Thai massage is known to have been originated in India and has been around for over 2,500 years. It is popularly regarded as a healing art which has influences from both Ayurvedic and traditional Chinese medicine. It is not like a usual massage where a massage therapist makes you lie down on a bed and applies oil rather it involves stretching, pulling, to relieve tension and promote relaxation. At the same time, it helps to improve flexibility and blood circulation.
What Are the Various Benefits of Thai Massage?
Thai massage certainly has many benefits for the individual. It is performed by applying gentle pressure on energy lines and the yoga-like stretching to completely relax the whole body on a deeper level. This type of massage combines the application of pressure with manipulation, adjustment and right amount of muscle stretching in a full-body works, which boosts overall health and well-being.
1. Helps relieves headaches
According to several researches involving patients with chronic headaches, it was found that Thai massage helps reduce the intensity of both migraine and tension headaches. It has also been concluded by the researchers that the benefits of Thai massage could last from several days to around 15 weeks. Therefore, the traditional Thai massage may help relieve tension and ease your migraine symptoms if you are interested in trying nonpharmaceutical remedies for headache relief.
2. Minimizes back pain
A group of researchers in Thailand studied the effects of Thai massage on a group of people with low back pain. Half the people in the test were treated with Thai massage while the rest with other conservative management techniques, for example, joint mobilization, hot packs, etc. Both the groups were treated twice a week for about 4 weeks and they experienced a significant amount of pain relief. Therefore, Thai massage is certainly helpful in reducing back pain associated with trigger points.
3. Relieves joint stiffness and pain
If you experience pain and stiffness as you move, Thai massage can be preferred to relieve joint stiffness and pain. According to one study, researchers employed a program of Thai massage combined with certain exercises to study the effects on people with knee arthritis. It was found that participants felt less pain and walked with greater ease after the 8-week program.
4. Enhances flexibility and range of motion
Thai massage may help you move more easily. In an experiment, after receiving Thai massage a couple of times in a 10-day period, the soccer players showed significant improvement in their physical ability to perform. This increase in flexibility may be because Thai massage has the ability to improve blood flow and oxygen supply to muscles. This helps to lower pain and decrease muscle adhesions.
5. Helps lower stress
Stress can deeply impact the mental and physical health. In fact chronic stress can lead to serious illnesses including depression and cardiovascular disease. Thai massage is quite effective to reduce stress and lower anxiety. This type of massage involves moving and manipulating the body to relieve physical and emotional tension.
6. Boosts energy
Thai massage can also help increase people’s physical energy levels. The Thai massage technique is based on the concept of energy lines, also known as Sen. There are various Sen, or channels, of energy within the body such as the bones, muscles, blood, and nerves. The tight muscles cause blockages within different Sen. And, Thai massage can help to either open or tighten different Sen to correct the flow of life energy.
How does a Thai massage helps increase a body’s immune system?
An improved immune system is considered to be one of the major benefits of Thai massage. By working on the nervous system through massage and relaxing toxins with improved circulation, a massage therapist can help you to increase your immunity to disease..
Are There Risks Involved With Thai Massage?
Although there are a number of benefits of Thai massage. The technique also has certain limits. For example, due to its impact on the circulatory system, people with the health conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, osteoporosis, and coronary artery disease should consult their healthcare provider before going for a Thai massage. A person recovering from injury should also avoid Thai massage. Also, people who have cancer, are pregnant, or are recovering from surgery should not undergo a Thai massage. However, if there is a need for Thai massage, the experienced and trained massage therapists can adjust the intensity and pressure of the massage as per the suitability of their clients.
Summing up
Thai Massage, a popular form of massage is one of the four branches of Traditional Thai medicine. It is a highly beneficial healing technique. The massage involves deep massage and stretching. It is done on the floor on a firm mattress or a mat.
It is quite distinct from the other massage therapies. It is basically a dry massage therapy performed using deep compressing, pressing, and stretching actions. Its basic principle is to start from the extremities of the body, work towards the core of the body and then back to the extremities.
A Thai Massage session typically may last around for two hours or maybe more and the massage works to stretch the entire body. It is ideal for everyone and the sessions are modified for each individual according to their body type and age.
After undergoing a Thai massage, a person may feel very relaxed. However, they need to keep in mind that their muscles have been worked, and stretched well. So, once the massage is done, a person should rest and drink plenty of water.
There are no specific guidelines for how often a person should get a Thai massage. People who go for such massage should try to incorporate daily maintenance routines that involve stretching and relaxation techniques. This will certainly enable them to remain flexible for a long time after their massage. Also, people should also listen to their bodies. In case if someone experiences lasting pain or discomfort in one area of their body even after the massage, they should see their healthcare provider, as this could indicate an underlying health condition.
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