Thai Massage can be seen as a form of yoga, but then 'done to you'. A saying (or truth?) is that in the East people don't go to the doctor when they are ill, they go when they feel well, in order to maintain their health and vitality.
It is based on ancient practice and has its roots in the medicinal teachings of Ayurveda, which promote a holistic view on the body, by up-keeping vitality by stimulating energetic lines, similar to meridians, and overall circulation by movement of limbs, joints, and the full kinetic chain of tissues.
Thai Massage is done on a futon (cotton mattress on the floor, where the practitioner is able to the clients body in many more ways than on a massage table. The session has lots of movement, rhythm, stretching, rocking, and positions that give you a rich feedback and stimulus to experiencing the connection with your body. All you need to do, is let it happen.
THE VALUE OF RECEIVING Western society and conditioning is more focussed on (hard) work and action, less on being and receiving. Work and action is great, when connected to inspiration and body wisdom. The body needs a fine balance, for optimum performance. Thai massage can bring you back to that place of relaxation and nurturing, where the time fades, and you get the feedback-loop to your body's language and needs. There are many different types of Thai massage and even a specific style can feel completely different depending on who is giving the massage. Some people have experienced Thai massage as quite painful. Some Thai people believe that where the body hurts it needs lots of stimulation. My approach is much more mellow, and also strongly influenced by my other types of bodywork. My approach to Thai massage is to invite you to surrender to the unexpected, and allow yourself to melt.
I truly love this style of massage, because it makes my own body feel very nice as well. I use my body as a smart leverage, and well governed bodyweight makes it feel very grounding and nurturing. I gain energie while working, and the full use of my body makes a session a different kind of intimate for the receiver. I love to be surprised by the flow that is inspired from the client body. It is one big movement meditation.