Massage8 min read
Traditional Thai Massage: What to Expect From Your Appointment
Fully clothed, on a mat, with assisted stretching throughout. Here’s how Thai massage differs from an oil massage and how to prepare for it.
Traditional Thai massage is quite different from the oil massage most people in the UK picture. You stay fully clothed, you lie on a mat on the floor rather than a couch, and rather than being rubbed you are pressed, rocked and moved through a sequence of assisted stretches.
People often describe it as feeling like yoga performed on you. It is more active and more involving than a Swedish massage, and for anyone who sits at a desk all week the stretching through the hips, shoulders and back is usually the part that makes the strongest impression.
What makes it different
No oils are used, so there is no need to undress and nothing to shower off afterwards. Pressure is applied with palms, thumbs, forearms, elbows and sometimes feet, working along lines through the body rather than kneading individual muscles.
The assisted stretching is the defining element. Your therapist moves your limbs and torso through positions you would find hard to reach yourself, using their own body weight for leverage. It is done slowly and with your breathing, not forced.
Because you are on a mat at floor level, the therapist can work with far more angles and leverage than a treatment couch allows, which is why the sequence covers the whole body from feet to head.
What to wear
Loose, comfortable clothing you can move in, the kind of thing you would wear to a yoga class. Soft trousers or leggings and a t-shirt are ideal. Avoid jeans, belts, anything with stiff seams, and anything you would mind creasing.
You will be asked to remove watches and jewellery, and socks come off at the start.
Pressure and comfort
Thai massage can be firm, but firm is not the same as painful, and there is nothing to be gained from enduring more pressure than is comfortable. Say so at any point and your therapist will adjust. This is expected, not awkward.
Tell us before we begin about any injury, joint problem, recent surgery, or area you would prefer left alone. If you are pregnant, have a heart condition, osteoporosis, disc problems, high blood pressure, or are recovering from an injury, please check with your GP before booking. Thai massage is a relaxation treatment; it is not physiotherapy and we make no claims about treating any condition.
Thai Massage
All Thai massage is priced per hour.
| Treatment | Price |
|---|---|
| Thai oil massage | £50per hour |
| Thai hot stone therapy | £40per hour |
| Thai deep tissue massage | £50per hour |
| Treatment | Price |
|---|---|
| Thai head, neck and shoulders | £35per hour |
| Thai lower back, legs and feet | £40per hour |
Please book Thai massage at least one day in advance.
Why clients choose it
What traditional thai massage offers
01
Stays fully clothed
No oils and no undressing, which many people find considerably more comfortable than a couch-based massage.
02
Stretching you can’t do alone
Assisted stretches reach through the hips, shoulders and spine using the therapist’s leverage rather than your own effort.
03
Whole-body sequence
Works from the feet upwards rather than concentrating on one area, so nothing gets overlooked.
04
Pressure set by you
Firmness is adjusted throughout, and saying it is too much is entirely expected.
Your appointment
What to expect
A short conversation about any injuries, health conditions, or areas to avoid.
You keep your clothes on and lie on a padded mat at floor level. Socks and jewellery come off.
The sequence usually begins at the feet and legs and works upwards through the back, arms, shoulders and neck.
Pressure is combined with slow assisted stretches, timed with your breathing.
Time to sit up slowly at the end. Most people feel loose and slightly spaced out for a while afterwards.
How to prepare
- Wear loose, comfortable clothing you can stretch in, and avoid jeans, belts and stiff waistbands.
- Avoid a heavy meal in the hour or two beforehand.
- Arrive a few minutes early so you are not rushing in and immediately lying down.
- Tell us about injuries, recent surgery, pregnancy or any health condition when you book, not on the mat.
Aftercare
- Drink water afterwards and take it gently for the rest of the day.
- Some mild muscle soreness the following day is normal, similar to after exercise.
- Avoid intense exercise immediately afterwards. A walk is better than a gym session.
- A warm bath that evening tends to help if you do feel worked.
- Contact your GP if you experience anything sharp, persistent or unexpected.
Questions
Frequently asked
Do I get undressed for Thai massage?
No. You stay fully clothed throughout. Just wear something loose and comfortable that you can move in. No oils are used.
How is it different from a normal massage?
A Swedish or aromatherapy massage uses oil and kneads muscles while you lie still on a couch. Thai massage is done on a mat, fully clothed, and combines pressure with assisted stretching, so you are moved through positions rather than lying passively.
Is it painful?
It should not be. It can be firm, and some stretches are intense in the moment, but pressure is adjusted to you. Tell your therapist if anything is too much. It is expected and it is not a nuisance.
How will I feel afterwards?
Most people feel loosened up and pleasantly tired. Some mild soreness the next day is common, much like after a good stretch or a workout, and it settles within a day or two.
Is there anyone who shouldn’t have Thai massage?
Please check with your GP first if you are pregnant, have osteoporosis, disc or spinal problems, a heart condition, high blood pressure, are recovering from surgery or injury, or have any condition affecting your joints. Always tell us about these when you book.
Further reading
Related advice
Longer answers to the questions people ask us most about this treatment.
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