Thai Yoga Massage History (TTYM)

It is believed that this type of massage therapy was brought to Thailand by Jivaka Kumar Baccha from India, who was known in Thailand as Dr Shivago, a contemporary of Buddha about 2500 years ago.

The strong Indian influence can be seen in the southeast Asian cultures including Thailand. As knowledge of this therapeutic process spread throughout the region it was further influenced by ancient Chinese medical techniques.

At the time of the kings of Ayutthaya it is believed a large collection of medical texts about TTYM and its techniques existed. But the Burmese invaded Thailand in 1776, leading to the destruction of the capital, and most of these scriptures were destroyed. The remaining knowledge was carved in the Wat Poh in Bangkok in 1832 by order of King Rama III, who wanted to preserve this great tradition.

According to these inscriptions, the theoretical basis of TTYM is energy lines called "Sen". Important acupressure points are found on Sen Lines which run through the body and working on them will help to remove blockages of energy flow and restore health.

In Thailand this work was traditionally practiced in temples and regarded as a spiritual practice, a way to cultivate the four divine states of Buddhism - Metta (loving kindness), Karuna (compassion), Mudita (sympathetic joy) and Uppekha (non-prejudice).

The four Thai Primary Ayurvedic Elements are: earth - solid parts of the body, including nerves, skeleton, muscles, blood vessels, tendons and ligaments, water - blood and bodily secretions, fire - digestion and metabolism and air - respiration, and circulation. Thai Yoga Massage is a system of movement education (Yoga) following the principles of energy (Sen) balancing and therefore restoring body harmony and health.

Traditional Thai Massage

"Nuat phaen boran" (also shortened to Nuat Boran and spelt in different ways in English) is the Thai name for this type of body therapy used throughout Thailand (nuat = massage, phaen = manner, boran = ancient). This may be roughly translated as “traditional hands on healing".

Although the origins of this traditional Thai medicine stem mostly from India and China , nuat phaen boran is normally a term used in northern Thailand Chiangmai area.

Westerners have translated and given this therapy many different descriptive names such as the following: Original Thai Massage, Traditional Thai Massage, Ancient Thai Massage, Thai Yoga, Thai Yoga Massage, Passive Yoga, Assisted Yoga, Thai Yoga Healing, Thai Ayurveda, Traditional Thai Medicine, Traditional Thai Medical Massage, Thai Relaxation Therapy, Thai Stretching Therapy, Traditional Thai Healing, Northern-Style Thai Massage, Buntautuk Style, Old Medicine Hospital Style, Thai Classical Massage, Thai Bodywork, Thai Yoga Bodywork, Sen Therapy, Nuat Thaiand others.

Traditional Thai Yoga Massage (TTYM) is based upon an integration of Indian Buddhist medicine (known as Ayurvedic medicine which is an ancient system of health care that is native to India) and traditional Chinese Medicine while incorporating a spiritual dimension in its techniques. It is not oil rubbing massage but a whole body movement therapy.

Thai Yoga Massage has also been called 'lazy yoga' as the practitioner places the client in various positions designed to open the energy channels in the body, enhance joint mobility, increase muscle functioning and balance both physical and mental tension. Thai Yoga Massage is a unique form of body therapy dating back thousands of years that incorporates yoga, acupressure and reflexology along with local techniques of gentle rocking, deep stretching and compression. The movements assist in improving the musculo-skeletal framework with great benefits for people who want their body to achieve enhanced health and performance.

Thai Yoga Massage is gaining popularity all over the world with participants fully clothed on a futon or floor mat rather than a table. This allows for many movements and procedures that are not practical or effective on a table. It also allows the most effective use of the practitioner’s body weight rather than muscular force for the transmission of pressure, force, or energy, which creates a highly therapeutic effect. Thai Yoga Massage is the ultimate massage experience for both giver and receiver treating the whole body and lasting from 1 to 4 hours. You learn to use your entire body to control, massage and expand the energy of both yourself and your client.

In parts of Thailand, in particular the North, many temples still practice this therapy to treat the sick, in preference to Western medicine. Many other therapies have been extracted from this traditional Ayurvedic medicine, such as Reflexology, Swedish massage, Aromatherapy, and Shiatsu. Channels of energy, known as Sen Lines are worked throughout the massage in order to balance the flow of energy in the body.

Thai Yoga Massage progression

The TTYM recipient wears loose clothing and lies on a mat or firm mattress on the floor. TTYM can be done individually or in a group of a dozen or so people in the same room.

A traditional massage begins with you lying on your back and it will start from the feet, working the sen up through the body. A long time is spent on the legs, before moving up the body to the abdominals, arms and hands. The therapist then moves you onto your side and starts again from your feet working up to the head. This position is repeated for the other side. Side positions maybe left out with a shorter duration massages.
The next position is on your front and the therapist works your back, again starting from your feet. This section may involve hyper extension of the spine that feels great and helps mobility. Let the therapist know if you have back or other injuries or pain prior to the treatment.
The therapist will then move you to sitting but there is also a massage process involved in sitting you up that also mobilises the spine for improved mobility.
The therapist will usually finish with a face massage with you sitting or on your back.
It sounds like a lot of moving around, but as long as you relax the therapist will do it all for you.

The receiver is put into yoga style positions during the course of the massage. In the northern style there are a lot of stretching movements whereas the southern style emphasis is given to acupressure.

The therapist leans on the receiver’s body using hands and forearms to apply firm rhythmic pressure to almost every part of the receiver's body. The massage generally follows the Sen Energy lines on the body (the Sen are comparable to Chinese meridians). In some positions the legs and feet of the TTYM giver are used to secure the body or limbs of the recipient. In other positions, hands secure the body, while the feet do the massaging action. A heated herbal compress can be used to warm and sooth the receiver's body. A full course of TTYM can last for hours and includes fingers, toes, ears, cracking knuckles, walking on the receiver’s legs and back, arching the receiver’s back in a rolling action and more. There is always an organised procedure and rhythm to the massage.

Benefits of Thai Yoga Massage

For the recipient

·          Increases flexibility of muscles and joints

·          Increases blood and lymph flow flushing waste products from the body

·          Improves posture and realigns the body

·          Increases vital life energy

·          Relieves aches and pains

·          Releases physical tension and emotional blocks and soothes the nervous system

·          Relaxes and induces calmness and quieting of the mind

·          Releases points of tension which block energy flow and contribute to illness

·          Organ massage stimulates and balances the organs and immune system

For the Practitioner

·          enhances meditation and concentration

·          awakens compassion, loving and kindness

·          deepens the connection of mind, body and spirit

Enroll now for this popular therapy and start your journey, travel to beautiful Phuket Thailand, Learn about a Traditional Thai Therapy, have time to holiday &  indulge in amazing activities and for those that can, claim the entire cost against your income tax.  It doesn’t get much better than that! A genuine international training holiday!

Remember everyone deserves a Traditional Thai Massage!

:)