“The concept of life force in Traditional Thai Massage may be influenced by Chinese and Indian cultures. However, the practical techniques that make Thai Massage unique have been developed by the Thai people and passed down through generations.
Thai Massage, known in Thai language as Nuad Thai, can be traced back 2,500 years to the Indian subcontinent, during the lifetime of Buddha. The Buddha’s physician, Jivaka Komparaphat, is revered in parts of Thailand as a patron of healing, well-being, Thai-style yoga, and ancient medicine. His statue is often found in wellness spas and yoga studios, as he is considered the founder of Rusee Dad-Ton (Thai-style yoga), also known as Hermit exercises or a set of postures that form the core of Thai Massage. Jivaka’s compassion in treating people with various ailments made him well respected and loved by many communities. Although he was a devoted Buddhist who completed the first four stages of enlightenment, Jivaka was never officially ordained under the Lord Buddha. It is said that the Buddha did not make him a monk, rather he accepted him as his lay disciple because he wanted Jivaka to remain free to attend to sick people.
In 1455, King Trailokanat of Ayutthaya issued a royal decree listing Krom Mor Nuad (Department of Massage) as one of six royal medical care departments, demonstrating that Thai Massage was common in ancient times. The fall of Thailand’s former capital city, Ayutthaya, to the Burmese in 1767 destroyed many relics and transcripts of Thai Massage. The monarchs of the Chakri Dynasty played a key role in promoting the image, spirituality, and understanding of Thai Massage at Wat Phra Chetuphon Vimonmangklaram, a temple built in the 16th century, well known as Wat Pho. King Rama I oversaw the creation of more than 80 contorted hermit figures made from clay placed throughout the temple grounds. Each statue depicts a different yogi pose, contributing to the practice of Thai Massage. The temple was extensively renovated by King Rama III and transformed into a learning center for Thai traditional massage, a status it still holds today. King Rama III had more than 60 plaques placed around the temple walls, inscribed with Thai medical knowledge and detailed massage diagrams of the human body. These plaques are officially recognized as the most complete and comprehensive archives of Thai Massage.
In 1985, the Thai Massage Revival Project was initiated to restore the tarnished image of Thai Massage during and after the Vietnam War. In the early 1960s, as more US soldiers were deployed to numerous US and Thai military bases throughout Thailand, Thai Massage became sexualized. The Thai government, in the mid-1980s, found it increasingly imperative to restore this ancient healing art to its former dignity and praiseworthiness. Furthermore, in 2001, the Thai Ministry of Health formally recognized Thai Massage as a branch of Traditional Thai Medicine. In 2019, Traditional Thai Massage gained global recognition and was formally added to UNESCO’s ‘intangible cultural heritage’ list because it embodies tradition, contemporaneity, inclusivity, representativeness, and community-based practices. According to UNESCO, the world’s intangible cultural heritage helps maintain “cultural diversity in the face of growing globalization” and promotes intercultural dialogue and mutual respect. As Thai Traditional Massage is steeped in Buddhist traditions, many practitioners wai kru, cupping their hands together in gratitude to their mentors, to Jivaka, the Buddha’s physician, and in recognition of their spiritual discipline in acting with compassion toward their patients.
Traditional Thai Massage is usually performed on a mat, floor, or a matted massage table. The recipient is fully clothed, and unlike other massage types where the person is passive, Thai Massage typically requires the recipient to be active as they are guided into different yoga positions by the masseuse. Massage therapists manipulate the body through acupressure, body stretches, joint mobilization, and rhythmic compressions. Typically, a therapist will work on about 10 sen lines with the aim of releasing body tension for a better flow of energy throughout the body. A massage therapist uses their hands, elbows, thumbs, and feet to apply pressure along the Sen lines, aiming to unblock passages and promote energy flow.
The numerous benefits of Traditional Thai Massage have become more well known in recent decades due to greater information availability on the internet and the proliferation of Thai Massage shops outside of Thailand. In today’s modern world, where life revolves around work, commuting, family obligations, and maintaining a work-life balance, stress has become pervasive. American Physician Jay Winner points out, “Stress doesn’t just make us feel awful emotionally,” but “it can exacerbate just about any health condition you can think of.” Numerous studies have shown that stress contributes to or exacerbates health conditions such as obesity, various heart diseases, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, depression, anxiety, gastrointestinal problems, and asthma. One significant benefit of receiving a Traditional Thai Massage is emotional release. The holistic approach of Traditional Massage helps individuals release stored emotions, enhances mental and physical well-being, and encourages breath awareness during yoga-style stretches, promoting greater muscle relaxation and a meditative state of mindfulness.
There is no doubt that there are numerous benefits to giving and receiving Traditional Thai Massage. Those experiencing issues such as stress, body aches and pains, headaches, sleeping issues, and body tension can find revitalization through the work of a Traditional Thai Massage practitioner. However, individuals with pre-existing medical conditions, recent surgical procedures, or those who are pregnant should not receive Traditional Thai Massage, or at the very least, should discuss their health issues with a Thai Massage practitioner.”
