Kunlarat Massage

We are located on the main shopping street of Chiang Mai – Chiang Khlan Road, near the Night Bazaar, Shangri-La Hotel, and The Astra Condo

💢 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐍𝐚𝐠𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐁𝐞𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐁𝐥𝐚𝐝𝐞? 𝐋𝐞𝐭’𝐬 𝐌𝐞𝐥𝐭 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐜𝐥𝐞 𝐊𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐬 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐲!

Have you ever felt a tight, painful spot under or around your shoulder blade (scapula) that just won’t go away? You’re definitely not alone.

🦴 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐚 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤?

The scapula is one of the busiest areas in the upper body — seventeen different muscles attach to it. These muscles help you lift, reach, twist, and move your arms throughout the day. Because so many muscle groups overlap here, this area easily becomes overloaded with tension.

💻 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐝𝐨 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐜𝐥𝐞 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞?

Just like “tech neck,” shoulder blade pain is often a result of our modern sedentary lifestyle. Sitting at a computer for hours, hunching over a desk, or constantly looking down at a phone forces the body into unnatural posture patterns.

Your shoulders round forward, while the muscles around the shoulder blades stay stretched, strained, and overworked for long periods of time.

Over time, poor circulation and constant tension can cause small areas of muscle fibers to remain stuck in a tight, contracted state. This creates what people commonly call a “muscle knot.”

⚠️ 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐨𝐧 𝐬𝐲𝐦𝐩𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐝𝐞:

🔹 A deep, dull ache around the shoulder blade
🔹 A tender spot that hurts when pressed
🔹 Stiffness when rolling the shoulders or reaching overhead
🔹 Pain that radiates into the neck or upper back

✨ 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐧𝐞𝐰𝐬: 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞.

Unlike more serious neurological conditions such as pinched nerves or neuropathy, muscle knots are usually muscular tension problems that respond very well to proper manual therapy.

🎾 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟-𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐨𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧’𝐭 𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡

Many people try using a tennis ball against the wall for relief. While this can temporarily reduce discomfort, it often lacks the precision needed to reach the deeper muscle layers where chronic tension builds up.

An experienced massage therapist can identify the exact areas of restriction and apply targeted pressure to help restore circulation, release tension, and improve mobility in the surrounding muscles.

🛠️ 𝐂𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡

Depending on the severity of the pain, different therapeutic techniques may be more effective.

🌿 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐜𝐮𝐭𝐞 𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐩 𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐧: 𝐇𝐨𝐭 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐢 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬

When pain is intense, the surrounding muscles are often highly sensitive and protective. In this stage, aggressive deep pressure may cause the muscles to tighten even more.

A hot herbal compress is often the better starting point. The moist heat helps increase circulation, relax tight tissue, and prepare the area for gentler manual work.

💆 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐜𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐜 𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐫 𝐝𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐧: 𝐃𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐓𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐞

If the discomfort feels more like constant tightness or stiffness rather than sharp pain, deep tissue massage is usually the most effective approach.

Slow, focused pressure helps release deeper muscle tension, improve blood flow, and restore normal movement patterns in the shoulder and upper back.

📅 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐬𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐮𝐬𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐞𝐝?

Because tension caused by sedentary work develops gradually over months or years, it rarely disappears after a single session.

✅ Mild or recent tension often improves significantly within 1–2 sessions

✅ Chronic stiffness and long-term muscle tightness may require 3–5 sessions spaced several days apart for more complete recovery and lasting relief

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭'𝐬 𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐠 𝐌𝐚𝐢 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐓𝐰𝐨 𝐖𝐞𝐞𝐤𝐬 (𝐈𝐈): 𝐁𝐮𝐝𝐝𝐡𝐚 𝐃𝐚𝐲 (𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐤𝐡𝐚 𝐁𝐮𝐜𝐡𝐚)

🪷 𝐁𝐮𝐝𝐝𝐡𝐚 𝐃𝐚𝐲 (𝘝𝘪𝘴𝘢𝘬𝘩𝘢 𝘉𝘶𝘤𝘩𝘢)

Every year, on the full moon of the sixth lunar month, Thailand and other Southeast Asian countries celebrate the most important Buddhist holiday — Buddha Day, or 𝘝𝘪𝘴𝘢𝘬𝘩𝘢 𝘉𝘶𝘤𝘩𝘢. It commemorates three key events in the life of Gautama Buddha: his birth, enlightenment, and passing.

In 2026, Visakha Bucha falls on Sunday, May 31.

🕯️ 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 (𝘞𝘪𝘢𝘯 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘢𝘯)

The main ceremony of this holiday is called 𝘞𝘪𝘢𝘯 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘢𝘯 in Thai. After sunset, people walk clockwise around the main hall of the temple three times, holding a candle, three incense sticks, and a lotus flower. The number "three" represents the Three Jewels of Buddhism — the Buddha, the Dhamma (his teaching), and the Sangha (the monastic community) — as well as the three key events in the Buddha's life mentioned above.

You can take part in this peaceful and slightly mystical ceremony at any Thai temple. However, we recommend choosing a large and well-known one — because here, unlike most public gatherings, a crowd works for the atmosphere, not against it. Hundreds of people walking silently through the darkness with flickering candles create a feeling that simply cannot arise in a small temple.

In Chiang Mai, the most powerful Wian Thian atmosphere is at Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, the holiest and most iconic Buddhist temple in northern Thailand, where thousands of people gather.

🏔️ 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐬𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭 (𝘛𝘪𝘦𝘸 𝘒𝘩𝘶𝘦𝘯 𝘋𝘰𝘪)

Every year, on the evening and night before Visakha Bucha, a mass pilgrimage takes place in Chiang Mai up the sacred mountain of Doi Suthep. On May 30, starting at around 4:00 PM, the road up the mountain will be closed to private vehicles from the Kruba Srivichai Monument (just past the Zoo and the main songthaew parking area).

Thousands of people will make their way on foot up the winding mountain road to Wat Doi Suthep, to perform Wian Thian around the central golden chedi (stupa) containing relics of the Buddha.

The distance from the Kruba Srivichai Monument to the temple is 11 kilometres, with an elevation gain of approximately 700 metres. Although the road winds gradually upward, some sections feel noticeably steeper, especially near the top. At the very end, you'll also climb the final 306 steps of the Naga staircase leading directly to the golden stupa. Average walking time is around 3 hours.

✨ 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐭𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞

The atmosphere of the entire procession is extraordinary: night, mountains, the lights of Chiang Mai far below, the brilliantly lit temple at the summit, and a long chain of people with torches and phones stretching up the serpentine road. This ascent is a symbol of carrying the Dhamma (the Buddha's teaching) toward the light. You are literally walking through darkness toward a sacred relic at the top — which is why the pilgrimage peaks after nightfall.

🚶 𝐎𝐧 𝐅𝐨𝐨𝐭 𝐨𝐫 𝐛𝐲 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭?

Not everyone can make the journey on foot, and that's perfectly fine. Many people use the red 𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘦𝘸𝘴 that run between the base of the mountain and Wat Doi Suthep throughout the night (fare: 50 baht). For Thais, the ascent is not an endurance contest — it is preparation of the mind for Wian Thian.

If someone walks up the mountain but spends the whole way cursing the steep slope, fuming about blisters, and elbowing their neighbors — the good karma earned from that trek will be minimal. Physical hardship without the right state of mind does not improve one's merit. Even someone who rode the songthaew, but entered the temple with a completely clear and calm mind, focused on the Buddha's teaching, and sincerely performed Wian Thian — their spiritual merit will be far greater.

🌟 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭 𝐚𝐭 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭?

Not only Wian Thian. People rest — sitting in the temple grounds, listening to sermons, meditating, chatting, filming and editing videos, eating what they've brought, and gazing out over the lights of Chiang Mai below. Many stay until morning to take part in the dawn rituals. A reminder: alcohol is strictly prohibited during Visakha Bucha, and especially on temple grounds — so no cold beer after the climb! 🙂

There is usually no crushing crowd. Volunteers and temple staff manage the flow of arrivals: where to make offerings, where to rest, where to join the chedi procession. The open terraces and courtyards around the temple help distribute the crowd. However, after midnight, long queues for the songthaews back down are inevitable.

