A full-body Thai massage is performed while the client is on the floor or on the practitioner’s knees. Thai massage focuses on using deep pressure to enhance mobility, circulation, and other factors. The fact that clients remain clothed makes a significant distinction between Thai massage and conventional massage.
Swedish or deep-tissue massages are considerably different from Thai massage, also referred to as Thai yoga massage.
People can, for starters, remain clothed. Second, Thai massage involves a variety of motions and methods between the partner and the practitioner that resemble virtually a dance.
Here are some details about what to expect during a Thai massage and the science behind its many health advantages.
What does a Thai massage include?
Usually lasting about 90 minutes, a Thai massage is given on the floor or on a firm mat. Practitioners stand, kneel, or walk on the recipient while applying deep pressure, using their entire body, including their hands, elbows, feet, and knees.
Thai massage does not use oils, in contrast to Swedish massage. According to Sarah Seely, RYT, CST, CTYMT, a Somatic healer, Thai massage therapist, teacher, and founder of Thai Brooklyn, clients typically start out lying on their backs with their faces up as the therapist massages their feet and moves up their legs in a rhythmic, rocking motion.
The client is then led through a series of stretches that concentrate on the lower back, hips, and legs.
Thai massage has been referred to as the “lazy man’s yoga” because the receiver merely needs to relax and let the practitioner move their body on their behalf, according to Seely. The most you’ll need to do is breathe in response to certain prompts to assist you get deeper into stretches.
According to Seely, a competent therapist will be able to modify the amount of pressure applied during a session. Make sure to communicate your preferred level of pressure in advance, and speak up if you feel any discomfort at all, she advises.
Thai massage advantages
Thai massage is a type of therapeutic massage that is frequently included in the list of complementary and alternative therapies.
Through its distinctive fusion of assisted stretching, yoga, breathwork, and massage, it is a deeply calming, tension-relieving method of conscious movement that aids in extending one’s range of motion and promotes flexibility.
Seely claims that Thai massage is well-liked among athletes and sports fans as a recuperation technique. Although the majority of the studies are tiny, certain health advantages supported by science include:
- better circulation
- enhanced mobility
- increased immunity
- reduces persistent lower back pain
- reduced anxiety increased energy
- lowering of tension
Who should not get a Thai massage?
According to Seely, the first trimester of pregnancy is not a good time for Thai massage. After the first semester, pregnant moms should speak to their Thai massage therapist and their doctor to ensure that a session is safe.
The majority of experts concur that Thai massage may make some medical conditions worse. Avoid Thai massage and any bodywork with a similar aesthetic if you have any of the following conditions:
- Medicated or untreated hypertension
- Heart disease and diabetes
- Clots of blood
- Cancer Osteoporosis
- Parkinson’s disease or MS in its early stages
Consult your doctor if you have any health issues and are unsure if Thai massage is right for you.