Thai massage is one of the most in-depth forms of body massage. The techniques it uses combine several elements, ranging from acupressure, that is, applying pressure to the appropriate points on the body, to passive yoga and stretching, to reflexology. In Thailand, it represents a form of ancient classical massage, referred to as ,,nuat phaen boran”. Where did it originate from? When and by whom was it originated?

A few words about Thai massage

The creator of Thai massage is Shivago Komarpaj, a Buddha doctor from 500 BC. However, looking at its history, this one is definitely more complicated, as it combines many elements that make up the entire philosophy of Thai massage. It is a mixture of cultural influences from China, from India, as well as from South Asian countries. It also brings together yoga, Buddhism and Ayurveda. The mainstream of this form of body massage traces its roots to various corners of Siam, but today more and more people are moving away from its traditional form, significantly changing the overall concept. At present, the best school of Thai massage is considered to be the Royal Academy of Massage in Chiang Mai, which is a centuries-old tradition, a huge number of interested people, extremely rich in its message of courses.

Thai massage practices

While we can’t accurately describe all things that happened before our era, there are many facts that allow us to put certain pieces together into a puzzle. That’s why there is so much information about Thai massage and its many levels of effects on the body, which today have created a real powerhouse when it comes to unconventional treatments. And what else do we know about it besides the fact that it was performed by the doctor Shivago, who treated the Buddha and his disciples?

For centuries, Thai massage was practiced mainly by monks in monasteries, which were called Watas. Then it also began to be practiced by village healers and passed down in families from generation to generation. Thai massage in Thailand was one of four medical branches. Indeed, alongside it, there are also herbal medicine, dietetics and ritual practices.

As for Europe, the first information regarding Thai massage appeared in 1960, with accounts from French Siamese doctors. They spoke of the use of practices in which the main emphasis was on kneading the relevant parts of the body with the feet.

Philosophy of Thai massage

To be able to understand what Thai massage really is, it is necessary to pay attention first of all to its philosophy, which is the key to all success. Thais believe that the human body is filled with molecules. They call them , “lom” or “air”. This is what is first inhaled into the lungs and then reaches all the tubules of the human body, referred to as , “seny”. In Thai massage, it is these tubules called senes that play a paramount role, for it is on them that the massage therapist focuses his attention, applying the appropriate compression and stretching techniques. The basis of the philosophy in a nutshell is to stimulate the senes and redirect the lomas to the appropriate places, through the body, all the way to the head.

Writings on Thai massage

The first records were made on palm leaves. However, during the Burmese invasions and occupation, they were destroyed, until finally King Rama III in 1832 ordered the making of stone tablets, on which the necessary information on Thai massage was engraved. What is specifically at the heart of these writings is a detailed description of the power lines, as well as the procedures involved.

In 1985, the Thai government set up the ,,Project to Revive Thai Massage” with the goal of introducing it on a large scale anew and fully popularizing it. Nowadays you can find many schools where you can learn from the best about this form of massage, which is extremely popular both in Thailand and around the world.

Thai massage – in a few concluding words

Although it’s actually difficult to establish the roots of Thai massage, since in the past all important and relevant issues were passed down orally, several references from Indian and Chinese culture, as well as Buddhism, yoga and Ayurveda have helped to create a picture of this massage as it was born some 2,500 years ago. In the past, medicine as our modern world knows it was not used. People healed themselves with herbs, acupuncture, manual therapies, or activities related to the concept of energy circulation. Nowadays, an increasing number of people are moving away from conventional forms of treatment and focusing precisely on unconventional ones, which are gaining their followers and which are practiced on an increasing scale. As far as Thai massage is concerned, this one is still considered one of the most effective forms of human treatment, taking into account not only the body itself, but especially the spirit.