Thai Massage

What is Thai massage?

Thai massage is believed to have been developed by Jivaka Kumar Bhaccha, physician to Buddha, more than 2,500 years ago in India.

It made its way to Thailand, where the Ayurvedic techniques and principles gradually became influenced by traditional Chinese medicine.

For centuries, Thai massage was performed by monks as one component of Thai medicine.

What does Thai massage feel like?

Thai massage is more energizing and rigorous than more classic forms of massage.

Thai massage is also called 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.

Muscle compression, joint mobilization, and acupressure are also used during treatment.

People describe Thai massage as both relaxing and energizing.

What should I expect during my visit?

Thai massage is usually done on a padded mat on the floor.

No oil is applied, so you are fully dressed. You are usually asked to bring or wear comfortable clothing to the massage.

A typical Thai massage is 60 minutes to two hours long.

What conditions is Thai massage used for?

Many people find that Thai massage has the following benefits:

• relaxes
• reduces stress
• improves circulation
• increases energy
• increases flexibility
• improves range of motion
• centers the mind and body

Precautions

Massage is not recommended for certain people:

• infectious skin disease, rash, or open wounds
  
• immediately after surgery
  
• immediately after chemotherapy or radiation, unless recommended by your doctor
  
• prone to blood clots. There is a risk of blood clots being dislodged. If you have heart disease, check with your doctor before having a massage
  
• pregnant women should check with their doctor first if they are considering getting a massage. Massage in pregnant women should be done by massage therapists who are certified in pregnancy massage.
  
• massage should not be done directly over bruises, inflamed skin, unhealed wounds, tumors, abdominal hernia, or areas of recent fractures.

Additional tips

• Don’t eat a heavy meal before the massage
  
• If it's your first time at the clinic or spa, arrive at least 10 minutes early to complete the necessary forms. Otherwise, arrive 5 minutes early so you can have a few minutes to rest and relax before starting the massage.
  
• Be sure that your massage therapist has your complete health history, because people with certain conditions should not have Thai massage.
  
• If you feel discomfort at any time, let your massage therapist know.

What is Sensual Massage?

Sensual massage is a form of massage which is designed to increase intimacy between people in a relationship. This intimate massage is usually performed in the environment of the home by people who are in a relationship with each other. Unfortunately, “sensual massage” is sometimes used as a code word for sexual services and this concept is sometimes misinterpreted as a result; in point of fact, whether performed at home or in a spa, massage is not intended to be sexual in nature.

In a sensual massage, the goal is to developer deeper emotional connections with a partner. After a sensual massage, both partners should feel closer and more comfortable with each other. The massage techniques used can vary; partners can develop their own massage moves, integrate techniques from various massage traditions, and even take couples massage classes which are taught by professional massagetherapists who provide people with tools which can be used in sensual massage.

Sensual massage is designed to be relaxing. At the end of the massage, both partners should feel calmer and more at ease. While the partners may trade massages with each other, the massages are usually performed at different times so that someone who has just received a massage does not have to emerge from a highly relaxed state into the more focused state of massage giver.

Touch in general tends to encourage deeper emotional connections as well as making people feel more relaxed. In sensual massage, there is a focus on maintaining constant physical contact throughout the massage and on massaging the whole body. People can use aids such asmassage oil or cream, although these are not necessarily required, and sensual massage can also be performed fully clothed if partners feel more comfortable that way. Massage tools such as exfoliating gloves or aids to assist with deeper massage work can also be incorporated into a sensual massage.

People can also focus on specific areas of the body with massage. For example, some couples may enjoy giving foot massages at the end of the day to relieve stress. Likewise, partners may massage each other's necks or backs to address tension, reserving full body massage for special occasions.

Every couple may have its own approach to massage. There are not any methods which are necessarily wrong or right or any prescribed length for a sensual massage. However, people should be careful to avoid injuring each other. If a massage is painful, the pressure should be reduced, and people who have not had formal training should avoid deep muscle work because they can inadvertently cause injury.