Thai Yoga Bodywork is an ancient form of bodywork that combines yoga, massage, and energy work. It is said to have originated in India and was brought to Thailand by a Buddhist monk over 2,500 years ago. Thai Yoga Bodywork is a very holistic form of bodywork that aims to balance the body, mind, and spirit.
What is Thai Yoga Bodywork?
It is an ancient healing system combining acupressure, Indian Ayurvedic principles and assisted yoga postures. The client is completely clothed in loose fitting clothing such as yoga clothes. This style of bodywork is performed on a cushioned mat on the floor where the therapist will be using their hands, feet, knees, and elbows to open up energy lines, and muscles.
What to Expect from a Thai Yoga Bodywork Session
With Thai massage, you can wear your own loose-fitting clothes, a loose cotton top and drawstring pants. You keep your clothes on throughout the massage.
Typically, you’ll lie on a mat or massage mattress on the floor, not on a massage table. Once on the mat, your body will slowly move through multiple stretches, using the weight and pressure of your therapist’s body to assist you.
Unlike a Swedish massage, oil isn’t used, and your muscles typically aren’t kneaded. Instead, your therapist will use their hands, thumbs, elbows, and knees to stretch, pull, and rock different parts of your body. They may even sit on you to stretch you into certain positions.
Some types of stretches may involve going through yoga-like movements with the therapist holding or pulling you to maintain a pose.
If your muscles are sore or tense, you may feel some discomfort. If you do, let your therapist know so the pressure and stretching can be reduced.
If you have an injury, or some part of your body is particularly sensitive to pain, be sure to let your therapist know before the start of your massage session.
A Brief History of Thai Yoga Bodywork
Traditional Thai Yoga Massage is a therapeutic technique of bodywork that was developed over 2,500 years ago by Jivaka Komarabhacca, a friend and physician to the Buddha and renowned as a healer in Buddhist tradition. When Buddhist monks and nuns migrated from India to Sri Lanka, Laos, Cambodia, Burma, and Thailand, they brought the knowledge of Thai Massage and medicine with them.
The Benefits of Thai Yoga Bodywork
The benefits of TYB include:
- Increased flexibility
- Relieves pain and muscle tension
- Improves range of motion
- Deep relaxation and relieves stress
- Improves range of motion
- Improves circulation and lymphatic flow
- Reduces headaches and increases energy level
Thai Yoga Bodywork is a great way to relieve stress, tension, and pain in the body. It’s also a great way to improve flexibility and circulation. Book your session with Kamati Wellness today.