Brief history of Thai massage

Thai massage is a precious heritage from the ancient Thai ancestors, it became an important part of the treatment already at that time and it has not been forgotten even today. More than 2500 years ago, it was already used in Asian countries, where its various techniques were perfected. Take a look into its history with us.

What do the legends say?

It is believed that the foundations of Thai massage were laid by Jivaka Kumar Baccha (Shivago Kompara), a friend of the Buddha who had a wide knowledge of medicine. To date, many Thai healers agree that Shivago invented the system of Thai traditional medicine, and more than one Thai masseur has statues, pictures or paintings of him in their parlour as a sign that they hold his teachings in deep esteem.Thailand, and the Eastern world in general, is more religiously oriented, and masseurs pray to Jivago before a massage, asking for his help to ensure that the massage will have an effect and bring relief and relaxation to the client.

Experts state that Thai medicine stems from rural and royal traditions.
The royal tradition of Thai medicine is said to have developed in the royal court, showing the influence of India, China and Muslim countries. Ayurveda was also a major influence. On the other hand, there is the rural tradition, which has been passed down by word of mouth from generation to generation and thus relies on informal methods of education.

Although it is clear that the development of techniques and practices took place in Thailand, the real origins of Thai massage are to be found in India. In general, the association with the yoga philosophy is another reason for the view that India was its cradle.

Principles of Thai massage

Thai massage is very different from other massage therapies, which are dedicated to massage on the holo with the help of herbal or essential oils. Of course, there are more types of Thai massages that have different techniques, but now we are talking about the traditional one. This is a dry massage and no oils are used in it. For a traditional Thai massage, it is typical to stretch the muscles and rhythmically squeeze the acupressure points.

Massage therapists use not only their palms, but also their fingers, forearms, elbows and even the soles of the feet. Pressure, tension, and special movement techniques improve circulation, relieve tension, and clients improve body flexibility. Thai massage incorporates the principles of yoga and emphasizes stretching for therapeutic benefits. Interestingly, it balances energy imbalances and helps the Chi energy flow better. There are several massage techniques and set-ups that are always tailored to the health condition of the particular client.

Health benefits of Thai massage