Aleksander Skwara © 2020 -2030
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"SEN" - energy lines as carved in stone on the walls of Wat Pho temple in Bangkok. There are many similarities to Chinese acupuncture meridians and Nadies in Indian Yoga.
In Thai Massage tradition, similarly to other oriental systems, human is perceived and treated wholisticly.
Important part of theory and practice of Thai Massage takes the concept of energy lines within human body called SEN. They are invisible energy pathways similar to NADI channels in Yoga and acupuncture meridians. There are 72 000 SEN in this system but in practice 10 main ones are being used.
The technique of Thai Massage consists of slow and rhythmic compression along energy lines, work on acu-points and stretching, joint opening movements looking like assisted yoga positions. One aspect of work in Thai Massage is similar to what in western terminology should be called peripheral stimulation, witch means that certain effect in some areas of the body will be attained through stimulation of some other, distant areas, as it takes place in therapies like acupuncture, rolfing or Shiatsu. The other aspect of stretching and joint opening movements makes similarity with certain kinds of manipulative therapy such as osteopathy, physiotherapy or chiropractics.
Important part of theory and practice of Thai Massage takes the concept of energy lines within human body called SEN. They are invisible energy pathways similar to NADI channels in Yoga and acupuncture meridians. There are 72 000 SEN in this system but in practice 10 main ones are being used.
The technique of Thai Massage consists of slow and rhythmic compression along energy lines, work on acu-points and stretching, joint opening movements looking like assisted yoga positions. One aspect of work in Thai Massage is similar to what in western terminology should be called peripheral stimulation, witch means that certain effect in some areas of the body will be attained through stimulation of some other, distant areas, as it takes place in therapies like acupuncture, rolfing or Shiatsu. The other aspect of stretching and joint opening movements makes similarity with certain kinds of manipulative therapy such as osteopathy, physiotherapy or chiropractics.
As we can see, the therm "Thai Massage" doesn't really reflect what is used to be understood as "massage" in western world. During the session the client remains fully clothed, laying on a mat on the floor.
The practitioner uses their thumbs, palms, feet, elbows and knees to press, pull and stretch, guiding the recipient into various assisted yoga postures, while remaining focused on their own body-center. In areas of tension the pressure can be held for a longer time. This combination of slow movements and focused awareness creates a sense of flowing dance around and with the recipient's body. Sometimes it is called "yoga for lazy people". It is good both for receiver as well as for the giver.
The session is tailored according to the individual needs and body condition of the receiver. The pressure strength might be soft, medium or hard dependent on sensitivity, flexibility and level of muscular tension but also on age and health condition. The same principle applies for stretching
techniques.
There are four positions used in Thai massage: on the back, on stomach, on the side and sitting.
It is not obligatory to use all of them durind one session, the choice of techniques and positions
depends on clients predispositon and specific conditions, for example for pregnant lady the side
position is preffered mostly, for someone with acute lower back pain sitting position might be
difficult, etc.
Usually the the therapist starts session spending big amount of time working on clients legs. It
involves energy lines acupressure, stretching and joints opening techniques. For someone who
never experieced Thai massage before it might be bit of suprise as westerners usually need lot of
back muscles and spine work. However, prior legs work results in opening of the hips and activating
meridians that run along the spine, wich make the back work much more effective. Human body can
be compared to a tree according to Eastern view: the legs are like the roots, the spine like the trunk
nad arms and head like brunches. That's why it is important to treat the legs properly. Also, we
often forget that the spine is literaly rooted in the pelvis and the pevic condition can affect the
spine, cousing all kind of misalignments. Working with the legs we try to balance the muscles and
tendons and bring the proper alignement and flexibility to the hip area, indirecly but evidently to
the spine... and spine condition is so crucial for ones health as the central nerve system is located
there. In spine acording to Thai tradition runs the SEN SUMANA (in Sanskrit Sushumna) with the
main chakras.
The good examle of what Thai massage therapist usualy spends lot of time with, is working with the sciatic nerve and iliopsoas muscle. By stretching the muscles, pressing on different angles, pulling and openning in the joints, Thai therapist will treat effectively various lower back pains syndroms like sciatia, lumbago etc.
One of the very unique techniques applied
in Thai massage is so called "Blood Stop"
as translated from Thai "Opening the Wind
Gate". Here a firm and lasting up to one
minute pressure is applied on groin and
and sometimes shoulders area arteries.
After relieving the pressure client experiences
hot flush of enrgy along the limbs, wich
in fact is blood increased operation.
It helps the body to clear toxins and
bring the blood rich in nutrient to the areas
where the circulation is poor. It cleans
stagnation of energy, encouraging the blood
to go deeper and find new pathways.
The heart rate is beeing slowed wich is
providing a deep relaxation for the client.
