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My Journey as a Thai Yoga Massage Therapist
After nine years of working with massage therapy, I started studying Thai yoga massage as a way to diversify and expand my professional knowledge. It was a foreign concept—one that I was only vaguely familiar with—but I quickly discovered that this specific approach to massage has tremendous healing power. Now, I really love it!
I feel that I’ve developed my intuition as a therapist, not only for Thai massage but many other types of therapies. I’ve come to fully understand that no two bodies are the same, so every massage is unique and should be tailored to each individual.
After receiving a Thai massage, people often comment, “Wow! You are skinny but so strong.” But the truth is, I’m not really as strong as they think.
I just use my body weight instead of my muscle power. I simply shift my body weight onto my palms, thumbs, and knees to apply pressure. My body is actually very relaxed during a session, and every movement is coordinated with my breath, which helps me calm my mind and allow for energy to flow.
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Brief History of Thai Yoga Massage
Traditional Thai massage dates back to about 2,500 years ago. Due to its geographic location, Thailand has been influenced by China and India in several aspects such as religion, culture, and medicine. A typical Thai massage blends a massage system from Thailand with traditional medicine systems of India, China, Southeast Asia, and yoga. With Thai massage borrowing so much from Indian yoga traditions, it’s often referred to as Thai yoga massage.
But what is Thai yoga massage?
It’s a deep, full-body treatment that begins at the feet and ends at the head. Using a sequence of gentle, flowing exercise movements, the therapist moves the client’s body in ways that increase muscle flexibility and joint range of motion.
This unique type of massage also restores the flow of energy throughout the body—with applied acupressure on the Zen energy lines of the body, aimed at harmonizing and energizing.
Thai Yoga Massage Benefits
Thai yoga massage differs from a regular massage in that the client is fully dressed and no oils are applied. Instead, it incorporates many yoga postures, like forward bends, backbends, spinal twists, cobra, locust, and more.
This dynamic therapy offers many benefits:
- Helps detoxify the body and boosts the immune system
- Increases blood circulation and lowers blood pressure
- Great for muscle relaxation, increases flexibility in muscles and increases mobility
- Improves posture, balance, corrects body alignments and dissolves energy blocks
- Helps tone the body, strengthens joints and fights diseases including chronic joint problems
- Reduces and relieves stress and anxiety
- Helps boost energy levels
When I perform Thai yoga massage, I enter a meditative state and feel as though everything is flowing. A 90-minute treatment passes very quickly and when it’s over, the client and myself feel relaxed yet totally energized.
The greatness of this therapy is all about giving and receiving. And that’s what to expect from a Thai yoga massage.
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About the Author
After earning her Physical Therapy degree from the University of Santa Paula in 2005, Marcela came to the Osa Peninsula. “At first, I thought it would be for a year maybe” but, experiencing the energy from the rainforest, the pristine beaches, the amazing wildlife, and the people of Osa, made her decision to stay easy.
With a philosophy of working for the people as a whole, body-mind-spirit, Marcela applies a holistic approach to her Spa Services.
She weaves sounds, colors, fragrances, and natural ointments while employing the healing power of the human touch to rejuvenate.
Transformative describes the sense of well-being experienced in aThai Yoga Massage session with Marcela, whose small frame belies the strength of her hands, heart, and soul.
