New Service: Thai Massage
Like most helpful modalities that come to us from the East, there’s some confusion over the beginnings and how it all got started. Thai Massage is no different. We think it originated in India around the time of the Buddha with a great and legendary physician, Jivaka Kumar Bhaccha. This was all about 2500 years ago, and it wasn’t until the 1980s that Thai Massage made its way to the United States.
And now it’s in Erie, thanks to the studious passion and curiosity of our therapist, Tammy Moon, who has been researching and diligently studying Thai Massage on her own and with various teachers of the lineage for the past three years.
One of the main differences between Thai Massage and others is its emphasis not so much on muscle but on lines of energy that are believed to run through the body. These lines of energy are called sens, much like the meridians of traditional Chinese Medicine. There are over 72,000 sen in the body.
The first thing you’ll notice is that Thai Massage is not done on a table but rather on the floor. No worries… it’s done on a super comfie, thick roll out sort of mattress (a lot like what you’d find on a really good futon).
Secondly, You’ll also be fully clothed so wear something you would wear to stretch or exercise in.
The third thing you’ll notice pretty quickly is that the massage therapist uses much more of her body and manipulates yours above and beyond what might typically happen on a table. You could think of it as gentle assisted stretching. If you’re familiar with yoga, you’ll notice some similarities to the sorts of stretches your therapist uses.
Besides deep massage and assisted stretching, your therapist will also use pulling of your fingers, toes, and ears. It’s truly full body.
My favorite thing about Thai Massage is being able to connect with clients in a different way than my typical massage. Working the muscles, joints and energy at the same time is a wonderful experience. The stretches alone are fascinating and exhilarating to do. (Tammy Moon)
Thai massage benefits include:
Deep relaxation. Some find this technique even more relaxing than others regardless of how much your body is being moved about.
Because of the stretching, it’s extra good for circulation and for moving lymph.
It’s effective for stress relief.
Improves your sleep.
Because of the yoga-like stretching, you can expect, over time, improved range of motion.
And again, because of the stretching, you might be sore following Thai Massage. Drink plenty of water, rest, and use something like arnica cream to alleviate any lasting aches.
