Wellness Centres in the Land of Smiles

Foot Massage on the Beach

Day Centres 

A Thailand Spa Salon Guide to a seemingly endless selection of therapeutic spa treatments available to everyone of all ages. The diversity of day spa centres in Bangkok offers a huge range of recommendations from traditional Thai massage to luxury spa treatments and specialised health spa cures, not to mention a tonne of foot massage spas as well as several fish massage shops catering for the most moderate end of the market.

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 decades.

It combines all the elements of yoga with acupressure points of the body, usually without the use of oil. The principle here is to unblock all the physical and emotional stresses via the energy channels within the body.

Traditional Thai Massage

It is typical of masseurs in a Thailand spa salon to use their hands, feet, heels, knees and elbows to exert a 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, please be my guest.

Traditional Thai Massage

Traditional Thai Therapy

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 stimulates blood circulation and detoxifying vital organs. I think we all need it in this modern age.

This type of massage is not only prevalent in Bangkok, but throughout the whole of Thailand. So much so that there has been an explosion of wellness centres opening across the country in the last few years.

A great many of these Thailand spa salons 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, side streets, at walk-in centres and shopping malls, not to mention temple compounds around the city. 

Foot Massage Parlours

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 led 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.


Spa Salon Treatment