Believed to have been founded by Buddha’s physician over 2500 years ago, the history of Thai massage is steeped in tradition and spirituality. It has been passed from generation to generation due to the effectiveness of the treatment on the body. The holistic nature of this type of therapy is an experience that will leave you with a sensation of floating as your entire body is released of tension from the stretching and manipulation of muscles and joints, combined with the gentle massaging strokes that comprise the process of a traditional Thai massage.

Holistic healing

Evolving from a combination of three main elements traditional medicine, Buddhism and yoga, traditional Thai massage is an all-encompassing approach to healing the entire body, mind, and soul. Targeting energy lines in your body known as sen, the techniques are used to release stress and negative energy from your joints, nerves, muscles and mind. In ancient times, Chiwaka Komaraphat (Buddha’s physician) used his extraordinary skills and knowledge of the human body and herbal medicine to perfect the efficiency of healing the body through manipulating sen. Those same practices and the history of Thai massage have been passed down through generations and have remained a staple in Thai traditional care to this day due to the proven healing benefits of traditional Thai massage.

Traditional medicine

Thai traditional medicine incorporates herbal medicine, body manipulation and spiritual healing. It is based on the understanding that your body is comprised of sen lines that affect your physical and mental well-being. Scented oils or incense burning is used to calm the mind and help you relax and herbal tea is consumed following a massage to assist with flushing out the toxins that have been released. These are some of the traditional medicinal practices that accompany most Thai massages today.

Buddhism

The history of Thai massage is strongly connected to the Buddhist principle of Metta. This translates to ‘loving kindness’. It is a meditation technique that teaches you to learn to love yourself and others. Metta is connected to traditional Thai massage through your masseuse’s motions and attention, by not losing contact with your body throughout the massage while passing a sense of calm and caring through their touch. Traditionally the recipient would also concentrate their mind on the mantra of Metta. Loosely translated, the mantra is “may I be happy, may I be well”. Try some light meditation during your massage and you will see just how much it is an immersive experience that truly helps your mind, body, and soul.

yoga

Yoga

Also known as lazy yoga, Thai massage involves the masseuse guiding your body through various yoga poses as you relax. Mostly while you are laying down but in some instances, you will be gently raised to a seated position to allow your masseuse to further stretch and manipulate your back and hips while keeping you fully supported. The benefits of yoga are well-known and documented. Your body will experience the positives associated with an intense yoga class all while relaxing and letting someone else do the hard work! Lazy yoga is a very apt modern description of Thai massage.

Full body techniques

Given that Thai massage was founded over 2500 years ago, the mechanical manipulation tools we have today are not used in traditional Thai massage. Instead, your masseuse will use their hands, feet, elbows, arms, and legs to effectively deliver the manipulation required. This includes digging elbows into areas where muscles require deeper attention, and sometimes walking on your back which might sound painful but is actually an incredible tension reliever. Another method is to use their legs to help guide your body to the desired position or support you being held at the correct angle. Whatever your body needs, your masseuse will use their body with care to achieve amazing results. These full bod techniques can be particularly effective for athletes recovering their bodies.

A practice of calm and care

In practising Metta, the delivery of massage is performed with love. This is not to say that Thai massage is a sexual experience, in fact, it is quite the opposite. You will experience a calming, caring form of love that exerts positive energy and peacefulness. Throughout the massage, you will sense a genuine feeling of care and tenderness from your masseuse. Even when they pull your toes which, in some cases, may cause your joints to “crack” from the tug, the care and true essence of Metta is experienced. Yes, even your toes get attention in a traditional Thai massage.

A fully clothed experience

Unlike modern massage, traditional Thai massage is performed while you are dressed in loose-fitting clothing that allows for full body movements while maintaining modesty. This is an additional bonus for people who may feel uncomfortable simply being covered by a towel or carefully placed sheet which is typical with most modern massages. Due to being fully clothed, it is not common to use oils during the massage. It is more about the manipulation of your body and pressure points than the rubbing or stroking that modern massage offers, so there is no need for your skin to have that extra lubrication.

Trained professionals

Just as history has had its fair share of charlatans, many offer traditional Thai massage today without formal training. To ensure you are receiving the best care and service always look for a masseuse that is experienced, professional and well-trained such as a Zen Massage Bangkok masseuse. Your body’s health and well-being are important so it is always recommended to go with trained professionals to guarantee you get the most out of your massage. This choice will also avoid any likelihood of experiencing pain or injury which is not the objective of a Thai massage.

Relaxation at its finest

Following a traditional Thai massage, you will feel energised yet fully relaxed. It is a wonderful feeling you will want to keep hold of for as long as possible. Experiencing a massage in your own home or hotel room means you do not have to traipse across town when in a physical and mental state that you could capitalise on by simply resting or napping immediately after.

Throughout the history of Thai massage, it was common practice to perform the massage in the recipient’s home or place of rest to ensure they could enjoy the full healing benefits and remain in a state of bliss for as long as possible. For many in today’s world, the hardest part of any massage is the need to get dressed and leave the premises before you are ready. This can easily be avoided by using an outcall massage service.

We trust this has given you some useful insight into the history and origins of the ancient art of Thai massage and also highlighted some of the benefits you can experience. Traditional Thai Massage is a very effective form of taking care of and healing your entire body and mind. Once you have experienced a truly traditional Thai massage you will be hooked on this earliest form of medical care and understand why over time, it has not evolved to include modern methods. The original practices and processes have proven their effectiveness for millennia making Thai massage a style of relaxation and stress relief and healing that is sought after around the world.