Laying on a massage table while waiting for your knife-wielding therapist to slice through your stress with a pair of blunted blades is probably not your first thought when you consider booking a massage. If anything, it likely sounds counterintuitive to those seeking to relieve their stress, rather than induce it.
But the art of cutting through negative energy in a way that releases tension and aids the body’s natural healing abilities is far from new; in fact, dao liao, or “knife massages” have actually been practiced for thousands of years.
The History Behind the Knife Massage
The ancient art of dao liao dates back over 2,000 years to the Han and Tang Dynasties in China, wherein Buddhist monks were said to have begun practicing these massages as an alternative to traditional medicine.
When more standard methods of relief failed to aid the chronically ill, knife massages were introduced as a means of holistically targeting a patients’ circulatory system, as well as their qi centers — or doorways in the body said to house cosmically-connected energy.
According to National Geographic, why the practice of dao liao fell out of favor in China is still unknown. However, the technique has since resurfaced in Taiwan with a notable abundance in popularity. Today, these Taiwanese massage therapists train and treat people from around the world.
How Knife Massages Work
Prior to rendering oneself vulnerable to the (surprisingly gentle) meat cleavers, dai liao massage therapists lead patients through a series of qi-balancing exercises with “cosmos sticks,” which are supposed to aid in banishing negative energy before the massage itself banishes negative karma.
On the table, patients are gently pummeled and chopped with the blunted knives for over an hour, which is said to cleanse one’s energy by hitting the body’s qi doors in a fashion similar to that of hitting pressure points. The mystical balancing powers of the knives are reportedly a result of their magnetic charge, as they are cleansed overnight by being left to meteorites with healing energies.
After, some clients also receive medical and nutritional advice by consulting with their massage therapist, who uses an ancient Chinese text called the i-Ching (meaning “Book of Changes”) to intuit their specific bodily needs.
When You Can’t Fly To Taiwan
Maybe a trip to Taiwan isn’t in the cards for you, or perhaps you’d still prefer more traditional massage methods to that of ones that require large metal cleavers. If that’s the case, don’t worry — you’re still in luck!
Here at Alpha School of Massage, we can still reach deep into your body to banish stress and restore balance by virtue of our own massage specialties, including such rejuvenating services as our Swedish Massage, or even our Barefoot Deep Tissue Massage for those dealing with more chronic or persistent issues.
If you have further questions about how massage therapy can help you, or if you’re ready to book an appointment, contact Alpha School of Massage today by calling (904) 389-9117! We’re here to help you find both relaxation and relief, and we look forward to serving you.