Website & contents
© In A Crystal Garden 2005-7
No part of this website may be reproduced without permission.
Website by
The Creative Team
Like Indian Head Massage, Thai Massage, including Thai Foot Massage (TFM), has its roots in ancient Ayurvedic traditions, the first written records of which date back some 5,000 years. The first records of specifically Thai Massage were recorded in the Pali language of early Buddhist texts, which appeared around 500 - 400 years BCE, based on knowledge handed down through the ancient oral traditions. Then, practitioners of the art were Buddhist monks, and this is still the case in parts of Thailand today.
Similar to TCM, Thai Massage recognises energy lines or meridians (‘Sen’) and pressure points within the body and it is these that the practice focuses on to help rebalance the body, both physically and energetically. However, there are around 72,000 Sen lines which is substantially more than in TCM, and they are not linked to specific TCM Organs but simply flow through the form of the body. Also, Thai pressure point work is not as focussed as in TCM, and is in many ways more akin to Western trigger point therapy in releasing particular areas of tightness and tension. The purpose of Thai massage is activation of the Sen lines in order to bring about relaxation, improved circulation of the blood and lymph, improved muscle tone, loosening of the joints, and an overall sense of wellbeing.
TFM works on a similar principle to reflexology, in that areas on the sole of the foot are recognised as being linked to other distant parts of the body or to specific organs. Applying massage techniques and directed finger pressure to these points can produce a range of benefits, including better circulation of blood and lymph, reduced tension and stress, pain relief, and detoxification. It is important to note that the area ‘map’ is different to that of reflexology; it is nearer an equivalent map in TCM but still has some differences.
It should be noted that TFM does in fact start at the hips and includes work on the thighs, calves and ankles as well as the feet – the understanding being that the supporting musculature of the lower body is all interlinked, and thus each part should be treated in sequence to achieve the best results.
TFM is meant to be practiced with a certain amount of energy and vigour and is a more robust form of massage than is often expected (the very firm Swedish massage, for example, is directly based on Thai massage). The therapist’s body weight serves as the pressure force, although client needs and requirements are of course taken into consideration.
Treatment can take place either on the floor – which traditional methods prefer – or on a couch. As treatment starts at the hips loose comfortable clothing (baggy pants) should be worn. Feet should be clean and bare. In the initial session the therapist will take a verbal medical history and will then commence treatment, which usually lasts for about 35 - 40 minutes.
As with all therapeutic treatments, clients are advised to drink plenty of water afterwards, and to take it easy in the immediate post-treatment period. Local mild stiffness or headache not uncommon after a TFM session because of the release of toxins in previously tense muscles, but should resolve themselves soon afterwards.