Den...a Thai Healer
He came to me in a dream...
Debra Robinson Aug 29, 2026
The night before our last full day in Bangkok...
A prayer had escaped my lips 2 nights before we flew back to the States...
"This has been such a great trip in every way with one exception…the one thing that I needed most has not happened…a real Thai massage."
The most important aspect of my trip was unfulfilled...that of finding a true Traditional Thai massage. We had gone virtually everywhere in search of it…
Now, as everyone knows, Thai massage abounds everywhere in this country. From temples to schools to shops, we had sampled so many, but in the 6 years since I'd last been there, standards had dropped alarmingly.
When I studied there 20 years before, Thai massage was a sacred practice and serious medicine. It had historically been practised by Buddhist monks in the monastic communities known as Wats. It was their first medicine. When I arrived, the teaching had only recently opened to western students.
Your ‘Masseuse’ was your doctor, osteopath, massage and physical therapist, herbalist, acupuncturist, chiropractor…and healer! They only got paid if they kept a whole family well…a superior ethic. It was painful, focused, brilliant work.
At this point in time, it seemed watered-down, listless and was offered for relaxation rather than therapy.
It was hard to see this noble, centuries-old practice in its diminished form. I was bewildered by the change that had come over the profession that I loved. Even my cherished school, where so many life-changing things had taken place, had become so commercial that it was practically unrecognizable.
What they had gained in status and wealth, they had lost in spirit. I was beginning to realize that I'd come a very long way for nothing.
But that does not describe my life…
Surely this was not the case, but with hours left, I thought I might be mistaken. Hence, my prayer...
I fell asleep feeling acute disappointment...
In the night, however, I had a dream…
In the dream, I saw an establishment...a storefront for Thai massage. There was a man wearing a traditional Thai shirt...white cotton with embroidered trim around the edges and buttonholes. A bit of a rarity in modern, casual times. It struck me as a work uniform.
That was the dream…I was to go there.
I woke early…before dawn, leaving my travel companion behind. I had to find this place…but how? Where? We had walked many miles and passed by literally hundreds of Thai massage shops. I had no recollection of this one. They were all the same after awhile and not the kind of place I would seek out. Those typically appealed to the tourist trade. I would have to retrace our steps somehow.
I decided to methodically walk ever-widening circles around our inn and hope for the best. It seemed pretty hopeless.
But, to my amazement, it worked!
Only a short distance from my starting point, I spotted the shop...and the uniforms! Fantastic!!
I ventured in happily and requested a massage. My hopes were soon dashed, however.
I received a basic relaxation massage...just as tepid as all the others. I couldn't believe it!
As I paid at the desk, I asked the woman attendant if there was any way to have a stronger, more traditional, medicinal massage.
I was trying to understand and articulate the difference between the wonderful old massage and the modern style that we were finding everywhere.
Massage in the traditional style was challenging and it was intended as medicine.
She replied, saying there was only one style...relaxation…spoken as though that was all that there had ever been.
Unbelievable!
I was fairly speechless. I turned to leave. I had thought I was in the right place...
There was a tall man entering as I reached the door. He was Indian and he spoke impeccable English. He introduced himself as the owner of the shop and said he had overheard our conversation. "What is it that you are looking for?"
With relief, I told him that I was a Thai therapist in the states and that I was hoping to find a 3-hour massage similar to what I had gotten in the past...deep and therapeutic. I indicated with my hands, pressing my thumbs deep into my flesh...the old-style bone-deep work.
He said that a young man had recently come to their shop. "He does VERY deep work, but Madam, I don't think you could handle it.
We don't know where he comes from or where he studied. I had him work on a couple of my men friends and his work is terribly painful."
I nodded excitedly..."Yes! Yes! That's exactly what I'm looking for!"
He deferred once more. "I'm afraid it is too much for you."
"Please, can we try? How can we know if we don't try?" I pleaded so earnestly that he relented and gave me a chance. He made the call to the the young man, who arrived on his motorbike an hour later. It was 8 pm.
He was a slim man of about 30 years of age, with a quiet, gentle manner. One of the women showed me to a room that was shared by 3 other therapists. Simple curtains divided the space…typical of Thai massage. At this late hour, I was the only client. I changed into the loose cotton pajamas that were provided. When I was ready, he came in and was introduced as Den by one of the Thai women. He spoke almost no English. She would translate if need be.
Den was young, but somehow he seemed assured and competent.
I took a deep relaxing breath and prayed, as is customary. Den prayed as well... intently...not like the others, for whom it was often quick and cursory. He prayed deeply and connected. Then he began his work…
There is a pattern and form in Thai massage. It is a choreographed body of work that is ages-old.
Den did not adhere to the form, however. Without a word, Den went straight to my big toe and began the painful work that was needed. That was exactly the point of actual need. He knew the precise place to start...but how?
It was in the genuine connection. The best Thai healers work this way. They are highly developed spiritually. Intuitive, sensitive and connected to a remarkable degree. One would never guess what lies behind their humble demeanor…
Tears sprang to my eyes initially, but I marveled at his knowledge and expertise. He knew nothing about me, yet he knew everything.
As he worked, I thought 'This young man knows more about a big toe than I know about an entire body!' A true master...
Though painful, my body welcomed the work. The body always knows...
Over the next 3 hours, Den treated expertly, correcting present, as well as impending problems. It was incredible medicine...very much heaven-sent. Many layers of pain, distress and care were lifted away. Heaviness of spirit, as well…
This level of work leaves you feeling completely rehabilitated and full of freedom and life. I am not aware of any modality that is as powerful on all levels of one’s being…
To be able to entrust oneself to that quality and depth of care is so rare in this world.
