What is Thai Yoga?

Thai Yoga | What is Indigenous Traditional Thai Yoga and Thai Massage?

The Native American Indigenous Church, Inc. (N.A.I.C.) and the American College of Natural Medicine: Thai Yoga Center represents the most accurate and authentic visions of Indigenous Traditional Thai Medicine (Ayurveda), Thai Culture, and related healing Arts. Our Instructors have directly authorized teachers, representatives, and traditional lineage holders in several different traditional Buddhist schools: Buddhai Sawan Institute Ayudthaya and Nongkam (famous for martial and healing arts for 900 years!), Phra Wat Chetuphon (Buddhist Temple, Wat Po Traditional Thai Medical School… One of the oldest schools of traditional crafts), Buntautuk Hilltribes Northern Provincial Hospital and Training Institute also known as “The Old Medicine Hospital of Shivago Komarpai. ITM (International Thai Massage, Chiangmai), Mama Lek Chaiya (Lek Chaiya Nerve Touch), The Foundation for the Blind, Buddhist Temple Wat Wianglock, and the Wangklaikangwon Industrial Community & Educational College program sponsored by H.M. King Bhumibol (Anantasuk Indigenous Traditional Thai Massage), Lanna Thai Traditional Medicine School (“Tok Sen”)- Chiangmai and SriPai Buddhist Foundation and Traditional Medicine School (“Tok Sen”) Sukhothai as well as several other significant lineages, teachers and Grand Masters. Most importantly, Buddhist medicine is associated with and derived from the famous Saint Shivago (Jivaka).

In the states, Traditional Lineage and teaching are primarily passed on via the educational programs of the American College of Natural Medicine/ The Thai Yoga Center in Brooksville, FL, directed by recognized Thai Ayurveda Master Ajahn Dr. Anthony B. James. Additionally, we realize any schools formally licensed as legal Thai Yoga or Thai Massage schools by the Royal Thai Ministries of Health and of Education, whether listed or not!

Thai Yoga & Thai MassageThe type of traditional Thai therapy that most people will be directly exposed to is ráksãa thaang nûat (healing massage treatment). This is more commonly known as the Nuat Thai or Nuad Boran styles of Thai Yoga therapy or Thailand’s religious therapeutics/ spiritual massage and healing work. Please note: for clarity, although we use the word “massage” in everyday English, we do not mean it in the same context as the typical Western usage. In the West, “Massage” means something like a “Rub Down” for money and primarily refers to Swedish Massage and Massage Therapy systems. “Thai Yoga and or Traditional Thai Massage” (Phaen Boran Ráksãa Thaang Nûat) is entirely unrelated! It is a religious therapeutic and healing art derivative of Theravada Buddhism, Buddhist medicine, Classical Indian and Tibetan Indigenous Ayurveda, and Yoga Vedanta. It is not required to become a practicing Buddhist to practice this healing art. As Native Americans, we have successfully and fully integrated Thai Traditional Medicine into our Native American Indigenous Medicine practice as an example (N.A.I.C.). Although it would be more accurate to call this medicine either by its traditional name or “Ancient, Anachronistic or Old Thai Way of Healing with The Hands,” the slang form of “Thai Massage” is in use. As long as this is so, there will be some understandable confusion. For more information and details on What is Indigenous Traditional Thai Yoga and Thai Massage, you can learn more at The Thai Yoga Center website.

The Thai Yoga Center