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Grand Palace (The)
Grand Palace (The), Bangkok, Thailand : Find latest reviews and deals, maps, photo at Yahoo Travel | Erawan Shrine
Erawan Shrine, Bangkok, Thailand : Find latest reviews and deals, maps, photo at Yahoo Travel | Jim Thompson's House and Museum
Jim Thompson's House and Museum, Bangkok, Thailand : Find latest reviews and deals, maps, photo at Yahoo Travel | Wat Pho
Wat Pho, Bangkok, Thailand : Find latest reviews and deals, maps, photo at Yahoo Travel | Ancient City
Ancient City, Bangkok, Thailand : Find latest reviews and deals, maps, photo at Yahoo Travel |
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Spas and Well Being in Thailand
Thailand has long been a country where people come from all over the world to relax. Over the last decade an industry has developed that is about far more than lying on a beach on an idyllic island or watching a cascading waterfall in a national park. A decade ago spas were virtually unheard of. These days spa vacations are massively popular amongst those seeking to diminish wear and tear on their bodies and reduce the stress of their daily lives. |
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Thailand has been well placed to take its place in the vanguard of this explosion. With centuries of tradition in the healing arts and potential spa locations in the most beautiful places, the country has a massive advantage. If you factor into that equation the fact these can all come at a price that would be hard to match elsewhere, it is no surprise that Thailand is often the destination of choice for those seeking expert supervision to unwind.
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The aim of the spa is to spend time relaxing the mind and ridding the body of physical toxins.
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Spas are not something new. They were in existence 4000 years ago and both the ancient Greeks and the ancient Romans soaked, steamed and massaged each other on a regular basis. Thailand itself has a long tradition of massage. Wat Pho in Bangkok is home to one of the most respected massage schools in the world. Traditional massage is universal in Thailand.
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Spas vary. Destination spas are residential resorts where every hour of every day is related to treatment. These are the most intensive and also expensive kind of Spas. Hotel resort spas are primarily hotels but offer spa treatment in addition to the other hotel services. This allows the guest to mix everyday holiday activities with spa treatments as they wish. Day spas provide no accommodation but offer the full range of dedicated spa treatments. Health retreats tend to be more severe offering an almost medical approach, focusing on certain treatments. It is important to check what is on offer and what you want before starting treatment.
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Treatments are many and varied.
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Spa treatments incorporate traditional Thai massage but also add many treatments from elsewhere. Aromatherapy from Europe, shiatsu acupressure from Japan and ayuravedic oils from India are only some of the imported methods.
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Hydrotherapy involving saunas, jacuzzis and steam rooms where toxins can be sweated out and essential oils and herbs cleanse the sinuses and nasal passages are also a major part of the experience.
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The choice of treatments at spas in Thailand can actually be quite confusing and is growing all the time. In an effort to differentiate themselves from each other some spas are developing treatments that verge on the outlandish. Some will cover you in non edible chocolate, soak you in milk or baste you in fruit paste. You might be rubbed down with stones, seaweed or sand or marinated in mud to remove impurities. All these treatments are likely to be valid.
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In addition to cleansing your skin and toning your muscles most spas will also concentrate on diet and digestion. This can simply be a question of healthy eating and gentle detoxification using body masks and hydrotherapy techniques. It can also involve more severe techniques such as fasting with only fruit juice for sustenance and undergoing enemas to physically cleanse the digestion of toxins.
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In addition to physical relaxation and detoxification many spas lay on programs of meditation and light exercise to clear both the mind and the body at the same time.
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Every major resort area and major city in Thailand offer spas. In some places, such as Koh Samui or Phuket, the choices are enormous. One thing you can be sure of however. Growing competition keeps the quality very high only reinforcing Thailand's reputation as being one of the best spa destinations in the world.
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About The Author
Alex Smith maintains and manages the Cheap Thailand Travel website at http://www.cheapthaitravel.com - All of the materials on this site are the sole property and responsibility of Cheapthaitravel.com. This material may not be reproduced in any form without express written permission.
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