(Thai Yoga Therapy, Nuad Phaen Boran)

What is Ancient "Thai" Massage?

Ancient Massage, like most Asian methods, is a technique used to give you an experience of the full body. It is a massage that also draws upon passive yoga stretches. For the yogi, or athletes in general, it will help deepen focus and improve performance. For the people in offices all day it alleviates pressure built up in the neck, shoulders, and back while redeveloping the circulation to the legs after so much compression. From the western perspective it combines techniques often used separately in western therapies such as Trigger Point Therapy, Myofacial Release Techniques and Neuro Muscular Therapy.

Concerning the treatment, it is performed on a mat, on the floor, fully clothed. An ingenious system of movements allows the therapist to move you without much effort, facilitating gentle, safe stretches. The massage is given in silence to allow the therapist to understand your body in a meditative state; this also provides you opportunity to focus and learn about yourself without distraction.

Ancient Massage is a way to prevent sickness. It helps to dissolve blocks before they manifest psychologically or physically, and it also improves flexibility. Injured athletes, as well as those suffering from handicaps or stress are another target group. Essentially, anyone will benefit from this powerful technique.

How to Prepare:

For recipients it's important to make sure the body is clean before arriving; a heavy meal should not taken a minimum of 2 hours before nor immediately afterwards. No metal should be worn for the massage, and for women an inside shirt can replace the bra for the massage. Loose clothing, preferably 100% cotton, covering wrist to ankle is a requirement. We ask for this so there's no constriction of the body in any way. During the massage it is important to focus on breathing and remain silent, to be aware of yourself. Tight areas and limited ranges of motion that were not clear before can be understood, which will help you to correct them after the massage. Following the massage it's important to drink lots of water to help the body flush the released toxins.

History:

Ancient Thai Massage travelled to Thailand with Buddhist monks from India. When Buddhist temples were first built in Thailand, approximately 2nd century BC, medical schools were built adjacent to the temples. Doctor Jivaka Kumarabhacca is looked towards for the lineage of the modality presently known as the Northern Style of Nuad Phaen Boran, maintained in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Nuad Phaen Boran translates as Ancient Massage or Traditional Massage, but without the use of Thai in the word, many people would find out about this old tradition. While Jivaka is regarded as the Father of Medicine and his knowledge is recorded as very vast, the origination of Ancient Massage is unknown.

More history can be found at the Ancient Massage Foundation.