Thai Massage Techniques

There are hundreds of Thai massage techniques in the vast traditional repertoire, including:

• pressure along the sen sip or energy lines of the body
  
• gentle soothing movement
  
• yogic stretching
  
• rhythmic rocking
  
• range of motion work
  
• joint compression and decompression
  

Practitioners are taught that the flow in transition between positions and the state of mind of the therapist are as important as the techniques themselves. A Thai massage treatment is a positive, energizing, uplifting experience for the client as well as the practitioner. A session is a flowing dialog between client and practitioner, akin to a dance or martial arts form. The client is passive and completely supported in all positions by the therapist.

Thai Massage Techniques - A Sampling from Thai Bodywork Students and Staff

	Assisted Cobra, Bhujangasana (Level 1 and advanced) Kneeling on gluts variation This pose opens the chest and shoulders, and assists the client in deepening extension flexibility in the thoracic and lumbar spine. The pose can be varied by the practitioner from a very minimal stretch with the shoulders barely lifting from the floor, to a full backbend in which the client's head is well behind their shoulders.
	Straight Leg Pullup, Uttanasana (Level 2 and advanced) Allows the client to achieve full flexion without effort. Stretches the hamstrings, back, and muscles of the rotator cuff and upper back.
	SLP Psoas Stretch with Feet in Back, Natarajasana (CTB) This deep psoas stretch is an assisted, side-lying version of Dancer's Pose. It is typical of a class of Thai asanas that allow the client to experience some of the benefits of a difficult yoga pose without active effort. This pose as a standing yoga pose requires a sophisticated combination of strength, balance and flexibility that only advanced students can achieve.

Thai Massage Techniques: Benefits

Some people call Traditional Thai Massage "Lazy man's yoga", because the therapist is skilled at supporting the client in stretches that are yoga poses. In many cases, the client can experience the benefit of poses that would be difficult to achieve unassisted, because it can take years to develop the requisite strength, balance and flexibility to achieve the poses in a solo yoga practice. Also, the therapist works energy lines while the client is in the pose, which has a synergistic effect in opening and energizing the body. Clients who have active yoga practices often find that regular Thai yoga therapy sessions enhance their practice, allowing them to stretch and open more quickly and avoid injury.

Thai yoga therapy has many benefits including:

• stress and pain relief
• better resistance to injury
• improved range of motion
• release of lactic acid and other toxins from areas of accumulation
• toning of internal organs
• deep relaxation