"Thai Spa" at EVR
~ "Ruesri Dat Ton" ~

Ruesri Dat Ton, which means "Hermit's Self-Stretching Exercise" in English, is a Thai method of physical exercise that has been practiced since ancient times. It emphasizes training in breathing along with meditation; thus, it is an exercise for the body as well as the mind. Ruesri Dat Ton also helps to treat ailments in their early stages.

The Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine, a division of the Thailand Ministry of Public Health, has selected 15 basic positions of Ruesri Dut Ton which are ideally suited for people who wish to begin to gain familiarity with the exercise system, and balance the structure of the body. People who practice the Ruesri Dat Ton postures consistently will not only improve their health but will also effectively prevent numerous diseases from developing.

Echo Valley Ranch and Spa Is pleased to offer lessons in Ruesri Dat Ton to Its guests, starting with the 15 selected basic positions that have been practised by Thai people throughout the ages. And, while the positions of Ruesri Dut Ton may seem similar to Yoga postures, It Is Important to note that there is no historical link between the development of Indian Yoga and Thai Ruesri Dut Ton. In comparing Yoga positions to those of Ruesri Dut Ton, one finds that the bending and stretching positions of the ancient Thai exercise method are neither too extreme nor excessively contrary to the body's normal state. For the most part, the postures of Ruesri Dut Ton are gentler than many Yoga positions, and can be practiced by people of average ability.

Benefits of the Ruesri Dat Ton method of exercise:

Aside from exercising the body, the Ruesri Dut Ton method of exercise has the benefit of treating ailments in their early stages. The benefits include:

1. helping to create natural movements of arms, legs, and joints so that the motions are smooth. (Massage is also emphasized as some positions involve pressing and massaging.)
2. helping blood and breath to circulate well.
3. preventing disease, improving health, reducing stress.
4. Meditation is used, and the mind is helped to transcend dark moods, feelings of irritation, sleepiness, feelings of discouragement, stress. Efficiency of breathing is increased when breathing practice is done correctly.

Concepts of Balance of Body Structure

1. The various basic activities of human beings include walking, standing, sitting, and sleeping. The human body is a natural, yet complex, creation that must be in balance in order to achieve good health.
2. Abnormalities sometimes occur at birth, and certain organs may be irregular. Furthermore, there may be abnormalities in body structure due to unnatural and irregular movements. When the body undergoes pressures and concussions over a long period of time, the result may be that the structure that was once balanced and working well is damaged and loses its balance.
3. In the early stages, the loss of balance in the various body structures mentioned above may not necessarily have a serious impact on the circulatory or nervous system. Initially, there may be no symptoms of illness, or there may be symptoms which go unnoticed. Eventually, however, the individual may develop a serious illness, by which time it may be too late to provide a cure. If the body is out of balance, symptoms and disabilities will eventually occur. If the cause of these symptoms is ignored by the individual or his doctor, a serious illness may have to be treated that could have been avoided.
4. Every individual should know him or herself, and self-examine or seek help to determine if the various structures of the body are unbalanced. If the structures are not yet out of balance, a person should practice the Ruesri Dat Ton exercises to examine and adjust movements of the body structures, the joints, and the various ligaments. The practice should be done correctly and according to the right principles at all times in order to protect against impairing the balance of the structures.
5. Regarding the principles of the balance of body structures, Doctor Ladawan Suwannkitti has said that when the human body is out of balance in the various structures of the bones, muscles, ligaments, and tissues, there will be impacts on the systems of blood circulation and the organs, as well as on nervous systems in the body, causing abnormalities to occur in almost all the systems. "Balance management" can be used to treat, as well as prevent, various diseases. One approach to maintaining balance is the practice of Ruesri Dat Ton, the Hermit's Self-Stretching Exercise.

The fifteen selected Ruesri Dat Ton positions are the most basic ones, and the easiest to perform. They help to achieve balance of the body structure in the Thai way. The fact that modern doctors use the concept of balance or equilibrium is a testament to the value of making Ruesri Dat Ton part of your life style.

Before beginning to practice the Hermit's Self-Stretching Exercise method, the balance of the body structure should be examined. Echo Valley Ranch and Spa has two qualified Ruesri Dat Ton instructors on staff to assist you.

