Thai Massage & Thai Healing Arts

Practice, Culture and Spirituality

Bob Haddad

• Publisher: Findhorn Press
• Year: 2013
• ISBN:
  9781844099061
• Topic: Medicina
• Subtopic: Medicina alternativa y complementaria

This fascinating anthology presents a much wider scope than other books on Thai massage, and uncovers a wealth of previously unavailable information on the historical, spiritual, and cultural connections to this powerful healing art. Topics include ways to refine and maintain a healthy practice, breathwork and body mechanics, self-protection techniques, reading body language, acupressure concepts, and Thai herbal compress therapy. The spiritual and cultural section offers modern translations of ancient texts, Indian and Buddhist influences, magic amulets and sacred tattoos, and accessory modalities such as reusi dat ton (stretching) and tok sen (hammering therapy). Rounding out this thorough text, the final section features essays about actual practice with clients, written by therapists and teachers from around the world. The extensive experience and information provided in this reference book is invaluable to students or practitioners who wish to deepen their personal and professional understanding of traditional Thai healing arts.

Section 2

Mastery of
Practice

The Care and Feeding of Your
Thai Massage Practice

BOB HADDAD

When we first begin to study Thai massage, we are often most concerned about memorizing the basic sequences that we learn from our teachers. As we become familiar with techniques and sequences, we settle into patterns that seem comfortable for us. Here is where problems can begin. Without continued guidance, ongoing study, and feedback from our colleagues and clients, we are prone to get stuck in the patterns we develop for ourselves, whether or not they are effective for our clients or healthy for us in the long term.

This essay presents ideas that may be helpful to deepen your work as you progress in your learning and practice. These include practical considerations such as maintaining your room and altar, using props, marketing and advertising ideas, and client maintenance tips such as record keeping, maintaining boundaries, and offering self-care recommendations. Finally, I offer suggestions about developing your work through ongoing study and refinement of techniques. Maintaining flow, moving gracefully, working slowly, supporting and locking clients in place, using sensing and intuition during a session – these are all signs of an advanced Thai massage practitioner. I hope the information offered here is interesting and helpful.

Tools for effective practice

Your practice room

Your Thai therapy room is a sanctuary – a sacred healing space for your clients and for yourself – and it should be equipped and maintained for that purpose. It is best to use the room only for treatments, yoga, meditation, and similar activities, but if this isn’t possible due to space limitations, try to carry out your Thai work in one area and allow for other activities to take place in a different part of the room. In large rooms such as yoga studios or in multipurpose spaces, a private area can be demarcated using a folding screen or a large piece of fabric hung from the ceiling. Privacy is important, so keep your space protected, secure, and comfortable.

Keep the room clean, always remove shoes before entering, and clear the energy from one session to the next by opening windows to allow air circulation, spraying a natural fragrance (see later in this section), and changing sheets and pillow cases regularly. An unscented candle can also help to burn away lingering odors.

The mat

A wide variety of mats may be used for traditional Thai massage. In many cases, your choices will be limited to space restrictions and the accessibility of materials. Naturally, you should choose a mat that is comfortable to work on and practical for your surroundings.

An important factor to consider is whether you, as the therapist, wish to work mostly on the mat or off the mat. The size and height of the mat determines your ability to position yourself in relationship to your client, and it also affects your balance. My preference is to work at the same level as the client, whenever possible, and I suggest that you try to work “on” the mat as much as possible.

I find that when I am sitting or kneeling even one inch lower than my client, I have to constantly adjust my balance and body posture in order to compensate for the difference in height. If the mat is too small, a therapist may have to keep one foot on the mat and the other foot off the mat. This can contribute to instability. In my opinion, most of the commercial Thai massage mats on the market today are too small for effective Thai therapy. Some of them are also quite expensive. If you have enough space and you generally don’t travel to give your sessions, consider using a very large mat.

High-density foam rubber is a practical and economical mat substance. Depending on the density, 1-2 inches in height will be sufficient. High-density foam is often dark in color, and is used in furniture and automobile upholstery. An even harder variety is used to pad surfaces such as gymnasiums and recreational areas. It can be bought through foam distributors, upholsterers, or exercise companies. The surface should be comfortable but quite firm. If your room is large enough, use the widest mat possible, either queen size or king size (193 x 203 centimeters / 76 x 80 inches). The foam can be placed on top of a large rug or in a room with wall-to-wall carpeting and then covered by a large cotton sheet with the ends tucked underneath. If you are working on a hard surface such as cement or ceramic tile, consider using gymnasium padding as a base; place a rug or a large piece of carpeting directly underneath, to keep the area as clean and warm as possible. On a medium-hard surface such as a wooden floor, a rug may also be used underneath, one that is bigger than the mat itself. If you are working in a room where there is plush wall-to-wall carpeting, you may be able to use a large “mattress topper” as your mat. “Memory foam” is now widely available, and it is reasonably priced. This type of foam adapts to the relative shape and weight of each individual, and it is extremely comfortable to lie on, but only when the surface underneath is fairly soft. If it is placed on top of a thick rug or on a sheet of high-density foam, it can work very well as a Thai therapy mat. If you travel to give sessions, a variety of fold-up and roll-up mats are available, and most of these are made of foam or cotton.

A comfortable and well-equipped practice room

Pillows

For supine position

Pillows of several sizes are important for your practice. Consider using small, thin pillows for the head, such as those that are supplied by airline companies for long flights. Generally speaking, it is best to not use a thick pillow for your client’s head in supine position. A thick pillow can raise the neck to an unnatural position and can minimize free flow of oxygen. It also gets in the way and crimps the neck when you perform techniques such as plow, or do leg compressions toward the upper torso. If your client doesn’t need or want a pillow for their head, don’t use one.

