The healing Thai touch

Straight from Thailand comes an ancient healing method set to raise a sweat from practitioner and client alike. The traditional Thai massage resembles “assisted yoga” where you are stretched, bent and prodded for up to two hours, leaving you with relaxed muscles, enhanced circulation and a feeling of mental tranquility.

Angsana Spa, sister brand of Banyan Tree, the leading Asian spa operator, is dedicated to providing a range of authentic Thai body therapies, including massages, reflexology, and facials.

The Thai massage technique is one of the oldest and efficient methods in history, and will leave you feeling relaxed as well as limber. Since you remain clothed, your practitioner is able to position your legs and hips in any position, allowing access that doesn’t make you feel uncomfortable.

“Adapted from traditional Thai methods, this 90-minute dry massage (no oil is used) works on the body’s meridian lines to stretch every limb and ease aching muscles. It improves blood circulation and mobility as well as relieves tension,” says the spa manager, Kiat Suva, especially flown from Thailand.

The Angsana Spa at Golkonda Resorts in Hyderabad is the right place to unwind. A Thai massage is always given on a mat on the floor and no oil is used. Angsana’s skin polishing is also a huge hit. With increasing stress levels, there are many who have taken to detoxifying their body. The actual deep relaxation therapy unwinds every knot your shoulder has ever known, and puts you at ease. Avocado Almond Lustre body polish, a simply delicious 90-minute treatment (an hour for the massage and half-an-hour for the polish) eases out any semblance of tension, and your skin is glowing and radiant from the body polish.

Decorated with an Asian flair, the spa offers six treatment rooms, including two deluxe rooms with steam and shower facilities.

Kiat says, “Exfoliating helps to rejuvenate the skin by exposing the smoother and supple layer of skin after removal of the dead skin layers. A body polish is a popular body treatment that exfoliates and hydrates your skin, leaving it smooth and soft. A body polish can be done with any number of materials — salt, sugar, coffee grounds, rice bran, pecan hulls — usually mixed with some kind of massage oil or aromatic like essential oils. If the polish uses salt, it might be called a salt scrub, salt glow or sea salt scrub. The exfoliation is usually followed by a shower and an application of body lotion.”

“Angsana Spa gives emphasis on the use of natural ingredients such as native flowers, fruits, herbs, spices and plants. It is based on the use of aromatherapy, the therapeutic sense of touch, and a fusion of techniques from the East and West to refresh and rejuvenate the body, mind and spirit,” she adds.

Glow Package

The flower petal body polish with a massage. It is a natural, purifying scrub, followed by a warm body lotion that is smoothly absorbed into skin. The allure of this scrub is the aroma. Jasmine and frangipani are no doubt among the most fragrant of flowers. Blending them with mineral salts for a thorough body scrub is a treat that is well and truly deserved. “As the scented salt rubs off dead skin cells, your skin will almost sparkle. Moisturising with anti-bacterial properties, this is especially suited for oily skin,” says the spa manager.

It’s got to be difficult to visualise and understand a Thai massage just by reading an article that merely scratches the surface of what to expect. Thai massage is an ancient healing modality in its own right. The techniques have been passed down for thousands of years. There’s a reason it’s lasted so long: it works, and it’s worth trying. Those of you who do try it will likely become converts.

Angsana Spa Golkonda Resorts

Sagar Mahal Complex, Gandipet

Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh