Thai Massage

Also known as Thai Yoga, this healing art involves stretching and deep, luxurious massage. A current forerunner in Spa offerings, Thai Massage was actually developed by Buddhist monks in Thailand as a healing modality 2500 years ago! It uses passive stretching and gentle pressure along the body energy lines to increase flexibility, relieve muscle and joint tension and balance the body’s energy systems. It is popular as it is both deeply relaxing and energizing.

Thai massage is known as Thai yoga massage, because the therapist uses his or her hands, knees, legs, and feet to move you into a series of yoga-like stretches. Many people say Thai massage is like doing yoga without any work!

Thai massage helps to relieve tension within the body and can be effectively used for pain relief. It improves the function of the lymph glands and blood circulation, balances the nervous system and clears out blocked and stagnant energy. It is appropriate for a range of musculoskeletal problems including back, neck, shoulder, hip and leg pain.

The aim of Thai massage is to release toxins and waste materials from the joints, muscles and connective tissue, and stimulate internal organs by gentle pressure on specific energy points.

A TYPICAL THAI MASSAGE USUALLY LAST 1 - 2 HOURS.

Thai massage is carried out on a mat or thin mattress, which is laid out on the floor. The therapist uses both their hands and feet to apply pressure to the client's fully-clothed body and to carry out a range of gentle stretching movements. The therapist focuses on the client's energy lines (which, in this therapy are called shen), with the aim of unblocking stagnant and trapped energy, stimulating specific energy points and encouraging the body's own life force (or chi) to flow freely and easily. Thai massage is normally carried out in silence as, for the therapist, the giving of the massage is an important meditative and spiritual practice.

During the massage the client, whilst being manipulated gently and respectfully, is given the opportunity to look within and focus on the healing experience. A Thai massage can last for up to two hours and clients are advised to wear loose, comfortable clothes.