Traditionally in Thailand, the Thai Head, Neck & Shoulders Massage — just like the Thai Facial Massage — was an integral part of Thai Full Body Massage and didn’t really exist as a separate treatment modality. Yet, today in Thailand, it has increasingly become a distinct and very popular massage treatment offering.
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And indeed, it does make sense to offer treatment sessions that only cover the head, neck, and shoulders (and upper part of the back), because these are parts of the body that suffer a lot from tension, particularly nowadays in modern societies in which work stress and prolonged sitting positions with strenuous activity for the eyes, head, neck, shoulders, and spinal column have become rather common.
Additionally, a session can be given rather easily — the client sits on an ordinary chair, in a comfortable couch, or on the floor — and it can be done quickly in about fifteen to maximum thirty minutes — giving perhaps not structural relief, but at least temporary relaxation.
As for the part of the massage that covers the face, the difference with a Thai Facial Massage is that much less time is spent on the face, and usually the therapist will not use any oils, creams, herbal compresses, scrubs, and such, but traditional “dry” Thai Massage techniques that include acupressure, pressure, strokes, rotations, tapping or chopping, and stretches.
In fact, this massage predominantly focuses on releasing muscle tensions of the neck, shoulders, and upper back, and in a much lesser degree aims at targeting areas of the face and/or head.
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Remarkably enough, one also sees this type of treatment combined with a Thai Foot Massage. Typically, a Thai Foot Massage is extended to the leg and calf muscles, or even to the whole leg, and at the end of a session often a bit of arm, shoulder, back and neck work will be included.
Of course, the head, neck, back and shoulders are also treated in a Chair Thai Massage session, which makes the difference between a Thai Head, Neck & Shoulder Massage and a Chair Thai Massage treatment somewhat blurry.
However, when the head, neck, and shoulders are massaged as part of a complete Full Body Thai Massage session, a chair is not used; the client will be treated lying down or seated on a Thai Massage floor mattress.
In Thailand, you’ll find plenty of (cheap or very affordable) Head, Neck & Shoulder Massage offerings virtually everywhere across the country, in massage parlors, spas and wellness centers, on the beaches, at markets, on the streets, in temples, and in shopping malls, to name some locations.
