Phaen = manner
Boran=ancient.
Nuad Phaen Boran is short for the longer "Phaen Boran Ráksãa Thaang Nûat Thai". This may be loosely translated as "the traditional methods of hands-on healing of the Thai people" or Traditional Thai Massage, Thai Yoga Massage
There are 2 styles: Wat Po(South) and Chang Mai (North). The northern-style Thai massage, Buntautuk style, Old Medicine Hospital Of Chang Mai Style, is the style used by Chan Thai.
Nuat Phaen Boran is a massage that involves stretching and deep massage. The massage recipient changes into pajamas and lies on a mat or firm mattress on the floor. The massage giver leans on the recipient's body using hands and forearms to apply firm rhythmic pressure to almost every part of the receiver's body. The massage generally follows the Sen Energy lines on the body (the Sen are comparable to Chinese meridians). In some gestures, the legs and feet of the giver are used to fixate the body or limbs of the recipient. In other gestures, hands fixate the body, while the feet do the massaging action. Usually no oil is applied, but sometimes a hot herbal compress is used to warm and sooth the receiver's body.
A full course of Thai massage typically lasts two hours or more, and includes pulling fingers, toes, ears etc., cracking the knuckles, walking on the recipient's back, arching the recipient's back in a rolling action etc. There is a standard procedure and rhythm to the massage.
