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Aha! Thai Yoga
christy linson - Highland Yoga Student and NewsLetter Editor
- 5/31/2006
Yoga has caused me to notice the way it feels
to have a body. Maybe I am slower than most, but for a very long time I
lived as though my physical body was just a vehicle for my brain. Even in
studying massage therapy, the understanding I gained and could apply to
other people’s bodies was lost when it came to taking care of my own. The
practice of yoga has truly begun to create a union within and without my
being: body, breath, and brain.
At first, there seem to be so many
instructions: “spine straight”, “sitting bones lifted”, “try not to sink in
your shoulders”, “external and internal rotation”, and all the while
“concentrate on your breath”. One of my favorite parts of being in a yoga
class has been when, in the moment of wondering “am I doing this right?”,
the teacher came along and gently adjusted my body. When in physical
alignment, something internally shifted, my breath became even, my mind
quieted down, and for a brief moment there was something quite harmonious
about living in a body.
My first experience with Thai Yoga was 2 ½
hours of these Aha! moments. It was a private yoga session and therapeutic
massage in one. As my body was kneaded and gently stretched, it was moved
into yoga postures with increased resilience and ease. My muscles received
a combination of pressure, traction, massage, and aligned movement. In fact,
Thai yoga felt identical to the massage I would give myself, if I could
somehow slip into my higher Self, knowing all of the secrets of the human
body.
Thai Yoga Bodywork has a mysterious origin in
the combination of the Ayurvedic tradition of India and Chinese medicine. In
each of these systems, the health of the body, the mind, and the spirit are
not considered separate aspects. To work with one, is to affect the balance
of all. Thai Yoga moves through a series of more than 90 poses that move
along Sen (energy lines in the body that are referred to as meridians in
Chinese medicine). Much like receiving Shiatsu or acupressure, working along
the Sen induces a sense of harmony within the body and increases circulation
and health. Each of these poses and counter poses are part of a greater
cycle steeped in thousands of years of wisdom and practice.
As a healing practice hailing from Eastern
traditions, Thai Yoga is practiced in an environment of honor and respect
for the body and the soul within. The external space sets the pace, and the
room at Highland Yoga where I received my treatment was very clean, clear,
and softly lit. I began to feel calm and relaxed upon entering. The session
begins on a covered cotton mat on the floor, with the client clothed in
comfortable and flexible apparel. Starting with the feet, the massage moves
through the body while lying on the back, the stomach, side lying, and while
seated. Each movement transitions smoothly into the next, working from the
extremities toward the core of the body.
As in yoga, breath is the link from the
internal to the external. Many of the poses in Thai Yoga are dependent on
the breath to develop and gauge depth. The breath creates a rhythm that
carries from one movement to the next and creates a nonverbal communication
between the practitioner (in this case Jerry Kuhlman, co-owner of Highland
Yoga in Kinnelon/Butler, NJ) and the client. During the session the
practitioners will use the surfaces of their palms, fingers, thumbs,
forearms, and feet, and as well as using cotton bolsters as props, they use
their own bodies. This creates a unique massage allowing the body to
benefit from yoga postures in ways not possible while the muscles are
engaged in asana practice.
Thai Yoga uses a technique called Blood
Stopping where the practitioner holds points over major arteries which
creates a rush of new blood into the body when released. Although the name
is somewhat intimidating, after receiving the treatment, the tissues in my
arms and legs felt so alive and fed, I turned and looked to see if they had
actually plumped up. In fact, this nourished feeling carried throughout the
massage and gave me a surprising amount of mental clarity.
With such a rich history, the benefits of Thai
Yoga are many. In my experience, I have noticed lengthening in my muscles
and space created within my joints, a greater sense of internal alignment
and balance while practicing yoga, and a curious sense of being alert and
relaxed. It has also taken the wobble out of my headstands, which was no
small feat.
In a culture where there is new advice coming
at us all of the time, it is difficult to discern what will be supportive
and beneficial over time. Is there a way to truly learn to see and accept
our bodies with all of their perceived strengths and weaknesses? For those
interested in or practicing yoga, Thai Yoga is an incredible way to connect
with the way our bodies work, and even more, how smoothly and resiliently
they can move and work when we bring our attention inside.
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