Traditional Thai massage, or nuad pen boran (นวดแผนโบราณ), combines Indian Ayurvedic concepts with acupressure and assisted yoga postures, and therefore is sometimes referred to as Thai Yoga Massage or Ayurvedic Thai Massage.
Nuad pen boran manipulates skin, tissue, channels, bones, and organs to provide movement or "lom" (literally "wind") to tendons, ligaments, nerves, and blood vessels, which are traditionally referred to as "sen". It is an ancient practice, going back to the time of the Buddha, about 2,500 years ago.
Though there are today many schools of nuad pen boran, the spiritual home of the practice is the 300 year-old Wat Po temple complex in Bangkok Thailand, which since 1955 has been the site of the Wat Po Thai Traditional Medical and Massage School, the first Thai massage school approved by the Thai Ministry of Education.
Coco's Thai Therapeutic Massage (TTM) combines nuad pen boran with standard Swedish techniques of effleurage (sliding), petrissage(kneading), tapotement (rhythmic tapping), friction (cross fiber or with the fibers) and vibration; which together have been shown to reduce arthritis-related joint stiffness and pain.
For chronic tension such as upper and lower back pain, stiff neck, sore shoulders, leg muscle tightness or muscle injuries such as back sprain, Coco adds Deep Tissue techniques - slow, deliberate strokes focusing pressure on layers of muscles, tendons, or other tissues deep under the skin. These techniques have been shown to reduce blood pressure, heart rates and stress hormone levels, while simultaneously increasing serotonin and ocytocin release, aiding in mood and relaxation.
An initial intake history and exam identifies specific muscle groups, nerves and joints that might need special attention due to over exertion from sports such as running, skiing, or bicycling; or just from modern economic life - sitting at desks or tied to computer screens. Combining the correct techniques from different modalities - nuad pen boran, Swedish & Deep Tissue - in the proper combination to address your individual needs makes Thai Therapeutic Massage an extremely efficient way to get back to optimal health.