T he E n c y cl o pe d ia o f T hai M assa g e
My students usually react to the news that they have to give an hour-and-a-half massage with trepidation, asking themselves, “How am I going to fill up all of this time?” They are soon pleasantly surprised by the fact that time seems to fly when giving a Thai Massage. The following are some suggestions for creating Thai Massage routines of varying lengths:
Back pain, repetitive strain injuries, joint pain, and other injuries common in massage therapists may be less problematic for Thai Massage practitioners if they use correct body mechanics. Important principles of body mechanics are discussed throughout Part 2 of this book, but let’s recap them here briefly: 1. Always keep your back straight with an open chest and relaxed shoulders. 2. You can most effectively translate bodyweight though straight elbows, wrists, and fingers. 3. Your strength comes from your legs and hips, not your arms or back. 4. When you need increased leverage, bring your center of gravity (your waist) up over the client instead of reaching with your arms.
Three-Hour Massage For highly stressed or lethargic individuals, or for those requiring major therapy. In order to avoid fatigue, this length of massage should not be given by inexperienced practitioners. Perform all steps in Chapters 4 and 5, plus herbal compresses. Two-Hour Massage For stressed, fatigued, or ill clients. Follow all steps in Chapters 4 and 5. Or, perform a oneand-a-half-hour classic massage routine, and add herbal compresses afterward.
Understanding and using gravity, fulcrums, levers, and other principles of physics that are discussed throughout Part 2 of this book, allows the therapist to deliver an effective massage while preserving his or her own well-being.
One-and-a-Half-Hour Massage The “classic routine.” This length of time is a good guideline for a basic Thai Massage for most clients. Perform all steps in Chapter 4. Work in variations from Chapter 4 or 5, as time allows. A good rule of thumb is to spend 50 minutes on the front side of the body, have the client turn over, then work on the back side of the body for 30 minutes, finishing 10 minutes on the head and neck.
Timeframes The classic Thai Massage routine lasts about an hour and a half. In most reputable massage clinics in Thailand, this is the minimum time for a massage, and a client can typically request a massage ranging up to 3 hours or more. Westerners, accustomed to paying for massage in half-hour increments, will initially need some explanation. As soon as they receive their first Thai Massage, however, they will see that an hour and a half is in fact a good minimum, leaving the therapist enough leeway to cover the entire body effectively and for the client to experience true relaxation.
One-Hour Massage A good length of time for a trial Thai Massage, so that client gets a feeling for this style of massage. Perform all steps in the classic routine in Chapter 4, skipping the steps introduced in the section Full-Body Stretches. Note: Do not skip the sen work or joint mobilization and move right into the yoga stretches, as your clients 54
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