According to Thai Traditional Medicine wisdom knowledge, the theoretical foundation of Thai Massage is based on the idea of invisible Energy Lines in the human body. Ten of these lines (also called meridians, channels, or pathways) have special importance in Traditional Thai Massage — the so-called Sib Sen, Ten Sen, or Sen Sip.
The roots of this theory lie in Indian Yoga philosophy. The concepts of Yoga state that Vital Life Energy (in India called Prana and in Thailand Lom Pran) is taken in through food, drinks, the sun and breathing, energy which is subsequently distributed through a network of Energy Lines or Energy Channels, called the Prana Nadis. In this way the human body is supplied with Life Energy (i.e. Vital Life Force).
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Blockages or other disturbances in the Sen Energy Lines result in a deficiency of Prana throughput, which causes discomforts or illnesses. Working on the Energy Lines with, for instance, massage, stretching, rocking and acupressure can clear these blockages and hindrances, thereby promoting the free, unhindered flow of Life Energy, which in turn helps to restore health, optimal functioning of both body and mind, and general well-being.
The direct relationship with Yoga concepts is rather clear when we look at the terminology of the Sen Energy Lines the Thai people use, with many words and designations coming from Sanskrit, the ancient language of India.
For instance, the Sen Energy Lines Sen Sumana, Sen Ittha and Sen Pingkhala are linguistically very close to the names of the Indian Prana lines Sushumna Nadi, Ida Nadi, and Pingala Nadi. Moreover, these three primary Thai Sen Lines also follow a trajectory quite similar to the corresponding Indian Nadis.
Nevertheless, the Sen Energy Lines cannot be verified anatomically or otherwise scientifically. They form a kind of second etheric layer or extra body next to the physical body. This invisible body, called Pranamaya Kosha or “Energy Body,” consists of a huge amount of Energy Lines, which is claimed to be 72,000.
Most likely the number of Energy Lines is not 72,000 (which was a number in the Buddhist scriptures to state that “it’s a lot”), but there are indeed many lines and sub-lines, and from these, the Thai people appointed ten principal lines on which we also find important acupressure points. Manipulating these points make it possible to treat certain diseases and conditions, or to relieve pain.
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