Thai Massage

You stay fully clothed on a mat instead of lying under a sheet on a table, and there is no oil. The therapist uses hands, forearms, elbows, knees and feet to press along the body’s energy lines and moves you through a sequence of assisted stretches. It suits stiffness and restricted movement; Swedish is the better choice for general stress and tension.

Comfortable, loose or stretchy clothes you could do yoga in, because you stay dressed throughout and are moved through stretches. Nothing needs to come off, and there is no oil to worry about.

In its own way, but it is more active than the other massages: you are moved and stretched rather than lying still, so you will not fall asleep. People who are tight rather than sore, such as desk-bound hips or a stiff back, tend to like it most.

Because it involves assisted stretching, it is not for you if you have very flexible (hypermobile) joints, a recent injury or osteoporosis, or if you are pregnant. Tell us when you book in any case.

Thai Massage costs $60 and lasts 60 min.

In person, at our studio at 26 Gergi Zeidan Street, Tabaris, Achrafieh, Beirut.

Rima.

Swedish for general tension and stress, and the default if you are unsure. Deep tissue for persistent knots and long-held tension. Thai for stiffness and restricted movement, done clothed on a mat. Lymphatic drainage for fluid retention and heavy legs, not for muscle knots.

You undress to whatever you are comfortable with, in private, and lie under a sheet on a heated table. Only the area being worked on is uncovered. For Thai massage and reflexology you stay fully clothed.

For general wellbeing and stress, once a month is a sensible default. For a specific problem, weekly or fortnightly for three to six sessions, then space them out. For desk stiffness, every three to four weeks alongside some daily stretching.