Massage is not a one-size-fits-all type of
therapy. There are different massage
styles to suit a variety of medical and physical needs. Among the various
systems, Thai massage offers a wide range of massage therapies to treat a
variety of conditions. That is why it is one of the most popular forms of
massage in the world. While some of the
options are well known, others are less
so. That does not mean that they are not as effective of providing treatment
and effective relief from specific physical problems. One of the lesser known,
but highly effective ones, is Tok-Sen massage.
What
Is Tok-Sen?
Tok-Sen massage has its roots in the Chiang
Mai region of northern Thailand. It has been in use for over 500 years by wives
to help their husbands relax and unwind after a hard day’s work in the fields.
It is done by asking the husbands to lie on a flat wooden table and tapping
along the body with wooden sticks, hammers
and spoons of different shapes and dimensions. Traditionally, the instruments
are made from the wood of a tamarind tree that has been hit by lightning. The belief is that the lightning bolt gives the wood the ability to
remove negative energy from the body. It does not matter if the person
receiving the massage believes this or not – the effectiveness of the therapy
remains the same.
The
Effect onthe Mind and Body
The tapping is done firmly but gently on specific
parts of the body. The rhythm of the tapping on the body enables the mind to
relax and enter a meditative state which the recipient may not even be aware
of. This relaxed state is in itself very beneficial and it also helps the body
to become freer and less tense which in
turn makes the physical benefits of the massage
even greater.
Modern
Tok-Sen massage uses herbal medicine balls to increase the beneficial
effects of the therapy. The medicine balls are heated in a steamer and applied
on the skin along the contours of the muscles. The herbs permeate the skin and
work to relieve sprains, stiffness and
strained tendons and muscles. The hammers and other instruments are used to tap
the energy lines and key parts of the
body to release blocked energy that results in tiredness, numbness, lethargy and soreness. The rhythm of the instruments creates a
resonance that moves through the muscles and the rest of the body and works to
dislodge deep-seated tension. These
negative influences on the body are often caused by physical conditions such as
rheumatism, bad posture or general stress and exhaustion.
The
Benefits
Tok-Sen massage offers not just relaxation
and tension relief. It also has a number of specific benefits including:
·
Improved blood circulation.
·
The release of blocked energy.
·
Pain relief.
·
Easing of pinched nerves, sore tendons and numbness.
Tok-Sen is a very specialized form of
massage that offers amazing benefits. That means that it should only be done by
a trained and qualified
massage therapist who understands the technique and who will benefit from
it. Those who have tried a herbal Tok-Sen massage usually make it a part of
their regular massage and wellbeing routine.
