Wednesday, September 13, 2006

BeansTalk’s Swanya Review on insiderpages.com:

Best deal in town for a Thai massage. All therapists are actually Thai and the massage is authentic, thorough. Thai massage has been described as passive yoga. There's plenty of stretching and pressure point massage, similar to Shiatsu. You're taken to a curtained area where there is a bed on a platform. You're given a tank top and specially designed wide-legged capri cotton pants (they have a sewing shop in the back). The entire massage is done clothed and is thorough and can be very theraputic. You should feel comfortable to tell a therapist when the pressure is too firm, because it seems like they're used to working on those accustomed to massage. It's a very elegant atmosphere with quiet music and extremely nice therapists. The only complaint I would issue is for them to put a sign that says "Please turn off cel phones, all who enter into this restful place" (the people who Nextel are the worst, but a cel phone going off in a massage venue is just obnoxious).
Pros: Kind, considerate therapists, thorough massage, authentic Thai
Cons: Can be intimidating to those not accustomed to the stretching, exercise

www.swanyamassage.com 4324 Sepulveda Blvd.
Culver City, CA 90230 (310) 313-1699

About Thai Massage:

Thai Massage is itself sub-divided into traditional Thai massage and royal Thai massage. Traditional Thai massage is an extraordinary 2,500-year-old healing arts system based in Ayurvedic medicine, Buddhist spiritual practice, and yoga. More than just massage, Thai massage blends gentle rocking, rhythmic acupressure and deep assisted stretches to open, exercise and tone all the systems of the body. Done comfortably clothed on a floor mat, Thai massage feels as wonderful as it looks. Deeply therapeutic, fluid and meditative, Thai massage relaxes, refreshes and revitalizes, both practitioner and subject.

Thai massage is a combination of gentle rocking, range of motion, acupressure, reflexology, energy work and stretching - a form of passive yoga. Joints are loosened and opened through manipulation and peripheral stimulation, muscles are stretched, internal organs are toned, vitality is increased and a deep state of relaxation can be achieved. The work is very rhythmical and meditative, enabling both the client and practitioner to voyage together into deeper realms of consciousness.