Traditional Thai Massage

Renowned for services ranging from eyelash extensions and laser hair removal to chakra balancing and chi revitalizing, Bangkok is host to an exotic and bizarre array of treatments and therapies. A quintessential component to this multi-faceted jamboree, traditional Thai massage is perhaps the most well-known and celebrated of Bangkok's pampering services. As the Japanese delicately knead flesh in accordance with Shiatsu and the Chinese offer rubs following principles of Tui-Na, Thailand presents a signature massage technique involving traditional systems of holistic beliefs.

Thai massage draws significant influence from India's ancient Ayurvedic traditions of medical practice.  Ayurvedic medicine, also a holistic form of healing, plays an integral role in the practice of both Hinduism and Therevada Buddhism. Monks and similar practitioners of healing transmitted Ayurvedic techniques to Thailand some 2,500 years ago, thus giving birth to the wonderful phenomenon that is  Thai massage.

  

Thai Massage: Revitalising the Entire Body

Unlike Western massage styles, the Thai version focuses on circulation and pressure points, promoting internal health as well as muscular flexibility. Treatment often begins with the feet and gradually moves upwards towards the head. The body is gently arranged into four positions (face-down, face-up, side, and sitting position), which enables the masseur to perform a variety of exercises that would be otherwise unworkable.
Rhythmic compressions, rolling of limbs and gentle rocking are Thai massage methods employed in order to relax and realign energies in the body. Varying amounts of pressure are applied to energy lines (or 'Sen') along the body in accordance with the Ayurvedic principles of balancing one's energy.
Elbows, feet, knees, and forearms are used to execute certain strokes and manipulations, making the experience quite physical for both parties. Finding oneself in the lap of a masseur, though occasionally surprising, is not uncommon and serves to augment a deep stretch.

Maintaining the Balance in 'Sen'

In both Eastern and Western healing systems, the concept of maintaining balance or equilibrium is considered crucial to good health. 'Sen' are considered passages for energy, and correspond with blood vessels in the body. Traditional Thai healing practices suggest that when the 'Sen' become blocked, energy grows stagnant and the body loses its balance, leading to a range of ailments. Thai massage acts as an external stimulant to produce specific internal effects within the body, both freeing energy from obstruction and preserving health and harmony.
Because of its emphasis on body work, joint release, and deep breathing, Thai massage is often considered comparable to yoga. Modern yoga practice often includes traditional elements intrinsic in Eastern religion, including spiritual philosophy, postures designed to keep the body fit, and varying facets of meditation. These elements are sometimes adapted to meet the needs of non-religious practitioners, who may be attracted to yoga by its utility as a relaxation technique or as a way to keep in good shape.

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