When we came to the end of the massage, you could feel the holy Presence that filled the room. Den was shining and full of joy. He didn't appear to be tired at all.
I was elated and deeply grateful for the experience with him.
Knowing that I was also a practitioner, his employer had asked me to evaluate his work. I was beaming…obviously pleased.
I said "Take good care of him, for you will never find another one like him!"
I asked if it would be possible to have one more session the next day before we left for the airport. It was arranged for late the following morning.
That is a lot of Thai massage, but I wanted to have more time with him, if possible. This was a rare opportunity.
Before I left, the owner asked me what I planned to do for self-care afterward. This deep work will leave one bruised for days and there is a fairly uncomfortable period of detoxification as your body rids itself of its accumulated toxins. I told him that I planned to rest and drink a lot of water...the obvious thing to do.
He ventured gently, "I don't mean to go against your practice or moral beliefs, but in Thailand we would have a glass of whiskey after such deep work."
I was shocked. "But that's the last thing we would do! Drinking strong alcohol is like poison to the body, isn't it?"
He explained "We believe the poison chases the poisons."
What a curious thought! I couldn't begin to wrap my mind around the concept. The advice was so gently offered. I couldn't help but consider the source.
Thai people are mysterious and they hold much wisdom that is baffling to us. They know things…
They understand the body, mind and spirit in great depth. I would try his advice…
It was almost midnight, but we found an Indian restaurant near our guesthouse (Suk 11, for those who knew this beautiful old teak house tucked among the modern multi-story buildings).
We ordered Thali accompanied by Thai whiskey and coke. It was so good that I had a second one! Then off to an incredibly deep sleep. When morning came, I was amazed at how good I felt. There was not a hint of pain anywhere and not a single bruise! I thought ‘This is impossible! I should be sore, bone-weary and covered in bruises for days, if not weeks.’
It was miraculous! Once again, the Thai people knew!!
It was late morning on the day of our departure. I was dressed in my cotton pajamas on the massage platform, ready for our session.
Den asked through our interpreter "Ask her if I can do the whole 3 hours on her stomach. Tell her all her problems are coming from her stomach...her tight neck and shoulders, knee pain, sore ankles…everything. It's coming from her stomach."
I was dumbfounded by his reasoning, but I knew to trust him implicitly. I would understand later… Again, Den prayed. He had the understanding.
And he fairly dove into the work. With complete assurance, he lowered an elbow deep into my belly. I flinched. He didn't.
He continued, going deeper than any western therapist would. I gasped from a series of shocks as he moved expertly. Every nerve passes through the belly...or at least, it feels that way. It was excruciating at times…and bewildering throughout.
But once again, I couldn't help but trust his work.
There arises a certain level of pain and then the endorphins kick in. You reach a certain threshold and the pain gets no worse. I began to relax a little at that point.
Still there were a few times when it was too much for me and Den would pause for a bit. This was the most powerful piece of work I had ever experienced…
Basically it was 3 hours of deep elbow work in my belly…from rib cage to pubic bone. He worked all the way down to the spine. I’d had adhesions from an ectopic pregnancy many years before with the abdominal difficulties that followed. Any remaining scar tissue was being released now. Painful, but necessary. But there were so many other layers…emotional and historical. Things that we have often been living around for decades.
Think, for instance, about how fear strikes in the pit of the stomach…an impending accident…or a deep unexpected loss…the gut-punch events of life…
Grief, rage, fear, shock and other emotions that were never fully expressed. Even such things as inhibited joy or sexual release. Memories that become encased in painful layers throughout the belly.…
I will never forget the insightful man who said that “Every tight muscle is a frightened muscle”…a remark that revolutionized my practice…and my approach to people. Thai massage is always done in a spirit of compassionate service, but that understanding took it to a much higher level.
Den was fully aware of the pain I felt...He was very present throughout. He worked quickly and expertly and with great love. There was such deep compassion in his work. I let the work take me into places long buried. Yielded to the experience…
We tend to buttress ourselves with our (sometimes ever-expanding) egos as we struggle through life. It is a rare experience to be able to yield and operate from the tender and truer nature of who we really are… I was reduced to that in those hours…
Speechless and in awe of whatever it was that I had just experienced…
We flew back to the states right after the session. No whiskey, not much rest. The difference was felt!
Once home, I was beginning to understand the depth of what had taken place. I couldn’t help but think there was more to experience and learn from Den. He had given me his number and confided that he hoped one day to work in America. I gave him my contact information, as well. I would help in any way possible.
But I couldn’t fight the urge to go right back to Thailand to work with him further. As I made my plans, I called his employer to make sure that Den was still there.
Den had already disappeared…just days after I left. (my sense was that he had been somehow exploited…his boss was strangely evasive) His number could not be reached.
Den had trained in a hidden monastery, as had another incredible healer who restored my eyesight. These people are like the Wind…
He appeared for that fateful time…and disappeared right after...
I understood how precious our encounter had been.
💖
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Discussion about this post
George LeoneGeorge LeoneAug 29
What struck me wasn’t just the encounter with a gifted healer, but the quiet reminder of what happens when a tradition loses its soul. You show clearly the gap between real devotion and the commercialized ‘relaxation’ that’s taken its place. Den’s work feels like one of the last living threads of something once rigorous, spiritual, and exacting. Your story makes it clear that true mastery still exists, but only in a few places, and only in people who refuse to water down what they were taught.