What is a Thai Massage?

Thai massage is one of the oldest techniques of massage in the world. The main difference of a Thai Massage to other western style massages, is that you don’t have to take your clothes off, and there are no oils or lotions.

Some liken Thai massage to a passive form of yoga, where the moves are done for you! The masseuse moves and manipulates your body into various positions with a variety of rocking, stretching and kneading techniques.

Similar to some forms of Chinese medicine, Thai massage uses “sens”, which are energy lines or pathways in the body. By moving your body in to certain positions and stretches, the energy flow in the sens can be increased which provides all sorts of benefits including pain relief, stress relief and improving circulation.

Known as Nuat Thai or Nuad Bo-Rarn in Thailand, it is one of the oldest techniques of massage in the world. The original techniques were accredited to Shivago Komarpaj, an Indian Doctor who lived around 2,500 years ago and who studied alongside the Buddha. However, there are very few written records, most were destroyed during the Burmese war, so many of the techniques have been handed down verbally through the generations.

As mentioned, with Thai massage you keep your clothes on. You are gently moved into various yoga-like positions, following the “sen” lines of the body. Often the practitioner will use their own body, their legs, hands and feet to move and hold you in position. They use pressure and stretches to open up the energy pathways. Sounds painful? It shouldn’t be, as an experienced masseuse will communicate with you and react to your level of movement and flexibility, never pushing you too far.

What are the benefits of Thai massage?

There is no limit to the number of massage sessions you do, but two or three times a month is recommended for you to receive the full benefits. The benefits can include:

• Stress Relief – One of the most common results of receiving a Thai massage is the sense of calm and relaxation afterwards. It reduces stress and anxiety, especially if done Just like with yoga and meditation, you can feel a deep sense of well-being afterwards.
• Improved movement and flexibility – With the yoga style movements and stretches, Thai massage improves your posture and increases the range of motion in joints and It is believed that the practise improves blood flow and oxygen levels, which can alleviate pain.
• Reduces headaches – Regular massage sessions have been shown to reduce the number and intensity of chronic headaches and migraine in some
• Boosts energy – By increasing blood flow and energy via the “sens”, many people feel rejuvenated after a Thai They feel less fatigued, with higher energy levels than before.
• Relieves back pain – The gentle stretching of the upper and lower back areas has been shown to reduce back pain (of course, some care must be taken if you have any serious conditions).

Are there any risks with a Thai massage?

Thai massage in its purest form is an ancient practice, whose aim is to bring balance to both your physical and spiritual body.

For the majority of people, a Thai massage is only beneficial to your health, not harmful. However it can affect your heart rate, so if you have any heart condition, you should be aware of the risks. Also if you have any existing or previous medical injuries or conditions, you would be advised to seek medical advice before booking.

Here at Nabua Thai, we provide professional, authentic Thai Massage. There are many massage parlours in Marbella and along the coast that profess to offer the same, but in reality do not. All of our therapists are highly trained in the traditional Thai massage techniques under the guidance of Jintana, owner and founder, who has worked and trained staff in top spa hotels around the world. At Nabua Thai you are guaranteed a warm welcome and a truly authentic experience that will leave you coming back for more!