Thai Massages - Should They Hurt?

[Pontare]

I have great fate in the therapeutic effects of a good Thai massage. But it seems they are different every place I get them. Some places I can easily fall asleep, while others makes me want to scream in pain. How should a good Thai massage be? Should it hurt? If you base your opinion on actual knowledge on the subject, please say so, as I guess most opinions will be based purely on personal preferences. And yeah, I'm talking about clean massages, so please keep it polite, as threads seem to be closed down easily these days.

[Thongkorn]

Try the Blind massage near dolphin roundabout if you are in Pattaya , They are the best, about 200baht for one hour ,It is up to you how hard, they know what they are doing. sometimes it does hurt because they are massaging knot out of your muscle.

[j0hnga1t]

I go to Healthland Spa, Silom, Bangkok. Thai massages can hurt or not. It depends on the massuse. If it hurts too much say "bow bow" which is lighter or Jep mak mak. Hurts a lot...bow bow...lighter. I know when you go it, they assign the next person in line; however, don't be afraid to speak up! Or ask up front for a person who isn't so strong.

Good luck...I feel your pain

[californiabeachboy]

I also liked Blind Massage near the dophin roundabout in Pattaya. They call it blind "man's" massage, but you can have either a man or a woman do it, as you wish. Plus I understand the masseuse gets much more of the fee there.

I personally don't like the Thai massage, I prefer the oil massage. But my Thai friends say it is supposed to be a bit hard - you will feel better after the massage. The key is to ask for a mild or medium massage and they will ease up. I once forgot, and this sweet little woman bent her bony elbow and dug it into me - I believe she has just broken up with her boyfriend, because I know there was some anger there. But I did feel good after.

[Shurup]

Like others say, it's up to you how you want it done. I usually go hard as it only hurts at the begining. I feel better after the hard massage.

[Ulysses G.]

I get a therapeutic massage every week and spend two hours screaming in pain. However, my arthritis feels so much better the rest of the week, I never miss it.

This is a from a real massage "doctor". There are people who just do not know what they are doing though. They should be avoided.

[Forethat]

When I came to LOS and started taking Thai massages I was in serious pain the entire session. I have had the same masseuse for many years, so I know how strong this old woman is in her hands. Gradually, she's introduced more advanced "postures" that I simply could not do a couple of years ago. I should mention that during this time I've taken up my Yoga again which has added to my flexibility.

Pain during a massage usually means your soft parts of your body aren't as soft as they should be. Noticed how it tends to hurt like hell the first half of the time they work on one part of your body, and the second half you enter this sleepy mode? The thing is, they usually UP the strength during the second half, but this is AFTER the muscle/tendon has softened up.

I say: make sure you get your massage regularly and go for the hard one that hurts like he** at the beginning - the feeling afterwards is unbeatable. Too soft a massage is a waste of time.

[Sing_Sling]

I get a therapeutic massage every week and spend two hours screaming in pain. However, my arthritis feels so much better the rest of the week, I never miss it.

This is a from a real massage "doctor". There are people who just do not know what they are doing though. They should be avoided.

Ulysses makes a very valid point, many of these so-called masseurs and masseuses don't know what they're doing - try a massage at a wat.

Should it hurt? Personal preference, but even physios hurt because you are there for a reason and that reason must be addressed

[Fookhaht]

I've had two Thai massages in 9 years.

The first was at Wat Po (the nationally-recognized Mother-of-all-Massage-Schools), and the other by my Thai friend who said he'd just gotten his training. Both were screaming-in-pain massages. It does the opposite of relaxing me--it tenses me up, wondering when the next wave of pain will hit: an elbow in the small of the back, a limb stretched to near-breaking point, etc.

I've sworn off Thai massage.

I give deep-muscle massages to my Thai friends (which I learned in high school, helping to manage sports teams). All of them extol the virtues of my massages over their previous experience. The ultimate compliment is when most of them fall asleep, mid-massage. Now THAT'S relaxing!

I'd open a shop, if it didn't violate my work permit. Come to think of it, it probably does anyway (unpaid volunteer labor)!

Edited May 11, 2011 by Fookhaht

[Shotime]

I always wondered the same thing. I once had a two hour massage. The girl spent one hour on each arm.. Just my arms. I never even asked her to do this. I just wanted a 2 hour massage. I was in pain the whole time. I kept screaming at her, but she acted like I should trust her, and shut up. I think she did it on purpose. I can understand some pain, but, usually, they soften the massage a little on the sensitive parts. I think a good massage should not hurt constantly. Only that pain that hurts so good. If you understand what I mean.

