What is Thai Yoga Bodywork?

What is known in the West as Thai massage is not massage at all, but rather an ancient energy-based healing system that combines acupressure, reflexology, and assisted yoga postures. Treatment effects are enhanced when the patient is fully relaxed and breathing deeply. This traditional healing practice, called Nuad or Nuad Boran in the Thai language, stands in sharp contrast to western massage therapies.

Traditional Thai massage uses no oils or lotions, and the recipient remains clothed during a treatment. There is constant body contact between the practitioner and client, but rather than rubbing on muscles, the body is compressed, pulled, stretched and rocked in order to clear energy blockages and relieve tension. The practitioner uses thumbs, palms, forearms, elbows, knees and feet to create a dance of movement on the body of the recipient. In this process, joints are opened, muscles and tendons are stretched, internal organs are toned, and energy is balanced. The overall effect is one of deep relaxation, rejuvenation, and physical and mental well being.

Nuad Boran (known in various forms as Thai massage, Thai Yoga Massage, and other terms) began to evolve in Thailand over 2,000 years ago. Based on healing principles similar to those utilized in other non-western healing therapies, the Thai system focuses on circulation of vital energy in major pathways called sen. The major energy lines are manipulated, and important pressure points along these pathways are stimulated to help break down blockages, stimulate energy flow and restore balance and harmony.

Identifying features of traditional Thai massage are integrated yoga postures which are performed on the recipient. Through assisted yoga, the body is stretched in ways that are difficult to attain through individual exercise and yoga practice. The result of a full-body Thai treatment is often an exciting and powerful mind/body healing experience, bringing both the recipient and the practitioner to heightened states of physical and spiritual well-being.

For many, traditional Thai massage is also a spiritual discipline in that it incorporates the practices of mindfulness (breath awareness) and loving kindness (focused compassion). These techniques, when shared by practitioner and client, help bring the treatment session to a focused and deep level.

What are the benefits of this type of bodywork?

• Prevents illnesses and alleviates degenerative diseases
• Deep relaxation
• Detoxification of the body and boost the immune system
• Contentment, calm and rest
• Greater flexibility and increase mobility
• Opening of the meridians and blocked areas of the body
• Relief from pain and muscle tension
• Strengthens and rejuvenates body, mind, and spirit
• Increases circulation in the blood and lymph systems
  
• Balances the nervous system
  

What is a typical session like?

In Thai Yoga Bodywork, practitioners move your body deeply into a wide range of yoga postures using their own positioning, alignment, and bodyweight for support. They also combine more restorative yoga postures with massage, using the palm of the hand, the thumbs, the forearm, the elbow, the knees, or the feet. Massaging someone while they are relaxing in a restorative yoga posture deepens the effect of the posture and the massage on their body.

Thai Yoga Bodywork uses pressure points, energy lines, and muscle compression and stretching. The massage is applied by the practitioner in a rhythmic movement of gentle rocking, sometimes side to side, or forwards and back, or in circles. No oils are used and the client remains fully clothed throughout the massage.

Thai Yoga Bodywork takes place on the floor on a specially cushioned mat. This gives the practitioner room to move around and allows the whole massage to flow along smoothly from one posture to another. It’s very easy to drop into meditation when receiving a Thai Yoga Bodywork, something that enhances its relaxing and therapeutic effect.