SB writes: “I was wondering if Thai massage is new age…I had it a few weeks ago as I thought it would alleviate shoulder pain. . . My hunch is that it’s not new age as there is no energy attached to it.”
Actually, Thai massage, which is also known as Thai yoga massage, is very much associated with the New Age belief in a universal life force which supposedly moves through the body through pathways known as sens. (These are known as meridians in Traditional Chinese Medicine.)
Thai massage incorporates yoga movements with acupressure techniques. As this site explains, “The therapist will incorporate yogic stretching movements as they knead and press muscles along the body’s energy lines with the hands and feet. Thai massage combines the principles of acupressure whereby the Sen is stimulated, which is said to balance the energy system in the body.”
It goes on to explain that “Chinese medicine and acupressure philosophy believe we all have meridian lines within our bodies and along these meridian lines (also known as Sen lines) are acupressure points. The belief is that by stimulating the acupressure points this will allow for a healthier flow of energy within the body. The energy is known as Qi or Chi.”
Even more concerning is that practitioners of Thai massage often pray to the founder of this method, a physician named Ivaka Komarabhacca who was the personal physical to the king of India 2500 years ago. He was known to be skilled in Indian medicine (Ayurveda) as well as the art of meditation and yoga.
“He is often referred to as the ‘Father Doctor’ or ‘Father of Medicine’ and it is custom to pray to him for guidance and inspiration before starting a massage or at the end of the treatment. This prayer is called Wai Khru, still frequently carried out in Thailand today.”
During Thai massage, the practitioner moves the patient’s body into yoga-like poses, then pulls and rocks the body in various ways.
As this article in Healthline states. “The combination of stretching, movement, and pressure is what distinguishes Thai massage from other types of massage. . .In this type of massage, you move and participate instead of lying down throughout your massage.”
Proponents claim that Thai massage can help with headaches and back pain as well as improve flexibility and range of motion; however, studies into its benefits tend to be older and of low quality.
Due to its association with the New Age and the invoking of the spirit of Ivaka Komarabhacca before sessions, it is not recommended for Christians.
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