Encyclopedia of Thai Massage Second Edition, Fully Revised and Updated 563-6_TM-INT_BOOK.indb 1 01.08.11 01:47 Companion Book Available 978-1-84409-564-3 available from your local bookstore, or directly from publisher at www.fndhornpress.com 563-6_TM-INT_BOOK.indb 2 01.08.11 01:47 Encyclopedia of Thai Massage A Complete Guide to Traditional Thai Massage Therapy and Acupressure Dr. Pierce Salguero and David Roylance 563-6_TM-INT_BOOK.indb 3 01.08.11 01:47 All materials unless otherwise attributed: ©1997–2011 C. Pierce Salguero The rights of C. Pierce Salguero to be identifed as the author of this work have been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1998. First published by Findhorn Press 2004. Second edition, fully revised and updated, published by Findhorn Press 2011. ISBN: 978-1-84409-563-6 All rights reserved. The contents of this book may not be reproduced in any form, except for short extracts for quotation or review, without the written permission of the publisher. British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data. A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library. Massage photography by Keith Edwards of Statesider Photography (www.statesider.com), © 2011 David Roylance. Special thanks to our models Viengkhong Khambay and Ketsarin Phaopanfeung, who volunteered their hard work for this book. Anatomical drawings © 2001-2011 David O. Schuster Yoga Correlations © 2004-2011 Kate Hallahan, RYT Edited by Nicky Leach Cover design by Richard Crookes Interior design by Damian Keenan Printed and bound in China 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 Published by Findhorn Press 117-121 High Street, Forres IV36 1AB Scotland, United Kingdom t +44-(0)1309-690582 f +44(0)131-777-2711 e I n Memory of Ajahn (“Master”) Sintorn Chaichakan Traditional Thai Medicine Doctor Founder of Shivagakomarpaj Lineage (“Northern Style” Thai Massage) Founder of Thai Massage School Shivagakomarpaj (“Old Medicine Hospital”) August 2,  – October , 2 H ROUg HOU T the long history of Thai Massage and Traditional Thai Medicine, there Thave been a handful of highly respected individuals who have made exceptional contribu- tions to the body of knowledge practiced today. This book is dedicated to the lasting memory of Ajahn Sintorn, who was one such person, and who originated the teachings shared here. Ajahn Sintorn’s life was dedicated to pursuing knowledge and giving to others. He and his staf regularly provided free medical care to Buddhist monks and remote Thai villagers. He operated his traditional hospital based on a sliding scale to ensure all those who needed medical attention could be treated. His life and his legacy exemplify compassion in care for others, generosity in teaching, and loving kindness to all. We, Ajahn Sintorn’s family, and the direct inheritors of his lineage and school, would like to express our deepest appreciation and respect for Ajahn Sintorn’s lifetime of teachings. He is our link to the past and he will continue to live on in our hearts and our mind. We would also like to express our endorsement of this book. We are very pleased to see his teachings honored and reaching those outside of Thailand. We believe that our past is our future, and that Ajahn Sintorn’s teachings are vibrantly alive in the hands of the next generation. Ajahn Wasan Chaichakan Mr. Parawat Poungpiam Director Managing Director 563-6_TM-INT_BOOK.indb 5 01.08.11 01:47 563-6_TM-INT_BOOK.indb 6 01.08.11 01:47 Contents u Preface 11 Part 1 The Basics of Thai Massage 1 Introduction to the Tradition ................................................................................................................................................. 17 What is Thai Massage?. .............................................................................................................................................................. 17 History of Thai Massage ........................................................................................................................................................ 19 The Old Medicine Hospital and the Shivagakomarpaj Lineage .......................................... 23 Thai Massage Styles and Diversity of Practices ....................................................................................... 25 Spirituality in Thai Massage Practice .................................................................................................................... 26 Ethics in Thai Massage ............................................................................................................................................................ 28 Metta .............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 29 2 Before and After the Massage .................................................................................................................................................. 31 The Therapeutic Environment ....................................................................................................................................... 31 Interviewing the Client ........................................................................................................................................................... 33 Working with Specifc Conditions .......................................................................................................................... 34 Observing Thai Cultural Protocols ........................................................................................................................ 35 A fter the Massage ........................................................................................................................................................................... 36 3 The Fundamentals of Thai Massage ............................................................................................................................... 39 Overview of the Routine ......................................................................................................................................................... 39 Basic Techniques ............................................................................................................................................................................. 41 The Pain Threshold ..................................................................................................................................................................... 48 Sen in the Classic Routine ................................................................................................................................................... 48 Stretching and Breathing ...................................................................................................................................................... 52 Body Mechanics ............................................................................................................................................................................... 53 Timeframes .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 54 Additional Important Factors ......................................................................................................................................... 