Thai massage and energy medicine: unlocking the “sen”
Thai Massage: More than Stretching
When people think of Thai massage, the first thing that usually comes to mind is intense stretching, almost like a kind of "passive yoga." And yes, the work with the body is deep and active, but reducing it to just that is a huge understatement. Thai massage, as we have learned it in Spain As in Asia, especially during my formative years in Korea, it's a true therapeutic discipline that combines physical, energetic, and emotional work. It's medicine in motion.
Thai massage has over 2,500 years of history, and its roots are intertwined with traditional Thai medicine, Buddhism, and influences from Indian Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine. Its legendary creator is Jivaka Kumar Bhaccha, Buddha's personal physician, who is credited with mastering energy channels and body manipulation techniques to heal the body from within.
Unlike other types of massage that work directly on muscles, Thai massage is based on the idea that health is maintained when vital energy—the “lom” for Thais—flows freely through channels called senThe therapist, then, not only seeks to relax or stretch, but to rebalance the energy that connects the entire body.
The link between body, mind and energy
Something I love about Thai massage is that it doesn't separate the physical from the emotional or energetic. Everything is connected. Throughout my career, I've treated many people who came in with back pain, for example, and we ended up working on an energetic blockage related to stress, sadness, or accumulated anxiety.
I have seen how, by releasing a point of tension in a line sen, not only does it relax a muscle, but it also changes breathing, improves mood, and even releases pent-up emotions. This is what makes Thai massage so much deeper than a simple manual technique: it's a way of listening to the body from within.
What are the “sen”?
The sen They are energy lines or channels through which vital energy flows, known in Thailand as lom. This energy is what keeps all the body's systems in balance: physical, emotional and mental. If a sen is blocked, the energy does not circulate correctly, and this can manifest itself in the form of pain, fatigue, insomnia, bad mood or even illness.
Definition and comparison with the meridians of Chinese medicine
The sen They are similar to the meridians of traditional Chinese medicine, but they are not exactly the same. While the meridians are perfectly defined and located with millimetric precision, sen They are considered more general paths, pathways along which energy flows, without such strict delimitation. In Thai tradition, ten main lines are recognized, called Sen Sib, although there is talk of hundreds of smaller channels.
For example, the Sen Sumana It runs through the center of the body and is closely related to the balance of the digestive system and breathing. When I work with a patient who suffers from anxiety or has very shallow breathing, I often apply pressure and balancing techniques along this line, and I often notice how, little by little, their chest expands better and their diaphragm begins to move more freely.
How they relate to physical and emotional well-being
Thai massage stimulates the sen Through pressure with the fingers, palms, elbows, or even feet, along with stretches that "open" the body and free these channels. It's a very direct way to influence the nervous system, but also the energy system.
Therefore, understanding the sen It's not just a theoretical question. It's learning to read the body like a map, where every line tells a story, and every touch can release something that's been stuck there for a long time.
The role of “sen” in Thai massage
The sen They're not just an abstract energetic concept, but they guide the entire structure of Thai massage. They're like the rails along which our therapeutic intervention moves. From the first contact, the therapist explores with their hands (and sometimes their feet or knees) to detect where the energy flows well and where there are blockages. And this is noticeable in the body: localized tension, coldness in certain areas, less elastic skin, or even small contractures that don't respond to a conventional massage.
Specific techniques to stimulate the sen
Work the sen It involves a combination of techniques that go beyond simple muscle kneading. The most common are:
- Rhythmic pressure with thumbs, palms or elbows on the power lines.
- Assisted stretching, which open the joints and allow energy to flow better.
- Rocking movements that relax the nervous system and promote energy circulation.
- Sustained compressions on specific points of the sen, which can unblock congested areas.
For example, when a patient comes in with lumbar stiffness or sciatica, I usually work on the Sen Kalathari, which runs along the outside of the legs to the hips. With a sequence of deep pressures and hip-opening stretches, I often get the patient to notice a "click" or a sensation of release, as if something were being released. This is a typical response when energy flow is restored.
Common symptoms of an energy imbalance
An imbalance in the sen It can manifest in a wide variety of ways. Unlike a clear muscle contracture, which usually has a direct cause (physical exertion, poor posture, an impact, etc.), energy blockages affect the entire system, and their symptoms tend to be more diffuse but persistent. It's as if something isn't quite flowing properly inside.
Persistent fatigue, tension without apparent cause, insomnia, etc.
Some of the most common symptoms I usually see in consultation include:
- Chronic fatigue, even after a good rest. The patient feels like they're "lacking spark," as if their energy is draining away for no reason.
- Muscle tension that cannot be explained by physical exertion, especially in the neck, shoulders, jaw or abdomen.
- Insomnia or unrefreshing sleep, with a feeling of “active mind” or internal restlessness.
- Slow digestion or a feeling of knot in the stomach, with no apparent medical digestive problems.
- Emotional changes: irritability, sudden sadness or feeling of emotional blockage for no clear reason.
- Localized cold or lack of sensation in certain areas of the body, especially the feet, hands or lower back.
These symptoms often appear in people who take care of their diet, exercise, or even get massages regularly—but still feel like something isn't quite right. In these cases, the key lies in the energy system.
How to detect it through palpation and body observation
Over the years I've learned to read the body in a more subtle way. It's not just about touching muscles, but feel the texture of the skin, the temperature, the density of the tissue and, above all, observe how the body reacts to contact. When a sen is blocked, there are usually areas that:
- They react with disproportionate pain under light pressure.
