Thai Retreats info
Northern Spa Therapies |
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Northern Thailand’s romantic landscape of misty hills, hill tribe people, and magnificent temples has made it a favorite holiday destination for both Thais and foreign visitors.The cool climate and charming northern Lanna culture makes it a great getaway from the heat of the central and southern regions. The Lanna culture is the most distinctive aspect of the North, and has its own unique peoples, history, architecture, style, food, and way of life. Lanna means ‘land of a million rice fields’ and is the name of an ancient kingdom that covered the area that is now northern Thailand and Myanmar. Lanna culture’s style and richness has a charm and mystique that distinguishes this region from the rest of the country; it is a very different experience from the cities and beaches of the central and southern regions, from cool mountain scenery to a rich and ancient civilization revolving around the fertile mountain land. Its peaceful environment and close-to-nature lifestyle makes the North and popular location for spa resorts, meditation retreats, and a healthy way of life. Naturally, northern spas and spa treatments reflect the influence of Lanna culture inspired by the ancient native health and healing traditions. Many local ingredients like rice, lemongrass, turmeric and prai that have been used by local people for centuries to nourish and rejuvenate the body.  It is here also that you can find therapies indigenous to the region and found nowhere else in Thailand. One of these is Yam Karng, a rare and ancient Lanna healing practice that was administered by folk healers for centuries.Usually performed outdoors, the masseur places his foot over a charcoal fire to warm it in preparation for a massage where another unique Lanna therapy is the ancient pressure point technique called Tok Sen in which the therapist taps a small wooden hammer all over the body along the energy meridian lines to release the body’s blocked energy. This treatment revitalizes and energizes the body. Other healing practices include a longstanding tradition of Thai herbal steam and heated herbal compress, which is found in all spas in the North. The Lanna culture also has a strong impact on the northern spa design, especially the architecture. One fabulous example is the Dheva Spa at the Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi in Chiang Mai; the spa complex is a replica of the Royal Palace in Mandalay and was completely hand carved in wood. Another example is The Spa at the Four Seasons Chiang Mai, inspired by the concept of a Thai temple. Further north in Chiang Rai, Anantara Resort Golden Triangle that features an Anantara Spa, is also inspired by Thai temple architecture. With so much to distinguish the northern spa from others, a spa treatment in a northern spa is more than just a relaxing massage; it is an essential part of the northern Thai cultural experience. |
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