An Intensive Treatment for Deep Relief

Located in a roomy second floor space on Westwood Blvd., Thai Sabai is one of the relatively few places on the west side where you can get a traditional Thai massage without dropping day-spa dough.

For those who haven't yet experienced Thai massage, you're in for a treat. Sometimes called Thai yoga massage, this ancient treatment combines elements of acupressure, Hatha yoga and Ayurvedic medicine. The massage takes place on a padded mat on the floor, with the client dressed in a comfortable pair of shorts and a light shirt. Appropriate apparel can be provided at Thai Sabai if needed.

All of Thai Sabai's therapists have been trained in Thailand at the renowned Wat Pho College of Traditional Medicine. We were treated by senior masseuse Sasivipa, who has also trained as a nurse and midwife in Thailand. We were amazed at the strength of this tiny woman - 90 straight minutes of lifting, bending, stretching and massaging our body, and she barely broke a sweat. After she finished working each limb, it felt like it could simply melt into the ground. Sasivipa also spent a good deal of time on our chronically tight neck, shoulders and back - because Thai massage allows the therapist to position the client's body as needed, we've found that it's more effective in relieving deep-seated tension than table massage.

At the end of our treatment, we felt energized in much the same way we feel after a yoga class. We were encouraged to drink lots of water to aid the body in its post-massage detoxification.

Review originally published 7/21/2005.