Thai massage

Thai massage is a wonderfully flowing sequence of stretches interspersed with pressure applied to the various parts of the clothed body.

It resembles applied yoga, harmonizing the energies of the body and mind. The exquisite stretches of Thai Massage are designed to:

- Maintain good health
- Eliminate tension
- De-stress and relieve depression
- Improve flexibility
- Enhance sports performance
- Maintain a pain-free healthy body
- Improve blood & lymph circulation and help detoxify
- Improve digestion

Thai massage is a completely pleasurable and relaxing natural therapy for flexibilty, relaxation and energy balance. It is performed on the clothed body and is intensely therapeutic, working on all levels (physical, mental and emotional). Please wear loose comfortable clothing.

The massage practitioner leans on the recipient's body using hands and usually straight forearms locked at the elbow to apply firm rhythmic pressure. The massage generally follows the Sen lines on the body — somewhat analogous to meridians or Channel (Chinese medicine) and Indian nadis. Legs and feet of the giver can be used to fixate the body or limbs of the recipient. In other positions, hands fixate the body, while the feet do the massaging action.

A full Thai massage session typically includes rhythmic pressing and stretching of the entire body; this may include pulling fingers, toes, ears, cracking the knuckles, walking on the recipient's back, and arching the recipient's into bhujangasana or (cobra position). There is a standard procedure and rhythm to this massage.

Generally speaking, practitioners of modern Thai massage operate on the theory that the body is permeated with "lom," or "air," which is inhaled into the lungs and which subsequently travels throughout the body along 72,000 pathways called "sen," or "vessels."

Typically, massage therapists manipulate a handful of major sen lines by pressing certain points along the lines. In most models, the sen originate at the navel and spread throughout the body to terminate at the orifices. A significant part of the practice of Thai massage also includes yoga-like stretches which are intended to stimulate the sen and move lom through the body via a pumping action which is connected with the patient's breathing.

The theory of sen and lom is often translated into English as "meridians" and "energy." While there are some superficial similarities to Chinese meridian theory, the Thai system is markedly different as the sen are unconnected from the internal organs.