In Thai massage techniques are oriented towards opening blocked areas, reducing stiffness and promoting better circulation wich is crucial in treating pain of the spine area. In Thai tradition, the view of health is beeing explained in therms of free energy flow and balance in the elements we are build of: earth, water, fire, air and space. Theese are our bones and flash, body liquids, metabolism, sensory - motorics and conciousness respectively. Any blockage creates imbalace in elements.
Terapeutic treatment is desgned to bring back natural balace. Experienced Thai therapist will know how much pressure apply to open the blocked energy line associated with chronic injury. It cannot be too strong nor too week and the client should deep relieve and relaxation, sometimes after short
sensation of "good pain" that just feels "right".
A muscle spasm is experienced when your muscle
tightens up and will not relax. When any part of the
spine is injured, including a disc, ligament, bone, or
muscle-the muscles automatically go into spasm to
reduce the motion around the area. This mechanism is
designed to protect the injured area.
Muscles that are in spasm produce too much lactic acid,
a waste product from the chemical reaction inside muscle
cells. When muscles contract, the small blood vessels
traveling through the muscles are pinched off, which
causes a build up of lactic acid.
If the muscle cells cannot relax and too much lactic acid
builds up, it causes a painful burning sensation. The
muscle relaxes as the blood vessels open up, and the
lactic acid is eventually washed away by fresh blood
flowing into the muscle.
Welcome to Aleksander Skwara studio of
Thai Yoga Massage
Welcome to
Alekander Skwara studio
Thai Yoga Massage
Full sessions last 1.5 - 2 or even
3 hours. One hour is considered to be
short. It is so because techniques of
Thai massage are performed in slow
pace and cover the whole body, from feet to the head and face.
Treatments in Thai massage are beeing
performed on the floor and mattress
usually. The client remains dressed in soft and comfortable cloths.
The therapist beginns the work
from the feet and proceeds upwards,
covering the whole body up to the head
and face.
In Thai Massage tradition, similarly to
other oriental systems, human is
perceived and treated wholisticly.
Important part of theory and practice of
Thai Massage takes the concept of
energy lines within human body called
SEN. They are invisible energy pathways
similar to NADI channels in Yoga and
acupuncture meridians. There are 72000
SEN in this system but in practice 10
main ones are being used.
The technique of Thai Massage
consists of slow and rhythmic
compression along energy lines, work on
acu-points and stretching, joint opening
movements looking like assisted yoga
positions. One aspect of work in Thai
Massage is similar to what in western
terminology should be called peripheral
stimulation, witch means that certain
effect in some areas of the body will be
attained through stimulation of some
other, distant areas, as it takes place in
therapies like acupuncture, rolfing or
Shiatsu. The other aspect of stretching
and joint opening movements makes
similarity with certain kinds of
manipulative therapy such as
osteopathy, physiotherapy or
chiropractics.
As we can see, the therm "Thai
Massage" doesn't really reflect what is
used to be understood as "massage" in
western world. During the session the
client remains fully clothed, laying on a
mat on the floor.
The practitioner uses their thumbs,
palms, feet, elbows and knees to press,
pull and stretch, guiding the recipient
into various assisted yoga postures,
while remaining focused on their own
body-center. In areas of tension the
pressure can be held for a longer time.
This combination of slow movements
and focused awareness creates a sense
of flowing dance around and with the
recipient's body. Sometimes it is called
"yoga for lazy people". It is good both
for receiver as well as for the giver.
The session is tailored according to the
individual needs and body condition of
the receiver. The pressure strength
might be soft, medium or hard
dependent on sensitivity, flexibility and
level of muscular tension but also on
age and health condition. The same
principle applies for stretching
techniques.
Full sessions last 1.5 - 2 or even
3 hours. One hour is considered to be
short. It is so because techniques of
Thai massage are performed in slow
pace and cover the whole body, from
feet to the head and face.
Treatments in Thai massage are beeing
performed on the floor and mattress
usually. The client remains dressed in
soft and comfortable cloths.
The therapist beginns the work
from the feet and proceeds upwards,
covering the whole body up to the head
and face.
The good examle of what Thai
massage therapist usualy spends lot of
time with, is working with the sciatic
nerve and iliopsoas muscle. By
stretching the muscles, pressing on
different angles, pulling and openning in
the joints, Thai therapist will treat
effectively various lower back pains
syndroms like sciatia, lumbago etc.
In Thai massage techniques are
oriented towards opening blocked areas,
reducing stiffness and promoting better
circulation wich is crucial in treating pain
of the spine area. In Thai tradition, the
view of health is beeing explained in
therms of free energy flow and balance in
the elements we are build of: earth,
water, fire, air and space. Theese are
our bones and flash, body liquids,
metabolism, sensory - motorics and
conciousness respectively. Any blockage
creates imbalace in elements.
Terapeutic treatment is desgned to
bring back natural balace. Experienced
Thai therapist will know how much
pressure apply to open the blocked
energy line associated with chronic
injury. It cannot be too strong nor too
week and the client should deep relieve
and relaxation, sometimes after short
sensation of "good pain" that just feels
"right".