Before going on a recent trip to Thailand, a friend warned me to stay away from Thai massage parlors. Thailand has a reputation for “dirty” (sexual) massage, but in my experience, most massage parlors in Thailand are “clean” and not in any way sexually oriented. In fact, although I’m sure they exist, I did not see any massage parlors that offered any type of sensual massage services while I was in Thailand.
Due to the low cost (around $5 for a 1-hour massage), and due to the fact that I have a lot of neck and shoulder problems, I had three massages in just over a week in Thailand. Below is a description of each of my experiences.
First, three friends of mine wanted to go for a Thai massage. One of them had already experienced a foot massage at a Thai massage parlor up the street from the hotel where we stayed. She enjoyed it so much, she wanted to go for another one. Three of us decided to accompany her. My three friends all opted for foot massages, but due to my neck and shoulder pain, I opted for an upper body massage. My three friends all sat in comfortable chairs downstairs, while I was taken upstairs to a small room with a mat on the floor. I was asked to slip into a comfy pair of pajamas. The top had an open back (like a hospital gown) so that oil could be applied to my back.
While my friends relaxed downstairs, the Thai massage practitioner went after my neck, back, feet, legs, and hands with a vengeance. She arched my back, slapped me, hit me with her fists, kneaded my knots with her elbows and knees, snapped my fingers and toes, and folded me up into positions I didn’t even know were possible! Fortunately, it was not as painful as it sounds, and she asked on several occasions if the amount of pressure she applied was tolerable.
Even though I asked for an upper body massage, I got what was closer to a full body massage. This is not completely unusual. Even with a foot massage, generally the last ten minutes or so is spent on the upper body, and even with an upper body massage, at least some time will be spent on the lower body as well. But still, I was a bit disappointed that more attention wasn’t focused on the parts of my body that really needed help.
A couple days later I had my second experience at a massage parlor in Thailand. My boss’s wife and I decided to venture out for a massage. She knew of a place in the night market that gave good massages. The set up at this massage parlor was very different than the first place I had a massage. First, it was completely outdoors in a crowded shopping area. All massages, regardless of type, were done in comfortable recliners. I mentioned that I had a lot of tightness in my neck and shoulders, and in typical Thai massage fashion, they started off with my feet and legs. This was not a bad thing as it helped me relax and got me ready for the vigorous upper body massage that was to follow. Although the massage practitioner used her hands to massage my shoulders, neck, and head, she primarily used her elbow to dig into the knots in my shoulders. About two thirds of the way through the massage, she moved me to an ottoman and sat behind me on a small stool and focused solely on my upper body. She did a good job working out the knots in my shoulder and helped to relieve a headache I had. It was $5 well spent.
A couple days later, a friend told me about a place that does medical, therapeutic massage. Another friend of mine had a bad cold and was also constipated. She wondered if the massage would help. For only $5, it was worth a try, and as would be no surprise to anyone who knows me, I was happy to go with her. Off we went, for my third experience at a Thai massage parlor.
This third Thai massage parlor was definitely different than the first two. Diagrams of the human body adorned the walls, and they conducted a short medical evaluation before beginning the massage. We told them what was bothering us and they recommended traditional Thai massage for both of us. We were taken upstairs to a room with two mats on the floor and both my friend and I changed into pajamas to get ready for our massages.
This Thai massage started with the Thai massage practitioners conducting puja (worship). This was done silently, but it was obvious they were in prayer and centering before beginning the massage. They began to work on my feet and legs, and rather than being painful, it actually felt good. Pressure was steady and firm, but gentle. About half way through, I was asked to turn over, from my back to my stomach. Again, the pressure was steady and firm, but gentle. Throughout the massage, assisted yoga positions were used, and I felt my muscles being stretched and relaxed. At some point in the massage, I was brought a cup of hot jasmine tea, and as I sipped my tea, I was asked a couple more questions about my overall health history.
About 15 minutes before the massage ended, I was asked to sit up, and then my shoulders and neck were worked on exclusively. The massage concluded with them giving me tips for helpful exercises and also ways that I could work on my shoulder myself, which they admitted was very tight.
I walked away from the massage feeling great, and wishing that I had time to go back again, but since my flight left later that night, that wasn’t possible. My friend also enjoyed her massage. Her sinuses cleared, and her constipation problem was absolved.
All in all, I would strongly recommend Thai massage should you ever find yourself in Thailand. Try out different massage parlors; as you can tell from my experience, they are all different. My experience with Thai massage was a great experience, worth far more than the paltry $5 cost.
