Tassanee Boonsom, Massage Salon Loi Kroh, has all the answers (in
English, Dutch, French, German and Japanese!)
Did you know that massages are taken by Thais and tourists for entirely
different purposes? We Thais in Chiangmai will take a massage as a medical
treatment, mainly in the Old Medicine Hospital or the School for the Blind.
But visitors to Thailand mostly take a massage in a salon like ours for
relaxation, pain relief, tired feet, or to learn how to perform massage
themselves in our school.
Traditional Thai massage consists of a series of twisting movements
of the joints and bones, rubbing of the muscles, activating the energy
lines, by accupressure and pulling of the limbs. The masseur or masseuse
knows exactly how much pressure should be applied for each type of massage.
These treatments relieve muscle stiffness. Bone problems, various internal
disorders and also mental stress.
Massage is most effective for people who usually take very little exercise
- or on the contrary, people who exert tremendous physical strength and
muscle power. It activates the inactive muscles, causing better blood circulation,
and also reduces muscle fatigue and helps repair torn fibres.
Herbal massage for, say 2 hours, starts with traditional massage,
then goes on for an hour of treatment with fresh herbs in small cloth bags,
warmed by hot steam. These are rolled over the body to stimulate circulation,
relieve muscle inflammation, pain, fatigue and cramp.
JUST LIKE THE REAL THING?
Click for larger photograph
Almost! This metal bas relief of a Mitsubishi A6M2 Zero-Sen actually
represents an aircraft of the 64th Sentai, wich was stationed here at Chiangmai.
Framed in dark Thai timber, each piece is numbered and only 1000 pieces
will ever be produced. Made by Thai craftsmen with care.
Loi Kroh has a unique
massage salon with information in many launguages, a bar, and across the
road, a school.
Oil massage is a deep or softer rub-down from the meridian lines,
the energy lines which run from your head to your feet. We use mostly olive
oil. There is no stretching or twisting and this is very relaxing. Don't
shower afterwards, let the oil go into your skin for maximum benefit!
Aromatherapy is the same as oil massage but with special oils chosen
depending on your type of skin. Pain relief and calming stress are the
benefits here. Note that these massages are completely different from what
is known as "Swedish massage", which is much more like a sports
massage for athletes.
Foot massage is a nice, regular rub-down under your feet, ankle
joints and lower legs. It is nice and relaxing for tired feet from too
much walking or strenuous trekking, or problems caused by badly fitting
shoes.
Foot reflexology, also called "foot zone massage" originated
from China thousands of years ago. This is a healing massage under the
feet using fingers, knuckles or sometimes with the help of a little wooden
stick. The reflexes go direct to the organs to be treated, or via the brain.
This is sometimes painful if the spot touched needs more attention, but
this is "good" pain, it shows you are benefiting. Choose what
type of massage you want and be very specific. Most places advertising
reflexology actually only give foot massage!
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Ninety-five per cent of our clients are tourists. Fifty per cent take
a massage for 1 or 2 hours and 50% take lessons. I think we are popular
because we only give private massage and private lessons while other places
do it in open rooms and in groups. Our facilities are good and spotlessly
clean with air-con, showers and even a small bar and lounge.
This is a tiring but a fascinating job. People come with many problems,
or just to relax and sometimes mix their styles of massage in one session.
We are like a tailor, making to suit whatever you need! It's a very good
feeling for us to have people come back from last year, specially to Chiangmai
to visit us, so my team and I cannot complain - we have chosen a satisfying
profession!
Other good places:
We also strongly recommend the Thai
Massage Shevagakomarpaj School, 238/1 Wuolai Road, Chiangmai 50100 (opposite
Old Chiangmai Cultural Centre) and Wat Po Thai traditional massage school,
Sanamchai Road, Bangkok 10220.
Tassanee
Boonsoom
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