Thai Yoga Massage
Hello! I’m Kayte, if you’ve been with Wicker Camp a while you will probably have seen me about over the years. I think I started coming to Wicker in 2010 and have been around on and off since then.
For me, Muay Thai is all about feeling strong, empowered and looking after my mental health as well as learning new skills and techniques, although I’m not a fighter (physically anyway!).
I have taught yoga on and off since 2004 and trained up to 3rd Dahn in a Zen martial art called Sunmudo when I lived in South Korea for 7 years. I would describe myself as an eclectic Buddhist meaning that my life is supported by the principles of Buddhism but I like to borrow all kinds of insights from other traditions that suit my life context; meditation is the one consistent that brings everything together. Doing Thai yoga massage is a type of meditation for the person doing the massage so that any areas that need working out in the client’s body can be found easily and extra focus be placed on the area.
In terms of the treatment being relevant to Muay Thai students of any level, the massage system can help to relax the whole body but also work out tension in specific areas where perhaps you are experiencing tension during training. In Muay Thai, the legs are constantly being worked and specifically the hip and pelvis area for kicks, knees and blocks. Similarly, for the arms, shoulders, neck and back; a whole body conditioning flighting system like Muay Thai will benefit from a full body massage technique that focuses not only of the muscles but the energy lines and surrounding fascia too.
Some people see Thai Yoga Massage as the lazy way to ‘get some yoga in’ because the masseur is essentially placing you into yoga positions while they work on the massage so you get the benefit of both a massage and a yoga session while being completely relaxed!
I have almost completed my Level 2 which allows me to be a professional practitioner, however, I want to practice a lot more before I charge so I would like to invite volunteers please. The treatment will be free of charge while I’m still learning, but I’d like to ask for a donation please to Wicker junior competitors to help fund their travel/equipment etc as a thank you for the gym supporting me with a space and clients to practice on.
• The massage will last around 1hour
• We massage with clothes on (joggers/leggings and long t shirt, socks for example)
• Best after training or on a rest day but not before a heavy training session
• You can let me know of injuries/specific areas you want working/problem areas before hand
I can offer slots on Saturday afternoons from the 11th February 😊 If you’d like to volunteer please get in touch and I’ll offer you a slot. It will take place at the gym.
bodhibabymomma@gmail.com
07730273713
Thai Yoga Massage Info
Thai massage originated in North India over 2500 years ago and came from part of the yoga tradition. It left India and settled in Thailand where they changed the system to ally with Buddhism rather than yogic Hinduism and it became the Thai massage we know today. By combining Thai massage back with it’s roots in yoga, the system can be really effective not only physically but for stress, anxiety and creating more positive states of mind in our busy lives.
The technique includes:
• Using energy lines (sen lines and acupressure) to massage energy systems
• Applying supported yoga positions during the massage which uses hands, feet, elbows and knees.
• Using deep pressure, traction and thumb pressing
The yoga positions allow the massage technique to really work deeply around the mayo-fascial network helping to release and remove build up toxins in and around the muscles. The sen lines act as ‘railway tracks’ around the body and by working with these we can eliminate tension from all around the body.
Fascia which is a bodily network or web, coats the entire nervous system and protects it acting like a bridge between the nervous system and the physical body. When these two are out of alignment, emotional stress can be held onto which also restricts the development of the physical body (training is slow and muscles are tense and inflexible). Sometimes we feel pain in specific areas, yet because of the fascial network the issue might be in a very different location. Therefore, in Thai yoga massage, we work the whole system to free up any blockages or restrictions in the body but also in the mind.
