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Some Info About Traditional Thai Massage

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We get lots of questions about Thai Massage so we’ll try and answer a few here.

The first difference you’ll notice between a Thai massage and the classic western styles it the lack of equipment.  Swedish and deep tissue massages take place atop a massage table, Thai massages take place upon a floor mat. This allows the client a more complete range of motion;  Because unlike western massage styles, you won’t just be lying on your back or stomach when you receive a Thai massage.

Your masseuse receives an even greater advantage by being on the floor rather than hunched over a table. During a Thai massage, the masseuse moves all around and above the client to access a wider range of angles over each part of the body, even in cases when the client is much larger than the masseuse.

Rather than just using hands, fists, forearms and elbows — the standard tools of the Swedish masseuse — the Thai masseuse may use legs and feet during the massage. Oftentimes, they will use a combination of both to gain leverage as they initiate deep stretches of the client’s arms, legs, hips, and shoulders.

You can wear your own clothes, or  wear the clothes provided to you. They are loose fitting, clean, and comfortable.  During the massage, you will be pulled, stretched, and rocked at the hands of your Thai massage therapist.

Traditional Thai massage uses no oils or lotions, except for foot massage. The recipient remains clothed during a treatment.

It is recommended to start off with twice weekly massages for the first four to six weeks, and then gradually increase the time between sessions as symptoms improve. At Lanna Thai we have Senior Discounts and punch style cards to help discount our already lower rates.  If you come 5 times the 6th visit is  half price.

 

And our standard Disclaimer - Thai Massage is NOT sexual in any way. Any inappropriate behavior will halt the massage immediately, the customer will be asked to leave and be expected to pay the full fee for the time booked.

 

Benefits Of Thai Herbal Ball Massage

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Thai herbal ball massage was long ago developed in Thailand to detoxify and relax the body in a single treatment. It combines the benefits of traditional Thai massage with the therapeutic powers of blended Thai herbs.

Thai ball

Lanna Thai Massage uses balls handmade specifically for us in Chiang Mai, Thailand with a selection of therapeutic organic and naturally sourced herbs which are wrapped in a muslin cloth and tied into a ball. The ball is then steamed gently and applied to your body in mild pressing, circular and rolling movements.

The heat from the ball transfers the herbal essences and essential oils deep into your skin – resulting in the release of muscle tension, detoxification, and increase in body energy. Thai herbal ball massage potential benefits that go far beyond general relaxation and rejuvenation.

Healing Benefits Of Thai Herbal Ball Massage

- Improves blood circulation

Heat from the herbal ball helps to dilate the blood vessels which help in increasing the circulation of blood and oxygen in the body.

- Relieves joint and muscle pain

The different types of herbs used in the mixture of our Thai herbal ball are rich with analgesic and antiseptic properties. The healing effect of the herbs soothes muscle pain, while also relieving joint pain.

- Energizes your body

Thai herbal ball massage induce deep relaxation and eases the tension in your muscles and energizes and rejuvenates your body.

4. Promotes cell growth

The herbs used in the massage also have anti-inflammatory properties that sooth skin and joint inflammation.  Ball massage treatment cleanses your skin by promoting cell growth nourishes and revitalizes the skin.

5. Improves well-being

Thai massage in general releases the tension in your body, and when it is blended with a warm herbal ball massage, it further detoxifies your body releasing all stress and tension – bringing you in a peaceful and calm emotional state.

Thai herbal ball massage at Lanna Thai Massage is a totally relaxing treatment to unwind your body and rejuvenate it fully.

Call 250-442-1411 for Appointments.

Oh My Back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Now this is something I can relate to.   Probably more men complain about back problems and Sciatic pain than anything else.

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In Asian countries the problem is less prevalent in their older generation of men and women. They traditionally sit on the floor and use squat toilets. This constant large range of motion keeps older Asians much more flexible than their Western counterparts and that leads to less back problems.

So, what can be done?

Baring a medical problem like compressed or herniated disks which your doctor can diagnose, lots of other things can cause a sore back.

First and foremost, and we can not stress this enough, you have to know that the condition is not medical in nature.  Injury, a ruptured or herniated disk and acquired conditions are medical problems and can’t be fixed with massage of any kind.  That’s just an unfortunate fact. Things like pinched nerves or locked facet joints can be relieved to some extent with Thai Massage, acupressure, stretching and manipulation.

