Thai massage in London W2

What does a Thai massage feel like?

Thai massage works through the body in a steady sequence, usually starting at the feet and moving up through the legs, back, shoulders, arms and neck. The therapist leans their body weight into slow, firm pressure, then moves you into stretches, for example drawing a leg across the body or easing the shoulders back.

The pressure can be firm, but it should never feel like too much. Say at any point if you would like it lighter or firmer, or if a stretch feels like too much, and it will be adjusted straight away.

How is Thai massage different from an oil massage?

An oil massage, such as a Swedish style massage, is given on a couch with long, gliding strokes over bare skin. Thai massage works differently: there is no oil, you stay clothed, and instead of gliding strokes the therapist uses steady pressure along lines of the body and moves your limbs into stretches.

People often describe the result as feeling longer and looser, as if they had done a slow yoga session without making the effort themselves. If you prefer to lie still and be stroked rather than moved, tell us when you book, so your therapist knows to keep the stretches gentle.

30 minutes or an hour?

30 minutes, £45: enough time to focus on one or two areas, such as the back and shoulders or the legs. It fits into a lunch break or before an evening plan.

1 hour, £75: time for the full sequence, from the feet to the neck, with the stretches that give Thai massage its name. If it is your first time, the hour gives you the clearest sense of what it is like.

Your first Thai massage

If you have not had one before, the hour is a good place to start. When you arrive, mention any areas that feel tight, any old injuries and how firm you like pressure. The session starts gently and builds, so your body has time to relax into the stretches.

Breathe slowly and let your limbs feel heavy. Holding your breath or helping with a stretch makes the muscles tense; staying loose lets the therapist do the work.

What should I wear?

Traditional Thai massage is given without oil, so it is usually done in loose, comfortable clothes rather than undressed. Ask what to wear when you book, and avoid anything tight around the waist or knees, as it gets in the way of the stretches.

Eat lightly beforehand rather than coming straight from a big meal, and arrive a few minutes early so you are not rushing in.

Who should not have a Thai massage?

Strong pressure and stretching are not right for everyone. Speak to your GP first, and tell us when you book, if you:

• are pregnant
• have had recent surgery, a fracture, or a muscle or joint injury
• have a history of blood clots, or take blood thinning medicine
• have osteoporosis, a heart condition or high blood pressure that is not under control
• have a fever, an infection, or a skin condition on the areas to be massaged

Massage relaxes you, but it does not replace medical care for pain that keeps coming back or for an injury.

After your massage

Drink some water and take it easy for the rest of the day if you can. Some people feel loose and light straight away, while others feel a little tender the next day, much like after a workout, especially after firmer pressure. That usually passes within a day or two.

If you have regular tension from work or exercise, booking every few weeks tends to feel better than waiting until you are very stiff.

Head massage and dry cupping

For a shorter break, a head massage starts from £10, or from £20 with a hair treatment. If you want something different for the back, dry cupping therapy uses suction cups instead of hands and starts from £50 for the back.