For side position

For working in side position, however, an extra large and very thick pillow for the head is important. The large width allows you to turn the client on her side, and still give her plenty of pillow support. The extra height provides natural ergonomic support when the client is in side-lying position, and it keeps the neck and spine straight. Many people need extra support in side position, so keep another large pillow in the room to wedge against the client’s stomach and to keep him from slipping toward the floor. Tubular pillow rolls, such as those used underneath the knees in table massage, are also helpful to wedge into the stomach and to place between the client’s extended arms while in side-lying position. Large oversized pillows and foam bolsters are important when you work with pregnant women.

For prone position

Most people can tolerate short periods with their necks twisted to one side in prone position, but a small pillow placed under the collarbone can lift the upper torso slightly, and allow the person to rest his chin or forehead on the mat without having to twist his neck to one side. For longer periods in prone position you might try using a “doughnut” pillow or a sloping foam pillow, which is specially designed with side air vents for the purpose of lying on the stomach. These are available at bedding stores and on the Internet.

For leg and knee support

After finishing leg and lower torso work in supine position, Thai therapists usually proceed to the abdomen, chest, and other parts of the upper anterior body. Before you begin working on the stomach, consider placing a pillow roll under your client’s knees. This elevates the upper legs and the sacrum a bit, and it provides a more comfortable position for the client to receive work on the upper body. Tubular or half-moon-shaped pillows work well. Massage supply stores carry several varieties, but I find that the plastic-covered ones are sometimes too cold and rigid. I use cloth-covered tubular pillows that I stuff with cotton or fiber fill to the desired firmness. If you can’t find a suitable tubular pillow where you live, roll up an extra-large bath towel and place it under the knees.

Keep several small pillows nearby to support your clients’ knees when compressing and butterfly-pressing in “tree” position. Foam rubber bolsters covered with cotton work well. I also keep a few small round cushions, which work perfectly under the knees when extra support is needed.

Blankets and covers

I almost always use lightweight covers during my work. As we work in nuad boran, we help to move energy from one part of our client’s body to another, and this energy movement often results in extremities such as the hands and feet becoming cold. Because of this, and especially in colder climates and during the winter, it’s important to keep our clients warm as we work. Light, natural fabrics such as rayon, silk, or light cotton, usually work best as coverings.

I keep a variety of rayon sarongs nearby, which I use to cover parts of the body that are not being touched. Since we begin Thai massage at the feet and legs, it’s often helpful to cover the upper torso until we start working there. Light sarongs provide a layer of warmth, and allow the client to keep their arms and hands under the cover, while feeling pampered and secure. When you finish working on the legs, and you move to the abdomen and upper torso in supine position, you can slide the cover down over your client’s feet and legs. You may not be touching them there for many minutes, and they could easily become cold. In cold weather, or in drafty or damp locations, a heavier blanket may be more appropriate, but avoid wool or other materials that might cause itching or allergic reactions.

Tissues, towels, and clock

It’s a good idea to keep a box of tissues in your treatment room for hygienic needs and for occasional emotional responses. Keep a small towel nearby to dry hands if they become sweaty. If possible, keep an electric clock in your room, or one that doesn’t make a ticking noise, which could be distracting to you and your clients.

Accessory tray or bowl

Keep a small tray on the floor near the head of the mat, where your client can put jewelry, watches, and accessories. Keep a few elastic hair ties in the tray so you can tie back long hair, especially when you work with your client in sitting position.

Water and tea

Pour a fresh glass of water for each client and one for yourself before each session. Keep them nearby, but out of the way of the work area. Plastic, rather than glass, is best for the practice room.

I remember that I felt pampered when I was first served herbal tea immediately after a Thai session. If you have hot water handy, or if you prepare a thermos of herbal tea each day, your clients will probably appreciate a cup before they leave. Don’t pre-sweeten the tea, but put a small sugar cube on the tray if you wish.

Balm, talc, and nam ob Thai

Massage oils are not generally used in nuad boran, but several types of balms and creams may be used on the feet, and at the end of the session while working on the shoulders, neck, and face. Thai analgesic balms, made of eucalyptus, peppermint, and camphor are excellent for applying to sore muscles, problem areas, and even to the feet, but remember to wash and dry your hands immediately after applying them to your client’s body and before you continue the session. Keep some water and a hand towel nearby, or use a commercial sanitizing gel from a pump bottle.

Unscented talcum powder can be helpful for sweaty hands, feet, and bodies. I sometimes find it helpful to sprinkle a little talc on my hands if I do an abdominal massage directly on the skin. If you have sweaty hands or feet, apply unscented talc to them before working.

A lightly scented herbal balm, made from a base of beeswax, is excellent for finishing touches on the neck, face, and forehead, when the client is in final supine position. Just a small dab on the third eye area of the forehead can help you work the entire face. Unscented or lightly scented cream or lotion may also be used.

After I finish working the face and giving a head massage, I like to anoint my client’s face and head with a bit of nam ob Thai, a lightly scented perfume water. Sprinkle a few drops in your hands, and gently refresh your client’s face and hair in a soft, stroking fashion before you offer your final wai and leave the room. If you can’t find nam ob Thai, you may consider rose water, orange water, or iris water, which are available from food and baking distributors or ethnic grocery stores.

Your altar

An altar is an essential feature of your practice room, and it should hold items of guidance and spiritual focus. Thai massage altars in Thailand usually contain statues or images of the Buddha and Jivaka, candles, incense, flowers, and other spiritual items. Whatever you use as a stand, plat...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Contents
• Preface
• One: Introduction
• Two: Mastery of Practice
• Three: Spiritual and Cultural Connections
• Four: Thai Therapists Speak
• Glossary
• Selected Bibliography
• Photo and Illustration Credits
• Author and Contributing Writers