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What is Reusi Dat Ton?
In recent years, there has been a growing interest in traditional forms of bodywork and exercise that promote physical and mental well-being. One such practice is a lesser-known aspect of traditional Thai healing and culture, known as Reusi Dat Ton (or Reusi Datton). This ancient form of Thai bodywork combines breathing exercises, self-massage, and dynamic poses to promote overall health.
Reusi Dat Ton is a lesser-known aspect of traditional Thai healing and culture. Ruesi originates from the Indian word Rishi, meaning “ascetic” or “hermit.” The term Dat means stretching, and Ton means self. English names for Reusi Dat Ton are Thai Yoga or Thai Hermit Self-Stretching Exercises.
A typical Reusi Dat Ton program begins with breathing exercises and self-massage, followed by dynamic exercises and poses. The techniques in Reusi Dat Ton range from simple stretches that almost anyone can perform to very advanced poses that require many years of practice to master.
The History of Reusi Dat Ton
Reusi Dat Ton and Traditional Thai Medicine
Ascetic sages known as “Reusi,” who lived in seclusion in forests and caves, developed this holistic approach to health. Initially, Reusi used these practices to help sustain their physical health, mental clarity, and spiritual balance. Over centuries, these techniques have evolved into a structured system that encompasses breathing exercises, self-massage, acupressure, dynamic exercises, poses, mantras, visualization, and meditation.
Reusi Dat Ton is based on the Thai concept of Sen Energy Channels, which distribute vital energy throughout the body. Regular practice of Reusi Dat Ton can stimulate and balance the free flow of Lom Pran (energy) in oneself, ensuring a healthier body and mind. By focusing on specific poses, breath control, and self-massage techniques, practitioners can balance the flow of vital life force energy throughout their bodies. This practice is often considered the foundation of Traditional Thai Massage, another ancient healing art that focuses on Sen.
Today, Reusi Dat Ton is a respected and widely practiced form of bodywork in Thailand. It is celebrated for its ability to promote overall health and well-being, maintaining its relevance in a modern context while staying true to its ancient roots.
Reusi Dat Ton in Ancient Text
Numerous depictions of Reusi Dat Ton techniques are found in historic artwork and temples throughout Thailand. The most famous are the statues in the garden of the Wat Pho temple in Bangkok, where one can find sculptures of Ruesis showing a variety of eighty Reusi Dat Ton poses.
It seems plausible that Reusi Dat Ton shares a common source with Tibetan and Indian Yoga, which is the spread of Buddhism across Southeast Asia. Unfortunately, many ancient texts on Reusi Dat Ton that may have existed were lost when the invading Burmese armies destroyed the old Thai capital of Ayutthaya in 1767. The connection between Reusi Dat Ton and other ancient practices, such as Tibetan and Indian Yoga, lies in their shared cultural and historical roots. The spread of Buddhism across Southeast Asia likely influenced the development of these practices, leading to similarities in their techniques and philosophies.
The oldest source text on Reusi Dat Ton is a 1838 folding book manuscript commissioned by Rama III, entitled “The Book of Eighty Rishis Performing Posture Exercises to Cure Various Ailments.” This text, popularly known as the Samut Thai Kao, features line drawings of the 80 Wat Pho Reusi Dat Ton statues and their accompanying poems. The original text is housed in the National Library in Bangkok, but other editions can be found in museums and private collections.
The paper used for the Samut Thai Kao was made from Samut Khoi, a thick, black paper derived from the Khoi tree (Siamese rough bush). Papermakers first blackened the paper with soot or lacquer. They then glued the black paper into a long sheet and folded it in a concertina fashion, with the front and back lacquered to form protective covers or attached to decorative wood covers.
Another publication that includes a section on Reusi Dat Ton is the 1958 Wat Pho publication “The Book of Medicine.” This document contains verses based on the poems at Wat Pho; however, the techniques used in the illustrations are not traditional Wat Pho techniques.
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