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) 718-3791titi.artofpeace@gmail.com

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: info@thaimassageschool.ac.th

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