- They have a harder or looser muscle tone than normal, as if there were no neuromuscular connection.
- They appear insensitive or overly sensitive, which indicates an alteration in the energy flow.
- They don't breathe: I explain this to my patients like this: If an area isn't moving, isn't responding to the general breathing rhythm, something is stuck.
I also observe a lot of the posture and body languagePeople who always cross their arms, who constantly tense their neck or who walk “inward” usually reflect blockages in sen Key. In these cases, the work isn't just focused on the muscle, but on unblocking that energy line, little by little, with pressure, movement, and breathing.
Benefits of energy unblocking through massage
When a sen It returns to normal flow, the body notices it immediately. We're not just talking about relieving a specific tension, but reactivating the entire system. Unblocking energy has a knock-on effect: it improves circulation, relaxes the nervous system, releases pent-up emotions, and, in many cases, restores the body's natural ability to self-regulate.
Improved circulation, mobility and mood
One of the first effects I usually notice after an unlock is a increased body heatCold or tense areas return to their natural temperature, indicating that blood and energy are circulating properly again. In many patients, this results in:
- Greater joint mobility, especially in areas that seemed “stuck” such as hips, neck or shoulders.
- Reduction of chronic pain, even when other therapies had not worked.
- Deep relaxation, which often leads the patient to enter a state of semi-consciousness during the session (something very common in Thai massage).
- Mood improvement, feeling of “lightness” or mental clarity after the session.
- Deeper, more restful sleep, especially when we unlock sen related to the nervous system.
Differences between traditional Thai massage and the Western approach
With globalization, Thai massage has traveled around the world… but along the way, it has undergone some adaptations, especially when it has been introduced into spas or wellness centers where aesthetic or relaxation are the priority. And while this isn't a bad thing, sometimes the therapeutic and energetic essence of its traditional form is lost.
Modern adaptations without losing the energetic essence
In Thailand, Thai massage is performed on the floor, on a futon, in comfortable clothing, without oils, and can last between 60 and 120 minutes. The goal is not only to relax, but unblock the sen, mobilize the joints, and restore energy flowIn many Western centers, however, it's offered as a "stretching massage" or a form of assisted yoga, where physical technique is prioritized but energy and breathing are neglected.
I have seen very "adapted" versions where key elements are lost such as pressure on energy points, a slow pace, or in-depth work on internal areas such as the abdomen or diaphragm, which are essential for the balance of the senThat's why, in my practice, I always try to maintain that connection with the root: every movement has a purpose, every contact seeks to listen to the body.
My experience combining Thai with osteopathy and Korean massage
During my training in Korea and Spain, I learned to integrate Eastern techniques with Western osteopathic principles. This has allowed me to read the body from multiple perspectives and adapt the Thai massage to each person without losing its energy base.
For example, in patients with significant structural blocks, I use gentle osteopathic techniques to release a joint before working on the sen that passes through that area. Or the other way around: sometimes I start by unlocking a sen so that the structure relaxes and allows for easier correction. It's a two-pronged approach: energy and mechanics working together.
I also use Korean massage techniques, such as chuna, which incorporates more dynamic movements and rhythmic joint manipulations. This helps me, for example, with patients who have a very active nervous system and need to release not only physical tension, but also that "internal hyperactivity" that is so exhausting.
The nice thing about this combination is that I can Personalize each session according to what the body needs at that moment, without neglecting either technical precision or energetic depth. And I assure you that when these two visions—Eastern and Western—are aligned, the results are much more complete.
Balance as a path to well-being
Thai massage reminds us of something fundamental: the body is not just a collection of muscles, bones, and organs. It's also energy, breath, and emotion. And when any of these elements become blocked, the entire body notices. Hence the importance of working from a holistic approach, one that isn't limited to just relieving symptoms, but rather seeks to restore inner balance.
Listen to your body and take care of your vital energy
Throughout my career, I've seen people living with pain, fatigue, or chronic tension radically change by reconnecting with their vital energy. But that takes more than just good technique: it takes listen to the bodyAnd that's something we can all learn.
Your body speaks to you constantly: with a sigh, with a stiffness when you get up, with a pain that only appears when you are stressed… Thai massage helps you understand that language, and free what you carry inside so that everything flows again. But you don't have to wait for a session to start taking care of your sen.
Recommendations for keeping your SENS unlocked at home
Here are some simple practices I recommend to my patients to keep their energy balanced between sessions:
- Breathe deeply every day, at least for a few minutes. Breathing is the most direct way to move stagnant energy.
- Do gentle stretches, like yoga or conscious mobility. You don't need to be flexible, just consistent.
- Massage your own feet and abdomen with your hands or a ball. These are key areas where many people spend time sen.
- Avoid accumulating emotions without expressing them. Talking, writing, or even crying when you need to also releases energy.
- Take care of your rest and diet. Vital energy is generated in the basic, not in the extraordinary.
- Listen to your body before it screams. If there's tension that won't go away, don't ignore it: observe it, move, breathe... and if you need help, make an appointment. At Quiroesencia, we can advise you on the type of sessions that best suit your body.
In Quiroessence We believe that balance between body and mind is cultivated every day. Our massage, osteopathy, and yoga center is located in the heart of Granada, just a five-minute walk from the Cathedral.
If you're looking for a space to take care of yourself, relax, and reconnect, we'd love to welcome you.
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