55 563-6_TM-INT_BOOK.indb 7 01.08.11 01:47 Part 2 The Classic Thai Massage Routine 4 The Classic Thai Massage Routine .................................................................................................................................... 59 Feet and Leg Lines Series ........................................................................................................................................................ 61 Leg Stretch Series ............................................................................................................................................................................. 73 Hands and Arms Series ............................................................................................................................................................. 95 Abdominal Series .............................................................................................................................................................................. 105 Full-Body Stretches ........................................................................................................................................................................ 113 Back Series ................................................................................................................................................................................................ 134 Head, Neck, and Face Series ............................................................................................................................................... 153 5 Variations and Advanced Steps .............................................................................................................................................. 161 Variations for Side Position ................................................................................................................................................. 161 Variations for Seated Position .......................................................................................................................................... 170 Advanced Postures. ......................................................................................................................................................................... 177 Walking Massage .............................................................................................................................................................................. 187 Part 3 Thai Massage as a Therapeutic Practice 6 Sen: The Thai Energy Lines ........................................................................................................................................................ 193 What are the Sen? ............................................................................................................................................................................ 193 Sen Charts ................................................................................................................................................................................................. 196 Correlations Between Sen and Symptoms ..................................................................................................... 204 Correlations Between Sen and Massage Steps .......................................................................................... 206 The Shivagakomarpaj (“Northern”) Style of Sen Work .................................................................. 207 7 Thai Acupressure Therapy . .......................................................................................................................................................... 209 Acupressure Techniques ......................................................................................................................................................... 209 Hot and Cold Pressure ............................................................................................................................................................. 210 Acupressure Atlas ........................................................................................................................................................................... 212 Correlations Between Symptoms and Acupressure Points ....................................................... 213 563-6_TM-INT_BOOK.indb 8 01.08.11 01:47 8 Therapeutic Thai Massage ........................................................................................................................................................... 221 Sen Diagnosis ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 221 Designing a Therapy Routine ......................................................................................................................................... 222 Sample Therapy Routines ..................................................................................................................................................... 224 9 Thai Herbs and Massage ................................................................................................................................................................. 251 Herbal Compress Massage ................................................................................................................................................... 251 Recipes for Herbal Compresses .................................................................................................................................... 253 Herbal Balms and Other Topical Applications .......................................................................................... 255 Homemade Massage Balm ................................................................................................................................................ 255 Herbal Sauna and Other Methods of Inhalation Therapy ......................................................... 255 Appendices ....................................................................................................................................................................................................... 257 Appendix 1: Wai Khru ............................................................................................................................................................... 258 Appendix 2: Ethical Codes . 260 Appendix 3: Thai Massage Diagnostic Form ............................................................................................... 263 Appendix 4: Overview of the Classic Routine ............................................................................................ 264 Appendix 5: Where to Study Thai Massage ................................................................................................... 266 Appendix 6: Further Reading .......................................................................................................................................... 271 Endnotes ............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 273 Index . ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 274 563-6_TM-INT_BOOK.indb 9 01.08.11 01:48