A Thai massage is a form of metta meditation. Metta means loving-kindness. Before you start a Thai massage you always start with the Wai Khru Mantra, or prayer. Wai Khru means to give respect to your teacher. The Wai Khur isn’t unique to practitioners of Thai massage. Throughout Thailand, people perform the Wai Khru ceremonies that are specific to individual jobs and ways of life. It is performed before any type of discipline, like Muay Thai kickboxing. They perform it to thank the Buddha, their parents, and their teachers.

First, you warm up your hands by rubbing your hands together and start in Namaskara mudra or in Thai, Wai mudra. You start by feeling the love in your heart and connecting with your loving energy. The arms are an extension of your heart, the love from your heart goes out of your arms, into your hands, and into your client.  This prayer is meant to focus your mind and prepare it for the massage. This prayer is not from any religion, it is just a way to pay respects to the original teacher, and founder of Thai massage Dr. Shivago Komarpaj, and thank him for bringing us this special healing art. It is also a way to ask for healing for our clients as well as for ourselves.  It sets the intention, or Sankalpa for the rest of the healing session. The mantra itself comes from the Pali language, which is a dialect of Sanskrit.

It goes a little something like this:

Om Namo / Shivago / Silasa / Ahang / Karuniko / Sapa Satanang / Osatha / Tipa Mantang / Papaso / Suriya Jantang / Komarapato / Paka Sesi / Wantami / Bantito / Sume Taso / Aroka / Sumna Homi (repeat 3 times)

Piyo Tewa / Manus Sanang / Piyo Proma / Namut Tamo / Piyo Naka / Supan Nanang / Pinin Siyang / Nama Mihang / Namo  Puttaya / Navon Navien / Nasatit Nasatien / Ehi Mama / Navien Nawae / Napai Tang Vien / Navien Mahaku / Ehi Mama / Piyoung Mama / Namo Puttaya (repeat 1 time) / Na A / Na Wa / Roka / Payati / Vida Santi (repeat 3 times)

English translation of Mantra:

We invite the spirit of our founder, the Father Doctor Shivago, who comes through us through his saintly life. Please bring us the knowledge of all nature, that this prayer (mantra) will show us the true medicine of the universe. In the name of this mantra, we respect your help that through our bodies you will bring wholeness and health to the body of our client.

The goddess of healing dwells in the heavens high, while mankind stays in the world below. In the name of the founder, may the heavens be reflected in the earth below so that this healing medicine may encircle the world.

We pray for the one whom we touch, that he will be happy and that any illnesses will be released from him.