🎒 𝐈𝐟 𝐘𝐨𝐮'𝐫𝐞 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐉𝐨𝐢𝐧

Wear appropriate clothing (nothing that emphasises sexuality) in light colours, and comfortable shoes. Bring a light rain jacket, a good power bank, a torch, and a bottle of water. There's no need to carry too much food or water — rest stops with free food, water, toilets, and medical assistance are set up every few kilometres along the route.

This food and drink is not simply a "free buffet" — it is part of another Thai tradition called 𝘙𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘵𝘩ā𝘯. Any family, organisation, or business can set up their own table and offer whatever they wish to share. This is not a commercial service, but a way of accumulating merit in the Thai Buddhist tradition. Those who receive should respond with politeness, gratitude, and respect.

📖 In the next post, I'll go into detail about the unwritten rules of etiquette that Thais observe at Rongthān.

𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐓𝐢𝐩 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐢 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐢𝐬𝐭? 👇

❓To tip or not to tip in Thailand? This question has sparked many debates and generated plenty of opposing opinions. The answer often depends on which country the person answering comes from.

🇺🇸 In the US, tipping is mandatory and is sometimes even added to the bill, so Americans tend to tip Thai service workers in all situations - often with overly generous amounts that aren't always deserved.

🇨🇳 Many Chinese, on the other hand, believe they should always pay only the agreed amount, even if the Thai staff worked very hard to please them.

🇯🇵 The Japanese, interestingly, have a reputation in Thailand for being generous customers - even though back in Japan, offering money above the agreed price is perceived as a demonstration that you consider yourself "superior" and are essentially "giving alms," which Japanese service workers find offensive (I've been to Japan myself).

🇹🇭 😍 🇹🇭 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐢 𝐏𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐃𝐨

There is no obligatory tipping culture in Thailand. But there is a broader phenomenon that might be called an "etiquette of gratitude" - or even an "etiquette of generosity."

❤️The thing is, in Thai culture money is not considered "dirty" or demeaning to the recipient. It is seen as a form of energy, a manifestation of 𝘯𝘢𝘢𝘮 𝘫𝘢𝘪 ("water of the heart" - heartfelt kindness, good for one's karma). Giving a small sum of money to someone you care about or who has done something good for you is roughly as natural as smiling and saying a few words of thanks.

🥰 So when Thai people of even modest means experience 𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘶𝘬 (pleasure, joy) from "exclusive" service - from a taxi driver, a waitress, or a massage therapist - they will often leave a small tip of 20–50 baht. Twenty baht because that's the smallest banknote. Giving coins is also considered "alms-giving" by Thai standards - unless it's simply change that wasn't worth collecting.

😐But if the staff mechanically did their job and nothing more, and any special expressions of gratitude (words, smiles, the 𝘸𝘢𝘪 gesture with hands pressed together at the chest) would feel out of place, then no tip is given. For instance, tips are not left at Thai street restaurants, or when a taxi driver simply drove you to your destination in silence.

☹️Naturally, no tip is given if the work was done poorly and the client is left in a bad mood. This happens in Thailand too, and not infrequently. A Thai client will most likely not voice any complaints - they'll simply pay the bill in silence, leave no tip, and make their 𝘸𝘢𝘪 particularly cold. No 𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘶𝘬 was produced in their soul, so there's nothing to give back. Everyone understands everything without a word being said.

🇹🇭 💸 🙏 𝐃𝐨 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐢 𝐏𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐓𝐢𝐩 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐞?

Thai massage - foot massage in particular - is part of everyday Thai life. But massage is a service where quality varies enormously. A massage can be performed with real intensity and tailored to the client's needs, or it can be done half-heartedly and sloppily. Unfortunately, in Thailand as elsewhere, there are a lot of random, unprofessional people working in this field.

