An Introduction to Nuad Bo-Rarn(Traditional Thai Massage Therapy)
By Yogi Sarveshwarananda Giriwww.art-of-peace.org
Dr. Shivago Komarpaj, the Buddha’s personal physician, founder of Thai massage, 500 B.C.
Invocatory Prayers
A Prayer to the Father-Doctor Shivago
Om-na-mo / shi-va-go / si-ra-saAr-hang / ka-ru-ni-ko / sap-pa-sat-ta-nang
Oh-sa-ta / tip-pa-man-tang / pa-pha-soSu-ri-ya-jan-tang / ko-ma-ra-pa-toPa-ka-se-si / won-ta-mi / pan-ti-to
Su-me-ta-so / ah-ro-kaa / su-ma-na-ho-mi
(chant 3 times)
Translation
“We invite the spirit of our Founder, the Father Doctor Shivago, who comes to us through his saintly life. Please bring to us the knowledge of all nature, that this prayer (mantra) will show us the true medicine of the Universe. In the name of this mantra, we respect your help and pray that through our bodies you will bring wholeness and health to the body of our client.”
History & Theory
• Origins
• Main Characteristics
• Theory
• Purpose and Benefits
• Additional Applications
Origins• 2,500 year-old system
• From north India (today’s Nepal)
• Developed by Dr. Shivago Komarpaj (Indian name:Dr. Jivaka Kumara Bhaccha)
• Dr. Shivago was the Buddha’s personal physician
• Based on Ayurvedic medicine and Buddhist teachings
Main Characteristics
• Use of body weight, not muscular strength
• Meditation in movement
• Passive yoga
• Work on energy lines and points
• Skeleton realignment (chiropractic style)
Use of body weight, not muscular strength
Meditation in movement
Passive yoga
Work on energy lines and points
Skeletal realignment
Theory
• The 10 Main Energy Lines (sen sib)
• The Acupressure Points (marmas)
• The Body-Mind Types (doshas)
The 10 Main Energy Lines (sen sib)
Ancient Drawing of the sen sib
Marma Points and Chakras
The 6 Special Marma Points
The Body-Mind Types (doshas)Vata (air + ether):
movement
Pitta (fire + water):passion
Kapha (water + earth):stability
Purpose & Benefits
• Energy balance – individual and universal• Deep relaxation• Tension & blockages release• Increased flexibility & vitality• Improved range of motion & circulation• Stimulation of internal organs• Relief of pain & degenerative conditions• Improvement of neurological functions• Promotion of inner peace
Basic postures• Practitioner’s movements
• Practitioner’s stance
• Thumb pressure technique
• Working with breath
Practitioner’s movement:
The bamboo rock
Practitioner’s movement:
The forward rock
Practitioner’s movement:
The whirlpool rock
Practitioner’s stance: The diamond series
Practitioner’s stance: The cat series
Practitioner’s stance: Others
Thumb pressure technique
Incorrect: hyperextension
can lead to injury to the practitioner
Incorrect: applying pressure with the tip of the thumb can cause
discomfort to the patient
Correct: use the pad of
the thumb when applying pressure
Working with breath
Additional Applications
• Foot massage
• Hot herbal compress
• Thai Yoga/self massage
Foot massage
Hot herbal compress - Preparation
Hot herbal compress - Application
Thai Yoga/Self-massage
PracticeThai massage also involves a pro-found relaxation and creativity for the therapist, as he can use many different parts of his own body to perform the mas-sage, thus avoi-ding strain, injury, fatigue, or bore-dom.
Practice
For instance, the therapist would use his:
• fingers• palms• forearms• elbows• feet• legs• knees• buttocks• whole body
Use of fingers
Use of palms
Use of forearms
Use of elbows
Use of feet
Use of legs
Use of knees
Use of buttocks
Use of whole body
2012 Training Schedule & Language• Level 1: two week-ends in September: Sept. 1 - 2 AND Sept. 8 - 9
• Level 2: two week-ends in September: Sept. 15 - 16 AND Sept. 22 - 23
• All classes are conducted in English and Spanish
Fees
• Course fee for EACH level: US $170 (300,000 COP). Includes training manual, and lunch on Saturday & Sunday.
• Stay at the Ashram:US $17 (30,000 COP) per night, including all meals.
Place of Training
Hariharananda’s Garden of Humanity ashramSubachoque (near Bogota), Colombia
Contact and Registration
Classes are limited to 14 students per levelRegister early to reserve your place.
Contact: Agustina Martin Giri+57 (300) [email protected]
Web:www.art-of-peace.org
About the Instructors
• Yogi Sarveshwarananda Giri (David Vachon) – Chief instructor. Licensed in Chinese Medicine, Neuro-Linguistic Programming, and Massage Therapy, and Traditional Thai Massage Therapy.• Agustina Martin Giri – Assistant instructor. Certified in Reiki Therapy, and Traditional Thai Massage Therapy.
Yogi Sarveshwarananda Giri
Yogi Sarveshwarananda Giri (David Vachon) completed all levels of training at the Shivagakomarpaj Thai Massage School in Chiangmai, Thailand in 1994, 2010 and 2011: •Thai Massage Levels 1 & 2 (60 hours)•Thai Therapy Massage Levels 3 and 4 (60 hours)•Thai Foot Massage (12 hours)•Thai Herbal Hot Compress (12 hours)•Teacher Assistant (36 hours)
1994 graduation
2011 graduation
Agustina Martin Giri
Agustina Martin Giri completed her training at the Shivagakomarpaj Thai Massage School in Chiangmai, Thailand in 2011: •Thai Massage Levels 1 & 2 (60 hours)•Thai Therapy Massage Levels 3 (30 hours)•Thai Foot Massage (12 hours)
In gratitude… Our deepest thanks and love to the director, Mr. Parawat Poungpiam,
and to all our teachers at the Shivagakomarpaj School (Old Medicine Hospital) in Chiangmai, Thailand.
Tel: +66 (53) 275-085 Email: [email protected]
Website: www.thaimassageschool.ac.th
Credits• Illustrations from slides 16, 30 and 34 taken from the book “Traditional Thai Yoga” by Enrico Corsi and
Elena Fanfani• Illustrations from slides 17-19, 22-29, 31 and 35-36 taken from the book “Thai Yoga Massage” by Kam
Thye Chow• Illustrations and photos from slides 6, 8-14, 20, 31, and 37-45 taken from the book “Thai Massage
Manual” by Maria Mercati• Illustrations from slides 2 and 15 taken from the manual “Handbook for Basic Massage Course” by the
Thai Massage School Shivagakomarpaj• Illustration from slide 21 taken from the book “Nuad Bo-Rarn: Ancient Massage of Thailand” by Chongkol
& Atchrara Setthakorn