Sen Lines

e have all heard that exercise is benecial to our health, from the most ancient recollection to the modern health-conscious era. The goal of most exercise is to increase the heart rate, thereby allowing the blood to ow through every extremity. With intensied activity, respiration is kicked into overdrive, permitting air to ood the lungs and oxygen-rich blood to ow to throughout the body. The pursuit of movement is to get both blood and oxygen owing. In addition to these two aforementioned physically measurable substances, energy also ows throughout the entire body. The increased stream of blood and oxygen create energy, which propels the movement. Energy is extremely important in the body. Just as blood and oxygen travel along paths inside the body, so too does energy. These energy pathways run along a special line, called a Sen line. If energy cannot distribute itself around the body, it means that there is a blockage preventing its movement. If the transportation of internal uids is hindered, serious health complications can occur. Similar to a blocked or

obstructed artery, blocked Sen lines restrict energy ow, which can also cause health problems. In Thai medical theology, the vital life energy of the body ows along channels, called Sen. This energy powers all the physical, mental and emotional processes that will only function normally when energy supply matches demand requested. The Chinese call this energy 'Qi' and the Indians call it 'Prana'. Any imbalance or blockage in the distribution of this energy can cause pain and disease. When the system is working well and energy distribution is balanced, a person will feel happy, relaxed, energetic and free from stiffness and pain. Thai massage focuses on 10 main Sen channels. The careful application of pressure along these channels helps to release any energy blockages and stagnation. Pressing and stretching muscles makes them more receptive to this ow. They are 72,000 Sen lines in the human body. Thai massage works primarily on the ten major Sen lines, which branch out from the navel and end at the bodys extremities, such as

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the hands, feet, etc. Thai massage incorporates ancient energy knowledge and client information to assist the masseuse to clear the blockages and help them achieve a healthy, internally balanced body. If the body has a blockage somewhere in the Sen lines it may lead to an illness. For example, one woman had symptoms that her primary doctor could not nd an explanation for. She had bloating, stomach pain, tightness in her upper abdomen, gas, constipation, and cramping regardless of the time of the month. Blood tests, x-rays and a wide array of tests still revealed nothing conclusive. She went to visit relatives in Thailand and received a full body Thai massage for four hours once a week. She was delighted to note that her symptoms had lessened in intensity and that she had also lost ten pounds! Traditionally, Thai massage is performed on a padded oor mat instead of on a table. The client stays fully dressed and no oil is used. In a session, the practitioner uses their hands, thumbs, elbows, and feet on the patient to work out any blockages along the Sen lines. This is to release the problem areas that contain toxins and then the blood will be able to ow better throughout the body. Specic areas of injuries or areas of pain will be loosened so the body can heal more quickly. Along with the massage, yoga is incorporated to make the body more exible. The stretches that are used will help to keep the body healthy and increase range of motion. The stretching can also help release pollutants and stress barriers in the body by opening energy lines and breaking up toxins. It also gives the body a chance to renew itself. This is done by aligning the energies of the body while working on the tendons. All the Sen Lines begin at the navel and end at different extremities. There are 10 main Sen Lines, which are listed below. The indications below describe possible symptoms that may be experienced if the Sen Line is blocked. 1. It-ta ends at the left nostril Indications: Headache, eye(s) unable to see/focus distinctly, convulsions, back pain, fever, drowsiness, dizziness, scapular pain, difculty or loss of hearing, cold feet, joint pain. 2. Ping-ka-la ends at the right nostril Indications: Paralysis, red eyes, convulsions, runny nose, sneezing, scapular pain, aches and pain, headache, having an uneasy breath and other indications the same as It-ta. 3. Su-ma-na ends at the tongue Indications: Difculty moving the tongue, inability to talk or vaguely uttering a sound, dullness, drowsiness, chest pain, thinking disorder, mental disease, soft breathing,

lack of appetite, tired, dizzy, having a hard time breathing, unable to sleep. 4. Ka-la-ta-ree ends at the ngers and toes Indications: Coolness and lack of feeling all over the body, convulsions, unconsciousness, numbness, stiffness at the shoulder joint, aches and pain, fatigue, poor feeling in the arms and legs and cramping. 5. Sa-had-sa-rung-sree ends at the left eye 6. Tu-wa-ree ends at the right eye Indications: Eye symptoms such as: inability to open the eyes, pain around the eyes, headache, pain in the eyes, inability to see distinctly, inability to sleep, red eyes, and pain between the eyebrows. 7. Jan-ta-pu-sang ends at the left ear 8. Ru-tung ends at the right ear Indications: Ear symptoms, for example: to be hard of hearing, a feeling of air escaping the ear, to have a buzzing in the ear, pain in the ear, itchiness in the ear, inability to sleep, lack of appetite, sleep disturbances, body aches and pains. 9. Si-ki-nee is end at meatus Indications: All illnesses in the meatus area: infection, disturbed urine, inability to urinate, pubic pain, genital pain, gonorrhea, uterine pain, lower abdominal pain to the waist and sides of the thorax, kidney and urinary bladder problems. 10. Su-ku-mung is end at rectum Indications: To have a dull pain at the anus, difculties with bowel movements, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, the feeling of needing to make a movement but unable to, vomiting, hiccups and asthma. Thai Massage is an interactive manipulation of the body using passive stretching and gentle pressure along these energy lines. These movements help to adjust the skeletal structure, increase exibility and suppleness, recover vital energy, relieve muscular and joint tension, and stimulate internal organs. Additional benets include deep relaxation, balance of the body's energy system, increase in blood and lymph ow, and release of emotional blocks. Parpariorn (Orn) Chakkapark is the owner of Thai Healing Therapy (Thai Massage Training & Clinic) in St. Louis Park. Therapeutic Thai massage can easily be integrated into a massage therapists practice and used as an adjunct to current methods by learning some of its basic techniques and concepts. After years of planning, her school is for classes. She can be reached at 952-926-2411 or orn@thaihealing.biz. See ads pg 12 & 35.

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