The region of Southeast Asia is famous for its massages, from Thai foot massage to Balinese spas, even the Vietnamese “happy ending” massage.
One style that transcends national borders is blind massage, carried out by visually disabled masseuses and masseurs.
A traditional remedy
In many parts of Southeast Asia, massage is used as a traditional remedy, from baby massage to aid development through to adult massage to cure illness, aches and pains.
For hundreds of years, blind people have been trained to massage, making use of their “seeing hands” which may be more capable than those of sighted people.
In a region where state financial support for people with disabilities is very rare, massage gives blind people a highly valued and specialized role in society, and provides them with the means to make a living.
Massage schools and associations specifically for blind people exist across Southeast Asia, offering training, a way into employment and a community.
Where can I get a blind massage?
In Cambodia, The Association for the Blind trais masseurs, and in Sihanoukville, Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, they operate businesses under the name Seeing Hands, specializing in blind massage.
The National Council for the Blind in Malaysia offers blind massage with a list of traditional blind masseurs on its website http://ncbm.org
In Indonesia, blind massage is called “pijat tuna netra” and small signs for these blind massage clinics can be found across the region.
Blind men and women are trained from a young age as masseurs and masseuses at institutions that often operate as charities, with the result that massage has become the most common profession for blind people in Indonesia.
In Laos, blind massage is a more recent phenomenon, with the first training centre opening in 2003. Now there are around 25 massage clinics in the capital city, Vientiane, operated by Lao Association of the Blind (LAB).
The Vietnam Blind Association trains masseurs and masseuses in Vietnam, with nearly 100 clinics currently in operation, providing employment for around 1,000 visually disabled people.
Blind massage clinics are found across Thailand, including The Thai Blind Massage Conservation Club in Chiang Mai, The Thai Blind Massage Institute (TBMI) in Pattaya, and the Foundation for the Employment Promotion of the Blind in Bangkok.
Singapore offers the Miracle Traditional Blind Massage Centre on Orchard Road.
What to expect
Blind massage varies according to the country, and often bears similarities to the area’s own local massage style. In general, however, blind massage has a reputation for being quite heavy, good for getting rid of any aches from bumping along Southeast Asian roads and, after the initial pain, your body will feel renewed and refreshed.
Expect a professionally trained masseur or masseuse providing a specialized service using “seeing hands” to offer relief for tired, stressed bodies.
Massage is inexpensive across Southeast Asia which means you can enjoy a whole hour for only a few dollars. By supporting the blind massage business you are supporting the local, visually disabled community and giving your body some well-deserved rehab at the same time.
Have you had a blind massage? How was is? Let us know in the comments below.
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