By Dr. Anthony James DM(P), ND, MD(AM), DPHC(h.c.)
Thai Yoga is comprehensive, sophisticated healing arts derivative of Theraveda Buddhism, Buddhist medicine, Buddhist Psychology, Theraveda Vipassana Bhavana, Classical Indian and Tibetan Ayurveda and Yoga Vedanta. It is not required that one become a Buddhist to practice this healing art, though it is helpful to understand Buddhist principles. It is more accurate to call this medicine by its traditional names like "ancient, anachronistic or Old Thai Way of Healing with The Hands,” but the slang form, “Thai Massage” is in use, and as long as this is so there will be some understandable confusion.
The type of traditional Thai Yoga therapy that most people will be exposed to is ráksãa thaang nûat (healing massage treatment). This is commonly known as the Nuat Thai or Nuad Boran styles of Thai Yoga therapy, spiritual massage, and healing work of Thailand.
The primary outcomes associated with the practice of Thai Yoga are called ProMiiWihan Sii ( Brahmavihara) or four divine, boundless sublime states of mind; Love, Compassion, Joy and Equanimity. As long as these four qualities are communicated, transmitted and exemplified during a session, it is considered to be successful. For this reason it is possible to have a Thai Yoga session with little or no actual touching!
In addition to the four divine states of mind we practice and perform Puja- a ritual healing process of prayer, affirmation and acknowledgement. We acknowledge the sacred space shared by client and Yogi, we honor and acknowledge the Bodhisattvas and progenitors of our way and teaching, and we “generate the Boddichitta,” the perfected mental processes of enlightened beings through Mantra recitation of OmNamoShivago, the Metta Sutra or anything else that invokes and invites the essence and energy of love and healing to move within ourselves and our client.
This prayerful and thoughtful meditation attunes powerful energies and petitions the sacred and symbolic metaphors of deities, ancient guides, and role models that provide the basis for all further communication and expression of Promiiwihan Sii.
The secondary outcomes are of lesser importance and may or may not share characteristics common to many forms of western massage such as effleurage (stroking and kneading the muscles), manipulation (manipulating or aligning osseous or skeletal parts) and pressure point or acupressure style technique (applying deep, consistent pressure to specific nerves, tendons, or ligaments and accupoints or Lom). In order to balance the functions of the four Dosha or body elements called thâat tháng sìi (Lom, Fai, Din, Naam), Thai Yoga incorporates elements of energetic and Prana assessment, mindfulness, gentle rocking, Asana positional release, deep stretching, focused breathing or Prana Yama, Chakra balancing, Prana Nadi or Sen line balancing and rhythmic compression to create a singular healing experience.
The Oklevueha Native American Church of SomaVeda, Inc. (ONACS), The SomaVeda College Natural Medicine and the Thai Yoga Center are representative of and support authentic Traditional Thai Medicine (TTM), Thai culture and healing arts. Our member instructors are directly authorized teachers, representatives and traditional lineage holders in several different traditional secular and Buddhist schools:
- UTTS (Union of Thai Traditional Medicine Society)
- Buddhai Sawan Institute Ayudthaya and Nongkam (famous for martial and healing arts for 900 years)
- Phra Wat Chetuphon (Buddhist Temple, Wat Po Traditional Thai Medical School...One of the oldest schools of traditional arts),
- Buntautuk Hilltribes Northern Provencial Hospital and Training Institute also known as "The Old Medicine Hospital of Shivago Komarpai."
- ITM (International Thai Massage, Chiangmai)
- Mama Lek Chaiya (Lek Chaiya Jap Sen Nuad, Chiangmai)
- The Foundation for the Blind
- Buddhist Temple Wat Sawankholok, School for the Blind
- Wangklaikangwon Industrial Community & Educational College program sponsored by HM. King Bhumibol, Anantasuk Thai Massage)
There are several other significant lineages, teachers and Grand Masters. Most important is the Buddhist medicine derived from the famous Saint Shivago (Jivaka). In the United States traditional lineage and teaching is primarily passed on via the educational programs of the Thai Yoga Center for SomaVeda in Plant City, FL. Additionally, we recognize all schools formally recognized by the Royal Thai Ministries of Health and of Education and The Union of Thai Traditional Medicine Society (UTTS) listed or not!
