In the practice of Thai Massage we do not actually use the ten sen as described in Chapter 3. We use, instead, a series of working lines on the legs, arms, back and head. These working lines sometimes correlate to aspects of the ten sen (Fig. 5.1).

Fig. 5.1 General view of all the working lines used in Thai Massage

There are differences of opinion as to where the working lines run and even how many there are. The lines described below are the ones that I teach based on a myofascial approach to Thai Massage. In this case the descriptions are quite specific as they always relate to the physical reality of muscles and bone and the myofascial pathways between them. Students studying in this way soon come to know when their colleague hits or misses the line because the correct line worked well does have a palpable physiological effect.

There are five working lines to be found on each leg. The naming convention used here is the same as that used at the Old Medical Hospital in Chiang Mai (Figs 5.2–5.5).

Fig. 5.2 Lateral view of the leg showing the path of the 1st outside leg line and the 2nd outside leg line

Fig. 5.3 Posterior view of the leg showing the path of the 3rd outside leg line

Fig. 5.4 Anterior view of the leg showing the path of the 1st outside leg line and the 1st inside leg line

Fig. 5.5 Medial view of the leg showing the path of the 1st inside leg line and the 2nd inside leg line

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the leg channels relate to the kidneys and bladder, spleen and stomach, liver and gall bladder, and the organs found around and below the respiratory diaphragm. As we work to soften the legs we can bear in mind the possibility that the connections that the ancient Chinese perceived between these organs and the legs are mediated through myofascial channels. We may well notice the diaphragm soften as we work the legs. Perhaps we will hear the change in our patient’s breathing when this happens. Perhaps we will hear gurgles as their stomach relaxes.

Typically in Thai Massage the sen are worked with the heel of the hand or with the thumbs. Some teachers suggest pressing with one thumb on top of the other. This is best avoided as it puts too much pressure on the joint of the under thumb.

Usually Thai Massage therapists press into the line to the point where the tissue hardens and resists. They then add a little more pressure. Working from a myofascial perspective requires that we modify this approach. We want to feel our way into the tissue. If we simply press until the tissue hardens there is no room for movement or change in response to our input. If we learn to feel the response in the tissue as we increase our pressure we will find that the tissue shows us the direction it prefers to go. We then follow that direction.

This way of working demands of us a very alive attention with every move we make. There is no repetition of a technique. Every technique has to be rediscovered in the moment. This sounds like a slow process but it is not. Learning to work like this takes a little time but soon the sensation of our massage therapist’s body wakes up and we realise that we already know how to do this. This is an inherent understanding. We have a body too and it already knows a lot about massage.

The lines of the feet relate to sen kalathari. They are usually illustrated as five lines on the soles of the feet, radiating from a point in the middle of the heel through to the end of each toe (Fig. 5.6).

Fig. 5.6 Five working lines on the sole of the foot

Anatomically we can think of these lines as the toe bones reaching deep inside the foot. We can think of the extensor tendons on the upper surface of the foot. We can think of the plantar fasciae and the flexor muscles and tendons on the sole of the foot. There is plenty to work with here. With all this in mind and softness and sensitivity in our hands we use the sense of the lines, and the structures they relate to, to bring mobility and spaciousness to the entire foot (Fig. 5.7).

Fig. 5.7 Five working lines on the front of the foot

1st outside leg line

On the left side of the body this line is associated with sen sahatsarangsi and on the right side of the body with sen thawari. These lines show some similarity with the pathway of the stomach channels described in Traditional Chinese Medicine.

On the lower leg the line runs from the ankle to the knee along the lateral edge of the tibia, between the bone and the tibialis anterior muscle. As we work this line our aim is to open the myofascial channel by pressing the tibialis anterior muscle down and away from the tibia. We allow our thumbs to rest on the lateral edge of the tibia and then drop into the channel while directing our pressure downwards towards the floor. Each time we travel the line we aim to gain a little more depth (Fig. 5.8).

Fig. 5.8 Thumbing the 1st outside leg line on the lower leg

On the upper leg the 1st outside leg line follows the lateral border of the rectus femoris muscle. We locate the line by feeling for a little dip on the superior and lateral corner of the kneecap. The line begins at this point and continues up to the anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS).

We need to visualise the line connecting these two points, as it is not too obvious until we work it. It is best to begin working the line with the heel of the hand. The movement is directly across the top of the femur. In effect we use the 1st outside leg line to introduce a c-bend along the lateral border of the rectus femoris muscle (Fig. 5.9).

Fig. 5.9 Palming the 1st outside leg line on the upper leg

Once we have a good feeling for the line we can continue to work it using our thumbs. The movement always remains the same. We push the rectus femoris muscle across the top of the femur, c-bending the muscle with our thumbs as we go (Fig. 5.10).

Fig. 5.10 Thumbing the 1st outside leg line on the upper leg

TIP

We never push down towards the bone.

2nd outside leg line

The 2nd outside leg line is associated with sen kalathari on both sides of the body. On the lower leg we find the line by moving our thumbs superior to the lateral malleolus. We soon find ourselves following the anterior border of the peroneus longus muscle. As we move up from the ankle towards the knee we find that we are opening a myofascial channel between the peroneus longus muscle and the tibialis anterior muscle (Fig. 5.11).

Fig. 5.11 Thumbing the 2nd outside leg line on the lower leg

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