Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Thai full body massage?

Thai massage uses gentle pressure and stretching techniques to relax the whole body. This is an ancient healing practice that originated in India. Thai Massage is based on the selection of multiple main energy lines sufficient for practical treatment for the internal organs and entire body. In accordance with ancient Asian culture, Thai Massage also treats the subtle energetic field within the body.

What is the difference between Thai massage and regular massage?

The main difference you’ll notice between a Thai massage and the regular massage style is the lack of equipment. Thai massage will target areas of the body using different techniques.

Who can have a Thai Massage?

While anyone over the age of 16 can get a Thai massage, it is not appropriate for everybody. People with certain health conditions, such as cancer or cardiovascular disease, those who are pregnant, and those who have just undergone surgery should not get a Thai massage, as the technique could pose health risks.

What does a Thai massage include?

A full Thai massage session can last two hours and includes rhythmic pressing and stretching of the entire body. This may include pulling fingers, toes, ears, cracking knuckles, walking on the recipient’s back, by palm-press, thumb-press, fingers-press and forearm-press in many different positions including HDS.

What do I wear for my massage session?

For a full-body massage, you can keep your underwear on, or be fully naked with a towel covering your private areas. You will find that most massage therapists are very skilled at protecting your modesty and making you feel comfortable. You’ll never have to uncover anything you’d prefer not to, and the therapist can guide you.

What is included in a full body massage?

A full-body massage normally includes your arms, legs, hands and feet, your neck and back, your stomach and buttocks. The area around the breasts is sometimes massaged but not the breasts themselves. You can always request not having your breast area, buttocks or any body part touched.

What is the best full body massage?

Spas can offer a full-body massage in a wide variety of specialised formats. Among the most popular is the Thai Oil massage, which uses massage oil or lotion containing essential oils and is very popular with our customers. 

What is a sports massage?

Sports massage is a form of massage involving the manipulation of soft tissue to benefit a person engaged in regular physical activity. Soft tissue is connective tissue that has not hardened into bone and cartilage; it includes skin, muscles, tendons, ligaments and fascia.

What do they do in a sports massage?

Sports massage works deep into the specific affected muscles and through a range of specialised techniques helps the muscles to reclaim their normal elasticity. It stretches muscle fibres both transversely and longitudinally, releasing tension and adhesions in the fascia which can cause restricted movement and pain.

Do sports massage hurt?

Yes it can hurt because sports massage opens micro-circulation. What massage also does is open or dilate the blood vessels and by stretching them this enables nutrients to pass through more easily. Physiological effects of sports massage pain reduction like tension and waste products in muscles can often cause pain.

What is the difference between sports and deep tissue massage?

Both treatments use similar science as a base. In fact, sports massage evolved from deep tissue techniques, branching out to offer some benefits of its own. Deep Tissue massage is all about using firm pressure to reach the body’s deeper muscle tissues. A sports massage is usually more specific in its purpose as a client will often have a specific injury or reason they are having a massage.

What to expect from a full body oil massage?

A full-body oil massage is a complete experience. By the end of your massage, you should be feeling deeply restored. If you’ve had a full-body oil massage, you should be about ready to roll into bed or a warm bath with a smile on your face feeling relaxed and reinvigorated.

Is massage oil the same as body oil?

Since body oils and massage oils are both oils it is natural to think they are similar, if not the same, but there are stark differences between the two. The skin absorbs body oils and massage oils in different ways, providing two distinct outcomes: Body oils help to create soft and silky skin while massage oils work to relax tense muscles

Why is oil used in massage?

Oil should be used in massage to prevent excessive friction, not too much but just enough to let your hands flow with ease over the skin. Virtually all vegetable oils can be used, but plain oils have very little or no therapeutic value in themselves, where as massage carriers will have their own benefits

How often should I get a massage?

If you get a massage once a year, it will be relaxing, but it won’t undo a lifetime of muscle tension. Typically, once every week or two is ideal for keeping your muscle tissue pliable and in good shape.

