Differences between Western and Thai massage

Our massage studio is located in Chiang Mai, the capital of the Thai North. The North generally attracts experienced travelers who have already been visiting Thai beach resorts and have some idea of ​​​​Thai massage.

Yet, among our visitors there are occasionally complete newcomers to Thailand. Some of them explore our service menu with obvious wariness and ask hesitantly what Thai massage is and how it differs from “just a massage”. We are trying to explain it to them briefly, sometimes even using sign language.

It’s time to give a detailed answer to this question! First, read here about what Thai massage is.

Now, let’s look at the differences between regular massage and Swedish massage, which, in Western countries, most often means Swedish massage.

Typical Western view on massage

For many Europeans and Americans, and not just for them, the word massage conjures up a stereotypical image reminiscent of the portrayals in spa advertising: a naked person is lying on their stomach with an expression of extreme bliss on their face and with only a towel covering their bottoms, while masseuse is gently rubbing lotion on their back.

Such a representation would be true in the case of the most popular type of massage in the world called Classic. Despite the name, it was developed fairly recently, in the 19th century. As this technique was brought to the United States from Sweden, it is more known as Swedish Massage in English-speaking countries.

The main goal of Swedish massage is indeed to promote relaxation. It employs actions like effleurage (gliding strokes), petrissage (kneading and squeezing), friction (circular or back-and-forth rubbing), tapotement (rhythmic tapping), and vibration (vibrating hand or finger movements), which are typically applied to larger muscle groups and usually involves the use of oils or lotions.

Types of Western massage

To our time, a whole group of related Western massage modalities has evolved from Classic (Swedish) massage. The most known are Deep Tissue massage and Sports massage. Both use similar techniques based on the manipulation of soft tissues and muscles by hands and fingers to reduce muscle tension, improve circulation, and ease symptoms of pain, but differ in the level of pressure and intensity involved.

Deep tissue massage, as the name suggests, targets the deeper layers of muscles and connective tissues. It is less relaxing and more therapeutic than Swedish massage. Strong pressure and slow, forceful strokes are applied to muscles and tendons to release chronic muscle tension, knots, and adhesions that can cause pain and limited mobility. The deeper the massage, the more painful it can be.

Sports massage is primarily designed for healing sports injuries or muscle strains. It involves slower and more intense strokes than Deep Tissue massage, targeting specific areas of muscle tension and adhesions.

There are also many other, lesser-known Western medical massages that are targeted at treating tissues and muscles. During Trigger point therapy, for example, the pressure is specifically applied to tiny sensitive spots, located in muscle fibers and believed to be the “pain-triggering” points. Periosteal massage works through manipulation with a thin layer of tissue covering the bones.

Thai massage is different

Similarly to Western massage, Thai massage can be defined as the manipulation of the soft tissues and muscles of the body. But beyond that, the similarities end.

Let’s start with the outward differences.

Western massage involves mostly gentle moves. Thai massage uses more vigorous techniques – kneading, stretching, traction, rocking, percussion, and leaning, without light strokes, warm-ups, and friction. It can feel unpleasant or even painful.

During the Western massage, the patient lies either on the stomach or back, and little change of position is required. Thai massage requires multiple changes of position because the giver is bending and unbending, folding, and unfolding the receiver’s body into different yoga-like poses in all three dimensions.

Western massage therapist usually works standing up, having put the patient on the massage table. This kind of arrangement, though, allows them to use only the muscle power of their palms, fingers, and thumbs, and to a lesser degree forearms and elbows. For Thai massage practitioner, literally intertwining with the patient, the only possible workspace is a floor mat. Also, he or she can easily position themselves above the patient and use their body weight for pressing, that requires less muscle power.

Western massage is often done with oil or lotion, and the client typically should be getting naked or wearing very little clothing. In Thai massage, due to too close bodily contact between the giver and receiver, the patient remains fully clothed, usually dressed in flowy, comfortable pajamas, which ensure ease of movement. Thus, oil can’t be used in Thai massage.

Massage in Western and Eastern medicine

More importantly, Thai Massage and Western Massage are based on two totally different medical approaches with fundamentally different philosophies behind them, rooted in their respective cultural and historical backgrounds.

Western massage is a reflection of Western medicine, which is commonly referred to as сonventional or modern medicine. Rooted in the European rationalist philosophy, conventional medicine relies on methods that are scientifically proven to be safe, straightforward, fast-acting, and effective – first and foremost, on chemical treatments and surgery.

As for massage, conventional medical experts generally accept its efficacy in managing stress and pain but find little evidence that it can actually help to cure serious conditions. Thus, Western massage is often deemed part of wellness care rather than health care. At best, it’s accepted as an alternative form of medicine.

Alternative or nonconventional forms of medicine are mostly related to traditional healing practices that originated thousands of years ago in Сhina, India, Thailand, Japan, and other Asian countries and are strongly influenced by ancient Eastern philosophies. Eastern medicine is holistic and natural, i.e. it sees the human body as a unified and self-regulating ecosystem, emphasizes its own self-healing mechanisms, and prefers natural treatments.

Ranging from simple to complicated, these natural treatments might be: dietary therapy, aromatherapy, Herbal therapy, cupping, acupressure, acupuncture, and Mind-body practices like Tai chi, Qigong, and Pranayama. Each of them can be found in all major healing systems though they may come under different names.

