SP Men Medan

Medan is the capital of Indonesia’s North Sumatra province. The huge Maimun Palace and octagonal Great Mosque of Medan dominate the city center, combining Islamic and European styles. Just north are Jalan Selat Panjang street, famed for its ethnic food stalls, and Tjong A Fie Mansion, a museum in a former Chinese merchant’s home. Southwest is the striking Indo-Moghul Catholic church of Graha Maria Annai Velangkanni.

THE HISTORY OF INDONESIAN MASSAGE

Traditional Indonesian healing techniques have been greatly influenced by both Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine. How did these approaches to healing end up in Indonesia? The Hindu religion arrived here about 400 A.D. with Hindu priests who introduced Ayuvedic medicine, which uses scented oils for massage as well as medicines made from plants. Later, traveling Buddhist monks brought knowledge of Chinese medicine. During the Majapahit Kingdom in central Java, king Hayamwuruk married a beautiful Chinese woman. Through her influence, the healing arts of acupuncture and reflexology were introduced. Massage techniques also came from the influence of traders from Arabia, China and India, who sailed throughout the islands for the spice trade.

Although most of the larger islands have their own special type of massage, the most advanced knowledge of healing techniques is found in Java and Bali where it evolved directly from the traditions of the Majapahit kingdom. During the Majapahit era many beauty treatments were developed by the queens and princesses in the kratons (royal courts). It was during this period that massage evolved for the sake of relaxation and beauty as well as healing.

The Majapahit Kingdom was destroyed about 1450 A.D. after the arrival of Islam, causing many Hindus to flee to Bali, bringing their healing knowledge. This is why there are so many similarities between Java and Bali in massage and healing techniques. The Indonesians observed and selected from these different techniques from India and China and developed their own styles, which have been handed down from generation to generation. Elements of pressure point massage, acupressure and reflexology can be clearly discerned in most Indonesian massages. In more recent times, some Indonesians have studied massage abroad and brought back other massage techniques to combine with their traditional styles.

Massage in Indonesia is thought to help the body eliminate disease, regain its balance, and ensure continued good health. There are two traditional types of massage in Indonesia: pijit and urut. The Indonesian word for massage is pijit, while the Javanese word is urut.

Pijit is the most common type of massage and is used mainly for relaxing and toning. It generally works only on the muscles, using medium to strong kneading and a repetitive squeezing movement of the flesh between the fingers and palm of the hand. Urut is more specialized and is normally used to treat bone fractures and muscular injuries. Urut can be quite painful at times, as it penetrates much deeper, working not only on the muscles, but also the nerve paths. Its main purpose is to heal and encourage good blood circulation. Urut uses some of the same movements used in pijit but the pressure is stronger and requires additional skills. The urut practitioner, known as tukang pijit urut, must have a much greater knowledge of anatomy, including bone structure, nerve pathways and pressure points to heal effectively. Fingers, thumbs, palms, knuckles and body weight are all used to restore muscle tone, heal broken bones and remove toxins. Urut massage is very precise and technical, but to endure the discomfort of a treatment is usually beneficial, as the feeling of well-being is quickly restored after a treatment.

In many villages there is also another type of massage practitioner, usually an older woman, who specializes in women’s problems; helping women become pregnant if they’re having difficulty conceiving, helping them prevent pregnancy and restoring the womb to its proper position after giving birth. These women still play an important role in the small villages of Indonesia today, especially in helping a new mother to restore her former shape, looks and health in a very short period of time. Many modern Western women have aches and pains after giving birth because their uterus has dropped down (prolapsed) and has not been lifted back into place. Also, women who engage in sports activities such as tennis or running often develop a prolapsed uterus and need to have it lifted back into place by a skilled massage therapist.

Over the years, with the increase in tourism, the beach massage business has grown all over Bali, geared towards a recreational market of visitors. It is cheap and quick; however, the focus is on quantity rather than quality and it generally isn’t a treatment for a particular problem. Another downside is the lack of hygiene with towels and blankets being used for several customers and the women have no where to wash their hands after eating or massage. For someone who has never experienced a quality massage, the beach massage may be sufficient, but anyone who has greater expectations will need to search elsewhere.