, body movements and postures are carried out through assisted yoga and stretching.” www.sunshine-massage-school.com

One of the main differences between Thai massage and Swedish massage most commonly used in the UK is its physicality. Thai massage is performed on the floor and involves massage pressure techniques, acupressure, manipulation and very close contact. Unlike western massage which focuses on the massage of muscles; that is secondary in Thai massage, for it focuses on the energy body of the individual and unblocking the energy pathways.

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