Thais generally know the difference between a good massage and a bad one, and they try to go to specific therapists they've vetted themselves. Those regular therapists always receive a reasonable tip.

⚠️ To repeat: this tip is not an obligation — it's an assessment of the quality of work, rather like a "rate our service" button on a terminal with 3–5 smiley-face options.

Let's look in more detail at what different tip amounts communicate.

🙄 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐢 𝐂𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐌𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐚 𝐂𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐀𝐦𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭

0️⃣ (No tip): "𝘐'𝘮 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘺. 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘮𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘱𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘴 𝘥𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘱𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘴, 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘬𝘦𝘱𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘵 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘴 𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘯𝘰 𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘢 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘱𝘶𝘵 𝘢 𝘥𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘬 𝘰𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘯𝘦𝘤𝘬. 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘳, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘢𝘣𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬".

2️⃣0️⃣ baht: "𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯'𝘵 𝘴𝘢𝘺 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨, 𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘩. 𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘯𝘰 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘤 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘴. 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘶𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 "𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘮." 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘐 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘨𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘨𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘸𝘦𝘥 𝘷𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺. 𝘐 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴𝘯'𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘤𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰𝘥𝘢𝘺, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐 𝘸𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵 — 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘨𝘺? 𝘐 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘣𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘺 𝘸𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬."

5️⃣0️⃣ baht: "𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘮𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘨𝘦! 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘯 𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘥, 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘩𝘯𝘪𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘴, 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘱𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘭𝘰𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘨𝘺. 𝘐 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯! 𝘠𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘮𝘺 "𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵"! 𝘐𝘧 𝘐'𝘮 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘢 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯, 𝘐'𝘭𝘭 𝘥𝘦𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬. 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶!"

1️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ baht: "𝘕𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭 𝘴𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭! 𝘐 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘧𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘴𝘭𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘥𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘴. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘐 𝘸𝘰𝘬𝘦 𝘶𝘱, 𝘐 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘺 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘯𝘰 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘶𝘳𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘮𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘺! 𝘐𝘴 𝘪𝘵 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘰𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘸?"

1️⃣0️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ baht: "𝘐 𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘈𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘢 𝘺𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘥𝘢𝘺. 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘮𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥. 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘪𝘯 𝘈𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘺? 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦? 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘐 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦! 𝘐 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘤𝘬. 𝘞𝘩𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘰𝘰 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩?"

All figures are given for a standard one-hour Thai massage costing 250–350 baht at a mid-range massage salon in Chiang Mai — that is, a place like mine. For Bangkok, multiply these amounts by one and a half; for the Thai countryside, divide by one and a half (but never tip less than 20 baht!).

❌ 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐃𝐨 𝐈𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐃𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐚 𝐓𝐢𝐩

🫰 In tourist areas, massage therapists often pressure clients for tips. But from the perspective of Thai etiquette, reminding a client about a tip is simply not done! You are supposed to wait patiently for the client to assess your work themselves — and act as though it makes no difference to you whether you receive a tip or not.

It is even more unacceptable for a client to have given a tip and for the therapist to then make it obvious through her expression that it wasn't enough — unless it was coins. Coins are worse than giving nothing at all. They say: "This is what your work is actually worth."

📌 My advice: if a therapist starts asking for "tips! tips!" — don't fall for this manipulation. It is a violation of unspoken etiquette. Put on your best poker face. Signal that the massage was fine, but that at this particular moment you are slightly disappointed, and your sanuk has diminished a little.

Give exactly as much as is appropriate for the situation, and not a baht more. If the massage was genuinely good, then in Chiang Mai — where an hour of Thai massage costs roughly 300–400 baht — that would be 50–100 baht.

But if you felt genuine discomfort from being pressured for a tip, don't hesitate to mention it in a Google Maps review. Staff should not behave this way. It's bad for business, because the client will never come back. I had to let go of a massage therapist once when this behavior was noticed on several occasions.

