Surely every person heard something about Thai massage. But very often people have superficial knowledge about this event. They are not ready to explain what Thai massage is, what are its advantages. But is it really as useful as they say about it?
So, let's figure out what is Thai massage? And how to do it yourself.
Characteristic of the procedure
It is impossible to unequivocally answer what Thai massage is. After all, this is a whole art that allows you to favorably influence a person.
Thai massage is used to improve the physical and mental state of the body.
It combines various methods of exposure. It:
- passive yoga;
- acupuncture;
- stretching;
- reflexology.
Thai massage technique has been developed for centuries in the countries of Southeast Asia, based on religious and philosophical teachings.
So what is Thai massage? This is an integral part of Thai medicine, which heals not only the body, but also the spirit and mind of a person. Along with massage, it uses herbal medicine, spiritual practices and proper nutrition.
It is this technology:
- gives flexibility to joints;
- improves posture;
- relieves pain;
- stimulates blood circulation;
- relieves fatigue;
- calms the nervous system.
Two types of Thai massage are used:
- jap sen - pressure on certain points to relieve tension and cleanse the body;
- stretching - to increase flexibility.
The benefits of the procedure
Thai massage, the photo of which allows you to get an idea of the event, is primarily the creation of harmony between body and soul. When pressing on the active points, relaxation occurs. Energy circulation is restored.
The use of Thai massage helps with fatigue, headaches, acts on the deep subcutaneous layers, restoring skin elasticity and smoothing wrinkles.
Contraindications
Before doing a Thai full body massage, make sure that it does not cause harm to health. Do not forget that the basis of the event is a medical procedure - massage. And he has contraindications. Therefore, before starting the course, you should consult a doctor.
Thai massage is strictly contraindicated in:
- malignant tumors;
- cardiovascular failure;
- gangrene
- thrombosis;
- tuberculosis
- acute renal failure;
- acute inflammation;
- injuries
- arterial disease;
- blood vessel aneurysm;
- mental illness;
- atherosclerosis;
- HIV infection
- osteomyelitis;
- allergies.
Under local restrictions, certain areas of the body can be handled with caution or completely abandoned massage in these places.
Key recommendations
If you want to try to do Thai massage yourself, photos and recommendations will help you perform the procedure correctly.
But it’s important to consider a few tips for the best impact before the event:
- Do not massage immediately after eating. And also in the event that the patient experiences a feeling of hunger. The best time for the procedure is 2 hours after eating.
- All conversations during the massage are prohibited.
- The pain during the procedure should not be severe.
- The room should be maintained at a comfortable temperature.
- Do not massage under stress.
Now consider the main directions of this procedure
Traditional Thai massage (nuad thai)
With this procedure, the patient lies on the floor, on the mattress. A masseur affects the body not only with his hands, but also with his elbows, legs and knees.
Massage with herbal bags (nuad prakop samunray)
This is a rather interesting procedure. With this type of Thai massage, a herbal compress is used. It is done before the procedure.
Healing herbs are wrapped in coarse tissue. They are kept above the steam until the temperature of the nodule rises.
Masseur presses on the muscles with a warm bag. Thus, he warms them up and prepares them for the next procedure. Heat helps open the pores through which healing herbs act on the body. In this case, Thai massage will provide much more benefits. The technique of the procedure will be discussed in detail below.
Reflexology
What does this procedure mean? Reflexotherapy is also called Thai foot massage. It is based on the fact that there are certain points on the foot of a person. They are responsible for all internal organs.
In this type of massage, a wooden stick is pressed on various areas of the foot, thus affecting the human organs. During the procedure, severe pain may occur. This suggests that the body for which this point is responsible needs to be examined and treated.
Now let's look at how to do Thai massage at home. The execution technology is quite simple and does not require special skills.
But before moving on to considering the procedure, you should understand what Thai full body massage is. This effect on the body, consisting of sequential procedures for each site. The event begins with a foot massage. Then legs, back, shoulders are worked out.
Foot massage
As indicated above, the event begins with this zone. The following techniques will help you understand how to do Thai foot massage.
- The client lies on his stomach. Arms extended along the body. Head turned sideways. Masseur performs steps on the feet of the patient. How does this happen? He must stand on the foot of the client. Then the masseur gently presses the pillow under the big toe. Thus, he performs alternately steps in the footsteps of a partner, transferring body weight to either his right or left foot. This exercise requires fluency in the movements so as not to hurt the patient.
- The second stage is pressure on the heels. The client is also in a starting position. The masseur turns his back to him and begins to gently massage the patient's feet with heels. If there are problems with the joints, it is better to skip this step.
- Then you need to return again to the first stage - careful pressing with the fingertips on the patient's feet.
Foot massage
Having carefully worked out the feet, you can move on.
- The partner lies on his stomach, legs spread slightly. The masseur kneels between the client’s legs and begins to press the hips with his palms, moving from the bottom up. The movements should not be sharp, but not soft, but rather energetic. When pressed, the masseur must transfer the weight of his body to his hands. Such movements are performed 5-7 times.
