Tips for the best Thai massage experience
To choose the right place to pamper yourself for 30 minutes or an hour, and give your body the attention it deserves during your vacation, it is good to take into account the following tips:
1. Keep in mind that traditional Thai massage is not purely a relaxation massage
As we have mentioned, traditional Thai massage can be somewhat painful in its execution, since it will stretch your limbs and press hard on your body. But do not worry! They won’t torture you or anything like that. It’s just better to know in advance so you don’t get caught off guard. If you are in a lot of pain, just tell the therapist… Although no doubt he/she’ll notice before you say anything!
After that hour of stretching, you will notice the magic the therapist has done on you. The feeling of relaxation will be total. They usually give you some time to recover, as you need a transition between getting up after the massage and getting back on the bustling streets. The feeling of ease and pleasant relaxation can accompany you even for a few days!
2. Try the massage for at least a full hour, and allow an additional 15 minutes to recover
Some shops offer 30-minute massages. Although they can provide a pleasant sensation, in the case of traditional Thai massage it is better to have at least a full hour massage, to be truly effective and get a more complete experience.
Also, I recommend that you take a few extra minutes to “recover” after the massage. At first the relaxation is so complete that the perception of your own body feels a bit funny.
In the massage center they will invite you to take your time to stretch and change clothes. Often you will be offered a complimentary tea afterwards.
3. Choose a massage shop that looks the way it should
Although this sounds very obvious, it is worth noting. In some areas, especially in and around red light areas, you can sometimes find a group of girls with excessive makeup and scant clothing offering to give you a massage.
As I mentioned before, the word “massage” is often used to sell tourists a different service than you may have in mind.
Sometimes the excessive neon lights and the looks and ways of the masseuses make it easy to recognize what type of service is really provided. But on other occasions the funny business is not so obvious.
Therefore, we recommend that you make sure that the shop actually offer massages. You can check if there are people sitting in armchairs enjoying a foot massage, for example. Another tip is to check if the therapists are dressed in a relaxed way with comfortable and loose clothing, as required by traditional Thai massage.
A place where Thai massages are offered would be like the one in the image below:
4. Don’t go for a massage right after eating
4. Don’t go for a massage right after eatingIf you’ve just enjoyed some good Thai food (or food of any kind), this is not the time to go for a massage. It is better to wait for the heaviest part of digestion to finish so your body is ready again for a massage.
It is recommended to wait at least an hour after eating. A good alternative is to get the massage before eating, so you can enjoy your delicious phad thai, som tam or mango sticky rice in complete relaxation.
5. When the massage begins, just relax
When you get a traditional Thai massage you shouldn’t do anything at all, just relax, forget about everything and avoid being tense. In order to do this, you will have to trust the therapist.
You may be worried about the stretching part, fearing that it may be painful enough to ruin your experience. The truth is that Thai massage is beneficial, above all, for those of us who are not very flexible. The massage is tailored to each body, and the good therapist will know what is appropriate to do while performing the massage. So don’t deprive yourself of the experience!
6. Make sure you can undergo a Thai massage
Thai massage has the same contraindications as other massages. In other words, in certain cases its execution may be counterproductive for the recipient. Therefore, avoid getting a Thai massage if you have any of the following circ*mstances or conditions:
- If you have hypertension or hypotension.
- If you have heart problems.
- If you are under the influence of alcohol or another drug.
- If you have a history of stroke.
- If you have significant varicose veins, edema or phlebitis.
- If you suffer from a herniated disc, arthritis or osteoporosis.
- If you have suffered joint effusions or tendon tears.
- If you have infections or contagious diseases (so as not to infect the masseuse).
- If you have recent bleeds, burns, or wounds that have not yet healed.
- If you suffer from erythema or you have fungus or other contagious skin ailments.
- If you have lymphatic cancer or other types of cancer.
- Avoid massaging areas with organs
- If you are pregnant, it is better to avoid Thai massage for relaxation purposes. Better go to an expert massage therapist trained for medicinal purposes and get her/his opinion for your specific case.
- If you have a history of joint dislocation, especially in the shoulder.
- If you are under 16 years old, avoid undergoing a massage that lasts longer than 40 minutes.
