Thai Massage

Thailand Massage

Thai-Style Natural Healing

Experience Thai-Style Natural Healing A massage to restore balance among the elements. A herbal sauna to cleanse and rejuvenate the body. A herbal pack to calm nerves and redirect the energy. All this may sound very New Aged in the West, but it has been part of daily life here for centuries. Before the arrival of modern medicine, herbalists filled the dual role of doctor-pharmacist. Originally, village doctors were monks or former monks, since Buddhist temples were the center of learning, not only of religion but of more worldly matters like astrology and medicine as well. Thai traditional medicine holds that the body has four elements: wind, water, earth and fire, and ill health results from an imbalance between them. To remedy an ailment, the village "doctor" would make a herbal pack for the patient to ingest, rub onto the skin, or add to a steam compress. Another major component of traditional medicine is energy. When the energy lines are blocked, the individual will become ill, physically or emotionally. A massage or sauna would be prescribed. Experience Thai Massage Traditional Thai massage is a proven physical therapy that dates back to ancient India sometime before the lifetime of Buddha. It has been practiced here for centuries, and many swear by it as effective cure for common ailments such as aches and pains, fevers and nervous strains. Traditional massage reached the peak of popularity in the early 18th century. King Rama III, great-grandfather of the present monarch, had all available knowledge on the subject gathered and inscribed on stone slabs. These now stand on a corner of the Temple of the Reclining Buddha (Wat Pho), along with stone figures of rishis demonstrating various massage postures. You can try this ancient therapy in its original form at the temple; masseuses trained at Wat Pho massage school offer their service seven days a week at very reasonable prices. Most hotels rated three stars and above offer traditional massage as part of their health and fitness services. All the spa resorts include it in their therapy programs. Despite common misconceptions, clothes stay on the whole time. If you are interested in learning the techniques, Wat Pho's massage school offers a 10-day course that costs 6,000 baht. Contact the school, in the temple's compounds, Chetupon Road, or call (662) 225-4771. Thai-Style Herbal Therapies Herbal sauna is no newcomer to Thailand. For many centuries people with just about any kind of affliction would visit a sauna, where herbal packs formulated just for the ailment would be added to a water heater. The resulting steam would be absorbed both through the nose and the skin. The heat also sweated out toxins and cleansed the pores. As recently as the beginning of this century, hundreds of these saunas existed in Thailand, but with the arrival of modern medicine most of these went out of business. But even today, home-made herbal sauna-along with a diet regimen packed with herbs is the post-natal therapy Thai women, especially those living in the countryside still swear by. Herbs also dominated Thai women's beauty and skincare regimens. Sour tamarind worked wonders as a body scrub, for example, while crushed turmeric would be rubbed onto the skin to keep it soft and smooth. With the recent revival in holistic therapies, indigenous herbs are being discovered anew for their health and beauty benefits. Discover Thai-style herbal experience at the following facilities, or at the spas listed in the next section:

Natural Healing Facilities

Herbs also dominated Thai women's beauty and skincare regimens. Sour tamarind worked wonders as a body scrub, for example, while crushed turmeric would be rubbed onto the skin to keep it soft and smooth. With the recent revival in holistic therapies, indigenous herbs are being discovered anew for their health and beauty benefits. Discover Thai-style herbal experience at the following facilities, or at the spas listed in the next section: The Regent Resort Mae Rim Old Mae Rim-Samoeng Road, Amphoe Maerim, Chiang Mai Tel: (66-53) 298-180 Fax: (66-53) 298-190 This luxury resort in Chiang Mai's Mae Rim Valley deftly blends Thai cultural heritage and hospitality with the modern luxury and comfort. Its spa would fulfill any and all herbal therapy needs. In addition to the steam room and massage facilities, you can enjoy herbal facials and body scrubs, herbal foot massages, aromatherapy using essential oils from local as well as exotic plants, and Thai and oriental massages. Tamarind Springs, Lamai Beach, Koh Samui, Surat Thani This wonderful new herbal-steam facility is very Thai in its construction. Its unique steam room is built between two huge boulders surrounded by coconut palms and leafy trees. Its roster of herbal treatments include facials, massage (full body, shoulder, or back), and traditional Thai massage.

