Centuries ago, in rural villages of China and Japan, often the martial artist was one of the most learned individuals in the society. The traditional martial artist had two jobs. One job was to protect the weak and powerless, and serve the cause of justice. The other job was to heal people in the community, using knowledge of traditional Oriental medicine.
These two roles—harming and healing—might seem contradictory, but they are not. In the Thai way of life, it was very normal for the martial artist to perform the dual functions as a guardian angel of the weaker section of the society even as he practised the healing skills, on the other hand.
Just as in medieval Europe, a master craftsman would announce his trade by means of a pictorial sign, for example, the blacksmith’s hammer and anvil, or the apothecary’s mortar and pestle. In the Far East the symbol of a martial artist’s trade was the Chinese dragon or lion. Empty claws meant the practitioner only did martial arts.
If the practitioner also possessed knowledge of the healing arts, the dragon’s claws would be shown grasping an orb which, in Oriental mythology, denoted the pearl of wisdom. In modern terms, a martial arts teacher often develops a heightened sense of body awareness—as well as specific knowledge of anatomy and physiology—that leads to the ability to heal.
Traditionally, being able to cure, as well as to injure, is part of Budo (the ‘martial way’). In their most advanced form, many traditional martial arts are based upon striking certain vital points. These vital points are generally located along the energy meridians of the body-the very same energy meridians that are central to traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture, acupressure, and other Oriental healing arts. The knowledge of the locations and functions of these vital points can equally be the foundation for healing arts.
Thai medicine represents a coherent traditional medicine that has developed and been refined over the past 25 centuries. Thai medicine has been strongly influenced by both the Ayurvedic tradition of India and the traditional medicine of China. Within this synthesis, there are important components that are purely Thai. Many of the primary techniques to treat the wide range of disorders that afflict people are contained within the practice of Nuad Bo’Rarn, the physical medicine of Thailand.
Although Nuad Bo’Rarn is often considered to be a form of massage, it contains elements and techniques that are quite different from the common notions of massage and would more correctly be categorized as a form of peripheral stimulation. Contained within these techniques are the direct and clear intentions of the practitioner to affect the physiology and energy fields of the body and mind of the recipient.
Thai Medicine History
The traditional medicine of Thailand is a distinct and comprehensive system of healing that has developed and evolved over the past centuries. Thai medicine traces its origins back to an historical figure, revered to this day as the ‘Father Doctor’, who lived in India at the same time as the historical Buddha, in approximately the 5th century B.C. Thai medicine is comprised of four branches:
• Nuad Bo’Rarn (Thai Massage).
• Herbal remedies.
• Nutritional remedies.
• Spiritual practices of Therevada Buddhism and village mysticism.
The system of Nuad Bo’Rarn, commonly referred to as Thai massage, is an ancient form of hands on healing body work that has historically been practised by Buddhist monks in the monastic communities known as Wats. The Thai word Nuad refers to touch with the purpose of imparting healing. The word Bo’Rarn is derived from Sanskrit and refers to something that is ancient and revered.
Historically, the traditional medical knowledge was transmitted orally from teacher to student in the same manner as the religious texts (sutras) of Buddhism were transmitted. The medical texts were considered to be of the utmost importance and received a similar reverence to that accorded to the religious texts.
In Buddhist philosophy, the concept of Metta (loving kindness) is highly esteemed. The practice of massage and healing work is understood to be a practical application of Metta. Thai massage demonstrates the Four Divine States of Mind discussed in Buddhism.
These Four States of Mind are:
• Loving Kindness.
• Compassion.
• Vicarious joy, and
• Mental Equanimity.
In Thai Theravada Buddhist tradition, significant emphasis is placed on the practical application of spiritual philosophy – that higher ideals should be brought into everyday life and activities and decisions.
History of Nuad Bo Rarn
According to traditional lore, Ancient Thai Massage was introduced to Southeast Asia some 2,500 years ago by a doctor from northern India named Jivaka Kumar Bhacca. Bhacca, a contemporary of the Buddha, was the personal physician for the Magadha King, Bimbisara. The Pali Canon, the ancient texts of Theravada Buddhism, calls Bhacca a friend of the Buddha and a doctor for the first Buddhist monks.
A Western traveller observed the healing art of Thai massage as early as the 17th century. Simon de la Loubere, a French envoy to the Royal Court of Siam, wrote in his diaries in 1690- “When someone’s ill in Siam, he has his body worked on by a person skilled in this art, who tramples all over him.”
