02. Thai Medical Theory & Legendary Influences

Legend of Father Doctor” Shivakomorapa

Many Thais trace their indigenous healing art to the life and lineage of an Indian physican: Jivaka Kumar Bhaccha, often referred to as Shivagokumarpaj, “Father Doctor”, or simply, Shivago. Shivago, a legendary doctor and surgeon, lived 4,500 years ago and attended to Indian King Bimbisara’s health. Some documents recount Shivagokumarpaj’s surgeries, which involved cutting into unhealthy patients, removing what appeared to be tumors, successfully suturing the incision, and the patient surviving… all occurring thousands of years ago!

Shivagokumarpaj was also a friend and patron of the Buddha and attended to his health. Whenever we study with our ajahns (Thai teachers), we always take time in the beginning of class to give thanks to the “Father Doctor.” Much mystique surrounds Shivagokumarpaj, whom Thais continue to venerate and pray to for guidance prior to every Thai Massage.

Grandmother of Thai Massage, Rueisii Dat Ton

A more direct, native catalyst in the evolution of Thai Massage was provided by the Thai hermit ascetics known as the Reusis (pronounced as “Lucys”). The Reusis were sages that practiced various ancient arts and sciences and developed a self-healing practice called Reusi Dat Ton. Reusi Dat Ton translates as “the Hermit’s or Yogi’s self-stretching or self-adjusting exercises” and utilizes breathing exercises, self massage, acupressure, meditation, and dynamic exercises and stretches.

Imagine sitting, meditating, and praying for hours on end. One’s body would begin to ache and call out to the practitioner. Reusi Dat Ton helped the practitioners go deeper in their practice and these exercises provided the indigenous foundation of Traditional Thai Massage.

Thai Medical Theory

Like most Eastern healing paradigms, Thai Massage emphasizes sensing energetic qualities: trusting what you feel is paramount to being in a therapeutic relationship. Although Thai Massage techniques, like stretching, appear dynamically physical, they were created with the primary goal of opening the Thai energy lines.

**Thai medical theory refers to these energy lines as sen, and asserts that vital life energy, or lom travel along these pathways. When the sen are opened, the lom freely moves throughout the body. Lom may become “blocked” along the sen in areas of injuries, fascial restriction, and even as a result of emotional or mental stress.**

Thai stretching techniques foster greater physical range of motion, as well as activating the highly concentrated proprioceptors in the joints. Proprioceptors are nerve receptors found throughout the body that relay our body’s position to our nervous system. Stretching enhances this mind-body connection by creating more space and neuronal connections in our fascia, muscles, joints, and sen. When practicing Table Thai Yoga Massage, we’re accessing both physical and energetic dimensions: we’re compressing and stretching the body’s fascia, while pressing or stretching the sen.

Students Watch the above Table Thai Yoga Massage video introduction to improve your practice and pass the test.