The technique that Thai massage practitioners use is very different from what people in the West may be accustomed to. Unlike Swedish or shiatsu massage techniques, in which a person passively lies on a bed, the client lies on the floor and participates more actively in the massage. However, a Thai Massage practice can be on the table, too.

What’s better – a floor mat or a table for Thai Massage?

Benefits of doing Thai Massage on the floor

• The therapist can use your body weight much more effectively because you can get right on top of a client.
• The client has a much bigger support surface on a floor mat than on a table where arms and legs have to be kept close to the body so that they don’t slide off the table.
• It is easier for the therapist to move clients around on a floor mat. This is less disruptive for the client, and it flows much better.
• Unlike on a table, the therapist can use all Thai Massage techniques on a floor mat. There are some techniques which are very difficult or impossible to do on a table.
• The therapist has a better flow on the floor because he can easily move around the client without losing body contact.

Good reasons for working on a table

• The therapist can combine Thai Massage techniques with other massage styles which are done on a table – like you mix in some Thai Massage moves with your Swedish massage.
• It works best when having clients who are so elderly or in such bad shape that it is really difficult to get them onto the floor.
• The therapist can use a table as a way to gradually introduce Thai Massage to clients without starting them out on a full-blown Thai Massage session.