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Thai warrior massage is an ancient stretching technique that dates back to before the 13th century. It was practiced injured warriors returning from war and was not allowed for higher social hierarchies and royal families at the time, as the practice left no room for personal distance, raising concerns for the safety of the monarchy. However, it was widely practiced among the general public for physical pains and ailments.
Due to the westernization of the country from Siam to Thailand during the middle of the Rattanakosin Era (King Rama VI,1880-1925), the warrior massage was officially prohibited by the government, as it was considered primitive.
Teaching and practicing Thai warrior massage were forbidden in public sectors but continued privately among families. During the reign of King Rama IX, Bhumibol Adulyadej (195 to 2016), the King greatly supported all Thai holistic health practices and traditional medicine, including ancient Thai massage techniques.
In 1999, the Thai Patent Protection Act led to the establishment of the Thai Traditional Medicine Institute and the Ministry of Public Health, which has since revived ancient Thai (Siamese) warrior massage. This unique massage practice from Thailand focuses on stretching techniques known as Ruesri Datton (Thai Hermit Exercise) or in other word ---- yoga practice.
In a hot climate like Thailand as the weather allows us to do outdoor activities all year round. We engage in a lot of physical work such as agriculture and farming for food and basic survival. There are plenty of thing we can do out door, for fun and for survival.
Of course, we surely experience body aches at the end of the day from farming and agriculture, which is why we developed this healing art to soothe those physical pains, allowing us to return to the fields, as everyone needs to eat to survive.
Unlike North Americans or those living in colder climates, people in these regions do not get enough sunshine and vitamin D during the 4-5 months of winter. This can lead to depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts, especially for those raised in dysfunctional environments. That is why massage approaches in cold climates focus more on feel-good hormones and mental health, helping individuals feel better during winter months when many prefer to stay indoors, avoiding the harsh cold and snow.
All that being said, I do not view one approach as better or worse than the other. I see all massage techniques as a survival strategies that depend on the climate we live in. No one wants to experience pain or not enjoy their life, whether physically or mentally. The body, mind, and spirit work hand in hand, striving to balance their existence in the most harmonious way possible, right?
GLOBLE NETWORK
Thai massage, as most people understand it, can be described in other words as " Thai yoga massage," which physiotherapy has imitated. It is a self-stretching technique that one can practice individually to flex their muscles. However, many people do not know what stretching techniques fundamentally do to the human structure.
There are difference between self-stretching or individual yoga practice and Thai massage, even though they may look similar. Those who know, know.
From my over a decade of practicing Thai massage or Thai manual therapy, I can say that just stretching is not enough for those who have long-term chronic pain issues caused by built-up lactic acid and scar tissue, which leads to a lack of oxygen supply in the area.
Stretching techniques are beneficial for joint mobility and wellness to maintain good posture and alleviate minor soreness, but are not quite effective for chronic pain. Stretching alone, cannot eliminate lactic acid and lactate accumulates after physical activities over long periods.
That is why I prefer not to use the term "traditional Thai massage" when discussing my practice, to avoid misleading impression, that traditional Thai massage is all about stretching and joint mobility which is not quite true.
The term "traditional Thai massage" is use merely for marketing purposes without truly understanding its core principle nowadays. That lot of people thinking they know traditional Thai massage because they received Thai massage here and there in different countries they visited, believing the real traditional Thai massage must practice only on the floor with cloths on, no oil, accusing others who do not practice the way they know of, being not authentic nor traditional.
Traditional Thai massage is not solely about stretching the body on the floor, cloths on without oil. It can be practiced on a platform, table, futon, or bed, with and without oil or balm. The location, the set up does not matter; what matters is that you know what you are doing, why you are doing it, and what benefits the body will receive from the techniques used.
All of this misunderstanding—whether on the floor or table, with oil or without—is just a gimmick. It's not the core principle of traditional Thai massage practice. That I hope people stop associating the term "traditional Thai massage" with floor practice, dry massage, no-oil.
As I said, if you truly understand Thai massage in its depth, you will not use the term "traditional Thai massage" lightly.
GLOBLE MISSION
Though I am Thai and learned the Thai massage technique from many teachers in both Canada and Thailand, And have been actively practicing only Thai massage since I started a healer journey in 2013.
I personally don't like to use the term "traditional Thai massage" because I know my knowledge about Thai massage is very limited compared to the masters I learned from.
That I wish I could know more, do more, and be better than I was yesterday. To be truly skillful in particular field requires lifelong learning. The study does not just stop after we finished school, and I am still learning Thai massage technique to this day from any available sources.
I can say that what I know about Thai massage is just the icing on the cake. I prefer not to use the term "traditional Thai massage" because I know that what I'm practicing is part of it but not all of it.
However, what I practice is certainly authentic Thai massage that base on 10 Sen lines, or energy paths which reflex 10 human bodily systems, which are the core principles of Thai massage—which certainly not all about stretching, tables, no oil, and so on.
Of course I adapt my approach to suit North American climate and its regulations but still strictly focus on Thai massage 10 Sen lines and its components.
If a therapist study advanced Thai medical massage, he or she will understand why stretching techniques are good for general well-being but may not provide optimum outcomes when it comes to chronic pains and ailments. And I am not here to teach anyone how and why. If he/she want to know more, to do better, be better. I suggest to take a class at a reputable massage school. Studying is a long term self-investment and improvement. If you know, you know.
What I know?
Knowledge is expensive but not knowing is more expensive than the knowledge.
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