Headaches
Back pain
Joint pain
Flexibility
Anxiety
Energy
Thai massage, which originated in India, has been around for over 2,500 years. Originally regarded as a healing art, traditional Thai massage includes influences from both Ayurvedic and traditional Chinese medicine.Unlike typical Western-type massages, it doesn’t involve lying on a massage bed while a massage therapist applies oil to your body and kneads your muscles and pressure points.Instead, you lie fully clothed on a mat on the ground while a practitioner uses stretching, pulling, and rocking techniques to relieve tension, promote relaxation, and improve flexibility and circulation.Sometimes referred to as assisted yoga, Thai massage is focused on improving the flow of energy throughout your body.In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the science-backed benefits of traditional Thai massage and what to expect if you opt for this type of massage.
Thai massage can benefit your health in numerous ways, many of which are supported by scientific studies.Below, we explore six key benefits that are supported by research.
If you have migraine or experience tension headaches, traditional Thai massage may help ease your symptoms.In several small studies involving patients with chronic headaches, researchers found that Thai massage reduced the intensity of both migraine and tension headaches.If you’re interested in trying nonpharmaceutical remedies for headache relief, it’s worth noting that researchers concluded that the benefits of Thai massage could last anywhere from several days to around 15 weeks.
Thai massage may be an effective, nonpharmaceutical means of reducing back pain. Researchers in Thailand studied the effects of Thai massage on a group of 120 people with nonspecific low back pain. Half the test group was treated with Thai massage and the rest with other conservative management techniques that included joint mobilization (a technique that involves applying pressure), hot packs, and manual stretching to painful areas.Both groups were treated twice a week for 4 weeks, and both groups had significant pain relief. Researchers have found that Thai massage reduces back pain associated with trigger points — tight, painful muscle clusters — in the upper back.
Thai massage may improve your joint function if you experience pain and stiffness when you move.In one study, researchers employed a program of Thai massage combined with wand exercises to study the effects on people with knee arthritis. The researchers found that the study participants felt less pain and walked with greater ease after the 8-week program.In another study involving 60 patients with osteoarthritis of the knee, researchers found that 3 weeks of Thai massage provided the same pain relief as 3 weeks of ibuprofen.
If your range of motion and flexibility are affecting your athletic performance or making it hard to get around, Thai massage may help you move more easily.Thirty-four soccer players were part of an experiment to test the effects of Thai massage on athletic performance. After receiving Thai massage three times in a 10-day period, the soccer players showed significant improvement in their ability to do sit-and-reach exercises.Researchers hypothesize that the increase in flexibility may be because Thai massage has the ability to improve blood flow and oxygen supply to muscles. This, in turn, may help reduce pain and decrease muscle adhesions.The researchers also found that the Thai massage treatments improved the players’ speed and agility on the field.
One of the most appealing aspects of massage therapy is the sense of calm and relaxation it can bring.Although Thai massage is more energetic than other forms of massage therapy, it has been shown to lower anxiety and increase a systemic feeling of calm.Studies have found that people who receive Thai massage test lower on measures of psychological stress following treatment.Brain scans of people who received Thai massage treatments showed more relaxation and much lower anxiety than people who underwent physical therapy treatments for the same conditions.
Thai massage incorporates whole body movements, many of which are yoga-like. For that reason, many people report that they leave Thai massage sessions feeling not only relaxed but also rejuvenated.In one study, researchers compared the effects of Thai massage and Swedish massage on people who were fatigued.They interviewed the participants after their massages and found that those who had Thai massage felt mentally invigorated and physically energized.The study size was small, so more research needs to be done to confirm these results.
In a traditional Thai massage, practitioners use their hands, thumbs, elbows, forearms, and sometimes even their feet to reduce tension in your muscles.Thai massage is based on the idea that energy moves through your body along predictable lines or pathways known as sens.To increase the flow of energy along the sens, the practitioner will move your body into yoga-like positions in addition to pulling and rocking your body in various ways.The combination of stretching, movement, and pressure is what distinguishes Thai massage from other types of massage.Thai massage may be a good option for you if you want a more active type of massage, where you move and participate instead of lying down throughout your massage.
