| Thai massage has been practiced for several | | | | source of circulation to an area will initially result in |
| thousand years. It is one branch of Thai medicine, | | | | increased pressure, which will cause the heart |
| which includes manipulation (of which massage is a | | | | muscle to slow its contractions in order to bring |
| part), diet, medicinal treatment and ritual (spiritual | | | | the pressure down. When the pressure on the |
| ceremony). In Thailand it is used in conjunction | | | | artery is released a fresh supply of blood rushes |
| with these other forms of treatment, although in | | | | into the area, causing it to relax more deeply. This |
| other countries it may be used on its own.Thai | | | | technique, however, is not used on anyone with |
| massage is based on the belief that all disease is | | | | heart or circulatory problems or with |
| due to an imbalance of the body's energy. Its goal | | | | diabetes.There is also a type of stretching used |
| is to promote this balance and therefore assist in | | | | which is passive. This means that the client does |
| the healing of the entire person. To do this, it | | | | not participate in the stretching; the therapist does |
| uses several techniques.The first is the application | | | | all the work. Stretching is done in stages with rest |
| of pressure through leaning into the area being | | | | periods between, working gradually up to as much |
| treated. This pressure is less forceful than that | | | | range of motion as possible. It is also done slowly |
| used in some other forms of massage and more | | | | to avoid the muscle shortening - or spasm - that |
| like the pressure used in shiatsu. Also like shiatsu, | | | | can occur when a muscle is stretched too far, |
| Thai massage uses pressure along energy | | | | too fast.The asanas, or postures, of hatha yoga |
| channels. (called "sen" in Thailand, but more | | | | are also included, to help the whole massage flow |
| commonly known as meridians - which is what | | | | more smoothly. Like stretching, these are passive, |
| they are called in Chinese medicine). The major | | | | performed by the therapist.Thai massage |
| difference between the two is that Thai massage | | | | techniques can be very time-consuming. A typical |
| treats these channels in both directions, while | | | | Thai massage is much longer than a "regular" |
| shiatsu moves in only one direction.Reflexology is | | | | massage, lasting up to three hours. Also, all Thai |
| also part of a Thai massage session. Reflexology | | | | massage is done with the client lying on a floor |
| is based on the belief that points on the feet can | | | | mat; this is such an active massage for the |
| be use to treat the entire body. There is a lot of | | | | practitioner that a massage table would make it |
| attention paid to the feet and legs in Thai | | | | difficult or impossible to perform some of the |
| massage, because getting energy moving in these | | | | techniques.The benefits of Thai massage include |
| areas helps to better connect the client to the | | | | those of regular massage, like improved |
| earth, causing them to be more | | | | circulation, mobility and flexibility, as well as stress |
| "grounded".Another technique used is blood | | | | relief. But Thai massage goes further; its more |
| stopping. This is achieved by putting pressure on a | | | | specialized techniques will help promote balance of |
| major artery in the arm or leg for an extended | | | | all the body's systems. If you are looking for a |
| period of time - up to about a minute. The theory | | | | more holistic approach to bodywork, Thai |
| behind this technique is that cutting off a major | | | | massage may be a good choice. |