There are actually quite a few different traditional "schools" of Thai yoga massage. They range from the big university driven or supported programs of Bangkok, to the "family" style oral and traditional lineages of Thailand's Northern Hill Tribe people such as Karen, Lisu, Lahu, Mien and Akha People. Their influence is a growing factor in the modern expression of Thai Massage, especially in the North.
Thai Yoga is a colloquial or geographically distinctive system. Modern Thai yoga massage is a synthesis of several different regional variations based on location, region and in some cases the specific influence of a charismatic teacher. Traditionally there was mention of the “Seven Schools”. Of course there was not in the past only seven schools! Considering this was the primary medicine of millions of people for over a thousand years it is logical to assume there were many different schools in operation at one time or another. For example, every temple teaching or practicing these healing arts could have been considered a school and there were hundreds if not thousands of these over the years.
One of the well known traditional school in the north is The Buntautuk Northern Hill Tribe Medical Hospital or "The Old Medicine Hospital." Under the auspices of the late Grand Master Aajan Sintorn Chaichagun (Transitioned November 2005) it has become a national and international phenomenon. Teaching various levels of programs to Thai and falang (foreigner) alike, Aajan Sintorn was also famous for his daily recitation of the Pali Om Namo Shivago prayer and invocation for blessing. Twice each day he would lead the entire community in this rhythmic and beautiful traditional mantra for healing. In the north they say, “you don't know Thai Massage until you know this mantra!” Aachan Sintorn's best know student and Master teacher in the west is Anthony James of the SomaVeda syle.
Today the Wat Po Association of Traditional Doctors, member schools and Aachans or Master Instructors are bringing this work into the modern world. Famous schools and their head Masters such as Anantasuk Rongrian under both Phaa Kruu Anantasuk and Aachan Nantipa Anantasuk work with the King's Rajaprajanugroh projects to completely document the traditional medicine and preserve its rich heritage.
Northern Thailand is closer to main land China so there is more Chinese and Laotion influenced massage techniques. For example, a well known teacher and practitioner in Chiangmai, Mama Lek Chaiya and her family teach what is called nûat jàp sên (nerve-touch massage), a Chinese-style massage technique that works with the body's nerve meridians much like acupuncture. Some of the plucking techniques are reminiscent of Tuina and can be quite unpleasant. However, the ultimate aim of balancing the chi takes precedence over comfort!
It is important to remember that any and all applications of physical pressure are intended to convey ProMiiwihan Sii to balance and harmonize the thâat tháng sìi and Tri_dosha or Three Winds, Humors or energetically based body types. Thai yoga is a sophisticated system of exchanging love with pressure, just as a hug can convey care, consideration and love with physical pressure. It’s just that in Thai Yoga that loving embrace is conveyed with great detail and sophistication.
The practice of Thai Yoga is substantially based on principles of classical Ayurveda as described in the Caraka Samhita Sutra, Susrita Samhita Sutra, Gheranda Samhita, Atharvaveda, Pradipika, and Ramayana, without most of the overt references to Hindu deities. The philosophies and principles of these Ayurvedic texts have also been re-interpreted in Theraveda Buddhism. Two influential texts in the Theraveda system are the Buddha Dhama and the Vipassana Bhavanna. Ayurvedic practices emphasized in Thai yoga include Samkhya (Sanskrit= Satkhya), Creation Cosmology, Rajas, Satvas and Tamas, Dhatus, Doshas, Sen Lines (Prana Nadi), Lom (Wind Gates, Sanskrit= Marma), Pancha Karma, Asana, Prana Yama, and Mantra.
