How Dynamic Stretching/Thai Yoga Massage Helps The Golfer
Dynamic stretching – which is another definition of Thai Yoga massage – allows the development and maintenance of optimal joint range of motion in a golfer’s body. This is important since an effective golf swing depends upon the ability of the golfer’s joints to move through the necessary planes of motion. Optimal joint range is a prerequisite of the golf swing; it’s the very foundation. Unfortunately our muscles and tendons have the ability to shorten, which are undesirable in a golfer. When this happens, the body starts having to compensate, progressively disrupting the golf swing. The more a golfer has to compensate, the less consistent and more faulty the golfer will be in his/her game.
Golfing requires the ability to rotate almost every joint in his/her body, namely the shoulder girdle, torso, and hips. Should this movement be compensated, faults will appear in the golf swing. Also this compensation may express itself in pain or injury.
Tightness in the shoulder joint will increase the chances of hooking or slicing the ball.
Restricted shoulder range of motion often results in excessive spinal rotation to compensate. This however frequently leads to back injury. With these two issues combined, the golfer commonly has problems with excessive head motion or maintaining an optimal swing plane. S/he will frequently hit too fat or thin.
Should hip joints be restricted, the whole golf form is compensated. Combined with a lack of rotation in the spine and shoulders, this leads to wrist injury in golfers. A lack of motion in the hips and back leads to excessive elevation onto the toes of the left foot during the back swing. The result is fat shots due to a chopping action on the down swing.
Without flexibility in the body, a golfer’s power is reduced, which means less distance in the drive. This is something no golfer desires.
The type of treatment Melt Therapy provides is aimed at progressively stretching the shoulder girdle, torso, and hips. This helps re-introduce suppleness in the golfer’s body, thereby reducing injury and improving game performance in almost every aspect. Dynamic stretching serves to reprogram the nervous system by taking the body through its optimal joint range of motion, and breaking old habits. Without this reprogramming, no amount of lessons will be effective in the long-term.
We have been able to help the serious golfer achieve new levels of performance through our consistent treatment programmes. One client made it a point to book his treatment before a game, and the dynamic stretching energised his body enabling him to play the best game he’d ever played. Over a series of treatments, he was able to stay present, focused, and win his golf game – a result all golfers want!
I always say it: Yoga helps for almost everything!!!
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Oh man when i had my massage it was hell on earth but the next morning i felt like i woke up on a cloud i was fully re-energized for whatever...i have been getting them regularly now every 3 months in fact i have 1 coming up tomorrow im so excited.
For those who don't know what thai massage is, its a form of massage performed fully clothed, its assisted stretch oriented and increases flexibility as well as relieves physical tensions... it is much different than a Swedish or other form of massage that uses oil... Thai doesn't use oils or creams.
Feel great during, and after, more invigorated and loose. I always love Thai massage, and think its one of the best forms of massage around.
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Golfing requires the ability to rotate almost every joint in his/her body, namely the shoulder girdle, torso, and hips. Should this movement be compensated, faults will appear in the golf swing. Also this compensation may express itself in pain or injury.
3freester
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Dear Ms. Lee,
I just read your Blog piece interesting that you say in your Blog that Thai Yoga Massage has this other definition at that its defined as Dynamic stretching – Thai Yoga is defined by the direct linage of the Dr. Shivago the Buddhas physician, as well as the many professional Schools of Thai Ayurveda Healing.
Today the Wat Po Association of Traditional Doctors and members schools and Aachans or Master Instructors are bringing this work into the modern world. Famous schools and their head Masters such as Anantasuk Rongrian under Aachan Nantipa Anantasuk work with the King's Rajaprajanugroh projects to document completely the traditional medicine to preserve its rich heritage.
Here is how Aachan Anthony James with the Soma Veda Institute and Thai Yoga center of Florida defines
"What is Thai Yoga and Thai Massage".
The type of Thai traditional therapy that most people will be directly exposed to is ráksãa thaang nûat (healing massage treatment). This is what is more commonly known as the Nuat Thai or Nuad Boran styles of Thai Yoga therapy or the spiritual massage, healing work of Thailand. Please note: for clarity although in common English we use the word "massage" 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 is primarily referring to systems derived from Swedish Massage and Massage Therapy.
"Thai Yoga and or Thai Massage" (Phaen Boran Ráksãa Thaang Nûat) is completely unrelated! It is a healing art derivative of the Theravada Buddhism, Buddhist medicine, Classical Indian and Tibetan Ayurveda and Yoga Vedanta. It is not required that one become a practicing Buddhist to practice this healing art (but it helps!). Although it would be more accurate to call this medicine either by its traditional names or "Ancient, Anachronistic or Old Thai Way of Healing with The Hands", the slang forms of "Thai Massage" is in use, and as long as this is so there will be some understandable confusion.
Thai Yoga and Massage sound a bit similar at first glance , however, What is not mentioned in the preceding definition (how it is not Swedish Massage)is that Thai Yoga and or Thai Massage is a system of movement education (Yoga). It is based entirely on principles of energy balancing (Sen, Tri-Dosha, Lom, Chakra etc.) and the actual touching, contact or soft tissue manipulation is incidental to, and not the central aim of the practice! As described above: The primary outcomes associated with the practice are called ProMiiWihan Sii" or Four Divine, Boundless or States of mind without limitation. They are Love, Compassion, Joy and Equanimity. As long as these four qualities are transmitted and exemplified during a session , we say it was good and successful.
Most importantly the Buddhist medicine associated and derived from the famous Saint Shivago (Jivaka).
Peace, JJ
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