Breathing Practice

While the ancient texts of "Ruesri Dut Ton" do not clearly provide instructions on breathing, meditation is practiced in Buddhism and breathing practice is used. Therefore, the "Ruesri Dut Ton" method was likely to have considered breathing and holding the breath as important elements. Hence, before beginning to exercise using the "Ruesri Dut Ton" method, one should sit in meditation and practice breathing correctly as follows:

Breathing in:

Slowly draw air in through the nose and gradually extend the stomach outward while the ribcage on both sides expand. Lift the shoulders. This will allow for the deepest possible breathing. Hold the breath for a moment; at this moment the stomach wall will contract a little while the chest is fully expanded.

Breathing out:

Breathe out slowly by pulling the stomach in. Let the ribcage on both sides contract; then lower the shoulders. This will allow exhalation to reach its maximum level of effectiveness.

The background of "Ruesri"

The word "Ruesri" refers to a hermit or an ascetic who lives in the forest and the mountains. Ancient texts and tales often refer to an ordained monk as "Ruesri". It is likely that in the past there were such people in Thailand seeking peace and quiet in the forests and the mountains. It may be that after sitting in meditation for a long time, their muscles were sore and stiff, and when they tried to move their bodies about, bending and stretching in various positions, their ailments were relieved and their tired, aching muscles were well again.

By word of mouth and observation, the practice of Ruesri Dat Ton (which means "Hermit's Self-Stretching Exercise" in English), passed down through the generations, and ordinary people came up with new exercise ideas.

For over 2,000 years, people in Thailand have used Buddhism as the basis for conduct and behavior. Perhaps the ordained monks and hermits were Buddhists who liked to sit in meditation; they might have been male or female hermits or monks. There is no evidence that the many statues of "Ruesri" were copied by Thai kings from models at other places. It is generally accepted that Thais regarded a "Ruesri" as a teacher; making statues of a "Ruesri" and naming it may have been a way to render it sacred because using statues as models for training is the same as training with a teacher. Every branch of knowledge has "Ruesri" who are considered as teachers. In the west, it is a common misconception that Ruesri Dat Ton is linked to "Yoga".

Certain individuals have tried to link Yoga exercise of India with the Thai Ruesri exercise method, claiming that Thais were imitating the Indian people. But when the Yoga positions and Ruesri Dat Ton, or Hermit's Self Stretching Exercise positions are compared, one finds many differences. The Thai body bending and stretching positions are neither too extreme nor excessively contrary to the body's normal state. For the most part, the positions based on the Thai method are gentler than Yoga, and can be practiced by people of average ability.

However, in the 80 positions of Ruesri Dut Ton, there is one Chinese position, one Indian position, and two bending positions. This indicates that there was an exchange of knowledge, and for such cases there were clear stipulations that a certain position was from another country. It is believed that the statues of these foreign positions were made later than the other statues, as human beings will first search for ways to help themselves so that they can have strong bodies and a long life, before turning to foreign cultures. For example, India has its own method of physical exercise called "Yoga", China has a practice called "Taikek", and Thailand has its own physical exercise positions called Ruesri Dut Ton.

Data used to prepare this information was derived from information made available to Asian Spa Therapies, Inc by the "Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine", which is a department of the Thailand Ministry of Public Health.

The source of the information was from the translation of a Thai government training booklet titled, "Thai Method of Physical Exercise - 15 basic positions of "Ruesri Dat Ton", Hermit's Self-Stretching Exercise". The advisor for the booklet is Dr. Pennapa Sabchareon MD, the Deputy Director General of the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine. The booklet was prepared by Dr. Pennapa Sabchareon MD and her Work Team.

Asian Spa Therapies, Inc. thanks Dr. Pennapa Sapchareon for the privilege of being able to be able to make this priceless part of the intellectual heritage of the Thai people available to our readers.

Asian Spa Therapies, Inc. was incorporated by Norm and Nanthawon Dove to bring to you knowledge from Asia concerning body, mind and soul. We will proudly make available to you knowledge of Thai massage, Ruesri Dat Ton and herbal spa treatments, all of which will make a meaningful contribution to human wellness and the spa industry of the world.

NOTE: Ruesri Dat Ton and Ruesri Dut Ton have the same meaning – they are the closes pronunciation of a Thai word.

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