I am pregnant. Can I get a massage in the 1st trimester?

Many massage therapists won’t give pregnancy massages during the first trimester. The reason is the potential for miscarriage. Some pregnancy massage experts argue that pregnancy massage doesn’t, in itself, cause miscarriage, but no research has been done to show a link between a massage and a miscarriage

Is it safe to get massaged throughout your pregnancy?

Many women ask whether massage therapy is a safe way to relieve these physical and mental stressors and generally they are. Massage therapy during pregnancy has been shown to provide many benefits, including a sense of wellness, improved relaxation, and better sleep.

When should I not get a massage?

You should not get a massage if you have any of the following or if they apply to you in any way;

• Shock/ stroke/heart attack (acute stage) 
• Intoxicated patients (drugs and alcohol)
• High Fever (above 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit, or above 38 degrees Celsius) 
• Massage must not be performed Right After a Major Surgery. 
• Meningitis
• Are experiencing severe unexplained internal pain Hemorrhage (the escape of blood from vessels).
• Severe Atherosclerosis
• Acute Pneumonia (inflammation of the lungs – bacterial or viral) 
• Pregnant women who are suffering from Eclampsia
• Severe Hemophilia
• Advanced Kidney Failure 
• Respiratory Failure.
• Liver Failure.
• Appendicitis.
• Highly Metastatic Cancers eg. lymphoma, malignant melanoma 
• Diabetes Mellitus 1 or 2 with advanced heart or kidney disease or advanced vascular complications
• Sudden onset of severe undiagnosed headache
• Advanced Organ Failure.
• Pitting Edema
• Chronic active hepatitis (persistent and progressive inflammation of the liver).
• (infective and non-infective) endocarditis/pericarditis. 
• Lung abscess or lung tumour 
• Sepsis (blood infection) or Bacteremia (blood stream infections)
• Any contagious, airborne, infectious disease such as flu, colds, sore throat due to strep throat, shingles, etc.
• Patients with Infectious Skin Conditions

Will the massage be painful?

Feeling some pain during a massage is normal. However, the pain should be a satisfying pain. It should be that kind of pain that offers a relief feeling afterwards. Experiencing a little discomfort happens especially if you are getting a deep tissue massage.

What massage treatment style would be best for me?

Often the most appropriate and best massage is the type where the massage therapist merges elements from both soothing and intensive styles all into one session. This may be something as simple as starting and ending the treatment with soft, relaxation based effleurage strokes and keeping only the central part of the massage deep tissue based and vigorous.

Will a single massage help me feel better?

For relaxation and to work out the day to day aches and pains, massage can have an immediate impact. Everyone coming in stressed or sore should leave feeling better than when they came in. But it is not uncommon to get a massage and still feel the pain or soreness after, or even to feel a bit worse immediately. 

Do I need to make an appointment? 

It is always advisable to book an appointment to avoid any disappointment or a long wait should you turn up unannounced.

What if I’m late for my appointment?

If you are going to be late, please text or call your massage therapist right away so they don’t have to imagine what is going on. Make sure you understand and agree to the policies your massage therapist has for missed appointments, late arrivals, sickness and emergencies.

What is your cancellation policy?

In most cases, a 24-hour advance notice is required when canceling an individual appointment. This allows the opportunity for someone else to avail themselves of our services. If you are unable to give us the minimum 24-hours advance notice, and we are unable to fill your time slot, you will be charged the full amount of what would have been your treatment fee. On the other hand, if we are able to fill the time slot with somebody else, you will not be charged for that missed appointment.

Can I reschedule my appointment?

Yes, you can but it must be within 24hrs of your appointment. We will always try our best to accommodate same day requests where possible. 

Can I choose my own therapist? 

You can request a particular therapist depending on their schedule and the business needs of the spa on the day of your appointment.

Do you accept group bookings?

We can facilitate group bookings, please ask at reception for more details so we can tailor the package to suit your group requirements.