Spa Therapies Of Thailand
Thai Massage (Nuat Borarn):
It is only when a masseur performs his ‘art’ in a meditative mood that he can be considered a truly good practitioner of Thai massage. Traditionally, a Thai massage begins with a meditative prayer called a puja. It is recited in the original Pali language and seeks to remind the therapist of the Four Divine States of Mind according to Buddhist teachings compassion, loving kindness, vicarious joy and mental equanimity. These four states of mind, if attained, help the therapist provide a healing experience for the recipient. One of the four healing methods in Thai medicine, traditional Thai massage has been practised for over 2,500 years and is based on acupressure points according to Indian Ayurveda and TCM, and yoga. To the uninitiated, a Thai massage is associated with being contorted into all sorts of unimaginable body positions while being painfully kneaded by a therapist at the same time. While it is true that a Thai massage does not seek to relax the body (unlike most Western massages), it still remains popular among both the locals and visitors to thailand. Specific anamotical knowledge and massage techniques are not deemed as important as attaining a meditative state of mind. Therapists are taught to focus on their breathing and the purpose of their work they are about to perform, that is, the massage. It is believed that the mediative state they are in can be imparted via their touch to the recipient.
Thai massage is given very slowly to facilitate the tendency toward mindfulness, so that any resistance or discomfort resulting from a particular yoga position can be quickly detected, this minimising the risk of injury. The massage is given on a floor mat to allow for the therapist to use his body as leverage and allow for movements otherwise impossible on a table. During the massage, the therapist uses his hands, thumbs, fingers, elbows, forearms, knees and feet to apply pressure on sen points. He will also pull, twist and manipulate your body in ways that have been compared to ‘passive yoga’. All these movements aim to create a smooth energy flow within the body. Oil or lotions are rarely used and the recipient is advised to wear loose and comfortable clothing. A Thai massage is believed to help loosen joints, stretch muscles and even tone internal organs. Its after-effect should be one of deep relaxation. A typical massage lasts two hours, although it is not uncommon to have one lasting as long as three.