There is no massage in this list, because Thai Nuad Boran, Chinese Tui na, Japanese Anma, and Indian Ayurvedic massage represent specific combinations of several of these methods at once. For example, Thai massage incorporates the elements of guided yoga, acupressure, and meditation. These techniques sometimes are supplemented by aromatherapy, Herbal therapy, and cupping.

That is why Thai massage is not specifically what Westerners consider massage – it would be better to classify it as bodywork therapy, the branch of traditional Thai medicine that cares for the external body.

Energy Lines vs Anatomy

If you ask the therapist massaging, for example, your upper back what he or she is working on at the moment and why, the Western therapist will answer like this “I’m pressing your strained trapezius muscles to relax them to relieve your neck pain”.

Thai massage practitioner, however, could probably say something like: “I’m pressing the points along the Sen Ittha energy line of your body to increase the energy flow through this line to relieve headaches, back and neck pains, and sciatic nerve pains, as well as to cure your intestinal and digestive disorders and possible diseases of your urinary tract”.

Mapping out the body, Western massage uses as a guideline solely anatomy and physiology. For Eastern massage, the structure and function of the human physical body are secondary and insignificant, because the Eastern therapist primarily works with the higher-order entity – the energy body of man.

According to traditional Thai medicine, there are numerous invisible energy pathways (Sen in Thai) through which life-force energy (Lom Pran) flows in the human body. These energy channels are similar to the meridians in Chinese medicine and Prana Nadi in Indian Yoga. Since the roots of this concept lie in ancient Indian philosophy, Thai medicine terms mostly come from Sanskrit, the ancient language of India. For instance, the name of the aforementioned Sen Ittha energy line corresponds to the Ida Nadi Indian Prana line.

Disturbances in energy pathways result in energy flow deficiencies and imbalances, which manifest themselves in physical, emotional, or mental discomfort, diseases, or illnesses to a person. Skilled and experienced Eastern healers are able to diagnose the nature and trajectory of energetic disharmony in a number of ways, from checking for a pulse at the patient’s wrist to evaluating of their spiritual condition.

The ten most essential energy lines (Sib Sen), including Sen Ittha, are massive and predictable enough to be accessible for some therapeutic influence. Thai massage practitioner re-activates the flow of Lom Pran with a serial combination of pressure, acupressure, and stretching along these energy pathways, using the thumbs, elbows, and knees.

10 energy lines that converge in the abdomen: why Thai massage therapist focuses on your navel

Holistic vs Focused Mindset

Western medicine considers the human body and mind as isolated entities, focusing largely on the physical body. Furthermore, using anatomy and physiology as a map, it divides the body into separate parts and views each of them individually rather than how they work together. Eventually, it again narrows its focus only on those body areas which are experiencing issues.

Based on the patient’s symptoms, the therapist diagnoses specific conditions and then addresses appropriate treatment directly to the part where pain or disease occurs. The purpose of this treatment is to affect the problem organ or system, without concern for the overall patient’s health and well-being.

The “localized” approach is the basis of Western massage. It’s always focused on narrow tasks such as relieving tightness and pain in specific muscles (Deep Tissue massage, Sports massage) or promoting relaxation (Swedish massage).

In contrast, Eastern healing arts do not just treat symptoms but look at the human constitution as an integrated system incorporating physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual elements. The holistic nature of Eastern massage means that it is addressed to the whole person, not just an isolated part of the body.

This is why Thai massage is almost always full-body and it lasts at least 1 hour. During this time, the therapist should work out 10 energy lines, that run all the way from the feet to the crown of the head. As illustrated above by Sen Ittha, each of them wields direct or indirect influence on several parts of the human constitution.

Recovery vs Cure

Western medicine evaluates the effectiveness of therapy based on clinical trials and practice. Its desired result is a CURE, which is the complete elimination of a disease or condition. The outcome of the Eastern treatment is better to call RECOVERY since it is assumed that the body’s own self-healing processes do all the work.

An analogy between Eastern medicine and a loving grandma, keen on natural home remedies can be drawn. If one catches a cold, she will bring a hot lemon drink, a warming foot bath, and calf wraps… whereas a physician will likely prescribe medicines to alleviate cold symptoms and antivirals to fight viruses causing flu.

Conventional therapy is explicable in scientific terms. Despite elaborate teachings behind it, Eastern medicine deals with the elusive stuff that can not be seen in a microscope or analyzed chemically. The Eastern therapist acts more on a hunch, trying different ways, some of which for whatever reason succeed. In doing so, he or she can’t scientifically explain how their therapy works.

Despite this, Thai massage has been clinically proven to have numerous health benefits, such as relieving headaches and migraines, easing chronic lower back pain, boosting the immune system, and improving cardiovascular activity.

But Western medicine, too, still doesn’t have a clear scientific explanation for how it works! Some scientists believe that Thai massage techniques enter the brain into a euphoric state of yogic sleep, which removes blocks to the nervous system. Others argue that all of this is just the placebo effect triggered by the spiritual atmosphere surrounding Thai massage.

Essentially, all explanations say the same thing, only with different words – Thai massage increases a person’s mental and physical energy levels which facilitates the process of self-healing.

Which one is for you?

That’s why there are many types of Thai massages out there. Each type has its own objectives and techniques. There are many types of Thai massage techniques. Each is designed to target a different part of the body. It’s a misconception that Thai massage is just for back and shoulders; it stimulates all the muscles in your body from head to toe.