Thai Massage in BangkokWhat Is 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.