| Thai Yoga Massage |
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Thai yoga massage is a unique and powerful massage therapy that effectively combines acupressure, gentle stretching and applied yoga. Originating in India, and based on an ancient Buddhist health system, this traditional and beautiful healing art has been practised in Thailand for thousands of years and has recently grown in popularity in the West as a strong and vigorous massage used to enhance both our spiritual energy and physical well-being.
The transforming force of Thai yoga massage not only brings both practitioner and receiver a peaceful and centred quality, but its healing power has also been shown to cure many physical ailments. The people and government of Thailand now recognise that Thai yoga massage is far superior to conventional Western medicine in the treatment of many ailments. For example, it can often be more effective than physiotherapy or medication in helping people to recover after a stroke, by returning mobility and feeling to their limbs. It is also extremely effective in treating frozen shoulder, asthma, back pain and many other conditions (see below). Consultation fees: £85 for a 2 to 2½ hour treatment Gift vouchers available Please note that the treatment room is up a steep flight of stairs! Massage stylesThere are two general styles of Thai yoga massage practised in Thailand – northern and southern. Southern-style Thai massage tends to be shorter than the northern form. Sessions last one hour only and do not include as many stretches as the other approach. Northern-style Thai massage, on the other hand, usually lasts for 2 to 2½ hours and includes many yoga-based stretching movements and thorough work on the energy lines of the legs. This is the style that Susie practises at Luck’s Yard. The theory behind the massageThai yoga massage is based on a belief in a life force that circulates around special pathways in the body. Indian yoga philosophy calls this life force prana. It is said to be absorbed into the body from the food we eat and the air we breathe. In Thai yoga massage, these prana pathways make up an energy line system called ten sen. This system is said to be made up of 72,000 invisible energy lines called pranamaya kosha or the ‘energy body’. If there is a blockage in any line preventing the free flow of prana, it can lead to aches, pain and disease on a physical, emotional and spiritual level. Thai yoga massage concentrates on the ten important lines (sip sen or ten sen). A thorough Thai massage treatment should cover all ten lines. By working these lines it is possible to treat the whole body, including the internal organs. This will ensure that blocked energy is released – restoring health, harmony and balance. When the prana is flowing freely, general well-being is greatly improved. The sen lines follow different pathways from those of the meridians featured in therapies such as Japanese shiatsu and so these traditions work very differently. Thai yoga massage places emphasis on working lines, whereas shiatsu emphasises working points. Spiritual aspects of the massageThai yoga massage was traditionally practised in Buddhist temples and was an extension of Buddhist practice – particularly meditation. The meditative aspect of Thai yoga massage takes two forms. Firstly, the practitioner should experience a sense of awareness and of being present in each moment as they work through each part of the receiver’s body. Secondly, Thai yoga massage features a practice known as metta or ‘loving kindness’ meditation. Thai yoga massage is said to be ‘the physical application of loving kindness’, which is such a beautiful description of it. Perhaps the most important aspect of Thai yoga massage is the intention with which the massage is given. A massage given with awareness and care will feel totally different from one given in a mechanical or technical way. A massage given in a meditative mood is most effective for tuning into the needs of the receiver and developing intuition for the energy flow. Intuition itself is an intrinsic part of healing in the framework of Thai massage. Effects & benefits of the massageThere are many benefits to be gained from a Thai yoga massage, as it is a wonderfully nourishing and healing form of bodywork. The practitioner is mainly concerned with balancing the energy systems of the body and therefore Thai yoga massage can have profound effects on the receiver. After receiving a massage, it usually takes four or five days for this energy re-balancing to be complete. This means that you will often continue to experience the beneficial effects for some time after the massage, and not just during the treatment. There are several reactions that you can expect after receiving a massage. The two most common initial feelings are extreme tiredness, which is a sign that old and negative energy is leaving the body, and a feeling of having lots of energy, which indicates that new energy is flowing into the body. Whatever your first reaction, you can expect that your energy will be balanced after a few days. This means that even if you felt very tired immediately afterwards, once this feeling passes you will usually be conscious of having much more energy. Other benefits include greater flexibility in the joints, enhanced blood circulation, better alignment of the body, improved posture and additional stimulation of the internal organs, which helps them to function optimally. Thai yoga massage also gives you a feeling of relaxation and tranquillity that is invaluable for today’s stressful lifestyle. As Thai yoga massage works on balancing the energy body, it is not a good idea to be treated on one area of the body only. The full benefit and power of Thai yoga massae comes from receiving a complete and thorough workout. A full session lasts for 2 to 2½ hours. The massage is performed on a mat on the floor, through the clothing – starting at the feet and finishing at the face. Thai yoga massage helps alleviate:
Other benefits:
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