Thai Massage: A Brief Overview
The direct origin of Thai Massage is unknown but its use as a therapeutic healing technique is found in written records predating the Buddhist Era over 2500 years ago. It is thought to have been created by the Thai people with direct influence from Indian Massage, Indian Vedic principles of Life Energy and Elements, Chinese Meridian lines in acupuncture, and Chinese Tui Na Massage. Thai Massage is one of four branches of Traditional Thai Medicine and is still used today in Thailand as the primary therapeutic solution to most ailments, in combination with medicinal herbs. Traditional Thai Medicine follows the Buddhist teaching that a human being is composed of five components: Body, Feelings, Recognition, Thought, and Consciousness. These five components are the combination of body and mind. The body itself also breaks down into components of its own: the Elements of Earth, Water, Wind, and Fire. Balance of these elements is crucial to good health and well being and an imbalance of any of the elements leads to illness and poor health. Thai Massage is used to aid in re-balancing these elements to restore health, and to prevent illness.
Thai Massage Effects & Benefits
Thai Massage has many effects and benefits that other types of massages do not offer. Besides the direct benefits to the body’s physiological systems, Thai Massage also benefits the mind and spirit, as well as serves as health care, prevention, healing, and rehabilitation for its recipients.
Body:
Effects on the 5 physiological systems:
1. Circulation System: Improves blood circulation, lowers heart rate, increases the temperature in the area being massaged, increases lymphatic circulation, and reduces swelling.
2. Musculoskeletal System: Improves muscle strength and effectiveness, relieves muscle tension, removes toxins from muscle mass, relaxes the tendons and enhances elasticity, increases joint mobility and flexibility, and reduces stiffness.
3. Nervous System: Stimulates and improves activity of the nerves and sensations with the effects of reducing pain, enhancing sensation to the skin and improving the function of internal organs such as stomach, intestines, etc.
4. Respiratory System: Improves depth of breathing and relaxation.
5. Digestive System: Increases elasticity of digestive system tract and stomach movement; prevents and relieves indigestion and constipation.
Mind:
Thai Massage enhances the mind-body connection which heightens the sense of total relaxation. This in turn helps the mind to achieve clarity and decrease the mind/body response to stress. It also has the ability to rid the mind of deep emotional scars caused by trauma if the receiver is open enough to let them go.
Spirit:
Thai Massage can induce a deeply tranquil meditative state that some describe as a spiritual experience when feeling “at one” with the world in the present moment.
Health Care:
Thai Massage is so therapeutic that it is used for health care to maintain health and wellness, combat ailments and illness, increase effectiveness of body movement to support full range mobility and flexibility, and promote longevity by strengthening the immune system.
Prevention:
Thai Massage is also used to prevent ailments such as bed sores, muscle weakness, headaches, menstrual cramps, constipation, indigestion, stress, and anxiety.