Thai healing art is akin to a “medicine basket” because it encompasses a diverse array of modalities that a practitioner can flexibly select and combine to create a customized, holistic treatment tailored to each client.
Let’s banish some additional myths that often hinder understanding of the modality.
It may seem like magic when an experienced Thai Massage practitioner applies the method. However, the most helpful and best sequence is one that is tailored to the recipient. The process of learning this may start with a memorized, cookie-cutter sequence, but as you gain more experience and continue to study and practice, you will get there too.
Although the use of a Masssage table is a recent apparition in the practice, the setting is not what determines if your practice is authentic. If it “works” it’s authentic.
The right way to do Thai Massage is to start superficially before we work deep, with the pure intention of providing benefit to the one we touch. You can start anywhere and use anything as an aid and be effective as long as you’ve got these things straight.
Throughout its history, traditional medicine practices in Thailand have been passed down locally, with variations from region to region in information and focus, rooted in lineage.
The Ministry of Public Health in Thailand has compiled information to develop a traditional medicine program offering government licensure over a 4-year period.
The four focus areas are traditional pharmacy, medicine, midwifery, and massage.
While all practitioners, regardless of prior training and experience, are encouraged to complete the degree program to earn licensure to practice, some doctors are already practicing within their lineages and systems of knowledge, locally and regionally across Thailand.
While overlap and standard theory exist among these various local systems, each lineage is considered whole unto itself.
Let’s map everything out.
