Travel & Hospitality Awards - Spa & Wellness 2023

2. Thai Massage
3. Sports Massage
4. Prenatal Massage
5. Hot stone massage
Another quickly recognisable form of massage, this
ancient practise differs from western techniques in
that it’s performed on a mat on the floor, and the client
remains fully clothed. Using a range of techniques
including rocking and twisting the client’s body, it’s a fullbody
experience.
Concentrating on the body’s energy lines, Thai massage
therapists employ their whole body to manipulate deep
tissues. Famously, Ashi-Thai massage therapists “walk”
over their clients’ backs to get deep into muscle structures
for a thorough massage.
As it suggests, this type of massage was developed to
give assistance to athletes before and after they take
part in physical activities. It’s an important part of medical
physiotherapy for professional and amateur athletes, as
well as anyone who leads an active life.
A sports massage is a great thing to book before or after a
strenuous sporting event, such as a marathon, but it can
also form part of a programme of regular maintenance to
avoid picking up injuries during exercise.
The physical changes that a woman’s body undergoes
during pregnancy can cause a myriad of physical
discomforts. A full-body massage can help alleviate some
of those pains and prepare the body for childbirth.
Designed to help reduce stress hormones that go into
overdrive during pregnancy, as well as generally help a
pregnant mother feel more comfortable, they can help
with insomnia, cramps, and swelling.
Another instantly recognisable form of massage, hot
stone does what you might expect. A massage therapist
gently warms volcanic basalt stones to around 50°
Celsius before placing them on specific points of the body
to deeply relax the muscles.
Usually performed after a classic Swedish-style massage,
it’s an ideal way to de-stress and can aid with circulation
as well as help to deal with symptoms of depression.
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