The four Thai Ayurvedic elements are: earth (din-solid parts of the body, including nerves, skeleton, muscles, blood vessels, tendons and ligaments); water (náam-blood and bodily secretions); fire (fai-digestion and metabolism); and air (lom-respiration, and circulation). Borrowing from India's Ayurvedic tradition, some practitioners employ Pali-Sanskrit terms for the four bodily elements: pathavidhatu, apodhatu, tecodhatu and vayodhatu. The book "Lines, Wheels, Points and Specific Remedies" covers this theory in detail.
Thai Yoga Massage and or Thai massage are systems of yoga therapy and all aspects Somaveda Thai Yoga follow Ayurvedic and yogic principles.
From the Ayudthaya period until early this century, the Thai government's Department of Health included an official massage division (phanâek mãw nûat). Under the influence of international medicine and modern hospital development, the responsibility for the national propagation/maintenance of temple based Thai Ayurveda was eventually transferred to Phra Wat Chetaphon (Wat Pho) in Bangkok, where it remains today. Traditional Yoga therapy has persisted in most of the provinces and there has recently been a resurgence of popularity throughout the country. The Wat Po system is divided into two completely separate and distinctive categories: the tourist massage pavilion and Tourist massage school, (Ronrian Sala Thaang Nuaat) and the School for traditional Medicine for training and certification of Maw Nuad (Massage Doctors). There are huge differences in the term and quality of training. For example, a tourist may receive an introductory massage certificate in as little as ten days, where the full program for Maw Nuad is twelve to fourteen semesters or four full years. In the United States we have many different levels of recognitions for Certified Thai Yoga/Massage Practitioners.
The Royal Thai Ministry of Health relies on the Union of Thai Traditional Medicine Society (UTTS) to formulate and maintain standards of practice and competency necessary for formal licensing of secular, non-religious professional Traditional Thai Medicine providers in the kingdom.
Within the traditional Thai medical context, a Thai Yoga massage therapist (mãw nûat, literally, 'massage doctor') usually applies Thai Yoga together with pharmacological (herbal) and/or psycho-spiritual treatments as prescribed for a specific problem or specific imbalance of the Dosha or winds and humors of the body, mind, and spirit. It is becoming quite popular for many Thais to also use traditional Thai Yoga as a tool for relaxation and disease prevention, rather than for a specific medical problem. However, once you leave the big city and move into the country you begin to see more reliance on the application as energy based medicine. This includes the resurgence and growing popularity of the self treatment regimes and Yoga practices of “Reusi Dotan” or Reishi Yoga.
Thai yoga, Thai Yoga massage and or Thai massage is not the same as "Massage,” “Massage Therapy," or "bodywork," as commonly defined in so-called "Massage Laws." The term "Thai Massage" is western slang, mostly promoted by tourists in Thailand. Although the use of the term is now common, it still is misunderstood and misused by the misinformed. It is easy to be confused when similar words are used, such as "Massage," but legally there are distinctions and differences in definitions.
Please note: In common English when we use the word "massage" we do not mean it in the same context as the typical western usage. In the west "Massage" means something like a "rub down" for money and is primarily referring to systems derived from Swedish Massage and Massage Therapy. "Thai Yoga and or Thai Massage" (Phaen Boran Ráksãa Thaang Nûat) is completely unrelated!
Legally words can have different meanings than words used in common, non-legal language. For example, "Massage and Massage Therapy" definitions are based on the practice of "Swedish massage." "Swedish Massage" is new (less than one hundred years) in European and American culture. According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine "The term "massage therapy" encompasses many different techniques (see box for examples). In general, therapists press, rub, and otherwise manipulate the muscles and other soft tissues of the body. They most often use their hands and fingers, but may use their forearms, elbows, or feet".
