The promise
To improve energy balances through Thai massage, reducing muscle tension and improving detoxification processes in the body.
The experience
The Namm spa at Dusit Thani has a simple and calming colour-scheme – white and blues with thin curtains to break up the spa into male and female sections.
On our visit we opt for the Thai Heritage package, comprising a combination of traditional Thai massage and aromatherapy treatments to ensure the ultimate in relaxation.
Thai massage employs a series of joint-cracking and stretching manoeuvers to limber up tired muscles. The treatment is two hours: one hour of oil-free massage and one hour of aromatherapy treatments.
To begin, we are instructed to change into a light linen pyjama outfit – loose trousers and a light top. We lie on the bed and the therapist begins kneading our muscles and putting pressure on tight spots with her strong hands. The massage progresses, and includes bending our joints to stretch them out, pulling our arms back to loosen our back and pressing into our shoulder blades with our arm crooked behind us. The therapist places one elbow on the side of our head, and one on our shoulder, and proceeds to separate the two – giving our neck a deep stretch in places we haven’t really felt before.
After this, we feel our blood pumping, distinctly more freely than we have for a long time. The therapist then asks us to remove the clothing to begin the aromatherapy.
It’s a relaxing contrast to the more therapeutic side of Thai massage – our limbs are still being pulled and twisted, but it’s far less emphatic. We feel more relaxed in the second half of the treatment, and where there were minor aches from all the stretching, our therapist now soothes us with gentle rubbing.
The results
It’s an energising finish – the perfect combination of remedial Thai stretching and cracking, as well as the soothing feeling of an oil massage.
The pros
The combination of Thai massage and aromatherapy makes for a very relaxing experience, with all the perks of Thai massage’s limbering and rejuvenating qualities.
The cons
The Thai massage is a little less relaxing than the conventional massage.
4/5
Dhs850 for 120 minutes, Open daily 1pm-10pm, Dusit Thani Abu Dhabi, Muroor Road (02 698 8888).
