Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Thai Massage

This is some of what I learned this weekend at my Thai Massage workshop. This was developed about 2500 years ago by a doctor to the Buddha. It was started in India and traveled to Siam (Thailand). Its focus is on the energy of the body.
Some of the listed effects are releases stress and tension, increases flexibility and suppleness, increases vital energy, deeply relaxing, relieves pain and soreness, brings the systems of the body into balance, increases blood and lymph flow, releases emotional blocks, excellent therapy for common injuries and ailments, deepens the connection between mind, body and spirit. That is a lot. That is just for the receiver. For the practitioner it enhances meditation and concentration, awakens compassion and loving kindness, deepens the connection of mind, body and spirit.
This is a description about how a practitioner works:
“Intention is the hidden power behind each action. If the underlying intention or spirit behind the action is to help, to heal and to work with love and kindness then the work takes on a much deeper and more powerful effect. Working with mindfulness, awareness, loving kindness, compassion and joy throughout a session takes some practice, but when these energies are present within the spirit of the work being done, the massages given are truly healing, not only to the recipient but also to the giver.”
I must say that with every new technique I learned I thought, “Oh, the runners will love this”. I was able to give a treatment to Steve and he pretty much melted. You will have to ask him what he thought.
Remember some people are more flexible than others, so the pictures may show a person in a deeper stretch than you would go into. The pratitioner listens to your body and places you were you need to go. These are a few pictures I found that demonstrate just a very few of the positions.







2 comments:

Backofpack said...

It doesn't look quite as scary as I thought, though I'm glad you added the warning about flexibility. I'll have to try it soon!

Journey to a Centum said...

I think I'd rather have Thai food! That one photo with the hamstring massage looks kind of painful.