Compare this definition with the definition given for what is Thai Yoga at the beginning of this article “Thai Yoga is comprehensive, sophisticated healing arts derivative of Theraveda Buddhism, Buddhist medicine, Buddhist Psychology, Theraveda Vipassana Bhavana, Classical Indian and Tibetan Ayurveda and Yoga Vedanta. “
Thai yoga massage sounds similar to Western-style massage at first glance, but what is not mentioned in the proceeding definition is that Thai yoga massage is a spiritually based system of healing and movement education (Yoga). It is based entirely on principles of energy balancing (Sen, Tri-Dosha, Lom, Chakra etc.) and the actual touching, contact or soft tissue manipulation is incidental to, and not the central aim of the practice! I want to emphasize this statement again “It is possible to have a Thai Yoga session with little or no actual touching”. However, touching is good! This work brings fundamental elements and energy into harmony and creates wholeness of mind, body and spirit.
Thai yoga massage is a spiritually based Somatic technique and profession, a modality with standards established in the Buddhist holistic centers and temples thousands of years ago. It has an established code of ethics known as the Buddha Dharma, The Eight Fold Path, Ahimsa (non-violence) and the "Ten Rules of the Healer." There is an established criterion for education and professional practice for services that were never intended to be "Massage" or "Massage therapy."
Where Can I Learn Thai Yoga and Thai Massage?
1) ONACS provides a registry of approved schools and teachers of Thai Yoga and Thai Massage. Thai Yoga and Thai Massage Directory
ONACS Members are legally entitled to practice Thai yoga massage in all fifty states without requiring any special licensing. Of course that means as long as what is practiced is not in violation of existing medical laws or that the practice is under the umbrella of an expressive private membership association or recognized church or ecclesiastical authority or organization. We are happy to answer any questions that you have pertaining to the legal practice of our energetic and spiritually based art of healing and transformation.
2) The SomaVeda College of Natural Medicine and The Thai Yoga Center: SCNM and the Thai Yoga Center offer courses from 200 hours to over 5000hours with sponsored classes in US, Thailand, India, West Indies and Ecuador currently. In the US today the traditional lineages of Thai Yoga and Thai Massage are passed on through the Mastery and teaching of Aachan Anthony B. James DM(P), ND, MD(AM). Aachan James, after 30 plus years of extensive devotion, practice and research brings several different and complimentary traditional lineages to life. Dr. James is Pastoral Clergy and Member of SMOKH as we as a Tribal member of O.N.A.C. (Oklevueha Native American Church branch SomaVeda)
To learn more about the Thai Yoga Center and SomaVeda Institute Click Here!
SomaVeda™ Thai Yoga is the core modality of our certificate and degree programs. Other elements include but are not limited to Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Native American and Western Nature Cure or Naturopathy.
If this all sounds interesting to you and you would like to experience SomaVeda™ Thai Yoga on a first hand basis, then consider taking one of our certification courses or joining one of our famous Thailand Externship Programs. We have been providing quality access to Thailand, Thai yoga massage and Thai Culture for over 25 years. Our programs feature extensive hands on massage training and internationally recognized certification as well as great exposure to the country and the people through our Eco-Tour, country survey style approach. Join us for the adventure of a lifetime!
For more information on educational materials by this author see the Yoga Therapy bookstore at BeardedMedia.Com. If you think your friends would benefit from this information please have them subscribe to our newsletter!
For additional Articles on SomaVeda Thai Yoga and Thai Massage Click Here!
See below for a free lesson on Puja by Aachan James.
If this all sounds interesting to you and you would like to experience this on a first hand basis, then consider taking one of our certification courses or joining one of our famous "Thailand Externship Programs". We have been providing quality access to Thailand, Thai Yoga and or Thai Massage and Thai Culture for over 30 years. Our programs feature extensive hands on massage training and internationally recognized certification as well, as great exposure to the country and the people through our Eco-Tour , country survey style approach. Join us for what may become your lifetime adventure! For more information on this incredible opportunity click here!
For additional Articles on Thai Yoga and Thai Massage Click Here!
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This page last updated 12/15/2012