Most men over 40 complain of back problems it’s almost a fact of life. The good news is most of them don’t have major medical problems. Men tend to lift poorly over their lifetime which adds to the problem. They also do not to stretch as much as women and thus as men age become less flexible and tight.  It’s that flexibility and tightness that Thai Massage can target in very specific ways.  It works for women as well by the way, especially after childbirth, where the spine has been stressed for a long period of time.

Men tend to have very tight hamstrings and calves, the muscles at the back of your leg. When your hamstrings tighten it throws your pelvis out of alignment which in return puts your lower back out of alignment.

There is also condition called Piriformis syndrome. This condition causes the Piriformis muscle, located in the buttock region, to spasm and causes pain.  The condition can also irritate the nearby sciatic nerve and cause pain, numbness and tingling along the back of the leg and into the foot. In 30% of the population the sciatic nerve runs directly through the muscle and any injury to the Piriformis muscle causes it to swell and pinch the sciatic nerve.  The good news is Piriformis Syndrome can be diagnosed by anyone with a 30 second test.  By manipulating your legs and making the leg muscles more flexible and elongated the stress on your lower back is relieved and the pain goes away. Unfortunately unless you continue to stretch on a regular basis it comes back.

Thai Massage is incredibly good for increasing flexibility by gently massaging and assisting in the stretching out of the muscles. If you could put your hands on the floor when you were a kid but now you can’t or can hardly touch the floor your leg muscles are too tight.

Thai Massage can help you over time to relieve a lot of the discomfort caused by lower back pain as Massage releases your natural endorphins. Those endorphins are released and help block pain signals from registering with your brain.

There are also things that you can do to stretch out your hamstrings and calves.  We can give you exercises to help at home.  Right after a hot bath is a good time as the heat relaxes your muscles. Take some Yoga classes or just go for a walk. With the help of Thai massage you can be feeling much better in no time at all.

Feel free to call us  250-442-1411 and discus any problems you are having.

By Marty Menzies
Alternate therapies are not a substitute for seeking medical advice from your physician

Is Thai Foot Massage different from Reflexology?

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This is a question that we are often asked.  The main difference between Thai Foot Massage and Reflexology is the emphasis on massage with the Thai treatment.

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Reflexology is about working on individual reflex points with some gentle massage techniques. Where Thai Foot Massage is the use of massage to open up and encourage the flow in the Sen energy channels.  Thai Foot Massage covers all the reflexology points by thoroughly massaging the lower leg, feet and ankles.  Thai Foot Massage follows a set routine that promotes a feeling of well being.

Thai Foot Massage is superior as it works the muscles and joints of the lower legs and feet to anything else, if you find yourself with achy and painful feet or legs at the end of the day, try Thai Foot Massage.

By Marty Menzies
Alternate therapies are not a substitute for seeking medical advice from your physician

Meditation – “It doesn’t have to be that deep”

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Last week I wrote about Sound Therapy  This week I’ll set you off on a journey to help you discover Meditation.

When any of us think of meditation we think of a number of Monks sitting cross-legged in a monastery or temple high in the Himalayas.  That vision is what got me interested in Buddhism and meditation.

The high in the Himalayas part anyway.

monk himalayas

I had read Sir Edmund Hillary’s book “View from the Summit” which gave me a burning desire to learn more about this far away place.    I researched, as best you could in the early 60’s, the Dali Lama and Tibet.  I even managed to get through the , “Tibetan Book of the Dead” and that got me interested in Eastern religions and philosophies.   Shortly after I decided I would practice Buddhism and learn to Meditate.

Meditation was hard for me as I had no one to guide me through the steps and for years I blundered through thinking I was doing it right.  Not always.  Finally I sorted it out and learned how to clear my mind.   In that time I learned that there are many levels to meditation and not all of them relate to oneself all of the time, if ever.  If you become a monk and spend your days studying scripture in the Pali Language you may aspire to reach enlightenment, for the rest of us probably not.  It may not have anything to do at all with religion.

Meditation is great for slowing your heart rate and lowering your blood pressure, stress relief, pain management and a whole lot of things you don’t think of like depression and anxiety.  Meditation can make you happier,  helps you focus and lets you sleep better.

My Monk friend Ven Santi Sisombath, from the Lao Canadian Buddhist Temple in Aldergrove, and I have talked about problems during meditation and we have similar ideas on clearing the mind during meditation.  He leads Meditation Weekend Retreats at the Vipassana Bhavana Retreat Center near Cultis lake

We offer one on one guided meditation to help you on your way to whatever is your goal.

