Arsomsabai The First Class of Thai Traditional Massage

1. Ancient Massage / Thai Massage
2. Thai Tradition History
3. Benefits...For the receiver
4. Benefits...For the giver
5. Thai Traditional MedicalScience School and Body Massage.
6. Wat Pho History
7. The Center of Thai Traditional Massage.

1. Ancient Massage / Thai Massage

Ancient Massage or Thai Massage is an extraordinary method of aligning the energies of the body, and originates from the time of the Buddha.

Nuad Phaen Boran as is it called in Thailand, correctly translates only as Ancient Massage or Traditional Massage. More widely known today as Thai Massage, it is also often called Traditional Thai Massage, Ancient Thai Massage and occasionally Yoga Massage or Thai Yoga Massage. In our web pages, we wanted to use only Ancient Massage to be faithful to the original appellation but had to change our mind and also use Thai Massage to be referenced correctly by the search engines and so forth. If we did not use the words "Thai Massage", who would have found us and the information we wanted to share with students, researchers and practitioners of this art.

The Healing Hands Center is dedicated to offering hands-on training with masters in the arts of Ancient Massage or Thai Massage, Tai Chi, and Yoga.

2. Thai Tradition History

In the beginning in India, medicine was part of an ascetically based religious movement, a portion of which became know as Buddhism. Medicine evolved with the Sangha and Buddhism monastery, became codified as part of the Buddhist scriptures, gave rise to the monk-healers and provided the basis for subsequent development of Buddhist monastic universities.

The traditional system of ayurvedic medicine owes much of its early systematization, preservation, and subsequent propagation to the ascetic Buddhists and their monastic institution.

Preserved in Thailand

When Buddhism began to spread to other part of Asia, medical institution and practices of the monastery went along as integral parts of the religious system. When Buddhism reached Thailand in the 3rd or 2nd century BC, temples were built with adjacent dispensaries and medical schools.

Massage and other healing arts were taught and applied in the monasteries and within the family. In families it has been mainly an oral tradition (as most people could not read) handed down from teacher to student. The purpose of writing it down as done by the Sangha, was to preserve the medical tradition for the longest possible time and make it available to the maximum number of people of future generations.

It is easily understandable that compassionate monks and nuns would integrate any beneficial medical system to the one brought from India. It is also easy to understand that influence from China and other surrounding countries may have played a significant role in enriching the existing medical system. When one is sick or unwell no helpful method should be disregarded. If it truly help, it is good.

As to where and when Ancient Massage originated precisely, it is difficult to ascertain for sure. A long time has past and many historical evidences have disappeared, for example at the time of the destructive Muslim invasion of Northern India and also at the time of the Burmese invasion of the capital of Ayutthaya in 1767.

Only fragments of the existing precious medical texts survived the Burmese invasion and destruction, which the kind King Rama III in 1832 used as a basis for the famous epigraphs at Phra Chetuphon (Wat Pho) in Bangkok (see photos above).

One thing is for sure, all is the fruit of care, of people striving to alleviate suffering and make other truly comfortable and well.

First to offer materiel well being (cloth, food, shelter, medicine and so forth), second to protect the people from fear (the giving of fearlessness) and third to teach the precious Dharma (the giving of Dharma). These are the three generosity taught by the Buddha.

3. Benefits...For the receiver

All what can be written or said is not to be believed but experienced. Then one will discover the real value of a teaching. If it is not your experience it is of no value what so ever. But for the ones who have not yet experienced the benefits of Ancient Massage, it should be clearly described as to give confidence in this art.

You can help others tremendously by giving Ancient Massage, and it will bring joy to yourself also. Ease and comfort, a well aligned body and open chakras, a more peaceful mind and a relaxed heart are some of the benefits for both the receiver and the giver.

The joy of receiving
Calmness and rest
The simplicity of accepting help
A refreshed spirit
A general increase of energy
An opening of the meridians and blocked areas of the body
Relief for pain and muscle tension
The body and mind (heart) are strengthened and rejuvenated
Blood and lymph circulation are improved
An increase in flexibility
The nervous system is balanced
Deep relaxation is facilitated

4. Benefits...For the giver

The joy of generosity
The joy of compassion
The joy of equanimity
The joy of oneness
Feeling of loving kindness
The adamantine pride of the healer

Even though the healer seemingly works on only the body, the achievement of interconnectedness between body, speech (energy), and mind (heart) make Ancient Massage a complete healing.

