Lazy Yoga – Thai Massage

By Southampton Thai Massage therapist, Georgia

Thai massage is also known as ‘Lazy Yoga’. The name became apparent because the massage consists of pressure points and stretches that aim to relieve blockages along the 10 energy channels within the body. Obstruction of energy flow can lead to weakness of muscles, fatigue, and many other musculoskeletal disorders. Yoga also works with increasing the energy flow and removing blockages. Slow stretching and breathing work in coordination to relax the body and mind, helping you feel revitalised, relaxed, and rejuvenated.

Importance of stretching

Stretching keeps the muscles flexible, strong and healthy which helps to maintain a healthy range of motion within the joints. Otherwise, muscles become shortened and tight. If you then exert yourself with tight muscles you are at a higher risk or joint pain, injury, and muscle damage. Ideally, we should all be stretching every day – especially if we have an inactive lifestyle. Now with less times on our hands this can seem challenging. Thai massage is a great way to unwind, but also a way to tick off the list one of those yoga classes you’ve been wanting to attend.

Relaxation

Along with the physical benefits ‘Lazy Yoga’ helps restore wellbeing and relaxation. We underestimate the importance of relaxation and how it affects our lifestyle. It’s important that we manage stress and anxiety in our lives through relaxation. When we are stressed our bodies react with a ‘fight or flight’ response. This results in muscle tension, and increased heart and respiration rates. It’s vital to focus on all aspects of your wellbeing and managing a healthy diet, exercising, and receiving treatments is a great way to maintain balance in your lifestyle whilst managing physical and mental discomfort.

Breathing

The major link between Thai massage and Yoga is the focus on breathing. Breath is vital for life of course, but by slowing our breathing rate down we can dive into deeper relaxation for our body and mind. Yoga focuses on breath and movement, making sure energy is flowing freely throughout the body. Thai massage also focuses on slow breathing which is between the client and the therapist. This is important as it increases the amount of oxygen throughout the body, and creates a space for meditation as well. Also, focusing on your breath throughout a massage treatment allows you to become more aware of your body and how it’s feeling. Living such a busy lifestyle can lead to us not listening to our bodies, which can eventually lead to injuries if current pain is ignored. It’s important to take time away from your busy routine and allow yourself to indulge in relaxation.

Is It for me?

If you have not had Thai massage before and you’re wondering if it’s suitable for you, then you have come to the right place. A consultation is vital before receiving Thai massage, so we can see if it’s appropriate for you. Past injuries, trauma, spinal conditions, and blood pressure are all common factors that will affect which treatment you need. Thai massage can also be tailored towards your own needs. In Thailand, they say you experience 30% relaxation during the treatment and 70% of the health benefits are felt afterwards.