Pea, who is a trained massage therapist herself, gets a full-body Thai and Swedish combination massage in Chiang Mai and narrates the entire session, explaining each technique, why it works, and sharing insider tips from the profession. She went because her thighs were sore from riding an elephant the previous day.
Background on the two massage traditions
- Thai massage originated in India, has been around thousands of years, uses stretching moves to improve energy flow, and can reduce headaches, increase flexibility, and relieve joint stiffness and pain
- Swedish massage uses long flowing strokes, focuses on kneading soft tissue and increasing blood flow — good for heart, circulation, and joint pain
- Pea's therapist used a combination of both techniques
Detailed technique breakdown as the massage progresses
- Therapist starts with pressure on nerve clusters in the feet, legs, glutes, and spine
- Pea told her about sore thighs and the therapist spent extra time warming up the area — Pea notes that a good therapist listens to what's bothering you
- Thai technique: therapist uses body weight to apply pressure — sometimes with knees, elbows, or feet; pressure on a muscle increases blood flow and prevents contraction so it's easier to manipulate
- Pea could feel her muscles releasing under the therapist's weight
- Spine work: most massages devote heavy attention to the spine because many major muscle groups attach there; some therapists spend half the session on the spine alone
- Swedish technique "effleurage": a long deep stroke using the flat of the hand with pressure concentrated in the fingertips — one of the most common strokes and one of Pea's favorites
- Lower back carries a lot of stress and pain; therapists apply pressure with the palms of their hands
- Massage therapists split the body into halves and mirror whatever they do on one side to the other
Pro tips from a massage therapist
- Never break contact with your client — when you touch them again it can make them jump, which breaks the relaxation you're trying to achieve
- Therapists can read your body to gauge if pressure is correct — by how you tense up or by the sounds you make
- Speak up during a massage: say "that's too hard" or "oh my gosh that feels great" — therapists use those signals to calibrate
- As for chatting: therapists let you lead; if you're talkative they'll talk, if not they can stay silent — Pea says she can be silent for an hour "if I really, really try hard"
Continued technique walkthrough
- Neck and upper back: the shoulder blades (scapula) concentrate the most upper-back tension; thumbs are the most effective tool for getting in and breaking up knots
- Upper arms, forearms, elbows, wrists, palms, and fingers all get pressure applied
- Therapist revisits certain spots: first pass warms them up and relaxes them, second or third pass allows going deep until knots are gone
- Legs and feet: "If you've been standing all day or riding an elephant, there's nothing better"; long powerful strokes on legs; heel massage and Achilles attention
- Butt massage: Pea can't show it on camera but assures viewers "you have to trust me when I tell you how great it feels along with my soft thighs"
- "Petrissage" technique: kneading tissue like dough
- Forearms for broad pressure on large areas, fingertips for concentrated pressure
- Process repeated for the other side of the body
Turning over (face up)
- Pea notes sinuses start to clear — "one thing I don't like about a massage: when you're face down you get all stuffy"
- Quadriceps: the largest muscle mass in the body, prone to injury, located in the front of the thigh
- Feet: 26 bones and over 100 muscles; foot massage is one of the most requested types — rows of foot massage places line the streets in Thailand, even in outdoor markets
- Thigh massage for her elephant-riding soreness — "just what the doctor ordered"
How therapists handle male arousal
- Pea addresses the question directly: "Yes, we notice it but we just ignore it until it goes away"
- Says it's natural for that to happen when your body is being touched and it's "no big deal"
- Advises men not to be embarrassed
Remaining areas
- Upper arms: thumbs penetrating small spots from shoulders to fingertips
- Stomach: often skipped by therapists, but massaging the abdomen helps with digestion; always done in a clockwise direction (Pea was taught the same way but has "no idea why")
- Pectoral muscles: palms of hands on the chest
- Head and face massage: very soothing, relaxes facial muscles — Pea jokes "I do an awful lot of smiling and laughing so I'm sure I needed it"
- Seated position: upper back and neck massaged from a different angle, which feels completely new even on the same area
Thai stretching and rocking techniques to close
Based on the concept of energy lines or "sen" — channels of life force flowing through the body
By stretching and applying pressure in the right places, these channels are supposed to become unblocked
Pea is skeptical of the science ("I'm not so sure about the science behind that idea") but says "it does feel great to have your body stretched like that after your muscles have been relaxed the Swedish way"
Pea's reaction afterward: "That was amazing... I feel like just floating out of here, going home and going to bed. Unfortunately I have to go home and edit this video."
Ends with a comedy bit where an unseen character threatens Pea to stop telling Western viewers the truth about the Philippines, and Pea sarcastically recants: "Everything I've been telling you is a lie, things are just perfect here"