Lanna Thai Traditional Massage

[Mahmod Ohner]

Thisis a massage that has a firm base in traditional Thai holistic philosophy with roots in ancient teachings. It combines elements of yoga, shiatsu and acupressure to work with the energy pathways of the body. The entire body benefits from a pressure point massage and stretching tension will disappear, replaced by a feeling of energy and peace.

Thai Lanna, the northern part of Thailand, is well known for its herbal heritage, as well as its healing arts through massage. Some benefits include energy rejuvenation, improved circulation, and a refreshed, relaxed feeling of wellness.

Treatment using a herbal compress along with traditional Thai massage to relieve tension and relax the body. This massage combines yoga postures and stretches to work the entire body.90 mins120 mins1,2001,700Traditional Lanna oil MassageMassage using Thai herbal oil along with firm stretching techniques to work the entire body. We offer a selection of 5 oils: black sesame, sesame, jasmine, coconut, and jasmine rice

The primary goal of Thai Lanna Massage is to manipulate Lom Pran, the vital energy that flows through the sen, and free up the passageways rather than releasing tight muscles. This work will relieve tension and stiffness using slower, softer, and more gentle techniques than Southern Thai Massage, incorporating more stretches. Lanna Thai Massage includes more techniques for relaxing and loosening up the feet, legs, and lower back muscles, which reflects its origins as therapy for people who work in the mountainous area of Northern Thailand.

Unlike traditional Southern Thai massages, Lanna Thai massage often has no fixed patterns or sequences of techniques. Lanna Massage is much less protocol-based, and the treatment is not necessarily a complete full-body massage. Session durations can vary between fifteen minutes to two or more hours, very much depending on the specific health issues of the receiver.

Additionally, Lanna Massage is applied to heal the internal organs like the stomach, the intestines, testicles, uterus, ovaries, and prostate. Traditional healers often use herbs, notably herbal compresses or tools like Tok Sen.

Traditionally, a monk must perform certain spiritual rituals on the tools to grant them healing powers. A practitioner must recite chants, incantations or invocations to promote patient healing and protect the receiver and themselves against negative energies.

Technically, Herbal Compress massage is not unique to the Lanna region. However, the Thai Lanna modality uses herbs from Northern Thailand and combines hot and cold herbal compresses and packs with a full body massage.

Amatarot is a relatively young Lanna therapy (about 100 years old). A practitioner treats a patient using a wooden stick or rod with various appliances (depending on the application) stuck to the end of the rod. The tool penetrates deeply into tendons and fascia, relieving or curing sciatica, postural imbalances, joint issues, physical pains, low energy, and tensions, among other conditions.

Karsai Nei Tsang is a specialization of Chi Nei Tsang, and a hybrid of ancient Lanna Genital Massage, Thai Genital Massage and Chinese influences, newly (re)developed by Mantak Chia (Tao Garden, Chiang Mai).

The treatment aims to heal and stimulate the genital system by removing blockages and toxins in the genital area. The modality strongly focuses on issues and difficulties with the sexual organs, urination, fertility, impotence, painful menstruation, painful scar tissue after giving birth, low sexual libido and painful intercourse.

Thai Womblifting involves hot sea salt crystals in a clay pot wrapped in medicinal leaves and applied as a compress pack. The process likewise manipulates acupressure points on the abdominal area, legs, buttocks and back. During a treatment, the Thai healer directly manipulates the uterus (womb) with their hands on the abdomen. The therapy serves post-natal health and relief for fertility problems, as well as overall health and well-being.

Thai Uterus massage is a modality that varies depending on the lineage of the practitioner. In general, one can trace influences, parallels and combinations of Thai Womb Lifting, Karsai Nei Tsang, Thai Abdominal Massage, and Yok Thong.

Northern Lanna Thai Massage differs somewhat from mainstream Thai Traditional Massage. The primary goal of Thai Lanna Massage is to relieve tensions and stiffness, which reflects the traditional need for relaxation after hard work in the mountainous area of Northern Thailand.

Additionally, Lanna Massage is applied to heal the internal organs like the stomach, the intestines, testicles, uterus, ovaries, and prostate. In many cases herbs are applied, notably herbal compresses, with herbal applications being one of the specialties of the Lanna Folk Healing Arts.

There are basically no fixed patterns or sequences of techniques used, which is more often seen in traditional Southern Thai style massages. In fact, Lanna Massage is much less protocol based, and a treatment is not necessarily a complete full body massage. Session durations can vary between fifteen minutes to two or more hours, very much depending on the specific health issues of the receiver.

