As we age, our bodies follow suit, and while many people age gradually and comfortably, it’s not uncommon for us to experience changes in our body we aren’t quite sure how to tackle. With added years our heart pumps at a slower rate and our blood flow slows to match. We become less flexible, lose bone density—increasing the odds of fractures. Even our digestive systems are more vulnerable to changes. While all of these are completely natural parts of the aging process, they can understandably be difficult to handle both physically and emotionally, but one avenue to help make aging easier on our bodies is Thai Yoga Massage.
If you’re unfamiliar with this style of massage, it’s a combination of yoga stretches and gentle touches commonly practiced one-on-one. Both the practitioner and the recipient wear comfortable, light clothing as they work on a mat and hold poses based entirely on your level of flexibility. No experience in yoga or Thai massage is necessary as the most you’ll be asked to do is let go as the provider takes control and manipulates your body with your needs, goals, and limitations in mind. Through the use of their body weight, instead of strength, the practitioner does deep work within different areas of the body.
The work of this style of massage is beneficial to anyone, but many of the benefits can be incredibly helpful in easing the chronic pain, decreased mobility and flexibility, and poor sleep that finds us as we age. Thai Yoga massage increases our circulation of both blood and lymph fluid. As we stimulate stagnant blood flow, we feel more alert and energetic as oxygen and nourishment is more easily able to reach our cells. The increased circulation also supports a healthier immune system, which can combat illness and supports our bodies in managing existing diseases or medical conditions. Incorporating Thai Yoga massage helps improve our inflammation and increase circulation, but it also helps deal with chronic pain.
According to the CDC, a near quarter of Americans experience chronic pain, and that number only increases in older populations. Chronic pain can stop us from doing the things we love, and Thai massage offers an opportunity for pain relief to keep us active and fulfilled. Especially when done consistently, this massage helps combat back, neck, shoulder, and systemic pain. Through the positions and stretches you’re guided through, your joints and limbs are eased into movement that soothes and softens the muscles and fascia. These movements help lengthen the connective tissue, supporting our musculoskeletal system. Simply put, through the addition of this in your routine, you’ll be able to maintain mobility and flexibility as well as improve it. The more we can sustain that in our bodies, the easier it becomes to support long-term physical activity in our day-to-day lives.
If those benefits weren't enough, Thai Yoga massage provides stress relief that can decrease anxiety as well as improve sleep. Massage gives the body a chance to stop, focus on our breathwork, and receive care and touch. Joined with the benefits of reducing day-to-day pain, improved sleep is a common response to routine Thai Yoga massage. This type of treatment is unique as it aims to heal through work on the body’s whole, working alongside the interconnected nature of our different body systems. It brings more balance between mind, body, and spirit as we de-stress and are able to be more present in our bodies.
This calming, targeted massage is worth experiencing for the simple reason of offering you a new opportunity to commune with your body and check-in with how you’re feeling, but with so many other additional benefits its hard to not see how adding this into a self-care routine can help you live the life you want—no matter what stage of it you’re in.