Page 35 - TICA Membership Directory 2016-2017

PRE AND POST EVENTS

It is not just a marketing hype to declare that Thai A popular ingredient in Thai curries is tumeric.
spas are considered the finest in the world. It is often It is also well-known for its ability in healing skin
enough just to mention a Thai style spa to get visitors conditions. This is why it is frequently used in skin
wide-eyed with fascination. The question is what lotions and soaps. Prai is another ingredient found in
makes a spa especially Thai? soups and curries. It has historically been used in hot
compresses to ease and relieve
Thai spas provide an amazing muscular aches and pains. In
array of wellness, beauty addition, juice from the aromatic
and therapy treatments. It is kaffir lime has been applied as a
not only the range, however, natural scalp and hair treatment
but the authenticity of the for hundreds of years.
traditional Thai treatments
such as Thai massage. Thai Thai spa and steam baths are
herbal steam compress and used to open the skin’s pores
indigenous herbal treatments, as it is from the experience
are what constitute the of ancient practitioners, that
genuine Thai-ness in the heat applied to the body can
whole experience. Crucially, help to relax the muscles. The
all these have their origins in softening of the skin permits
ancient Siamese healing and the easier absorption of the
health traditions. therapeutic herbal properties.

Thai massage is the most It is important to note that the
popular and renowned spa range of spas is almost as
therapy, which was originally diverse as the multitude of the
taught and practiced only treatments. From the smaller
in temples. Still today, the venues on the streets of cities
most prestigious massage to the large palace like centres
school is based at Bangkok’s famous Wat Pho, which in the five star hotels. Geographically too, the spas
is the temple of the Reclining Buddha. The focus of extend around the whole country and not only in
Thai massage is on 10 key energy lines in the body. Bangkok. There are wellness sanctuaries and spas in
It uses a range of pressure techniques to release many locations including Phuket, Koh Samui, Chiang
energy which is blocked along those lines. In addition, Mai and Hua Hin. The diversity is also reflected in
a crucial element is ‘metta’ or loving kindness. This the character of the respective spas as there will be
is transmitted from the person giving the something different in each one.
massage to the receiver of the treatment.
Although the Thai spa industry
Healers in ancient times were aware has numerous enduring strengths
that specific roots, herbs and flowers had and advantages, arguably the core
particular abilities to nourish the skin and aspect is the genuine warmth
rejuvenate the body. So the various treatments and hospitality of those who work
can have positive effects both internally in this sector. Thai culture lives
and externally. literally from the heart and even has
‘heart’ words in its vocabulary. The
Lemongrass for example, which has teams of staff have a real pride in
strong connections with Thai cuisine is how they care for their guests and
also used to give a wonderfully fragrant the attention to detail is
welcome to many visitors when they paramount in giving total
enter a Thai spa. It is used in steam customer service.
baths, aromatherapy massages and
herbal compresses.

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TICA MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY 2016 - 2017