Wanderlust: Expat Life & Style in Thailand April / May 2015 - The Health & Wellness Issue | Page 15

Beauty NOT YOUR USUAL MASSAGE by Rose Swagemakers Photos: Shutterstock M y husband loves the Thai style of massage. For him, it’s a deep-tissue treatment that relieves many pressures. During Thai massage, therapists use their hands, legs, feet, and knees to move their clients into a series of stretches that almost feel like pilates! Here’s the rub: some people perceive this method to be more curative than relaxing. I wondered what other kinds of treatments I could find in Bangkok. While on the hunt for alternative options, I visited Michelle—a certified esthetician and massage therapist— who offers a wide variety of skin treatments and relaxation massages. For the purpose of this article, Michelle allowed me to test several kinds of massages. (Believe me, I was a willing guinea pig for such a luxurious experiment.) Here’s the lowdown on three gentler forms of massage. AYURVEDIC MASSAGE Origin: India According to Tridosha theory, the three doshas of aryuvdea are known as Vata (sensitive or anxious), Pitta (dynamic or organized) and Kapha (calm or tolerant). Ayurveda is an ancient lifestyle practice. It’s a way of caring for oneself and nourishing the body with products from nature. The meaning of Ayurveda lies in veda, which means science or knowledge, and ayus, meaning life. Ayurveda, closely related to naturopathy, is based on the belief that all life forms have a dosha or a unique mix of energies. When these energy sources work together in harmony, it is believed one will experience an abundance of energy and health. The ayurvedic massage primarily induces relaxation and rejuvenation. It just ma kes you feel good. This treatment unwinds muscles and strengthens muscle tone; improves blood and lymph circulation; releases toxins; and reduces stress. Essential oils balance the various doshas, and the massage involves kneading, squeezing, and traditional strokes. Ayurvedic massage focuses on the marma points, which are similar to pressure points in acupuncture and reflexology. However, the style and intensity of the massage—given using hands, feet, elbows, and forearms—depends on the person’s need for balance and his or her well being at the time. For this massage, I could choose from three essential oils: jasmine, coconut, or frangipani. I selected coconut because it not only smells good, but it also has anti-bacterial, anti-aging, and healing properties! I enjoyed the Ayurvedic massage’s circular motions. It felt like things were moving and releasing in my body, and I smelt like a sweet, young Thai coconut! ORIGINS OF MASSAGE The origin of massage can be found in traditional Chinese medicine, dating back about 5000 years ago, and in Indian Ayurvedic medicine, some 7000 years ago. The goal of care was to harmonize the bodily energy centers. This helped to circulate good vibrations that then assisted in creating better health conditions and a more balanced body and mind. Today, we have a great deal of massage treatments from which to choose, with foundations from around the globe. www.wanderlustmag.comWANDERLUST  13