What is Thai Yoga Massage?
By Tiiu Gennert

Have you ever bitten into a goji berry and experienced its tart taste explosion, or have you ever felt the exhilarating weightlessness of a free fall? Have you ever been moved by a poem? A sunset? A child's smile? Thai yoga massage (TYM) is one of those ineffable occurrences in life that must be experienced firsthand in order to truly understand the sense of peace, exhilaration, sheer joy and bliss that results.

It is said that we may attain a state of bliss through living a balanced life. When the mind and body are in harmony, the body will care for itself and reach a state of perfect health. TYM, a process of sharing metta (loving kindness) between the practitioner and recipient, is a healing art that promotes the balancing of mind, body and spirit.

TYM dates back 2,500 years to ancient Indian yoga practices and the spread of Buddhist culture to Thailand. It is a “sacred bodywork that incorporates rhythmic motion, energy line work, massage, gentle stretching and assisted yoga postures," says Kam Thye Chow, founder of the Lotus Palm School of Thai Yoga Massage in Montreal, Quebec. The Buddhist tradition teaches spiritual elevation and the removal of suffering from all beings. As such, the venerated Dr. Jivaka Kumarbhaccha – a celebrated yogi, and friend and physician to the Buddha and Magadha King Bimbisara – combined the practices of yoga and ayurveda, an ancient system of health care native to India, and in doing so became TYM's founding father. Kam Thye passionately believes, “Between heaven and earth there is human; between yoga and ayurveda there is Thai yoga massage.”

Kam Thye developed his philosophy and understanding of the process under the instruction of a contemporary German-born master of Thai massage, Asokananda. Asokananda clearly illustrated the connection between Buddhist meditation and yoga in the practice of TYM in his very well-regarded book, The Art of Traditional Thai Massage. He was the first Westerner to have written on the subject of TYM and is considered to have directly or indirectly trained and developed nearly every well-known Thai massage teacher today.

Energy line (prana, vital life force) theory forms the basis of TYM. Much like acupuncture in Traditional Chinese Medicine, it is accepted in Thai yoga bodywork that there are 72,000 invisible energy lines (sen) running throughout the body. These energy lines comprise the energy body and act as a second skin to the physical body. An obstruction or blockage in one of these lines reduces the equal distribution of energy throughout the body causing insufficient prana flow and leading to mental, physical and spiritual imbalances. Such imbalances may then manifest disease, discomfort and emotional problems. TYM strives to release these obstructions to allow the free flow of energy, thus assisting the body, mind and spirit in attaining and maintaining balance.

As Buddhism spread to Thailand, the sacred practice of traditional Thai massage evolved from a teacher-to-group practice to a one-on-one practice. There, TYM was done in Buddhist wats (temples) for centuries. Two general styles emerged: Northern and Southern. The Northern method emphasizes palming and thumbing along the energy lines, while the Southern technique plucks, strums and stimulates the nerves running along these lines. These two healing styles have evolved and blended due to the growing number of Westerners who train in both techniques.

Often referred to as “assisted Hatha yoga” or “lazy man's yoga,” TYM is typically performed on a padded mat on the floor rather than on a massage table. The massage recipient is dressed in loose, comfortable clothing and can listen to relaxing music or enjoy silence. The practitioner works compassionately and mindfully, providing a safe, relaxing and healing environment to impart peace, health and wellness. A typical TYM session begins with a meditative prayer. Through massage and assisted stretching, the free-flowing circulation of breath, blood and energy is facilitated throughout the recipient's body.

Gentle movements lubricate the joints and increase their range of motion. Palming and thumbing the body opens up the energy lines. The session typically lasts one-and-a-half to two hours, but can be shortened or lengthened according to the needs of the recipient. The resulting release of tension and increased blood flow can benefit the skeletal, circulatory, muscular and nervous systems.

The benefits of Thai yoga massage abound. This meditative process benefits the recipient on physical, emotional and spiritual levels. Physically, TYM helps to improve and maintain the health and mobility of the spine and skeletal body. It also can aid in the treatment of skeletal conditions such as kyphosis (curvature of the upper spine), scoliosis (deformity of the spine) and lordosis (also known as saddle back or swayback). The rhythmic touch techniques of palming and thumbing assist the heart by increasing the rate of blood flow without straining the heart. TYM's stretching and massaging activates the circulation of blood, increases muscle relaxation and elasticity, and stimulates lymph circulation helping to eliminate toxins. Additionally, as tension is swept away, the nervous system is calmed and the body relaxes. Emotionally, the caring and nurturing touch of the practitioner in itself is healing.

Spiritually, the rhythmic rocking motion and meditative nature of the practice helps lengthen the space between thoughts, a proven way to help one better know one's self. It is said that the highest spiritual practice (sadhana) is to know one's self, and to know one's self is to be free. With Thai yoga massage, recipients begin to recognize physical imbalances in their bodies and where they hold tension. Oftentimes people do not recognize where they are holding tension. It is not uncommon to hear Thai massage recipients emphatically say that they are stunned because they now recognize that they had been holding tension in every part of their bodies.

You must experience Thai yoga massage for yourself in order to truly understand the many benefits to body, mind and spirit. Participating in this yoga dance – this meditation in motion – just might help you achieve your own bliss and enlightenment here on earth.

Tiiu Gennert is an owner and director of Studio 11 in Tremont, located at 2337 West 11th Street in Cleveland. She has been practicing Thai yoga massage since 2004 and was certified through the Lotus Palm School of Thai Yoga Massage located in Montreal, Quebec. Tiiu is a yoga Acharya, 500-hour level certified with Yoga Alliance, a certified Pilates Instructor, a certified mediator and holds her Juris Doctor. For more information, contact Tiiu at www.Studio11Tremont.com or (216) 472-3611.