Kunlarat Kongchan,
the owner and manager

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭'𝐬 𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐠 𝐌𝐚𝐢 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐓𝐰𝐨 𝐖𝐞𝐞𝐤𝐬: 𝐓𝐰𝐨 𝐒𝐚𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐅𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐬

About a month after the celebration of the Thai New Year (Songkran), Chiang Mai enters another festive season. In late May and early June, the city celebrates two major religious events: the local Inthakin Festival, and the nationwide Buddhist holiday Visakha Bucha Day, which in Chiang Mai is accompanied by the traditional overnight pilgrimage up Doi Suthep, known as Tiew Khuen Doi.

Although many Thai people themselves perceive these two celebrations as part of a single season of sacred merit-making ceremonies marking the beginning of the rainy season, they actually have different origins. Even their dates are calculated differently.

Visakha Bucha is always tied to the full moon of the sixth lunar month, while the Inthakin Festival is determined according to separate northern Thai (Lanna) calendrical traditions. Because of this, the dates of the two festivals may partially overlap, follow one another directly, or sometimes coincide almost completely.

🗓️ In 2026, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙄𝙣𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙠𝙞𝙣 𝙁𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙖𝙡 takes place from 13 to 19 May, while 𝙑𝙞𝙨𝙖𝙠𝙝𝙖 𝘽𝙪𝙘𝙝𝙖 𝘿𝙖𝙮 falls on 31 May.

In any case, for visitors who happen to be in Chiang Mai during this period, these are among the most genuinely local and spiritually meaningful events you can experience anywhere in northern Thailand.

So let’s take a closer look at what these festivals are, how they differ, and how you can take part in them. We’ll begin with 🌸 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙄𝙣𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙠𝙞𝙣 𝙁𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙖𝙡.

💡𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈𝐬 𝐒𝐚𝐨 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧?

In Thailand, every city has a sacred pillar regarded as its spiritual center and protective heart. In Chiang Mai and other cities of northern Thailand, these pillars are locally known as Sao Inthakin.

The word Inthakin comes from the ancient Indian term Indakhila — “the Pillar of Indra.” In Hindu and Buddhist cosmology, Indra is the king of the gods. The Thai word sao simply means “pillar” or “column,” specifying that this refers to a physical sacred pillar, while Inthakin is its holy name — the pillar bestowed by Indra himself.

📍𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐈𝐬 𝐒𝐚𝐨 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧 𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐠 𝐌𝐚𝐢?

According to tradition, when King Mangrai founded Chiang Mai in 1296, the city pillar was placed in a temple called Wat Inthakin — on the site where Wat Sadeu Muang stands today, near the Three Kings Monument.

During the period of Burmese rule, Chiang Mai fell into decline, and the city pillar was eventually buried beneath the ruins of Wat Inthakin. In 1800, after the Lanna Kingdom regained its independence and the city began to revive, the pillar was rediscovered by order of King Chao Kawila.

It was then moved to a specially constructed shrine building known as the Viharn Sao Inthakin, located within the grounds of Wat Chedi Luang. On the original site of Wat Inthakin, Wat Sadeu Muang was later built — a temple whose name literally means “the navel of the city.”

Nowadays, both temples are closely associated with the annual celebration honoring the sacred pillar - the Inthakin Festival.

🙏 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐬 𝐃𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥?

Once a year, the pillar becomes the center of the city's ritual life — for seven days. On the opening and closing days, official religious ceremonies are held with the participation of senior monks, government officials, and representatives of Chiang Mai province and municipality, followed by ceremonial processions through the Old City.

Throughout all seven days, the Viharn Sao Inthakin remains open for public worship from morning until evening. Worshippers carry traditional Lanna offering sets known as khan dok, typically consisting of white and yellow flowers, candles, incense sticks, banana-leaf arrangements (bai sri), and sometimes sheets of silver or gold foil. These offerings are placed at the base of the pillar shrine.

Buddhist monks conduct chanting ceremonies at regular intervals throughout the day, beginning around 8 a.m. and continuing until approximately 5 p.m. The sound of continuous Pali chanting forms a constant spiritual backdrop inside the viharn.

Each evening, cultural performances take place in the temple courtyard and surrounding festival grounds. These include traditional Lanna dances, northern Thai folk music, classical instrumental ensembles, and theatrical performances based on Lanna legends.

