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By Rebecca Wilkowski
| Rebecca Wilkowski is a freelance health writer and photographer,
as well as PR Director for Pacific College of Oriental Medicine.
|
According to the American Massage Therapy Association,
people make more visits each year to alternative care practitioners
(629 million) than to primary care physicians (386 million). With the
cost of health care in the United States estimated to reach $2.2 trillion
by 2008, it is no wonder Americans are looking for alternative ways
to manage their health.
Recent studies show consumers visit massage therapists
114 million times each year, spending between $4 and $6 billion annually,
making massage is one of the fastest growing segments of holistic health
care in America today. It can be found everywhere from day spas and
chiropractic offices, to health clubs and employee break rooms. The
massage explosion can be attributed partly to the growing population
of tired and aging baby boomers, and partly to an increased awareness
of the effects of stress.
Research has shown that massage therapy has numerous benefits.
It can reduce a person's heart rate, as well as systolic and diastolic
blood pressure, boost the body's immune system, improve flexibility
and range of motion, and assist with relief from stress, chronic pain,
anxiety, tension, and depression.
For the majority of Americans, massage is simply a technique
for inducing relaxation and stress relief. However, to the nearly 290,000
massage practitioners and students in the U.S., it is much more.
Massage is a generic term, which encompasses a wide range
of techniques and styles of bodywork. They can range from relaxing to
invigorating and may include hot stones, cold and hot packs or other
tools to facilitate the therapeutic effects. While some types of massage
use oils or lotions, others are given with the client fully clothed.
Depending on the style, massage can be applied with a practitioner's
feet, elbows or knees in addition to their hands.
The bodywork technique commonly known as Thai massage
is an important component of an entire traditional medical system. Traditional
Thai Medicine is a 2,500-year-old system of natural healing developed
in the ancient kingdom of Siam, now modern Thailand. Traditional Thai
medicine is composed of four major branches: herbal medicine, food cures
and nutrition, spiritual practices and the manual therapies of Thai
massage, or Nuad Bo'Rarn.
Examining the term Nuad Bo'Rarn is helpful in developing
an understanding of this type of bodywork from the Thai perspective.
The Thai word Nuad means to touch with the intention of imparting
healing. The word Bo'Rarn, derived from the Sanskrit language,
means something that is ancient, sacred and revered. Clearly, the intention
is to describe something that encompasses a Western notion of massage,
but extends far beyond a description of a series of techniques applied
to the surface of the body.
Influenced by the rich, ancient traditions of India and
China, Thai medicine's development and history are woven into the fabric
of the spiritual tenets of Buddhism. Thai medicine was transmitted orally
from teacher to student in the same way the treasured texts, or Sutras,
of Buddhism were transmitted. Historically, the practitioners of the
medicine were Therevada Buddhist monks who practiced their healing at
the monasteries, or "Wats".
A key aspect of Buddhist philosophy that is expressed
through Thai massage is the concept of Metta. Translated as "loving
kindness," Metta is a core component of daily life for each individual
seeking awareness on the path described by the Buddha. The practice
of Thai massage and other healing work is understood to be a practical
application of Metta. Thai massage demonstrates the Four Divine
States of Mind as taught in Buddhism: Loving-Kindness, Compassion, Vicarious
Joy, and Mental Equanimity. In Thai Therevada Buddhist philosophy, significant
emphasis is placed on the practical application of spiritual philosophy;
that higher ideals should be brought into everyday life activities and
decisions.
Traditional Thai massage is based on an energetic paradigm
of the human body/mind. Energy is thought to travel on pathways throughout
the body called Sen, with specific points of energy on these
pathways called nadis. Thai massage moves energy freely along
these pathways, thereby facilitating balance and health.
Thai massage is an interactive therapy involving the gentle
stretching of muscles with pressure from a practitioner's palms, thumbs
and feet. It is usually performed with the recipient wearing loose fitting
clothing while they lay on a cotton mat on the floor. No oils or lotions
are used during the 90-minute session. In Thailand, it is not uncommon
for sessions to last up to three hours!
In addition to stretching, Thai massage also emphasizes
deep abdominal procedures. In Thai medical theory, all the major energy
pathways of the body have their origins in the abdomen near the navel.
It is believed that the health and vitality of the eyes, ears, nose,
and mouth are dependent on the health of the abdominal organs and the
unobstructed flow of bio-energy through and away from the abdomen. Whereas
most Western massage instruction begins with technical procedures and
specific anatomical information, Thai massage instruction begins with
the imperative that the practitioner work in a concentrated and meditative
state of mind, fully present in each moment. It is believed this level
of consciousness can then be imparted to the recipient through the practitioner's
touch.
The techniques of Thai massage are applied very, very
slowly. It is impossible to work too slowly as long as there is some
movement. The slowness of the practice facilitates the tendency toward
mindfulness. Because many of the techniques require heightened flexibility
of both the practitioner and recipient, the slowness significantly diminishes
the chance for injury. With the practitioner working in such a way,
they immediately become acutely aware of resistance and any discomfort
for the client and are able to stop or amend the procedure before injury
occurs.
Proper body mechanics are key in the application of Thai
Massage. Often referred to as "assisted yoga", many aspects of a Thai
session resemble those of yoga postures. While anyone can receive Thai
massage, certain procedures should be eliminated if they are not appropriate
for the recipient (i.e., certain stretches of the back and legs would
be avoided for individuals with lumbar disc problems).
Thai massage has been utilized for centuries as an important
healing tool in the treatment of a wide variety of ailments such as
musculoskeletal problems, internal medical problems, neurological complaints
and emotional distress. Its benefits include structural alignment, increased
flexibility, and decreased muscular and joint tension.
Even for a novice, Thai massage can provide a good opportunity
to achieve a state of deep mental and emotional equanimity, profound
stress relief, and moments of sweet bliss.
Rebecca Wilkowski
San Diego, California
(Published: June 2004)
