Both styles can lower the resting heart rate, relax muscles and relieve back pain. The inclusion of stretching in Thai massages may increase the range of motion more than Swedish massage. Both styles are beneficial to health and are known to reduce anxiety as well as to improve moods.
Swedish massage is more relaxing compared with Thai massage. It incorporates five major techniques: 1. Stroking and gliding: These are long, sweeping strokes, which are usually used at the start and end of a massage.
Thai massage combines compression, acupressure, and passive stretching. These increase the range of motion in your joints and muscles. This can also improve your posture. Helps with back pain.
Thai Massage is a yoga-style treatment, applying medium to hard pressure with some stretching. Swedish Massage is a relaxing oil massage, apply softly to medium pressure. Deep Tissue Massage is a slow deep pressure on a specific area of the body.
Swedish massage involves long strokes using light-to-firm pressure. This style generally provides a more relaxing experience, but the pressure may not be enough for some people. In contrast, deep tissue massage applies much more pressure to release tension deep within the muscles and fascia.
Deep tissue: The best massage to relieve stress and muscle tension. Deep tissue massage can loosen painful “knots” and realign deeper layers of muscle through a combination of firm pressure and slow strokes. Your therapist will not only work on the usual muscles but on the connective tissue as well.
“Thai massages are certainly not gentle, and it is important to note that oftentimes, they can feel unpleasant. But as soon as you tell your therapist that you are feeling any pain, they will decrease the pressure right away,” Pittayakorn says.
If you're looking to relieve tension, chronic pain, or sports injuries, a deep tissue massage might be a better fit; meanwhile, Thai massages are great for improved movement, energy boosts, and circulation. Ultimately, it's up to you to decide which massage therapy works best for your condition or needs.
Many people believe that the health benefits of Thai massage include lowering stress, boosting energy, and improving athletic performance. Thai massage uses gentle pressure and stretching techniques to relax the whole body. This is an ancient healing practice that originated in India.
Anyone dealing with the following conditions should avoid Thai massage and similarly styled bodywork: Unmedicated high blood pressure. Diabetes. Heart disease.
First and foremost, you should wear loose, comfortable clothes that doesn't restrict any movements, like you would for an active athletic activity. If you have them, flexible garments, like stretchy yoga attire, work really well.
For all of you who might not be aware, asking for a happy ending is the polite way (I use that term loosely) of requesting that the masseuse jerk you off at the end of the massage.
Thai Massage Quick Facts
Duration: In Thailand a treatment can often last up to 2 hours however in Western countries typically a Thai Massage will last between 30 and 90 minutes. Body Parts treated: Back, gluteal muscles, legs (front and back), arms, head, and shoulders.
Thai massage is always a full body treatment because it is holistic. You will usually begin lying on your back and the therapist will start at your feet. The treatment involves the therapist pressing up and down the body along the Sen lines using her palms, thumbs, forearms and knees.
Take a warm shower
First, the warm water will begin allowing your mind and body to relax making it more open to receiving massage. By cleaning your body prior to a massage, you can also mitigate some personal hygiene insecurities, if you have any, plus it is greatly appreciated by your massage therapist.
A warm shower after a massage can be wonderfully soothing. Since massage oils and lotions are meant to do most of their work during the massage, not after it, you don't have to skip the shower for fear of washing away skin-friendly oils.
Yes, massage therapists can really feel knots in the body. Through their training and experience, they have developed a keen sense of touch that allows them to detect areas of tension and tightness in the muscles.
Easing Knots with Thai Yoga Massage
Thai massage is one of the best ways to combat these nasty knots.