Salon Spa GuideWellness Centres in Bangkok
Salon Spa Treatment
Salon Spa Guide to a seemingly endless selection of therapeutic spa treatments available to everyone of all ages in Bangkok. The diversity of wellness centres here offer an immense range of recommendations from Traditional Thai Massage to luxury spa treatments and specialized health spa cures, not to mention a huge volume of foot massage spas as well as a small number of fish massage shops catering for the more moderate end of the market. And this all the way through to some naughty spa parlours for full body and soapy massage satisfaction. Traditional Thai Massage as you may or may not know was originally used as an Ayurvedic Therapy in India. It was then imported to Thailand along with Buddhism by missionary monks some two thousand years ago, give or take a couple of decade or so. It combines all the elements of yoga with acupressure points of the body usually without the use of oil. The principal here is to unblock all the physical and emotional stresses via the energy channels within the body. It is typical of masseurs in a salon spa to use their hands, feet, heels, knees and elbows to exert certain pressure on these energy channels. This is supplemented with an acupressure-style technique whereby masseurs push and pull limbs into yogic stretches. The whole exercise is thought to be fairly gentle and merciful. Now while all this may sound exciting to you, I personally find it rather painful but then again I am not into this pain for gain thing. It's more like vigorous pressure to me. By all means walk on my back (petite ladies only) but don't pull my joints out of place. If you don't mind a little discomfort, then please be my guest. While this type of traditional therapy distinguishes itself from most other massage techniques that are more concerned with tissue manipulation, it does have many health benefits. As well as stretching the muscles and loosening joints, it seeks to stimulate pressure points along the body's energy lines. This method redresses imbalances and releases blockages as well as stimulating blood circulation and detoxifying vital organs. In this modern age, I think we all desperately need it.
Traditional Thai Massage
This type of massage is not only prevalent in Bangkok but throughout the whole of Thailand. So much so that there have been an explosion of wellness centres opening across the country in the last few years. A great many of the spas can be found on the grounds of some of the most luxurious hotels and resorts but you'll also find them located in small shops, down side streets, at walk in centres and shopping malls, not to mention temple compounds around the city. As with the small shops, you are more than likely to find as many as four or five in any one street with masseur ladies often sitting outside inviting you to come inside. In many cases this can only be described as a welcome respite from the relentless city street heat. You haven't been to Thailand if you haven't had a foot massage. They are usually performed in a communal space at ground level. For a more traditional Thai massage, you will in all probability be lead upstairs to a private room. Some of them are duel rooms for couples or those of you who prefer to be together. In most cases the massages are pretty standard offering nothing more than the massage itself. The girls working in these spa shops are normally real masseuse, or so they pretend to be anyway. Nevertheless it's best not ask for anything more. The masseurs may not appreciate it if you request anything other than whats actually on the menu if you get my drift. So as to paint a brighter picture while creating this salon spa guide, I felt it best to leave nothing unturned other than to try as best as possible to follow through with all the motions associated with the various social issues related to stress release options available to you in Thailand. On this and other adjoining pages,
Typical Thai Foot Massage Establishment
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