Yoga and Thai Massage Share the Same Roots

Thai Massage and yoga are part of the same family. Thai massage was introduced in Thailand by a physician from India who was a contemporary of Buddha. What he brought with him was his knowledge of yoga and yoga therapy. The term Thai Yoga Massage is actually more appropriate, but it is only used by western therapists.



First, yoga did not make it in Thailand. Thailand does have a version of yoga, but it never became popular and hardly anyone practices it. So the Thai Massage arrived along with the yoga, but the massage flourished and the yoga disappeared into oblivion. Recently Thailand has been experiencing a renaissance of yoga, but it was introduced by westerners who set up quite a few yoga centers in the tourist areas of the country. Only in the last few years have the Thais started to take an interest in the Indian version of yoga, and now there are also yoga schools for Thais.



The Thais and the foreigners don't usually study in the same yoga schools. Why is that? One reason is the language barrier, and another reason is that the Thais approach yoga as well as life in general in a more relaxed, easy going way, whereas westerners take their yoga practice very seriously. Thais opt to do their yoga practice in a more relaxed and social environment compared to the often more serious and intense western schools.



Who is responsible for popularizing Thai massage in the last 15 years? For thousands of years massage and herbal medicine were standard and effective treatments in Thailand until modern medicine appeared on the scene. Over time Thai massage became less popular. It was resurrected by foreigners who were fascinated by this unique healing art. They began to write books about it, they produced Thai massage videos, and opened Thai massage schools.



The decoupling of Thai yoga massage from yoga had led to a degeneration of the quality of this healing art. For many centuries it was mainly practiced in the temples by monks. When it moved out into mainstream society in the last few decades, it often turned into a come-on for the sex industry. But this was counteracted to some degree by western therapists who began to take a lot of interest in this new and exotic healing art. They reintroduced yoga principles, and created a huge demand by westerners for Thai massage education and treatments in Thailand. There are countless Thai massage schools in Thailand, almost all of them catering exclusively to foreigners.



The newfound popularity of Thai massage benefited the Thai tourism industry, and as a result the government took steps to raise standards, license therapists and schools, and establish training requirements for Thai massage therapists.



Thai massage can be used as a purely physical system of stretches, manipulations and pressure points. But by adding yoga principles to the massage, it can be elevated to a real healing art. Mindfulness, awareness of one’s own body and the client’s body, working from one’s "hara", the energetic center right behind the navel, awareness of one’s breath, conscious channeling of healing energy, and an increased sensitivity of touch all greatly increase the quality and effectiveness of the treatment.



Thai massage is much more than a system of massage techniques. When yoga principles are combined with Thai massage, it connects this ancient healing art with its roots. It is a perfect combination. After all, they share the same origins and are therefore members of the same family.