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Traditional Thai massage Now an established practice in spas and fitness centres worldwide, traditional Thai massage is a therapy that combines yoga and acupressure techniques, manipulating the body's internal energy by using pressure points and yoga positions. In Thailand the centres of learning and practice have always been the temples. Massage is regarded as a way of achieving inner tranquillity by easing the stresses and aches of  the body. By force on pressure points,

muscles and ligaments, stretching and   bending and manipulations, the whole body is decompressed. A massage is performed with the recipient clothed, usually in loose pyjama-like garments   supplied  by the massage centre.

   King Rama III had all available knowledge on the subject gathered and inscribed  on stone slabs in the early 19th century, and these can be seen at the Temple of the  Reclining Buddha (Wat Po), along with stone figures demonstrating classic  massage postures. Today, the temple is still regarded as the centre of learning for  Thai massage techniques.

   You can enjoy the benefits of traditional Thai massage at any number of resorts  and spas in Thailand as well as at Wat Po where intensive courses are also  available for those who wish to learn more about the technique.

Besides massage, herbal  steam baths are another  major element in Thail  traditionahealing. These  are designed to improve  circulation, reduce stress  and muscular aches,  improve the respiratory  system, ease allergies and cure skin ailments.

   Herbal steam baths evolved from the ancient Thai practice of applying herbal  blends to hot water, the steam being absorbed through the nose and skin. The  mixture of herbs would be formulated for the condition being treated. The heat also  sweated out toxins and cleansed the pores of the skin. Herbs have also long  dominated the beauty and skincare regimens of Thai women. For example, sour  tamarind works well as a body scrub, crushed turmeric rubbed into the skin keeps it  soft and smooth.

   Apart from the herbal steam baths, the healing qualities of hot sulphur springs
  in Thailand have long been recognised. Many of them are tapped as baths  connected to hotels and such at various locations around the country. Steam baths,  meanwhile, are available at a wide assortment of hotels, spas and health resorts  nationwide.

Meditation is found in some form or another in all major religious traditions, but in Buddhism it is integral to the path to enlightenment. The practitioner trains his or her mind so that it can understand the four-points that form the core of the Buddha's teachings: suffering, what causes it, the end of suffering, and the path to that end.   Consequently, the art of meditation is a highly developed one in Thailand. One doesn't need to be a Buddhist, or even be interested in Buddhism, to benefit from meditation.

A valuable training that can be applied to daily life, it greatly helps concentration and can lead to a state of peace and calmness, no matter where the meditation is performed.    There are two main branches in Buddhist meditation: samatha (calmness, concentration) and vipassana (insight), which stresses mindfulness.    The techniques of samatha meditation are many, some of them older than Buddhism itself. Amongst the most commonly practised in Thailand is anapanasati, or "mindfulness with breathing". Mantra meditation, in which given words are repeated over and over to help focus the mind, is also widely practised. Kasinas, where meditators concentrate on an object outside themselves, such as a crystal ball or a candle flame, is yet another form.    Sati, or mindfulness, is the key to Vipassana meditation. When the mind is untrained it is wide open to outside disturbances, and the objective is to be aware of what happens but not dwell upon it. So you train yourself to be aware of the body's movement, the rise and fall of the chest as you inhale and exhale, the movement of the legs and feet as you walk, and your feelings and state of mind. Walking, sitting and lying meditation are a few of the Vipassana techniques, and to avoid distractions as far as possible the retreats are usually held in isolated and peaceful surroundings.    Meditation teachings are widely available in Thailand for Thais and visitors alike, ranging from English language day classes in Bangkok through to intensive month-long Vipassana courses at remote retreats in the provinces.

There are many kinds of yoga but the most widely practised is Hatha yoga in which a series of postures are taught along with a system of controlled breathing exercises.    Yoga may not burn fat but it has tremendous toning power, particularly for areas such as the stomach, bottom and thighs

.   In the yogic system, all movements are slow and gradual with proper breathing and relaxation. Whenever it is seriously practised, remarkable changes occur. People find themselves healthier, and have the feeling that something heavy has been lifted from them. This is the result of the mind-body-spirit harmony that yoga promotes and these very qualities are the ones which travellers are sure to discover in the beautiful environment of Thailand.    Yoga is being taught in most fitness centres, spa and health resorts to be found in all city and seaside resorts. Thailand is definitely the ideal place in which you can learn and practise this ancient and yet ageless art during one of your memorable long-stay holidays.

   This 4000-year old Chinese healing technique of acupuncture is now accepted  as a therapeutic element in modern hospitals. It is the only therapy in the world that  deals directly with the human energy system. Western medicine treats the body  with drugs and surgery and the mind with psychoanalysis, but has nothing for  energy. In the Chinese system, energy is the most important aspect of all, as it  forms the vital bridge between essence and spirit.

   Energy imbalance is regarded as the foremost cause of disease, and the direct  manipulation of energy is the foremost cure. The results of acupuncture speak for  themselves with symptoms such as back pain, paralysis, nausea, tumours and  addictions being effectively treated. Acupuncture has also been used as an  anaesthetic by causing the secretion of endorphins - the body's natural opiates  which are more powerful than morphine.

   Acupuncture awakens the body's self-healing response and maintains the  balance of yin and yang. In Thailand, you will find acupuncture clinics at leading  hospitals in Bangkok, Pattaya and Phuket.

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