This preliminary meditation also serves to quiet the mind and focus energy on the task at hand. The practitioner then rubs his hands together to induce heat and begins applying pressure to the recipient's feet, eventually moving upward to the head. Unlike the scooping and continuous strokes of Swedish massage, the Thai method uses mainly point pressure and muscle stretching. And it is not just the hands that are used to free tension stored in the recipient's body, but the feet and elbows as well. Instead of doing yoga they do it for you.
Experts say the method is suitable for building flexibility and healing long term injuries.
Setthakorn himself refers to Thai massage as a form of play. When children are young their mothers play with them physically. In this way they share their love and kindness towards each other. Thai massage is an extension of this will to play and share with others in a physical but platonic way. And when the massage is over, says Setthakorn, both the giver and the receiver should feel refreshed, happy, and energetic.