| Description | History | Sen Lines | Benefits | Wai Khru |
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Nuad Boran, also known as Nuad Phaen Boran, Jap Sen, Thai Yoga, Thai Massage, Thai Medical Massage or Traditional Thai Massage, is an ancient form of bodywork that among its techniques uses a mix of soft rythmic balance, compression and stretching which applied together, create a really unique therapeutic experience.
In a physical level this work helps to reduce muscular tensions, to stimulate blood circulation and metabolism, whereas in an energetic or spiritual level, aids to return to a calm state, to recover the internal balance and to obtain deep relaxation.
The Thai word Nuad means ' to touch with the intention to alleviate or heal', whereas Boran derives from the sanskrit word 'Purana', that can be translated as 'something sacred, old and respected'. In its origin and traditional forms, this type of therapy has been bound closely to the practice of the Buddhism as an act of metta or compassion and simultaneously, as a meditation form that helps to reach the unity between body and spirit.
Its theoretical foundation is the work on the energetic channels known as Sen, lines alike the concept of meridians of the Chinese Traditional Medicine, that cross all our body and whose manipulation can contribute to improve our well-being and health.
Even today, this technique continues retaining the original elements of its deep spiritual connection, reason why each instructor and student begins the day of work with a prayer to whom is considered to be the creator of this massage, which is repeated in its native Pali language.
Although almost unknown and spread in West during recent years, nowadays this technique is used in the Southeast of Asia like a preventive and healing therapy and as complement to recover the natural state of feeling well.
There it is a part of the basic health system of general population and is considered to be a very satisfactory way of therapy, easy to apply and efficient preventing and treating a great number of affections.
Not much written history about Nuad Boran has arrived to us, but according to the tradition, it was introduced in the Southeast of Asia about 2500 years ago by a legendary personage called Jivaka Kumar Bhacca, that in some writings is also mentioned as Shivago Komarpahj. This person, who in the oldest texts of Theravada buddhism was said to be the personal doctor of King Bimbisara of Magadha, was commissioned by him for taking care of the health of the historical Buddha and his followers.
Its later evolution is doubtful and the knowledge was transmitted orally during centuries. But even though its history is darkened by the passage of the time and the deficiency of written registries, it can be observed that this technique has been deeply influenced by the Ayurvedic Medicine, Yoga and Chinese Traditional Medicine.
Their working positions often are similar to the Yoga's asanas, whereas the attention given to the energy lines and to the pressure points is similar to the work on the meridians of the Chinese Traditional Medicine.
An european traveller, Simon de Loubere, who was sent like a representative by the French Court to the old Kingdom of Siam, was the first western to observe application of this healing art in the XVII century and wrote in his diary: 'When any person is sick in Siam, he begins by causing his whole body to be moulded by one who is skilled herein...'
Nuad Boran is also mentioned in medical texts of XVII century written in leaves of palm in Pali language and sanscrit, those that were object of great respect from the doctors of old ages who compared them buddhist sutras.
Only fragments of those writings have arrived to our times, since most of them were lost during the destruction of the old real city of Ayutthaya during XVIII century. These fragments are conserved in the temple of Wat Po Cheptuphon in Bangkok, which is one of the most famous teaching centersof this technique today.
In the way of Nadis there are key points of greater activity called Marmas, that are also the areas of greater concentration of energy. These points, in most of the cases, are identical to the points of Acupuncture used by the Chinese Traditional Medicine. The use of marmas had a fundamental importance in the medical tradition of India and was known as Marma Chikitsa, that means 'Therapy through the Marmas'.
The knowledge of the use of these points to treat diseases and wounds was taught in the monasteries and Buddhist universities like a self-defense method. These knowledge was spread later by the monks in all the East, becoming part in some cases of the Martial Arts as in the case of The Shaolin Monastery in China or of techniques of massage like the ones practiced in the monasteries of Theravada Buddhism of Thailand, Cambodia and Burma.
Most of the Yoga systems considers that there are 72000 lines or Nadis energy channels. These lines, which cannot be identified as nerves or veins but as subtle energy channels that cross the whole body, were taken later as references by the therapists and medical instructors of Nuad Boran that denominated them under the term Sen and who also applied the word Lom to the energy travelling through them.Traditionally in Nuad Boran treatments, ten classic main Sen lines or Sib Sen are used. These are denominated as Sumana, Kalathari, Ittha, Pingkhala, Sahatsarangsi, Thawari, Lawusang, Ulangka, Nanthakrawat and Kitchanna.
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Also, because of the grace and fluidity of the movements of the therapist, this technique is often compared with a kind of dance between the giver and the receiver. There are four basic treatment positions in Nuad Boran.Tipically, the therapist starts with a simultaneous pressure of his two hands on the feet, stopping in them the needed time to overcome the tension that the patiet may have.
The he goes up throughout the body, following the layout of the Sen energy lines and stopping in important points of legs, arms and torso known as Marmas, where he uses pressures of varied intensity, until arriving to the head. The work made in the blocked points helps the elimination of the knots or stagnations that make the energy flux difficult, thus improving the state of the area or affected organ and health in general.Besides these pressures, the therapist works during all the session with different forms of strechings that produce a great deal of body movement in the receiver and an increase of the energy sensations, freeing the tensions and improving the general well-being.
