Thai Massage is an ancient healing system over 2,500 years old. Thailand is a crossroads for healing information; Yoga from India and Acupressure from China. In Thailand, Thai Massage has been practiced and taught in Buddhist monasteries. It has also been a family tradition handed down from one generation to the next. Thai Massage was founded by Dr. Shivago.
Traditional Thai Massage combines assisted yoga stretch postures with a unique and specific system of acupressure. I teach the assisted yoga postures from Thai Massage. I have studied the traditional Thai Massage acupressure in depth. It is very useful, but very time consuming. Thus, I do not often use the acupressure point therapy, and I do not teach it.
Since the 1980’s, Yoga’s popularity in the west has grown exponentially. Many people understand the benefits of practicing Yoga. Explaining “Assisted Yoga” to them is easy! It is Yoga with help. The client is passive while the Assisted Yoga practitioner is active. It is sometimes referred to as “a lazy person’s Yoga”. However, it is like a Yoga workout for the Assisted Yoga practitioner.
Presently, assisted stretching is practiced most by Massage Therapists, Physical Trainers, Physical Therapists, Yoga Instructors and a few Chiropractors and Osteopaths. I believe that one day lay people will also practice assisted stretching facilitating flexibility, health, and stress relief for family members, friends and coworkers.
When doing Assisted Yoga, an in depth knowledge of anatomy is not necessary, although beneficial. Most Thai Massage practitioners in Thailand do not know human anatomy. Assisted Yoga is usually performed on a floor mat with the client fully clothed. Many Massage Therapists integrate and adapt Assisted Yoga into their massage sessions on the massage table and/or massage chair.
