History of Traditional Thai Massage
THE ART OF
TRADITIONAL THAI YOGA MASSAGE
by Asokananda
 Traditional Thai Yoga
Massage can look back at a long history of therapeutic healing. If one traces the evolution of the techniques of healing-massage
practiced in Thailand, one
discovers the astonishing fact that the earliest roots of Thai massage lie
not in Thailand but in India.
The legendary 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 Bimbisara
over 2,500 years ago. The teachings of Kumar Bhaccha
probably reached what is now Thailand at the same time as Buddhism – as
early as the 3rd or 2nd century B.C.
 The theoretical foundation of Thai massage is based on the concept of invisible energy lines running through the
body. The Indian origin and influence is obvious here since the background of
this theory clearly lies in Yoga philosophy. Yoga philosophy states that life
energy (called Prana) is absorbed with the air we breathe and with the food
we eat. Along a network of energy lines, the Prana Nadis, the human being is then
supplied with this vital energy. Out of these energy lines Thai massage has
selected 10 mainlines on which there are especially important acupressure
points. Massaging these lines and points makes it possible to treat a whole
range of diseases or to relieve pain. The 10 mainlines are sufficient to
conduct practical treatment for the whole body and its internal organs.
Disturbances in the flow of energy result in an insufficient supply of Prana,
which will in turn lead to sickness. Working on the energy lines with massage
can break the blockades, stimulate the free flow of Prana, and help to
restore general well-being.
Looking back at the tradition of Thai
massage it is very clear that it was never seen as a mere job. Massage
was always considered to be a spiritual practice closely connected with the
teachings of the Buddha. Until fairly recently it
was the Buddhist temple, where massage was taught and practiced. Even today
one of the most important massage schools in Thailand
is at the Wat
Po monastery in Bangkok. The
establishment of legitimate massage facilities outside of the temples is a
recent development.
 The giving of massage was understood to be a physical application of Metta, the Pali (and Thai) word used in Theravada Buddhism to denote 'loving kindness' - and devoted
masseurs still work in such a spirit today. A truly good masseur performs his
art in a meditative mood. He starts with a Puja, a
meditative prayer, to fully center himself on the
work, on the healing he is about to perform. And he works with full
awareness, mindfulness and concentration. There is a world of a difference
between a massage performed in a meditative mood and a massage just done as a
job. Only a masseur working in a meditative mood can develop an intuition for
the energy flow in the body and for the Prana lines.
Contrary to Western style massage, traditional Thai massage does not
primarily work with the physical body but rather with the energy body of man.
The kneading of muscles, which dominates in Western style massage, is absent
from Thai massage: energy points are pressed or general pressure is used
instead. There is a lot of stretching involved and many exercises might well
be described as 'applied Hatha Yoga' or 'applied physical Yoga'. Rather than
using the term 'Thai massage', it wouldn't be a bad idea to actually call it
'Yoga massage' since that's what this art essentially is.
 When my book The Art of
Traditional Thai Massage was published in Bangkok in 1990, Thai massage had just
started to emerge from the state of obscurity it had been pushed into by the
advance of Western medicine. In the mid 80's, at the time when I got
fascinated by and 'hooked' on it, Thai massage had seemed to be a dying art.
Chemical drugs more and more had replaced home remedies and traditional cures
and the reputation of Thai massage had sunk to the point of being regarded as
quack practice. This was not helped by the fact that thinly disguised
prostitution in massage parlours was masquerading as 'Thai massage'.
Substandard massages offered at the beaches and in some commercial massage
places made matters worse.
The picture changed considerably in the late 80's. The limits of Western
style medicine became apparent, bringing about a revival of interest in
alternative health care in the West and to a certain extent also in Thailand
and other countries of the East.
All of a sudden Westerners in search of traditional ways of treatment
discovered Thai massage. Doctors, nurses, physiotherapists and masseurs on
one hand, and people with a background in yoga, yoga therapy and meditation
on the other hand, came to Thailand
to supplement their knowledge with a training in
traditional Thai massage.
Increasingly also people in
Thailand seem to realize that for certain ailments like asthma, constipation
or frozen shoulders and to help recovery after a heart attack or to regain
mobility of the limbs after a stroke – to mention only a few –
Thai massage treatment is far superior to conventional medicine and therapy.
So within one decade Thai massage has regained the credibility it rightly
deserves and not only has Thai massage survived but is more established than
ever...
…from web-site: www.sunshine-massage-school.com
about the
author
Thai Massage in ITALIA
WaiThai®2004-2010 - Cristina Radivo - Asokananda’s
authorized teacher
Contatti e informazioni: info@waithai.it - Tel.: 347 1638 121
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