Bangkok is one of the most visited cities in the world, annually drawing millions of foreign tourists. Visitors from all over the world flock to the Southeast Asian capital city to experience a world of delicious food, unique sights and sounds, and to get a taste of the famous Thai hospitality. One of the items on any traveler’s itinerary is to visit a Thai massage and spa center to get a rejuvenating Thai massage.
Thai massage and spa centers are everywhere in Thailand. Regardless of whether you are in a bustling tourist area or in a tiny remote village in the hills, you can find a place to relax your muscles and ease your mind. Massage is a big part of Thai culture, as Thai’s believe in the health and soul benefits from getting a deep massage. That’s why you can find a Thai massage and spa center at nearly every corner of Thailand. You can also visit get a pre natal massage at the comfort of your home.
If you are visiting Thailand in the future, here is what to look for and what to expect from a Thai massage and spa center.
Stick with Traditional Shops
It’s no secret that the massage industry in Thailand is enormous. Women and men will undergo rigorous training at massage schools to become licensed practitioners and master therapists. If you’ve ever been given a Thai massage before, you will know that each step in the massage is meticulously planned and executed.
When looking for a Thai massage and spa center on your holiday, make sure that the person giving your massage knows what they are doing and has been trained by a reputable school. Most places will display diplomas or certificates on the walls near the entrance as a mark of pride, similar to how some doctors do in western countries.
One sure-fire sign that a Thai massage and spa center is to be avoided is if there are scantily clad women outside the shop harassing you to come inside. These shops are not your typical massage parlor; they are shops that only service men and provide hidden, additional services. While we won’t judge if that is what you want to do on your vacation, just know ahead of time that if you are looking to get a traditional massage, those places are not the places to go to.
What to Expect From the Massage
If you’ve never experienced a Thai massage before, you may be in for a bit of a shock. Thai massage is unlike Swedish or deep tissue massage; it is a blend of yoga, stretching, and acupressure. For some, Thai massage is painful, as the massage therapists will contort your body and knead your muscles until they are tender.
But while Thai massage is not the soothing, blissful experience that a Swedish massage is, the end results speak for themselves. After a Thai massage from a reputable Thai massage and spa center, you’ll feel like you’ve just been given a shot of vitality!