Traditionally, these performances are intended not only to entertain visitors, but also to honor and delight the spirit of the city pillar itself — reflecting the ancient belief that offerings of beauty, music, and art strengthen the sacred bond protecting the city.

😊 𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐢𝐭?

The festival is a genuine religious ceremony — but yes, you're welcome to join. Dress modestly (temple rules apply), bring flowers if you'd like to make an offering, and simply follow what others do. The evening cultural performances are a good entry point if you're not sure where to start.

𝙊𝙣𝙚 𝙘𝙖𝙫𝙚𝙖𝙩: the rainy season has its own plans. The forecast is not encouraging — though praying for the city's protection from the elements seems entirely appropriate given the occasion.

𝐈𝐬 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐢 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐥? 𝟓 𝐒𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐚 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 👍

A traditional Thai massage is a "must-do" experience for anyone visiting Thailand. However, in popular tourist areas, the quality of the massage is often quite low. Many clients can feel that something isn't right, but they often struggle to explain exactly what they find unsatisfying about the experience. 🙄

To help you navigate your next visit, we have put together a guide on how to determine if your therapist is providing a truly high-quality, professional treatment.

🚀 The essence of Thai massage lies in the fact that, through a combination of techniques — pressure and release, stretching and bending — it stimulates blood circulation and lymphatic drainage throughout the entire body: both in areas where blood and lymph typically stagnate and in distant regions of the brain. As a result, for some time after a Thai massage, the client often feels “renewed” and “full of vital energy.”

💪 In deep tissue massage and other therapeutic or sports massage techniques, circulation is typically stimulated only in a specific area rather than throughout the entire body. Western-style oil massage mainly promotes superficial relaxation. After Chinese reflexology massage session, the client may also feel an “energy boost,” but the physiological mechanism is fundamentally different: specific nerve endings and energetic pathways in the body are stimulated through precise point-based work.

🧘Traditional Thai massage traces its lineage to Indian yoga, though it has moved far beyond its classical roots to become something entirely its own. In both yoga and Thai massage, the key condition for this kind of “whole-body energetic activation” is deep relaxation of the muscles and nervous system — a light trance-like state known in science as the parasympathetic response. 🧠 Yogis achieve this state through breathing techniques and meditation. Thai massage uses its own methods to induce it.

👇 𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝟓 𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐢 𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲:

1️⃣ 𝐒𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞

In the context of this “trance-like” state, external distractions are undesirable. If therapists are chatting or laughing with each other, they pull you out of the parasympathetic state. It is acceptable for the therapist to occasionally ask whether the pressure is comfortable, but if it is obvious that you have drifted into a drowsy, deeply relaxed state, you should not be disturbed by unnecessary conversation.

2️⃣ 𝐀𝐬𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞

A proper Thai massage follows a clear progression: feet → legs → back → shoulders → head. Up to 50–70% of the session should focus on the legs. To “drive” blood toward the brain, the “gates” below must first be opened. If the therapist moves to the back after only 10 minutes — or worse, starts with the neck or shoulders without a specific request from you — they are simply rubbing muscles rather than performing authentic Thai massage.

3️⃣ 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐑𝐡𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐦

The therapist’s movements should be deep, slow, and rhythmic, like the ticking of a clock or the swinging of a pendulum. If the movements are abrupt, irregular, or if the therapist is constantly distracted by a phone or clock, your heart rhythm never truly slows down. A high-quality massage feels like an uninterrupted “flow,” where one wave-like movement naturally transitions into the next. You should feel the therapist’s hands on your body every second. Even when changing position or reaching for oil, one hand should remain in contact with you.

4️⃣ 𝐀𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧

A skilled therapist does not simply massage evenly across the body. You should feel as though their fingers are periodically “searching” for specific points and pausing there briefly. This is not just ordinary pressure — it resembles the “Blood Stop” technique, where major arteries are gently compressed for a few moments to slow blood flow. Upon release, a “pinched hose effect” occurs, creating a wave of warmth moving toward the limbs. If you feel no warmth, the therapist either failed to locate the correct point or applied pressure too weakly or inaccurately.