Whatever the case today, Lanna Thai Massage and the Lanna Healing Arts have contributed significantly to the wealth and diversity of massage styles and other healing modalities in Thailand. Without the rich cultural input of the Lanna region, Thailand as a whole would have been way less exuberant.

The Treatment: Under the guidance of Thai massage expert Noot, guests indulge in time-honored healing Lanna rituals like the 90-minute Lanna Thai massage Ritual, a holistic full-body massage that incorporates Thai, Burmese and Chinese techniques, a herbal foot bath ritual, cleansing of negative energy in herbal water, making a wish on a golden heart Bodhi leaf and awakening to the sound of a singing bowl.

One of the hippest hotels in Bangkok, Kimpton Ma-Lai is a Zen-like sanctuary that honors the vibrant pulse of the city, while offering complete relaxation and tranquility. Think soft, natural, organic materials, a divine pool overlooking a lush Langsuan oasis and a cocooning spa created in partnership with beloved local spa group Harnn that offers modern takes on traditional Thai massage and rituals.

A tropical nirvana, located on the northeast coast of the island Ritz Carlton, Koh Samui is renowned for its ocean swimming pool and snorkel reef filled with over 50 species of colorful fish. The hotel, a former coconut plantation with stunning waterfront views looking onto the Gulf of Thailand, is also deeply rooted in wellness and local healing traditions, coconut, indigenous herbs and indi flowers are used in spa treatments and their pre-spa ritual, the joyful throwing of water, is adapted from the annual Songkran festival.

Designed by fashion icon Christian Lacroix and a team of Thai designers, the vibey SO/ Bangkok takes its cue from the five elements of nature: water, earth, air, fire and space. Guestrooms feature floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the skyline and park. While the spa is inspired by the Thai folklore of the mythical Himmapan Forest, the setting is sleek and urban and the treatments blend traditional rituals with high-tech techniques and massages.

The Treatment: COMO Shambhala wellness retreat and spa has a signature Thai Massage (Thai Pajamas are provided) that focuses on unblocking trapped energy by maneuvering the body into yoga-like stretching positions, applying pressure along the meridians and mobilizing joints. They also offer a Thai Abdominal Chi Massage.

From Rajdamnoen Road, a path shaded by an arch of soaring bamboo leads to the discrete gate of Tamarind Village. Named after the towering 200-year-old tamarind tree that dominates the property, the complex of public areas and guest quarters is laid-out around intimate courtyards filled with flowering trees. With its typical whitewashed plaster walls, dark timber beams and peaked roofs of thin clay tiles, it is a reflection of the simple elegance of the local Lanna Thai culture, in harmony with the ancient temples and historic sites that surround it.

The common areas are dominated by a swimming pool tiled in royal blue ceramic for an ornamental garden feel. Its length is outlined by a covered walkway leading to a vast reception and lounge area. Under a peaked tiled roof held by high masonry pillars, the entire room opens onto the pool on one side and the main Village courtyard with its ancient tamarind tree on the other. The lounge is decorated with distinctive crafts from the nearby hill-tribes, and from the tall paintings behind the reception desk to antique side-tables holding oversized ceramic bowls filled with sumptuous arrangements of orchids, every detail pays homage to the Lanna Kingdom artistic legacy.

My second-floor Lanna Deluxe room (Number 1201) lives up the promise of its name, with its whitewashed rough-plastered walls, high cathedral ceilings and dark grey polished concrete floors. The comfortable dark wood and rattan furniture creates an effective backdrop for the striking display of lacquered boxes and intricately embroidered tribal children hats. Behind a partition of floor-to-ceiling closets, the bathroom successfully preserves the feel of rustic simplicity while delivering all the contemporary trappings of a luxury property. It is partitioned into three distinct areas, a water closet, a roomy shower, and in the center, a vanity made from a deep copper washbasin of the type used by rural populations, resting on an antique table against a backsplash of jewel-colored ceramic tiles.

It is even in the restaurant, Ruen Tamarind, on the far side of the pool, with its series of French doors opened onto a waterside terrace for candle-lit indoor or outdoors dining. The serene attentive presence of the staff as well as the menu contributes its own homage to the Lanna past.

At Ruen Tamarind, an extensive selection of Northern Thai dishes from original family recipes handed down through generations complements the classic Thai and international offerings. To make the most of this culinary opportunity, I order all my meal from the Northern Thai menu, including breakfast when is forgo the standard buffet offering in favor of traditional Thai soup, a delicate broth filled with nuggets bursting with flavor. I discover superb dinner dishes as well. My favorites are deep-fried bamboo shoot stuffed with ground pork, served with a hot but sweet peanut sauce and fresh-water fish filets marinated in curry, then served in banana leaves en papillote over jasmine rice.

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