Thoughts on Traditional Thai Yoga massage

Traditional Thai Yoga Massage

History of Traditional Thai Yoga Massage (TTYM)

Traditional Thai Yoga Massage is a therapeutic technique of bodywork that was developed over 2,500 years ago by Jivaka Kumarbhaccha. He was a friend and physician to the Buddha, renowned as a healer in the Buddhist tradition.  When Buddhist monks and nuns migrated from India to Sri Lanka, Laos, Cambodia, Burma, and Thailand, they brought the knowledge of Thai Massage and medicine with them, which is why TTYM is a powerful combination of Yoga, Ayurvedic medicine, and Eastern spiritual and philosophical wisdom.

What is TTYM?

Traditional Thai medicine is a natural, holistic approach, which includes proper nutrition, physical exercise, medicinal herbs, and therapeutic massage to maintain health and well-being.

Diagrams inscribed on the walls at the temple at Wat Po in Bangkok illustrate one of the fundamental principles of traditional Thai medicine: that energy flows through the body along ten major channels, called Sen lines, and that a prolonged obstruction in any of these channels can result in pain or disease.  This idea, which can be found in many other ancient healing systems as well, states that imbalances - either internal (originating within from unprocessed trauma), or external (caused by outside forces in the environment) can cause illness within our human bodies.  Many ailments have been treated with massage to restore the flow of energy to the body. 

A Thai yoga massage differs from a Swedish massage in that it is offered on a thick, cushioned mat on the floor and the client remains fully clothed in loose pants and a comfortable shirt, which allows for the optimal ease of movement.  A session can last anywhere between one to two hours and consists of fluid movements that stretch, lengthen, and twist the body of the receiver, while they recline on their back, side, front, or sit on the mat.  No two Thai massages are the same, as they are catered to address the individual client’s needs, which can change from day to day.  The massages help alleviate aches and pains, especially issues with the back, shoulders, neck, hips, head, and legs.

Thai yoga massage is a comprehensive, full body treatment that relieves muscular tension, improves circulation, boosts the immune system, and increases the flexibility of the physical body. On an energetic level, TTYM brings balance to the body’s energy system, creating stress reduction and relaxation, while promoting inner peace. It reaches to the deeper layers of the self: the emotions, thoughts, and senses.  It’s common for recipients to enter into a yoga nidra state, where the tethers of time and space dissolve and awareness floats just outside of the body.  Most clients report that following a session, they feel lighter, taller, and more graceful, with a sense of alignment between their body, mind, and soul. 

My Personal Experiences

I was first introduced to Thai Yoga Massage in an almost accidental way. It was 2010 and two different friends of mine were going to be traveling in Thailand at the same time. I knew I wanted to visit each of them while they were there and since Thailand had been on my bucket list for years, I decided to plan a trip. Me being who I am though, I couldn’t just go and not learn something while there. I did a search to see what kinds of yoga were taught in Thailand and that’s when I came across Thai Yoga Massage. I had never even heard of it before, but the more I read about it, the more I wanted to learn and practice it, so I found a school - The Sunshine Thai Massage School - with a program that was running during my time frame of travel and signed up.

I couldn’t have asked for a better experience! My teacher, Fabian Scapan was knowledgeable, kind, and had a gift of combining patience and humor into his instruction. The days were long and hot on the island of Ko Tao, where we stayed. We started our training each morning with the sunrise, practicing yoga to prepare our bodies and minds. Fabian would meet us in the courtyard of our rented cabana, then we would eat breakfast and meet him up at the training space. It was a steep hike on a narrow dirt road up to the training space. We would chant mantras in Sanskrit for motivation as we trekked. One of my favorites was, Manme Ram, Hathme karm, which means, “In the mind, God; In the hand, work.”

We studied from cover to cover, the book: The Art of Traditional Thai Yoga Massage, that Fabian’s teacher, Asokananda wrote. We practiced all day, taking breaks for water and lunch. Fabian would use his machete to cut fresh papaya down from the trees around his home and serve it to us with the shiny black seeds still in the center. Each evening after a delicious dinner of rice and vegetables, we practiced what we’d learned that day. Then we would take a dip in the warm waters of the Gulf of Thailand before heading to bed.

I traveled with, and took the course with my dear friend, Joy Ravelli. She and I were the only two people who signed up and (because we both had already been studying and teaching yoga for well over a decade) we received in depth, personalized, advanced instruction for the 10 day long course. Learning the movements came very naturally to me and I found that giving Thai Yoga Massage felt as good in my body as it did to those receiving. I always feel invigorated, strong, and energetically clear when offering this type of massage.

When we returned home to San Francisco, we had a long list of people to practice on and a few months later Joy, who owns Purusha Yoga Studio, asked me to teach a Thai Yoga Massage training course for her students. Preparing for and teaching this course for 8 sessions over the next 4 years really helped solidify what I had learned. I practiced, wrote lesson plans, and continued my studies so much that I embodied the knowledge and let that understanding flow out of me and into the students and recipients.

I learned how to adapt each of the movements to best serve the wide variety of bodies that I have seen over the past 13 years. I’ve combined what I learned in Thailand to the expertise I gained through completing my 2 year western massage therapist training program. My understanding of all the various physical contraindications and potential areas of concern, keeps my clients safe and healthy. I layer that comprehension with my 20 years of training and practice in energy work to perceive and support the universal flow of energy that is always available to help each person reach their optimal level of clarity, peace, and flexibility.

I look forward to guiding you in your exploration of Thai Yoga Massage and all the benefits it holds for you. Please contact me to schedule your appointment today.


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