[Pontare]

Thanks for the opinions. I'm specifically looking to untie some of the many muscle knots all over my body, and I am all for some pain if there is gain. Feeling my shoulders you would think they were made of burmese teak, muscles should be soft when not flexed. Do any of you have some highly recommended places in Bangkok?

[Ulysses G.]

I've had two Thai massages in 9 years.

The first was at Wat Po (the nationally-recognized Mother-of-all-Massage-Schools), and the other by my Thai friend who said he'd just gotten his training. Both were screaming-in-pain massages. It does the opposite of relaxing me--it tenses me up, wondering when the next wave of pain will hit: an elbow in the small of the back, a limb stretched to near-breaking point, etc.

I've sworn off Thai massage.

Wat Pao is usually a place for new students to practice what they have learned and your freind was new also. It takes many years practice to become an experrt.

I would suggest trying to find a master with their own business that are a little more expensive than the workers with just a little bit of training.

Edited May 11, 2011 by Ulysses G.

[cdnvic]

I find that a more sedate oil massage (careful where you get them) before the traditional Thai massage helps relax the muscles a lot and makes the Thai massage much less painful. Another alternative is to do stretching exercises beforehand. Thai massage always hurts more the first time, but gets better over time.

[jimbeam1]

Thai massage is supposed to hurt. It is up to you to determine as to how much pressure you want applied.

Personally I prefere oil massage. Which is not supposed to hurt.

jb1

[Sheryl]

If a massage hurts too much your muscles will tense up which is the opposite of the intended effect. A little pain is OK as long as you can stay relaxed during it, but as soon as it is bad enough for you to tense up in response it is counter-productive.

A really good masseuse will know by the feel of your muscles how far they can safely go. Basically, as strong as they can without the muscles tensing is right. Also, a really good masseuse will start out gently and gradually ratchet up the pressure. this allows your muscles to start to relax first, which in turn means less pain when she goes deep. I find failure to do this to be one of the most common mistakes here...often what produces pain would not have if it had started off more gently first. But once they've pressed hard enough to cause real pain, you're tense.

Unfortunately really good massuese are rare here, even among the ones that are clearly properly trained and better than average for here, there is a tendency to stick to a set formula and do the same to everyone rather than tailoring to the client's response. In which case, no recourse but to speak up.

in deciding whether to tell them to go more gently, the key criteria is: are you able to keep your muscles relaxed with whatever they are doing? If so then even if it is a bit painful, in my experience you'll benefit from tolerating it. B ut if it is making you tense up, immediately complain. With some people unfortunatelty you'll have to keep doing that. Which is a good indication to go elsewhere next time.

On the other hand if the whole thing is completely pain free, they're not working into your muscles deeply enough to do much good. It's a fine balance. The best massages will involve a lot of stretch and pull that you can feel but which is not excruciating and some sore spots that hurt but not too much, and feel better as they go along.

[Pontare]

If a massage hurts too much your muscles will tense up which is the opposite of the intended effect. A little pain is OK as long as you can stay relaxed during it, but as soon as it is bad enough for you to tense up in response it is counter-productive.

A really good masseuse will know by the feel of your muscles how far they can safely go. Basically, as strong as they can without the muscles tensing is right. Also, a really good masseuse will start out gently and gradually ratchet up the pressure. this allows your muscles to start to relax first, which in turn means less pain when she goes deep. I find failure to do this to be one of the most common mistakes here...often what produces pain would not have if it had started off more gently first. But once they've pressed hard enough to cause real pain, you're tense.

Unfortunately really good massuese are rare here, even among the ones that are clearly properly trained and better than average for here, there is a tendency to stick to a set formula and do the same to everyone rather than tailoring to the client's response. In which case, no recourse but to speak up.

in deciding whether to tell them to go more gently, the key criteria is: are you able to keep your muscles relaxed with whatever they are doing? If so then even if it is a bit painful, in my experience you'll benefit from tolerating it. B ut if it is making you tense up, immediately complain. With some people unfortunatelty you'll have to keep doing that. Which is a good indication to go elsewhere next time.

On the other hand if the whole thing is completely pain free, they're not working into your muscles deeply enough to do much good. It's a fine balance. The best massages will involve a lot of stretch and pull that you can feel but which is not excruciating and some sore spots that hurt but not too much, and feel better as they go along.

Great reply, and it really describes what I have been suspecting - that it is probably not a great massage if I tense up (which I tend to do most of the times), and neither if they don't apply enough pressure. I also have a feeling a really good masseuse should be able to spot problem areas (for example left shoulder having lots of tension in it) and work more on those areas, something that never happens.

Seems like I have to go looking for that special one to take care of all my massages. Can any of you recommend places in Bangkok?