Traditional Ancient Thai massage is a unique form of Bodywork that incorporates Hatha Yoga, acupressure and reflexology with origins dating back about 2500 years. The roots of Thai Massage are traced back to Jivaka Kumar Bhaccha ( Shivago Kompara ) a friend to the Buddha who had tremendous knowledge of medicine. Shivago is believed by most Thai healers to be the inventor of Thai traditional medicine.
Ancient Medical texts were carved in stone in attempts to preserve the tradition of Thai massage. These stone inscriptions still sit within the walls of the Wat Pho temple in Bangkok. In Thailand, there are many agricultural people who do a lot of physical work through the day and their muscles become very tight and sore, so they teach their children massage skills they learned from their parents. In this way Thai massage has been passed down as a tradition.
Massage has a unique style in each area of Thailand. A combination of influences from Chinese, Burmese, Tibetan, Indian and Southeast Asian cultures have contributed to the evolution and development of Thai massage.
Thai Massage is one of the four branches of Traditional Thai medicine. It is a healing technique that was practiced before doctors. Unlike the continuous strokes of Western massage, the Thai method uses point pressure, muscle stretching and compression, done in a rhythmic movement of gentle rocking.
In Thai massage, it is not just the hands that are used to free tension from the recipient’s body, but the therapist’s feet, forearms, knees, and elbows as well. Be assured northern style Thai massage is never painful. Thai massage is applied on a mat on the floor, the work is done fully clothed and no oils are required.
