History of nuat thai
Few people know this, but Thai massage is a holistic system of care that takes into account the energetic dimension of the patient. According to the Thais, the creator of traditional medicine and traditional massage would be Jīvaka Komārabhacca, a healer from the 5th century BC and personal physician of Buddha himself! This filiation is inherited from the Buddhist tradition theravāda and the birth of Thai therapies is obviously much more complex. The different techniques used would have arrived from India, along with Buddhism. Like traditional Thai medicine, Thai massage has been influenced by traditional Indian, Chinese and South Asian medicines. Thus, Thai nuat takes up the philosophy of the energy lines (meridians) of Indian ayurveda (the nadis), also present in Chinese medicine. These meridians are treated by pressing with the fingers, hands, feet, but also the elbow and knee. A contemplative attitude would allow a better communication between the practitioner and the patient. The masseur also stretches certain parts of the body with a technique influenced by the stretching techniques of yoga. Thai massage therefore combines energetic massage, meditation, acupressure and yoga postures assisted by the practitioner. Muay Thai fighters often use traditional massage to invigorate certain parts of the body, relieve muscle tension, and work on flexibility.
The practice
A massage session normally takes place as follows: the patient, who must wear loose and supple clothing, lies down on a thin mattress, like a Japanese futon, on the floor. It is common for several subjects to receive a massage in a large room. The subject must keep his clothes on during the session. Contrary to popular belief, the intensity of the massage varies according to the patient's needs. The contact between the practitioner and the subject is constant. A traditional session can easily exceed two hours. In a great rhythmic ballet, the whole body is stretched, pressed, and it even happens that the bones "crack"! The massage stimulates circulation and increases flexibility. The most erudite monks and therapists often combine Buddhist principles and encourage the meditative aspect. They do not hesitate to also give dietary and even spiritual advice, with the sole aim of the patient's well-being and personal development.
Where to get a massage?
If these techniques come from time immemorial, the traditional Thai massage is still very present in the daily life of the inhabitants of the kingdom. This practice is moreover recognized by the Thai Ministry of Health. Note that among the approximately 10,000 spas and massage centres in the country, a little less than half are officially certified by the ministry. Licensed therapists must have a minimum of 800 hours of training, have a professional license and be certified in courses approved by the Ministry of Health. Diplomas, if they exist, are usually hung in the reception hall
.For authentic traditional massages, it is best to turn to temple schools.The most famous is the Wat Pho temple in Bangkok, the cradle of traditional Thai medicine and massage. Several temples in the country also offer massages. The seaside resorts and tourist cities are riddled with salons and spas. The spas are often well equipped and also offer other types of massage (oil, aloe vera, relaxing, head and foot massage), but also other types of care (manicure, skin care, etc.). For spas, it is relatively easy to measure the seriousness of the spa, firstly by the prices charged, but also by the reputation of the establishment and the certification of the therapists. Some spas and massage parlours have several branches in one or more cities, they are generally trusted establishments. Waterfront hotels, resorts
and restaurants frequently offer massages on the beach, usually in a small wooden hut provided for this purpose. The qualifications of masseuses vary enormously, so you will have to trust your instincts or the experience of other travellers. Of course we do not recommend you the salons where the "masseuses" call the clients with an air you often hear in the streets in Thailand: "massage, massage"... No need to describe what kind of therapy these young ladies use! In general, the price of a session is relatively low, except in luxury salons; and it is recommended to have a massage at least once a week, guaranteed effectiveness!
