Art Of Fingers--Thai Ancient Massage

Massage in America has 'suddenly' become quite mainstream and acceptable. Indeed, one of America's fastest growing service industries is the day spa, which among other services commonly features massage. Massage schools have proliferated across the country. Twenty years ago, who in their right mind would have predicted that massage schools would be in places like Huntington, West Virginia or Fayetteville, Arkansas. Even more amazing is that more and more insurance companies are re-imbursing patients for massage services.

For the majority of Americans, a massage is simply a massage: techniques for rubbing the body for relaxation and stress relief. Practitioners and students of massage and those individuals who have become connoisseurs of massage know that a massage is not simply a massage. Massage encompasses a wide range of techniques. Some massage procedures are not very relaxing, even painful at times. Certain types of massage can be more invigorating and stimulating than relaxing. Various forms of massage utilize hot stones, cold and hot packs and other forms of tools that function to facilitate the therapeutic effects. Other types of massage use no oils or lotions and are given with the client fully clothed. Some massage practitioners apply techniques with their feet, elbows and knees in addition to their hands. Clearly, massage is a many faceted phenomenon.

Thai Massage is referred to by many names in the holistic community some of them include Ancient Thai Massage, Yoga Massage, and in native Thailand it is known as " Nuad Phaen Boran".

The origin of Thai Ancient Massage or " Nuad Phaen Boran " (a type of Thai massage that involves stretching and deep massage) traces back to the time of Yogic and Ayurvedic medicine existing 2500 years ago, at the time of the historical Buddha. The Thai word 'Nuad' means to touch with the intention of imparting healing. The word 'Bo'Rarn', derived from the Sanskrit language, means something that is ancient, sacred and revered. Clearly, the intention is to describe something that encompasses a Western notion of massage, but extends far beyond a description of a series of techniques applied to the surface of the body.

The credit for the development of Thai Massage as a medical practice goes to a famous Indian doctor named Dr Shivago Komarpaj, who was the personal physician of the Buddha and the monks in the monasteries of the time. His name is mentioned in the traditional writings of Theravada Buddism which views him as "the father of medicine".

Through the centuries the monks, who were the practitioners of medicine, transmitted to Thailand both Buddhist practices and Ayurvedic medicine which eventually became an integral part of Thai culture. The generations of experience and knowledge learnt and passed down, through feeling and intuition, has made Thai Massage one of the four principal components of traditional thai medicine, along with nutrition, herbal medicine and spiritual practice. Thai Massage, infact, traditionally incorporates two kinds of meditations: a metta meditation of loving kindness and compassion and a vipassana meditation of insight, which focuses on the receiver's body.