Thai massage is linked very closely with Thai medicine which has a very long history. Unfortunately, there are very few written texts on either subject prior to the 1800s, this is due in part to the tropical climate of the area and the perishable nature of materials used to record this information and the destruction from invading armies.
Thai massage has had many influences over the years from India, China, and traditional Thai practices. Thai massage is something which is passed down orally through families and generations and is a very widespread practice. Many parents teach their children to do Thai massage so that they can better look after their parents as they get older.
Thai massage has had many influences. Two of these are Buddhism and Ayurveda this is in part due to the very beginning of the practise. Thai massage was believed to have started by the traditional Thai healer Dr Shivago Komarpaj (the father doctor). He was the founding father of Indian therapeutic Ayurveda massage, and became one of the most sought after physicians in Northern India, he was physician to kings and noblemen and it was during his time acting as doctor for Buddha that the development of Thai massage came about. He started to incorporate the Buddhist ideas on ethics, compassion and attention to breath and sensation to his background in Ayurvedic medicine and traditional Thai medicine. Yoga practise was also incorporated into the practise. Yoga is an energy based physical and spiritual practice originating in India, a similar practice also formed in Thailand and was incorporated into Thai massage. Whilst the practice in Thailand did not include Chakras, it does share many similarities in their energy or sen lines. Many of the Yoga stretches make up much of the Thai bodywork aspect of the Thai massage treatment
Predating the evolution of Buddhism is Indigenous Thai medicine, one of the earliest sources of technical information for this type of medicine is in the temple Wat Phra Chetuphon Vimolmangklararm Rajwaramahaviharn, commonly known as Wat Po. In this temple there were 60 diagrams etched into marble that show the complex energy lines and points, which links very closely with acupressure therapy. This form of medicine has been handed down from teacher to student and now forms the basis of the Thai herbal medicine aspect of Thai massage
With all these influences Thai massage has evolved and will continue to evolve as a whole body (Holos – Holistic) therapy, working with not only the physical body work but also the metaphysical sen lines and points. Each therapist will work on the different aspects of the Thai massage to different degrees and will eventually develop their own style of Thai massage.