I seem to have been born with tight muscles. This, coupled with my intense physical lifestyle means that a massage is pretty much mandatory to help relieve the resulting aches and pains. In Hong Kong I go every other week, but when I’m in Thailand I tend to go around twice a week! I can admit that I’m addicted to massages, and this addiction has given me a breadth of knowledge about them. Now that I’m in Bangkok, I thought I’d share some insider information on a few of my favourite massage techniques, as well as detail some new treatments I’ve tried, at two of my favourite spas here.
Tok Sen Massage
When a masseuse starts pressing directly on my bones, especially the spine, I know that I won’t be getting a good massage. I like good firm pressure on my muscles and not my bones, which tends to give me more pain. Surprisingly, Tok Sen massages actually begin by stimulating the bones, but in a far more pleasurable way than I am used to, using a dedicated wooden tapping tool. The word “Tok” actually refers to the sound the tool makes, while “Sen” refers to the energy line in the body. The treatment begins with light taps on the spine, followed by an oil massage. The treatment ended with an herbal compress, where heated herbs were placed into a linen sack and pressed against my skin. This was actually my favourite part of the treatment – I found it incredibly relaxing as it helped release any tension left in my body.
Thai Warrior Massage
This style of massage is probably what most tourists normally get for a Thai massage. Ironically, before researching for this article, I had never had this style of massage before, as I prefer having my muscles worked on directly. For the uninitiated, this type of massage is like doing yoga, but with someone helping you stretch out. No oils are used, so it’s a dry massage. The Thai Warrior Massage is an ancient Thai body healing and stretching technique, and, before the 13th century, this massage was used to heal injured warriors returning from war. I think it’s great for people who have a more sedate lifestyle and may need to get their muscles and tendons stretched out. However, I found it was not stimulating enough for my muscles. I still would recommend it to anyone who hasn’t tried it before – it could end up being your favourite type of massage as everyone is different!
Indian Massage
Another style that I had not tried before, was the Indian massage, which is a combination of different traditional Indian health treatments. My session began with the Ayurvedic massage, which involves using essential oils to massage all over the body. I was then treated with a Chakra head massage, which I absolutely adored. What followed is the Shirodhara, a practice where warm oil is poured over the forehead. This was surprisingly pleasant and helped me enter a deep state of relaxation. Next up was the Lepanam treatment. A herbal paste was applied all over my body, followed by a steam bath with the paste on before rinsing it off. Following the multiple treatments, I felt happier and extremely relaxed, and my skin never felt better. If you have had a tiring day and want to destress, improve your mood and walk away from the treatment like you’re wearing brand new skin, this is a must!
Oriental Harmony
What’s better than a massage from a great masseuse? Getting a massage from two great masseuses at the same time! I had four hands working my muscles at the same time, and as much as I want to be as fair as possible in comparing massage styles, this is certainly my favourite. The two masseuses synchronised their movements with the same amount of pressure so I felt a sense of constant balance as they worked my body. It began with a scrub, which in itself was one of the best sensations I’ve ever experienced. After showering off the scrub, which left my skin feeling glorious, they then started the oil massage. Although it was not a deep-tissue muscle massage, the consistent sense of balance with two masseuses working in synergy was deeply satisfying. It truly was harmonious! I recommend it to anyone who is looking for a holistic relaxation of both body and mind.
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JuJu Chan SzetoCredit
Lead image: JuJu Chan Szeto by Lewis Tan
