Glen Forsyth
18 May 2022
Health is the most precious thing that we have in our lives. People stick to several things like healthy food habits, exercise, yoga, etc. to keep themselves away from diseases. Nowadays, massages are also considered a healthy habit to have for most people. And there are several benefits of massages nowadays.
There are several types of massage and they all have different benefits. Some massages help people relax while there are others that help in tissue recovery. You have to choose one based on your requirements. In this article, we are going to talk about the Thai massage technique.
Before you go for a massage of this type, you should know about the techniques involved and the benefits.
Techniques involved in Thai massage
Before we get ahead of ourselves, it would be great to know a little about the root of this technique. The whole process of Thai massage is based on an assumption that your body has specific ways through which the energy moves. Those pathways are called sens.
Similar to Chinese Massage, this massage involves techniques that are intended to enhance the flow of energy through those pathways. And this assumption is the factor that makes Thai massage different from the other techniques. In most of the massages, people just lie down on a flat surface throughout the procedure. However this is kind of an active massage technique.
Here, you will be required to move your body in different positions (more like yoga postures, etc.), stretch your body in specific ways, etc. All these things are just to enhance the flow of energy.
This section will discuss the technique that is used in Thai massage. Knowing about the technique will help you in getting a better idea about it. It will also help you up to a certain extent in deciding whether the massage is right for you.
Similar in ways to Balinese massage style, Thai massage still comprises the traditional techniques that were used in the early days. Using these techniques, the practitioners use their different parts like forearms, thumbs, hands, and elbows. The practitioners also use their feet in some rare cases when they want to reduce tension in particular muscles of your body.
How to prepare yourself for Thai massage?
Here are some things that you should keep in mind if you have made your mind to go for one. In this section, we are going to talk about the basic preparation and the possible activities that the practitioners will perform.
Talking of the clothes, practitioners provide suitable clothes before the massage session begins. You should carry some loose-fit clothes made of cotton with you in case the practitioner doesn’t provide you one. Before you get started with this massage, you should make sure that the practitioner knows about the prior injuries if there are any.
After you get ready, your practitioner will ask you to lie on a mat on the floor, unlike other massage techniques that are practiced on the table or something like that. After that, you will be assisted by the practitioner to stretch your body in different postures. Almost every time, a little bodyweight of the practitioner will assist you in stretching your body.
Oil is not used in Thai massage. In yoga-like postures, the practitioner will guide you through the entire range of movements. People with sore muscles may find it a little tough, same if you are seeking a massage for headaches or migraines. However they should tell the practitioners if the pain is getting intense. In that case, the practitioner will reduce the pressure in that area.
Benefits of Thai massage
Now that you are aware of the basics of Thai massage. In this section, we are going to talk about the benefits. Only after having a proper idea about the benefits, you will be able to decide whether this technique is right or not. Here are some of the major benefits of getting a Thai massage.
Very effective in reducing back pain
A large population around the world is struggling with back pain these days. The lifestyle of people is responsible for this situation in particular. This massage technique is one of the most popular non pharmaceutical ways of treating back pain.
Several studies have proved that Thai massage is very effective in reducing lower and upper back pain.
Reduced headache
The effects of Thai massage may last up to 14-15 weeks based on the type of your headache. People who suffer from migraines and some other chronic headaches will find Thai massage to be really beneficial.
As a lot of people nowadays have headaches due to tension, they will also find this technique worthy.
Very important for the revival of energy and reducing anxiety
Few researchers suggest that Thai massage is very effective in making people more energetic. As it involves several body postures and other things like yoga, it is stated that people who get this massage feel more relaxed mentally. This is a quite rare benefit that is not found in other massage techniques.
Thai massage has tremendous effects on anxiety. Several people say that the feeling of calmness is enhanced once they get the Thai massage. That happens because of the reduced anxiety. Those who take this massage on a regular basis will have lowered risk of mental stress and other things like that.
Eases the stiffness in joints
Old people face this situation very much. A large number of studies have shown that people with pain in the knees find this massage to be really helpful. Those people become able to walk properly after getting the massage and their pain is also reduced.
Some important points to keep in mind
Before you make up your mind to go for a Thai massage, make sure that you don’t have an underlying health issue. In case you have one, you should consult your doctor first. Your health situation may get worse if you do it with an underlying issue.
So, it is always advisable to contact your doctor first. And if the doctor says yes to your decision, your practitioner should be aware of every detail of the problem.
