87and foreign tourists in the process of
being stretched and pulled by their
determined therapists. Depending on
their flexibility, an occasional painful
gasp or ecstatic moan might be heard
from the displayed, pretzel-like forms.
My therapist was a solidly built
woman in her mid-thirties, wearing
the same comfortable baggy clothes of
the spa. Her ink-black hair was pulled
back in a tight knot with no make-up
applied to her impassive face. They
were there to heal their inflicted
patient through holistic massage
techniques – and nothing else. The
only concession to adornment my
therapist allowed herself was a sacred
“Sak Yant” Buddhist tattoo, whose
mysterious Sanskrit characters ran the
length of her powerful full arms.
After an hour of experiencing
challenging stretches and liberating
pulls, the permanent kinks and gnarls
in my vintage, sports-abused body
began to release themselves. I was
rejuvenated beyond expectations
as I felt blood flow freely and nerve
face while trying to reintegrate into
Thai society. In response, Naowart
established the Lily Thai Spa to
help recently released inmates find
employment and begin a new,
drug-free life. Through the translation
skills of her equally bright and
vibrant university-aged daughter,
Nanthawan Thaarisutharat, or “Bank”,
I learned the background, details and
strategy of this multigenerational
family business.
Chiang Mai Prison houses over
1,000 female inmates, the majority
of whom are serving two- to five-year
sentences for drug offences. Most
were selling, or addicted to, the Thai
form of methamphetamines called “Ya
Ba”, or “crazy medicine” – a horrific
scourge that has swept through
Thailand in the last few decades,
destroying families and undermining
some of the strong social fabric of
the country.
Naowart has seen this devastation
firsthand, as she observed many of
the released inmates abandoned
by their families and friends, and
worse still, finding no employment.
Something had to be done. A devout
Buddhist and a professionally trained
correctional officer, Naowart designed
a strategy that blended the structure
of the penal system, the healing
aspects of Thai massage, and tenets
of Buddhist altruism.A 43-year career in the correctional community gave
her a keen insight into the limited options these women
face while trying to reintegrate into Thai society.
endings fire unimpeded throughout
my body. I walked with the posture
and symmetry of youth, and what
was more important, I felt no aches
or pains. I was not sure how long the
effects would last, but now I certainly
knew where to go when the body
went kaput!
Inspired by my tangible physical
results, I needed to learn more about
this exceptional spa. I knew from
my guidebook that Chiang Mai was
the cultural heartland of Thailand,
and home of many of the country’s
most respected traditional massage
schools. After my initial inquiry, I was
soon introduced to the 63-year-old
owner of the Lily Thai Spa, Naowart
Thaarisutharat, or “Mom” for short.
This handsome woman had a
commanding resonance and alertness
about her, which divulged the clues
of her previous vocation: Director of
Chiang Mai Women’s Prison.
A 43-year career in the correctional
community gave her a keen insight
into the limited options these womenfar left It is said that the
tattoos are associated with
healing or good fortune
left From a life damaged to a
vocation of healing