  • lowering risks for obesity and overeating
  • reducing body and headache pain
  • helping you fall asleep and improving sleep quality
  • helping people recover from chronic illnesses, like cancer and heart disease
  • lowering inflammation and building a stronger immune system
  • improving decision-making and communicating
  • boosting productivity at work
  • increasing positive feelings, including happiness, calm, peace and Compassion
  • fighting depression and anxiety
  • lowering cortisol levels
  • improving memory, focus and mental performance

If you are interested in learning or expanding your Meditative abilities  call us for a consultation and a Guided Meditation Session

By Marty Menzies
Alternate therapies are not a substitute for seeking medical advice from your physician

 

 

What exactly is Sound Therapy?

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At all the Fairs and Festivals that we have attended this summer one thing that is always ask, “What exactly is Sound Therapy?”.

It’s not an easy task to explain is a few minutes so we thought we would explain it in a bit more detail.

Sound Therapy is often described as Sound Healing, Biofield Tuning or Chakra tuning. In essence they are all the same with some subtle differences. We call our Therapy, “Meditative Sound and Vibration  Therapy” because we use all three often at the same time. Are we different from the others, not much in reality, other than we have tuned our sound program to work in harmony with our Thai Massage therapies.

In Thailand energy is called Prana, in China Chi, in Japan Ki, and in India Prana. They are all the same. In Thailand the lines are called Sen lines which are the same as the meridians in traditional Chinese medicine and the energy field around them are called Prana as in India, coming from the Pali language which is the basis of Thai Buddhism even today.

Is there a difference between the well known 7 Chakras of India and those in Thailand. The answer is none at all. Thai Massage was developed out of Indian Yoga and Indian thinking. Our sound therapy follows the same 7 Chakras – Root, Sacral, Solar Plexus, Heart, Throat, Third Eye and Crown. People in the west have adopted these Indian terms and so have we.

We believe that the internal and external can be brought into harmony using sound. Tuning forks create a resonance throughout our physical and emotional bodies. The notes first make contact on a spiritual and emotional level, and then on a physical and mental level. We also use other items like Tibetan singing bowls and other instruments to create the sound we want to work in harmony with our client.

Sound therapy is much like music which can make you feel sad, happy, refreshed, restless or relaxed.  We get bombarded with sounds and spurious waves constantly from our phones, WiFi, smart meters, televisions and even our cars.  Sound therapy strives to make you feel regenerated and one with your surroundings by realigning the natural resonance of your body.

When the note of each chakra is played on a tuning fork that sound can be directed toward the corresponding part of the body.  Additionally, the stem of the fork can be placed on the corresponding part of the body or spine so that the sound is clearly felt as well as being heard. To enhance the experience, when two forks are struck together it creates both notes individually, however a third harmonic frequency is experienced. This can be taken a step further by using multiple forks, creating a multitude of frequencies, harmonics and overtones.

This sound immersion must be experienced to be fully understood.

We also teach meditation techniques to help our clients relax, sleep better or overcome chronic pain.  We’ll discuss that in more detail in a further blog.

Done and Dusted at the Grand Forks Fall Fair

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The Fall Fair is finished for this year and it was interesting.

We wanted to introduce our new business to the community and from that point it worked well.

Lak  did short 10 minute Head, Neck and Shoulder massage for $5 for 10 minutes.  By the end of the first day (8 hours) here arms were almost numb from all the work.  There were times we had a lineup of 3-4 people waiting.  Day two we changed the system and Aran setup a schedule and gave people times.  That system worked well and Lak had a chance to rest and even got lunch.

We also had a chance to introduce our Sound Therapy and it was surprising how many people were very knowledgeable about sound and vibration and it’s relationship to ones health.

She also sold some of her cross stitch cards and a few of our Thai Herbal balls that we import from Chiang Mai, Thailand.

We also met a lot of really nice people from all over the country.  The first day was a bit smoky from all the fires in BC and the US but it rained in the afternoon for a short while and that cleared the air.  The second day it was dry the air was clear and the sun was out which was a welcome change from our weeks of smoke.

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Fall Fair 025

 

The Never-ending Saga.. BUT….

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We originally planned to open in mid June but construction delays and life slowed us down.  BUT…

We are now complete.  We’ve completed all the construction and are only waiting for our business license to arrive.  From what we understand we have jumped through all the hoops and navigated all the red tape.  The inspections have been done.   Fire and health were the big ones we had to wait for.  We are now just waiting for our Business License to arrive.

Our new opening date is September 1.

We are now booking reservations so call 250-442-1411.

We would like to remind our customers that Thai Massage is NOT sexual in any way. Any inappropriate behavior will halt the massage immediately, the customer will be asked to leave and be expected to pay the full fee for the time booked.