Modern Spa Experience

Spa treatments are now such a rage that it's easy to forget that as recently as six years ago there was no spa facility here. Soon after the opening of Banyan Tree Spa Phuket in 1993, Thailand started to gain a reputation as a new spa destination. The country now has five spas that are attracting new groups of visitors, some of whom planning their trips as pure spa vacation. All five spas have integrated traditional healing into their programs. Chiva-Som International Health Resort, Hua Hin 73/4 Petchkasem Road, Hua Hin Tel: (66-32) 536-536 Fax: (66-32) 511-154 Bangkok office Tel: (662) 381-4459-60, 381-4462-3 Fax: (662) 381-5852, (66-32) 536-536 This exclusive beachside health resort, whose name aptly translates as "Heaven of Life" offers a complete spa experience. Guests receive a private consultation on arrival, before starting on their treatments and activities. Its treatment range is certainly one of the most extensive anywhere: face and body massages, scrubs and wraps, electrical face and body toning and reshaping, aromatherapy and reflexology. Its state-of-the-art hydrotherapy suite features computerized massage baths, a jet shower room and a flotation chamber. For fitness buffs there's a fully-equipped gym. You can also opt for an aerobic class, power-walking along the beach, yoga, Tai Chi or any exercise your heart--and your body--desire. Chiva-Som's packages, ranging from three to eight days, include spa meals planned by its staff doctors and dietitians. The resort provides complimentary transfers to and from hotels in Hua Hin area for guests not staying on the compounds. No guests under 16 are allowed at the resort. Banyan Tree Spa Phuket 33 Moo 4 Tumbon Choeng Talay, Amphoe Thalang, Phuket Tel: (66-76) 324-374 Fax: (66-76) 324-375 The first luxury, non-clinical garden spa in Southeast Asia, the Banyan Tree Spa attracts spa aficionados from Asia and all over the world with its quality service and wonderful setting on one of the most beautiful corners of Phuket. It offers extensive therapy and treatment programs, most of them unique to the Banyan Tree brand. Its talented team of specialist created a line of aromatherapy essential oils from local plants and herbs, and these are now used at all Banyan Tree spas-in Indonesia, the Maldives and Bangkok. Its spa cuisine is also very innovative and should banish the notion of "fat farms" from spa land forever. Banyan Tree Spa Bangkok Thai Wah Building, 51th-54th Floors, South Sathorn Road, Bangkok Tel: (662) 679-1052 Fax: (662) 679-1053 Like its sister on the island of Phuket, this Bangkok spa offers the ultimate pampering experience that promises a fitter, better-toned body and rejuvenated mind. Located in a skyscraper in the business district, this garden spa has treatment rooms with panoramic views of the city. Spa services include a long list of massages-Swedish, Lomi Lomi, Thai, Indonesian, Asian Blend, Sports, and Tension Release, among others- as well as facials, body rubs and wraps, and heat treatments. Many of these incorporate herbs and plant extracts used in Thai traditional medicine for centuries. Beauty and hair care is also available. The spa is part of the Westin Banyan Tree, and you can arrange a stay in the hotel if you don't want to travel in Bangkok traffic. The Oriental Spa Thai Health and Beauty Center 48 Oriental Avenue, Bangkok Direct Tel: (662) 439-7613-4 Fax: (662) 439-7587 Billed as a "temple of wellbeing," the Oriental Spa Thai Health and Beauty Center offers half-day and full-day programs as well as three-day retreats. The Center, located across the river from the hotel proper, offers a combination of Thai herbal treatments, European traditions and American innovations. Its spa therapies and treatments include body polish, herbal wraps, jet lag and sunburn treatments, body toning and contouring treatments, massages, and facials. For a complete spa experience, try the Spa Cuisine from the Oriental's kitchen. This recent addition to The Oriental franchise is very popular and reservations should be made two weeks in advance. Grande Spa & Fitness Club Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit, 333 Sukhumvit Road, Bangkok Tel: (662) 653-0333 Fax: (662) 653-0400 The Grande Spa and Fitness Club is a haven for total-body fitness and pampering in downtown Bangkok. Its spa treatments include Thai, Swedish and aromatherapy massages, reflex-zone foot massage, facials and body wraps and water thalassotherapy. Its face- and body-toning treatments employ state-of-the-art non-surgical cosmetology equipment using microcurrents similar to those used by physiotherapists. Steam, sauna and fitness facilities are all housed on the third floor of the Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit. Reservations for spa treatments are highly recommended.