Meet Ning, Na and Lena, the massage therapists team at Thammarat Thai Massage.
The traditional skills of Thai massage which include special stretching techniques, have been passed down through Ning’s mother’s family for four generations. Siri, Ning’s mother, learned directly from her grandmother Mee Yoikrathok, who practised as a traditional healer in a farming area outside of Bangkok. At the age of 12 Ning watched her great-grandmother in practice and absorbed an understanding naturally.
Ning did well in school and dreamed of becoming a doctor until she discovered she couldn’t stand the sight of blood. Later she trained more formally from her mother, who at that point was carrying on the tradition professionally.
Great-grandmother Mee passed away in 2012 at age of 91, so did not get to see her great-granddaughter Ning, as well as her granddaughter Siri, carrying the traditional wisdom into the future.
Three of the tradtional stretches are illustrated in the accompanying photo.
Ning chose to call her business ‘Thammarat’ as it is a word with powerful meaning in the Thai language. It means ‘highly ethical’ and expresses something of the value and character of the Buddhist teaching she follows.
Thammarat Thai Massage, Unit 1, 49 Brown Street, Ponsonby, T: 09 555 2288, M: 021 056 1395, www.thammaratthaimassage.co.nz