Yoga Massage is a fully clothed massage, combining acupressure and stretching. The giver may guide the receiver into familiar yoga postures, such as cobra and pigeon pose.
Traditional Thai Massage has its roots in the Indian systems of Yoga and Ayurveda. Around 2000 years ago Thai Massage was brought from India to Thailand along with Buddhism. Since then it has been practiced, developed and handed down through the generations. It was never seen as just massage but as a spiritual practice, and until fairly recently mostly practiced in Thai Buddhist temples. Thai Yoga Massage therapists work on ten main meridians to ensure optimum health and wellbeing. These meridians are called Sip Sen in Thai, or the ten Sen. The vital life force that is called Prana in Sanskrit, Chi in Chinese and Ki in Japanese, travels through these meridians, supplying the body with the energy that is necessary for its survival and healthy functioning. Due to physical or emotional trauma, bad posture or harmful habits and beliefs this energy can get trapped or blocked, causing physical and emotional dis-ease. Thai Yoga Massage with its amazing multitude of techniques and adjustments can release these blockages and bring the body back to its natural equilibrium where balance and wellbeing are present.
Thai Massage has always been closely linked with Buddhist meditation practice. A massage performed in this mindset allows the therapist to be intuitive, accepting and tuned in to the client’s needs –or quite simply to come from the heart. In this way, both giver and receiver will enjoy the treatment and leave with a sense of rejuvenation and peace.
The benefits of Thai Yoga Massage are countless. By freeing the flow of vital energy in the body, Thai Massage can improve posture, breathing, flexibility, digestion and circulation. Muscles are stretched, inner organs toned and emotional and nervous tension is reduced. Often a deep sense of peace can be experienced during and after a treatment. Although the main emphasis in the practice of Thai Yoga Massage is usually on prevention (as all disease manifests first on the energy level and can be treated there before it becomes physical), it can also be of great therapeutic benefit for a range of specific problems and conditions, such as headaches, back pain, digestive disorders, shoulder and neck tension, joint pain, menstruation problems, insomnia and other stress related conditions.
Ralf also teaches a practitioner training, where you can learn how to use Thai Yoga Massage therapeutically. Details on his website www.muditathaiyoga.com.