Thai massage is again mentioned in 17th-century medical texts written in the Pali language and Khmer script on palm leaves. These texts were objects of great respect by medical practitioners of the era. All but fragments of these texts were lost in the 1767 destruction of the ancient royal town of Ayutthaya by Burmese conquerors.
The surviving fragments in 1832 served as the basis for King Rama Ill’s famous epigraphs at the Phra Chetuphon Temple (Wat Pho) in Bangkok. One of the famous centres teaching Thai massage today is the Wat Pho Traditional Medical School at Wat Pho temple.
About Thai Massage
Traditional Thai massage is the manual medicine branch of 2500 years of traditional Thai medicine. It combines elements of yoga, Shiatsu and acupressure, working with the energy pathways of the body and the therapy points thought to be located along these lines.
The specific application of the techniques of Thai massage is considered to be a form of meditative practice, with benefit to the recipient as well as the practitioner. The practitioner endeavours to work in a state of mindfulness, concentrated and present in each breath, each moment. Every movement, every procedure, every breath, every posture is an opportunity for the practitioner and recipient to achieve clear intent and mindfulness.
Working towards and potentially in this state of heightened awareness opens the perception and intuition of the practitioner. This allows for an acute sensitivity to subtle shifts of energy and change in the client’s body and mind. This can lead to a deeply profound therapeutic effect.
Stretching and extending the range of motion of the client’s body are an important part of Thai massage. The stretching often takes the form of assisted Yoga. Once the client has relaxed deeply, the practitioner, with a heightened sensitivity, stretches the client to his or her comfortable limit.
A vital aspect of the theory underlying Thai Medicine is the importance placed on the abdominal region. According to Thai Medicine, all the major energy pathways of the body have their origin in the abdominal region in the vicinity of the navel. Therefore, the abdominal massage is a crucial component of the healing benefit of this medicine.
The Technique
Thai massage differs dramatically from massage techniques as developed and practised in the Western world:
• Thai massage is a core component of a traditional medical system. It emphasizes pressing, compression, and stretching techniques rather than the rubbing techniques of effleurage and petrissage of Western style massage.
• Thai massage practitioners make use of their feet, knees, elbows, and forearms as well as their hands in their practice. The client remains fully clothed in comfortable, loose fitting clothing during the treatment session. No oils or other lubricants are utilised in treatment.
• The treatment session takes place on a padded rug or cotton futon that is placed on the floor or on a low platform.
• Thai massage is practised very, very slowly. A typical session can last well over two hours. There is an imperative condition that the practitioner seeks to work in a meditative and concentrated state of mind, unencumbered by thought and fantasy. He should be able to transmit this quality of mind to the recipient through his touch.
• Although it is the physical body of the recipient that is being primarily addressed, the focus and intent of the treatment is primarily on the recipient’s ‘energy body’ and mind.
• The essential purpose of the practice of Thai massage is to bring balance and harmony to the body, mind, and spirit of the recipient and through this return to balance and harmony provide a deeply healing effect.
Thai Yoga Massage
Combining acupressure, gentle stretching and applied yoga, Traditional Thai Yoga massage is a unique and powerful massage therapy.
Thai Massage is an ancient healing art, which has been handed down from teacher to pupil since the 3rd century BC. Until recently it was always practised in a temple and seen as a spiritual practice.
Thai Massage works on an energy line system (The Ten Sen) through, which the body’s life force flows. Blockages in the life force cause aches, pains and diseases. The therapist uses hands, feet and elbows to apply pressure to important points along these lines, in combination with gentle stretching and applied yoga.
These release blocked energies and free the body’s natural healing potential, restoring balance of health and harmony. The treatment is both relaxing and energising, and is uniquely tailored to suit the needs of the individual. Thai Massage is always applied through loose comfortable clothing and is beneficial for people of all ages and flexibility. No one is taken beyond his or her personal limits during the session especially as far as stretching is concerned.
Benefits
It is ideal for releasing deep tension, improving posture and is successful in preventing and relieving many common ailments including:
• Back Pain.
• Shoulder and neck aches.
• Headaches and migraine.
• Digestive problems.
• Pre-menstrual Tension.
• Asthma.
• Fatigue.
• Sciatica.
• Insomnia.