Traditionally, Nuad Boran sessions can last one or two hours and take to the patient into a deep state of relaxation. During them, both therapist and receiver remain dressed with loose and natural clothes. The work is performed on the floor, on a heavy mattress, blanket or futon, in order that the patient feels comfortable and therapist can execute the different maneuvers easily.
The therapeutic work of Nuad Boran is very effective in treating muscular stagnation, pain and chronic or acute tensions, although also, by its stimulating effect on the body and the energetic system in general, it can alleviate or heal the symptoms of other diseases.
There are no age limitations to obtain benefits of this practice, that basically produces a deep relaxation and a sensation of liberation of tensions and accumulated stress in the body.
Although each person will respond to this therapy according to his or her own experience and present state of health, it's always good to remember that this form of traditional therapy has been used in its place of origin by countless generations to deal with all type conditions and for promoting the well-being of the patient and that, through a regular series of sessions, leads to a remarkable improvement of the general state of health.
In the context of Buddhism or Hinduism, it is called as 'puja' to any of the ceremonies made as a way to give thanks or get the blessing from the divinities.
In every school of Nuad Boran Thai Massage in Thailand is kept alive the tradition of praying one puja in the morning, before the beggining of the classes, and one in the evening after the closing of the activities. This puja is known as Wai Khru or Homage to Father.
Ceremonies are conducted by the school director and every student and teacher participate in it. It starts with the sound of the bell, and is accompannied with the offerings of incence and flowers, and the chant of a prayer in Pali, the antique language of Theravada Buddhism.
- On namo shivago sirasa a-hang karunikko
- sappasatanang o-satha tippamantang papaso
- suriyajantang komarapatto pagasesi
- wantami bantito sumetaso a-loka sumanahomi
- Piyo-tawa manusanang piyo-promma namuttamo
- piyo-naka sappannanang pininsriyong namamihang
- namoputaya navon-navean nasatit-nasatean
- a-himana navean-nave napitang-vean naveanmahaku
- a-himama piyongmama namoputtaya
Na-a nawa loka payati winasanti
Here is a transaltion of the meaning of the prayer extracted from by Pierce Salguero's book, Spiritual Healing in Thailand.
Homage to you Jivaka, I bow down.
You are kind to all beings and bring to all beings divine medicine,
and shine light like the sun and moon.
I worship he who releases sickness,
wise and enlightened Komarabaccha.
May I be healthy and happy.
He is beneficent to gods and human beings,
beneficent to Brahma. I pay homage to the great one.
He is beneficent to naga and supanna....
I pay homage. Homage to the Buddha....
Honor to the Buddha. May all diseases be released .
We pray for the one whom we touch,
that he will be happy and that any illness will be released from him.
 | In the times of Buddha, the most famous between the phisicians was Jivaka Kuma Bhacca, who was described as giving free attention to the Buddha himself and other monks and donating its own mango plantation in the city of Rajagaha, for the use of the monastic community. |
The medical fame of Jivaka as a healer was extensively well-known and the stories on his life and skills can be found in almost all the versions of the buddhist writings.
The birth and the childhood that the Pali version tells, begins with Salavati, courtesan of Rajagaha, that gave birth to a son who then was given to one of her servants and placed in a basket. In the sanskrit and tibetan versions of this story, a promiscuous wife of a merchant in Rajagaha gave birth to a son of king Bimbisara, placed to the infant in a large chest and sent it to the king. It is told that the boy was born with a purse of the needles of acupuncture in his hand and so, he was presumed to be predestined to be a phisician and royal doctor.
In all the versions, the boy was adopted by Abhaya, the king's son. According to the Pali version, the name of Jivaka was given to the boy because he was alive, since the root 'jiv' is translated as 'living', and KumarBhacca, which is translated as 'nourished by a prince'.
When approaching the age in which he must look for his own sustenance, Jivaka decides to learn the medical art. Having heard of a famous doctor called Atreya that lived in the hindu city of Taxila, very recognized for its education, he traveled there and turn into his disciple. After seven years of study, he took an examination to prove its knowledge of medical herbs, passing it with an extraordinary success. Therefore and with the blessings of its mentor, he devoted to the practice of the Medicine.Recognized as the father of Medicine and as source of the knowledge on the healing energies of plants, minerals and massages, his teachings traveled to Thailand at the same time Buddhism did, turning himself definitively in the central figure of the Buddhist medical system and in guide and inspiration for all the doctors and medical instructors of the Traditional Massage.
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Becoming a Nuad Boran Therapist
Becoming a Nuad Boran Therapist implies not only knowing the right body working techniques that are part of this ancient healing art, but also understanding the traditional philosophy behind it and its particular form of application. This means knowing and using the therapeutic energy channels known as Sen, which are the ones that give Nuad Boran its theoretical foundation.
Centro Brillo del Sol is the first school in Latin America that offers courses and diplomas that are internationally acknoledged by the Thai Healing Alliance International, which is the most prominent and recognized organization that holds together the most important traditional Nuad Boran schools in Thailand and the rest of the world.
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