Thai oil massage is good for...
Improved circulation is one of the main benefits of a Thai oil massage. The oil used in this type of massage helps to improve blood flow and reduce inflammation. This can help to improve overall health, wellness and vitality, and may also help to prevent disease.
A deep tissue massage consists of the manipulation of the deeper layers of muscle and fascia (the connective tissue surrounding muscles). The direct and deep pressure is often used to relieve chronic aches and pains. Some common ones are:
stiff neck
sore shoulders
upper back
tight muscles in arms & legs
lower back pain
But you can virtually have a deep tissue massage just about anywhere:
The firm pressure and deep strokes helps to penetrate those deeper layers. Essentially, a "deep tissue" massage (which isn't to be confused with a regular massage with deep pressure) is used to break up scar tissue and physically break down muscle "knots" or adhesions (bands of painful, rigid tissue) that can disrupt circulation and cause pain, limited range of motion, and inflammation.
Deep work is important but we understand that some people may be afraid to have that "painful" work done. The truth of the matter is - discomfort or "good hurt" is normal but the massage shouldn't be painful. A professional therapist works with each client based on their comfort level. Additionally, LMT's are great at speaking to the body individually; working within a client's breaths.
Again, every person is different when it comes to pain tolerance and deep tissue work may not be for everyone. Depending on 1) how beat up your body is 2) your pain thresh hold and 3) your health history, that will determine how many treatments you need in order to see effective results.
After your deep tissue massage, you may feel some stiffness or soreness, but it should subside within a day or so. After any therapeutic massage, but especially a deep tissue, we recommend:
drinking water after the session (to flush the metabolic waste from the tissues)
ice the areas are soar
take a relaxing hot bath with epsom salt
do the stretches or exercises that your LMT recommended
The most important thing is to always listen to your body! When it's time for a massage, your body will bluntly tell you and always how you treat yourself, post massage is as equally important as the massage itself.
In reflexology, pressure is applied to specific reflex points on the foot. These points correspond to organs and areas of the body. The treatment is said to induce a healing response, even alleviating some ailments.
Reflexology is one of the most popular types of massage. Beyond the feel-good effects of the treatment, the practice and purpose go deeper than the skin and muscles. Kneading the soft fleshy ball of the foot, pulling on the toes, tracing around the heel and pushing deep into the arch are just a few of the movements you’ll experience during a treatment.
But what is all of that for? Well, there is a method to the treatment, and it all revolves around the charted areas of your foot.
The image on the left is an example of a reflexology foot chart or map. It shows which part of the foot connects to each organ or area of the body.
A reflexologist will use a diagram like this one during the session. Reflexologists sometimes also work on the hands or ears to trigger relaxation, but foot reflexology is the most common treatment.
As you can see, there’s a spot on the map for every organ or system in the body. A reflexologist can treat specific parts of your body by targeting that area of the foot.
These two treatments might seem similar, but there are some key differences. Both can be beneficial! Here’s what you can expect during a foot massage versus a reflexology massage.
Massage therapy is the manipulation of tissues to relax the muscles, relieve tension, and improve circulation. This can improve overall health and well-being.
Reflexology, on the other hand, uses a targeted, pressure-point massage to restore the flow of energy throughout the body. The treatment usually focuses on the feet, but it can also include the hands and ears.
There can be many potential benefits of this kind of treatment, which leads to the next question you might be asking.
Reflexology can address anything from headaches to sinus problems to stomach issues. If sensitivity or tenderness is experienced when an area is stimulated, it usually indicates bodily weaknesses or imbalances within the corresponding organ.
With repeated pressure and manipulation of nerve endings, reflexology can help to clear any channels of blocked energy. It is said to do so through moving the flow of blood, nutrients and nerve impulses. This ultimately improves overall health and balance.
Cleanse the body of toxins
Boost the immune system
Increase circulation
Promote healing