The purpose/comprehension of this wonderful stretch/release is curious because it seems to be three-fold....
The purpose/comprehension of this wonderful stretch/release is curious because it seems to be three-fold. In other words, one could say that our intentional energy is being directed at:
Included in this understanding/effect would also be the experience of surrendering our awareness to the entire leg representation too. In other words, just like with many instances in the mysterious Vedic Thai-Yoga protocol, we seem frequently to be addressing the aura-spirit of the assembly, relinquishing our primary focus upon any one joint, line or center.
This is an involved explanation because the esoteric dimension is being described.
Nuad-Borarn is synonymous with dance in most instances and any affect that we intend to satisfy will sometimes rely upon releases that occur within other structural departments such as the torso, arm or back at a previous or later time during a treatment.
Either way that we choose to interpret this asana, it is an undeniably exotic and beautiful posture. As with so many of the other traditional Thai-Yoga manipulations, the dynamism of simply assuming the position of the posture is so powerful that we can most times feel certain that we are being successful in the purpose of the release even without applying any additional pressure.
Again, this is an advanced understanding experienced by well-seasoned practitioners of Vedic Massage. My instructions for my students will always indicate that it is absolutely essential to energetically distinguish the difference between a fully expressed offering and the same offering where we are just assuming the pose in a ‘ready’ attitude. The ‘ready’ attitude for most people is a sufficient transference of pranic-shakti intention. This is the therapuetic uniqueness found within Nuad Borarn of being able to be casual and elegant during a session. This exemplifies eastern mysticism in healing.
PROCEDURE:
Begin by facing the receiver’s side [left side for a woman/right side for a man]. Pick up the receiver’s closest leg and ‘cup’ the receiver’s heel in your palm while positioning your medial forearm securely against the sole of the receiver’s foot. Maintain this hold as you kneel at the receiver’s mid-leg area facing the receiver’s lateral leg.
You want to then straighten both your distant leg and your distant arm. Rest your opposite palm upon the receiver’s anterior leg just above the knee joint. The fingers of this resting hand can be draped either medially or laterally. Straighten your arm by ‘locking’ the elbow in place. You are now in the ideal position to compress firmly upon the receiver’s quadriceps by leaning upon your straight arm.
Re-position the palm sequentially several times towards the groin area. Please remember to have the palm be soft and generous with no uncomfortable hard edges. Never impose, always oblige. Also remember to lean on the receiver’s leg with a straight arm so as not to misdirect your energy/focus. An acceptable and common goal for many practitioners with this release is to slightly hyper-extend the receiver’s posterior knee while elongating the receiver’s achilles tendon.
In addition, I recommend using the breath to bring tranquilizing satisfaction and contentment to the asana. Holding each compression for a whole and complete breath always indicates an expert and compassionate therapist.
CAUTIONS: