Thai Yoga Massage: History, Techniques, and Western Expectations

Introduction to Thai Yoga Massage

Thai Yoga Massage — sometimes referred to simply as Thai massage — is a very active and physically demanding form of massage, almost entirely unlike other forms of massage therapy. The practitioner stands above the receiver and often utilizes his or her own body weight and leverage to pull and manipulate the receiver's body, who is usually lying on the floor. The aggressive nature of the style lends itself to the nickname "the lazy man's yoga," as the practitioner is often seeking positioning said to mimic the poses and intentions of yoga — a practice performed actively by an individual to reduce stress, increase balance, and improve overall health, among other benefits.

Western exposure to Thai massage is relatively recent and warrants introduction and education, especially prior to a first session with any practitioner. The session can be therapeutically helpful in both the short and long term, just like any massage experience, but it is a fundamentally aggressive form of bodywork that may strike the receiver as strange and even painful if he or she is unfamiliar with the process and therefore potentially frightened of or resistant to it. Additionally, like any form of physical treatment, the individual must be a conscientious consumer and avoid receiving treatment from anyone who is not fully trained in the processes and procedures of this massage style.

Historical and Eastern Origins

According to practitioner Gordon Waselnuk, Thai Yoga Massage can be loosely grouped with other forms of oriental bodywork, which are based on energy flows and balances said to be intrinsic to the human condition. According to the broad definition of oriental medicine, to achieve health and wellness an individual must have freely flowing streams of energy, and this flow must be in balance both internally and externally. Thai Yoga Massage is therefore considered akin to Tui Na Chinese massage and manipulation, the Indian-based healing tradition known as Ayurvedic massage, and Japanese shiatsu. As a Western practitioner, Waselnuk acknowledges the influence of all these forms within Thai massage and characterizes the history of these practices as collaborative across time and space.

Tui Na and Ayurvedic massage both date back over 4,000 years, and it is within these systems that Thai Yoga Massage techniques have their roots. The Indian Yogic influence is readily apparent, but less obvious are the energy channels or lines known as Sen, which are based on Tui Na. Aspects of Indian Ayurvedic medicine can still be found in Thailand today, alongside herbal treatments, steam baths, and traditional massage doctors. Waselnuk also notes that broader hints of the influence of many Eastern traditions can be found throughout Thai culture even today, and he emphasizes that the recorded history of Thai massage, though more recent than some of these allied traditions, is equally important to understanding the practice.

Jivaka Kumar Bhaccha is said to have been a friend and physician of the Buddha approximately 2,500 years ago. He is revered as the father of Thai massage and traditional Thai medicine. Much of the early history of Thai massage and traditional Thai medicine remains obscure, but it is widely believed that the teachings of Kumar Bhaccha reached what is now Thailand at the same time as Buddhism.

Buddhism, Jivaka Kumar Bhaccha, and the Codification of Thai Massage

Waselnuk notes that the history of the technique is contemporary with Buddhism, and that the written — or pictorial — history of the practice can be found in the Pali language as venerated canonical texts once held in the old capital of Ayutthaya. Those texts were subsequently lost as a result of the Burmese invasion, but oral traditions continued to preserve the practice and teachings until modern history produced an attempt once again to codify and formally record them. "In 1832, King Rama III had all surviving texts carved in stone, which are still evident at Wat Pho, a celebrated temple in Bangkok. There are over sixty stones left, each depicting various techniques" (Waselnuk).

Waselnuk's history of the practice also notes that the healing art of Thai massage was, until very recently, practiced exclusively by monks as part of their traditional healing arts, alongside meditation and herbal medicine. The development of Thai massage as a practice available to the general public is therefore a relatively modern phenomenon, and one that has accelerated as the technique has spread beyond Southeast Asia into Western wellness culture.

One recipient of traditional Thai massage describes the experience as follows: "You lie on the floor mat and the masseuse is sometimes standing on you, or walking on you. He is pulling you into different positions and you just relax into it" (Hughes 148). In Western tradition, the practice is said to increase range of motion, and is especially valued by athletes and dancers (Alfaro 32).

Western Exposure and Cultural Expectations

A reviewer for London's Evening Standard offered the following account of a Thai massage session:

"[It] did relieve muscle tension, stress and joint pain, all of which I had, though at times the treatment was undeniably painful itself. I like a strong massage, but wouldn't recommend it to anyone who doesn't want their muscles stretched and flexed vigorously. This is an intensive treatment, but no pain, no gain, is one of those ghastly but true quips. Seventy-five minutes went in a flash and when I left the salon I felt totally rejuvenated. It also seemed to have had an effect on my metabolism and appetite." ("FEELGOOD FACTOR" NA)

In general, the process may seem invasive and even stressful to a Western receiver, especially a novice to massage therapy and manipulation, as the expectations of Western clients differ considerably from those shaped by Eastern cultural traditions. Thai massage is relatively new to the Western repertoire of available wellness practices and should not be undertaken lightly or without adequate prior information.

Conclusion

It goes without saying that massage can be one of the most rewarding experiences of one's life, and Thai massage is an essentially helpful form of treatment. Prior knowledge of its procedures, and a full understanding of the process, is essential to relaxing sufficiently for the treatment to be beneficial rather than potentially harmful. A well-trained practitioner of any massage style will be able to sense when a client is not fully receiving the benefit of therapy — whether or not they are relaxing sufficiently to remain safe. It is therefore very much a part of the Western consumer expectation that therapists be fully trained, licensed, and responsible in their practice in order to ensure the safety and effectiveness of their work. In short, if you are in any way uncomfortable with a place, a person, or a procedure, communicate those concerns immediately and allow the practitioner an opportunity to respond before proceeding further with treatment.