One key difference between Thai and Western massage is that Thai massage is applied without oils, with the person fully clothed in loose-fitting garments. Thai massage also use pressure, muscle stretching and compression, practiced in gentle, rhythmic rocking motions which are smooth flowing.

The masseuse uses not only the hands, but also the feet, knees, and elbows during the massage which is usually performed on a mattress placed on the floor. Some people after having undergone Thai massage complain of aching in places where they didn’t ache before.

This is because when a person is suffering from internal stress on anxiety muscle tension in the form of frowning, for example, may be so minute as to be unnoticeable-prolonged tension results in headache, back ache or muscle pain in other parts of the body that becomes unnoticeable after some time. When these habitually tense muscles are massaged their energy blockages are released, thus resulting in discomfort. This can be remedied by further massage sessions.