- After that do stretching exercises. The masseur gets on one knee, picks up the feet of the client and carefully tries to bring the patient's heels closer to his buttocks. When performing stretching, pain should not be allowed. It is necessary to move the client's legs smoothly, without sudden movements. When the heels approached the buttocks as close as possible, you need to hold your legs in this position for 10 seconds. This exercise is performed 3-5 times. It helps to make the muscles more elastic.
- The next step is leg extension. A masseur is behind the client, sitting on his feet. He picks up the patient’s legs and raises, bending at the knees, so that a right angle is formed between the calves and thighs. Then gently moves the client's feet to the right until the left thigh begins to rise. The same thing needs to be done to the left. When performing this exercise, the masseur should feel the muscles of the patient contract to adjust to their rhythm. Perform such movements should be from 3 to 5 times in each direction.
Back massage
Continuing the Thai full body massage, we move on to the next zone.
- Masseur kneeling or leaning on one leg. Fingers apart, upper limbs relaxed. Then he puts his hands on the sacral region, without touching the spine. It produces alternating pressure, with the transfer of body weight. Thus, it moves the palms up to the shoulder area. In this case, the patient should inhale through the nose, and exhale through the mouth. The masseur needs to adjust to the client’s breathing. These movements are performed 5-7 times.
- The next step in Thai back massage is the Cobra exercise. Masseur sits on his feet, on the hips of the client. He takes the patient’s hands by the wrists, slowly straightens, lifting the body of the partner until it takes a vertical position. This exercise should not be performed abruptly, but carefully and smoothly. To enhance the effect, you can sit lower on the popliteal region. Repeat movements 3-5 times. When performing this exercise, the massage therapist should pay attention to weight distribution. If his body weight exceeds the patient’s weight, then knees can be placed in the buttocks. This will facilitate the session. If the client has problems in the lower spine, this exercise cannot be done.
- The next step in back massage can be to work out the elasticity of the muscle corset. Client sits on heels, feet together, knees apart. The body is stretched forward. Buttocks he should touch the legs. If this does not work, then you need to lay a blanket or towel to fix the position. The masseur stands and gently presses on the sacrum of the client, moving the skin down, but not touching the spine. The exercise is performed 5-7 times. If the client has pain or spinal injuries, such a massage should not be done.
- To open the lower energy centers do the following. The patient lies on his stomach. The masseur clenches his hands into fists and begins to tap them in the sacrum, without touching the spine. The exercise is performed rhythmically, without jerking, with relaxed wrists. Continue tapping for 40-80 seconds. This type of massage is excluded in case of overwork and injuries.
- The second stage of this exercise is exposure to the heart. It is used to improve breathing and release energy. Tapping is performed for 30 seconds on both sides of the spine in the region of the heart. It can not be done to patients suffering from cardiovascular diseases.
- The last stage of the exercise. One hand is placed on the region of the heart, the other on the sacrum. The masseur should balance the flow of energy within 1-2 minutes.
- Then you should do a stretch. The patient lies on his back with his legs bent at the knees. The masseur takes the client's wrists, monitors his breathing and tries to pull the partner up, on the exhale. The client is in an upright position for 10 seconds, then the massage therapist gently lowers the patient. The exercise is repeated 5-6 times.
- The following exercise helps the shoulder girdle work. The patient sits on his heels. The masseur smoothly kneads the shoulder of the client for 3-5 minutes.
Face massage
It should not be forgotten that all areas need exposure. Therefore, we will consider how to do Thai facial massage:
- The patient is lying on his back. He must be completely relaxed. If he has an unpleasant feeling in the lower back, then to relieve tension, put a twisted towel under his knees. It’s better to cover the body of the client, as during the procedure he can chill. The masseur sits on the back of the foot and thumbs stroking his forehead: from the center to the temples.
- Then performs circular movements clockwise in the temple area.
- Then massages the nose and cheeks, also stroking from the center to the edges.
- The chin is treated towards the base of the skull.
- With light movements in a circle the earlobes and all the auricles are massaged.
- Then the masseur covers the patient’s ears with his palms for 1 minute. During the entire procedure, it is necessary to monitor the breath of the client and try to tune with him on the same wavelength.
- The face massage is completed with the arrangement of thumbs on the central part of the client's forehead. In this case, the palms touch the hairline. In this position, the massage therapist should try to fill the client through improvised triangles with positive energy.
Massage with herbal bags
This technique allows you to achieve a very good effect. After all, Thai full-body massage with herbal bags, in addition to the effective effects described above, includes the healing power of plants.
For the filler of the bags using fees of ginger, basil, lemon grass, turmeric. They are placed in natural fabric and heated in a steam bath.
Heated bags perform pressing movements on active points and along energy lines. This type of massage helps with nervous strain, general overwork of the body, muscle pain.
This procedure can only be performed by qualified professionals in the salons.
Thai slim massage
Many people know that this procedure is quite effective in the fight against excess weight. How to do Thai massage for weight loss?
A procedure that helps to adjust weight and body contours is performed as follows:
- The masseur acts on the client’s energy centers, improving the effect of extracts and oils.
- The procedure continues for several hours. During this time, the masseur rubs oils and extracts into the patient's skin.
Before a slim massage, it is recommended to go to a Thai bath. This helps open pores. And therefore, a much better effect will have phytochemicals.
Thai slim massage is performed only by licensed specialists in the salons.