Thai massage may have originated over 2,500 years ago in India. Practised for centuries by Thai monks, it has formed a central component of Thai medicine. Here, we explain how Thai massage benefits your health and improves sports performance.
What is Thai massage?
Jivaka Kumar Bacha, the physician of Siddhartha Gautama – the Buddha – developed this technique more than 2,500 years ago in India. The technique then travelled to Thailand, where it merged the original Ayurvedic techniques with principles from traditional Chinese medicine. Interestingly, Thailand does not have chiropractors, as Thai massage serves as the primary method for preventing and remedying back ailments.
Thai massage, more dynamic and rigorous than your usual massage, involves manipulating limbs and joints in a sequence of movements inspired by yogic stretching. This technique is particularly beneficial for athletes.
1. Reduces muscle tension & spasms
The pressing technique in Thai massage pinpoints areas of built-up muscular tension. Similar to the myofascial release technique, Thai massage applies pressure to specific areas to release tension, allowing practitioners to effectively manipulate and lengthen muscles. Additionally, principles of Chinese Medicine target trapped nerves, which helps alleviate muscle spasms. Practitioners use acupressure techniques to target key energy points in the body that correspond to the wider anatomy.
2. Mobilises the joints
The use of yoga-style manipulation releases tension in the joints, adding mobility and enhancing the range of movement. Thai massage can effectively help increase joint mobility and range of movement, particularly after a series of treatments. A reduction in joint pain and an increase in suppleness and enhanced flexibility can be gained from Thai massage therapy.
3. Improves blood circulation
The rigorous nature of Thai massage and it’s multifaceted method – incorporating touch, muscular and skeletal manipulation, and acupressure – effectively boosts the circulation via a series of techniques.
4. Balances and increases energy
Inspired by a fundamental principle of Chinese medicine, Thai massage technique works along the energy meridians of the body. In Chinese medicine it is believed that by physically stimulating the specific areas of the meridians, you can help to shift areas of stagnant energy, allowing for a more healthy flow of energy (known as Qi). During a Thai massage, the massage therapist will work to manipulate these meridians until it feels that the energy is sufficiently released. After this, the therapist will begin the stretching element of the massage.
5. Thai massage can treat sciatica, headaches & neck pain
The use of acupressure, joint manipulation, and release of energy meridian flows all work in combination to release tension, ease nerve irritation, and alleviate pain. This can help conditions like sciatica and help ease headaches and other pains. How Thai massage combines a multitude of techniques allows it to target underlying dysfunction contributing to symptoms of pain in a holistic and highly effective manner.
6. Thai massage reduces Stress
In spite of its rigorous and more dynamic – and at times uncomfortable – technique, Thai massage has been found to markedly reduce stress, and enhance a sense of overall wellbeing.
As with any expert massage, the release of joint and muscular tension leads to the benefit of an increased sense of wellbeing, however, the acupressure techniques and facets of Chinese medicine employed in Thai massage have additional benefits in terms of releasing nerve tension, freeing energy flow and releasing emotional tension held within the body. The end result is a heightened sense of wellbeing and optimum relaxation.