5. Thai Traditional MedicalScience School and Body Massage.

Thai traditional medical science can be found throughout all of the Thai community, with certain cures from herbs and other ingredients. In the old days there were 2 types of doctors: a royal doctor and a local one. At the start of the Rattanakosin period, King Rama III appointed a royal doctor, Phraya Bamroer Rajaphat, as the chief of the doctors to inscribe medical texts on pieces of slate and framed them on columns of the cloisters around the Pra Maha Chedis and in pavilions or Sala Rai.

In 1856 King Rama V appointed his royal doctors to translate the great edition of Pali-Sanskrit medical texts into a Thai version; indexing the books as Medical Science Textbook (Royal Edition); and another on
body massage known as Massage Hand book – Royal Edition. On 30^th May, 1962, a council of ancient medical science doctors were approved by Ministry of Health to found Wat Phra Chetuphon Thai Traditional Medical Science School (Wat Pho) for Thai traditioanl medical science and body massage only. This school is located at 2 Sala Rai in the East.

6. Wat Pho History

Wat Pho, the official name being Wat Phra Chetuphon Vimolmangklararm Rajwaramahaviharn, is a first grade royal monastery, regarded as the most important one during the reign of King Rama I of the Chakri Dynasty. The importance of this is due to the King having managed the restoration of Wat Phodharam, an old monastery from the Ayudhya period, and had it re-established as a royal monastery located near the Grand Palace. Some ashes of King Rama I were also kept under the pedestal of the principal Buddha image known as Phra Buddha Deva Patimakorn in the main chapel.

The monastery is located on an area of 20 acres to the south of the Grand Palace, with Thai Wang road in the north, Sanam Chai road in the east, Setthakan road in the south and Maharat road in the west. Separated by a tall white wall on Chetuphon road, the monastery has two main quarters : the sacred (or a chapel section = Buddhavas) and the residential (or the monk’s living section = Sangghavas).

It is said in a stone inscription that, after moving to the Grand Palace, King Phra Buddha Yod Fa The Great (King Rama I) recognized that there were 2 old temples along both sides of the Grand Palace : Wat Salak (Wat Mahatart) in the north, and Wat Phodharam in the south. He ordered his noblemen from the department of the Ten Crafts to restore Wat Phodharam in 1788. This first restoration took 7 years 5 months and 28 days. Then there was a celebration in 1801 and the Royal named it “Wat Phra Chetuphon Vimolmangklavas”, which was changed to “ Wat Phra Chetuphon Vimolmangklararm during the reign of King Rama IV.

The great restoration, having taken 16 years and 7 months, was done during the reign of King Rama III, by extending both the South Vihara and West Vihara where the large reclining Buddha image is kept, the Missakawan Park, Phra Mondob (Library Hall) and teaching-learning hall as they are of today. Although there was another restoration before the Bangkok Bicentennial Celebration in 1982, no more other major work has been done on the monastery, except for some minor repairs.

From the by-paths of history in the great restoration during King Rama I and King Rama III, it is said that all best craftsmen from the Royal Palace, outside the palace, all art work specialists, and the monks devoted themselves in creating this elaborately decorated monastery. This was done to fulfill the King’s ambition of using this Wat as the centre of Thai arts and knowledge, where descendants can study indefinitely.

In “ The Ubosot of Wat Pho “ book, Chakrabhand Posayakrit who is a famous artist of Thailand said on October 10, 1999 “The fine arts in Wat Pho are a bounteous wealth of knowledge. These enormously valuable resources can stimulate and enhance youthful enthusiasm for attaining artistic excellence and distinction.”

Wat Pho is an important landmark in the Rattanakosin area. Visitors can enjoy the beautiful Buddhist fine arts and the existing Thai intellect which has descended from ancient times, taken as immortal careers knowledge.

7. The Center of Thai Traditional Massage.

Wat Pho is also famous as Thailand’s first university, and is center for traditional Thai masage - the rich, famous and powerful have all been known to come here. Inscribed on stone in the walls of Wat Pho are all that was known about Thai massage dating from the reign of King Rama III (most previous texts were lost when the Burmese destroyed Ayuthaya)

To get a traditional massage here costs 150B for 30 mins, 250B for an hour and herbal massages are available at 350B an hour. If you want to experience traditional Thai massage, this is probably the best place available and is highly recommended, though be aware that it’s not exactly a gentle experience. A foot reflexology massage is also available at 250B for 45 minutes.

It is also possible to take courses to learn traditional Thai massage. These are for 30 hours and cost 4,500B. Courses can be spread over either 10 or 15 days. The massage center is situated at the back of the Wat, the opposite side from the entrance. To get a massage, simply turn up here and wait in line until a masseur is available - perhaps 10 or 20 minutes in the quieter periods in the early morning and late afternoon. Contact them on (+662) 221 2974 or (+662) 225 4771 if you need any more information about it.