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.
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