What is Thai massage?
Known in Thailand as "Nuat phaen boran", this translates to “ancient” or “traditional” massage. It is also called Thai yoga massage, because the therapist uses his or her hands, knees, legs, and feet to move you into a series of yoga-like stretches. It is usually soothing because of its emphasis on stretching and loosening the body.
Its roots go back far into history, originating in India based on the Ayurveda, and then becoming popular in ancient Siam, now known as Thailand.It is believed to have been developed by Jivaka Kumarabhaccha (Shivago Komarpaj), physician to Buddha, more than 2,500 years ago in India. For centuries, Thai massage was performed by monks as one component of Thai medicine.
What does Thai massage feel like and what should I expect?
Thai massage is generally more energizing and rigorous than other, more classical forms of massage. The massage recipient changes into loose, comfortable clothes and lies on a mat or firm mattress on the floor. The massage practitioner leans on the recipient's body using hands, forearms, thighs and feet to apply firm, rhythmic pressure to different parts of the recipient's body. The massage generally follows the Sen lines on the body-somewhat analogous to Chinese Meridians and Indian nadis. Oil is not used in traditional Thai Massage. A typical Thai massage is 1 hour or more.
"Wow, it's like yoga, but I didn't have to do anything!"
AC, Breckenridge