Thai Yoga Massage Origins

In 1767 Thailand was invaded by

Burmese, the royal capital was destroyed

and all the libraries were burned. Thus

almost all ancient medical texts

disappeared. The only remained documents

were some manuscripts written on palm

leafs. In 1823 King Rama III ordered to

carve them in stone and place them on the

walls of the temple Wat Pho in Bangkok.

This diagrams are today major source of

theory of NUAD BORARN. Together there

are 60 figures, 30 representing the front of

body and 30 of the back. Even though they

don't reflect anatomical structure of human

body, they show the patterns of energy

lines and points and how they should be

used in therapy.

During the reign of King Chulalongkorn

known as Rama V (1868 - 1910) Thailand

was modernized and many hospitals were

build with equaly western and traditional

Thai medicine used in treatments and

medical training. During that time many

ancient texts on traditional Thai medicine

and massage were revived and training

centers established. After king Rama V

passed away, western medicine in Thailand

was favored and centers of training in

traditional medicine and massage were

dissolved. For the next 70 years Thai

Medicine was banned and practitioners had

to hide themselves, destroying original

texts to avoid prosecution. During the

Vietnam war their reputation of Thai

massage was damaged as it was

associated with prostitution.

In 1985 Thai government established

"The Thai Massage Revival Project" aimed

at revival, standardization and

popularization of Thai massage as

proffesional alternative therapy bringing

benefit for the community. Because of large

number of tourists visiting Thailand every

year, today Thai massage is well known

and increasingly popular in the world.

However, main factor should be seen in

establishing schools with standardized

program teaching Nuad Borarn like Wat Pho

in Bangkok and Old Medicine Hospital in

Chiang Mai in the 1960-ties, on the other

hand - passion and devotion of western

pioneers who learned and popularized Thai

massage as we know it today. The main

figure among them should be mentioned:

Asokananda (Harald Brust) - dedicated

researcher, teacher and author of books

about Thai massage, who lived for over

20years in Thailand and in fact introduced

this ancient tradition to the West.

Dr. Jivacca Komarapaj

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Welcome to Aleksander Skwara studio of

Thai Yoga Massage

THE HISTORY

NUAD BORARN Thai Massage is one of the most ancient healing arts known today. The word "Nuad" means "Massage", "Borarn" means "Ancient". It's roots can be found in Indian Ajurveda, Chinese Traditional Medicine and local Thai medical knowledge. Important figure in Thai massage tradition is Dr. Jivago (Jivacca Komarapaj). There are ancient Buddhist scripts talking about Dr. Jivago, a man of the greatest medical knowledge of his time, and who was personal physician of Buddha Sakyamuni 2500 years ago.

Dr. Jivago is considered to be the founder of Thai Massage, by Thais referred as the "Father Doctor". He is source of inspiration and guide for Thai therapists. It is a custom to perform the Wai Khru - short prayer to Father Doctor before giving a treatment as a mental preparation and way to focus energy. This prayer is also practice at the beginning and the end of the day in massage schools in Thailand today.

Ajurveda, Indian medical tradition was brought to Thailand by Buddhist monks and for centuries was practiced in monasteries from where it spread and merged with local traditions. Together with some influence of Chinese medicine it formed today known traditional Thai massage techniques. This knowledge was practiced by village healers and "Ruesi" - Thai hermits-yogis, preserved and passed often within families from generation to generation until present days.

When French sailors visited Kingdom of Siam in XVII century, they reported about popular practice of walking and kneeling being exchanged among locals.

Massage was integral part of Thai medical tradition as was one of its four branches:

- herbal medications used internally

- diet coordination

- external therapies: Thai massage

- rituals and meditation

In 1767 Thailand was invaded by Burmese, the royal capital was destroyed and all the libraries were burned. Thus almost all ancient medical texts disappeared. The only remained documents were some manuscripts written on palm leafs.

In 1823 King Rama III ordered to carve them in stone and place them on the walls of the temple

Wat Pho in Bangkok. This diagrams are today major source of theory of NUAD BORARN. Together there are 60 figures, 30 representing the front of body and 30 of the back. Even though they don't reflect anatomical structure of human body, they show the patterns of energy lines and points and how they should be used in therapy.

During the reign of King Chulalongkorn known as Rama V (1868 - 1910) Thailand was modernized

and many hospitals were build with equaly western and traditional Thai medicine used in treatments

and medical training. During that time many ancient texts on traditional Thai medicine and massage

were revived and training centers established.

After king Rama V passed away, western medicine in Thailand was favored and centers of training in traditional medicine and massage were dissolved. For the next 70 years Thai Medicine was banned and practitioners had to hide themselves, destroying original texts to avoid prosecution.

During the Vietnam war their reputation of Thai massage was damaged as it was associated with prostitution.

In 1985 Thai government established "The Thai Massage Revival Project" aimed at revival, standardization and popularization of Thai massage as proffesional alternative therapy bringing benefit for the community.

Because of large number of tourists visiting Thailand every year, today Thai massage

is well known and increasingly popular in the world. However, main factor should be seen

in establishing schools with standardized program teaching Nuad Borarn like Wat Pho in Bangkok

and Old Medicine Hospital in Chiang Mai in the 1960-ties, on the other hand - passion and devotion

of western pioneers who learned and popularized Thai massage as we know it today. The main figure among them should be mentioned: Asokananda (Harald Brust) - dedicated researcher, teacher and

author of books about Thai massage, who lived for over 20years in Thailand and in fact introduced this ancient tradition to the West.

THE HISTORY

NUAD BORARN Thai Massage is one

of the most ancient healing arts known

today. The word "Nuad" means "Massage",

"Borarn" means "Ancient". It's roots can be

found in Indian Ajurveda, Chinese

Traditional Medicine and local Thai medical

knowledge. Important figure in Thai

massage tradition is Dr. Jivago (Jivacca

Komarapaj). There are ancient Buddhist

scripts talking about Dr. Jivago, a man of

the greatest medical knowledge of his time,

and who was personal physician of Buddha

Sakyamuni 2500 years ago. Dr. Jivago is

considered to be the founder of Thai

Massage, by Thais referred as the "Father

Doctor". He is source of inspiration and

guide for Thai therapists. It is a custom to

perform the Wai Khru - short prayer to

Father Doctor before giving a treatment as

a mental preparation and way to focus

energy. This prayer is also practice at the

beginning and the end of the day in

massage schools in Thailand today.

Ajurveda, Indian medical tradition was

brought to Thailand by Buddhist monks and

for centuries was practiced in monasteries

from where it spread and merged with local

traditions. Together with some influence of

Chinese medicine it formed today known

traditional Thai massage techniques. This

knowledge was practiced by village healers

and "Ruesi" - Thai hermits-yogis, preserved

and passed often within families from

generation to generation until present days.

When French sailors visited Kingdom of

Siam in XVII century, they reported about

popular practice of walking and kneeling

being exchanged among locals.

Massage always was integral part of Thai

medical tradition as was one of its four

branches:

- herbal medications used internally

- diet coordination

- external therapies: Thai massage

- rituals and meditation