5️⃣ 𝐄𝐮𝐩𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐚

💡 If the therapist has correctly “driven” blood from the feet toward the head during the session, you should experience a feeling of mental clarity at the end. You rise from the mat feeling as though your body has become “longer,” and your thoughts more organized. You feel an urge to move, walk, create, or explore. The world around you may even appear sharper and more vivid. This happens because of the increased flow of oxygen-rich blood to the occipital regions of the brain and improved microcirculation around the eyes.

In yoga, this state is known as 𝒄𝒉𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒂 𝒗𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒊 𝒏𝒊𝒓𝒐𝒅𝒉𝒂 — the quieting of mental fluctuations. Because the therapist has effectively “worked through” your body for you through stretching and pressure, the brain receives a level of energetic resources that, in ordinary life, is usually accessible only after hours of meditation or intense physical training.

If, after leaving the massage studio, the world outside seems more colorful and the air somehow feels fresher — congratulations, you have experienced a real Thai massage!

***

⚡In these photos, I’m seen as a client of therapist On, but this isn't just a staged shoot. I make it a point to get on the mat two or three times a week—both for my own energy boost and to personally ensure our team’s techniques remain precise and professional. 🙂

Kunlarat Kongchan, the owner and manager of Kunlarat Massage

𝐋𝐚𝐭𝐚 from the USA 🇺🇸 left the review on Google Maps:

Having tried 10+ massages parlors in Thailand, I can say from experience this is one of the best.

🧠 Technique: I’ve had two of their skilled therapists who adjusted pressure and technique to my needs with one focused on relaxation and the other on deep tissue recovery.

🌿 My Experience: My Thai massage with B combined stretching, trigger point work, and massage in order to help my body recover from several days of Muay Thai training. She released knots, fascia and left me feeling lighter

⚡ Environment: The staff seemed to genuinely enjoy their work, which gave the whole place a welcoming, positive energy.

Whether you want real bodywork or just relaxation, this place has it. I’ll definitely be back.

___________________

Thank you for taking the time to write such a detailed review, Lata! 🙏You’ve clearly experienced many massage places in Thailand and beyond, so praise like this means even more to us.

We’re happy you noticed that every session is adapted to what you need on the day — recovery after Muay Thai, deeper work, or simply a chance to relax.

And thank you for noticing the mood of the team. Technique is one part of the experience — the energy of the place is another.

We always enjoy seeing you again, Lata, and we’ll look forward to your next visit 😊

Send a message to learn more

𝐏𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐍𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐞𝐜𝐤: 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐍𝐞𝐜𝐤 𝐏𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐈𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐚𝐦𝐞 (𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝟐)

Neck pain can have many causes. In most cases, it comes from muscle tension, joint stiffness, poor posture, stress, or overuse. These problems can be painful and frustrating, but they often respond well to proper massage and bodywork.

However, some cases of neck pain are different.

Sometimes the real source of pain is an irritated or compressed nerve in the cervical spine (the neck vertebrae). In these cases, symptoms may be felt not only in the neck — but also in the head, shoulder, arm, or hand.

💡 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐂𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐀 𝐏𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐍𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐞𝐜𝐤?

🔹 Herniated or bulging disc
🔹 Cervical spondylosis (age-related wear and tear)
🔹 Bone spurs narrowing the nerve space
🔹 Inflammation around the nerve root
🔹 Degenerative changes in the cervical joints

⚠️ 𝐒𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐬 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈𝐭 𝐌𝐚𝐲 𝐁𝐞 𝐍𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞-𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝

🔹 Tingling or numbness in the arm or hand
🔹 Pain traveling into the shoulder or down the arm
🔹 Weak grip strength
🔹 Difficulty turning the head normally
🔹 Dizziness or feeling off-balance
🔹 Symptoms that do not improve with rest

📍 𝐓𝐰𝐨 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐨𝐧 𝐏𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐬

1️⃣ Occipital Neuralgia
When upper cervical nerves become irritated, pain may travel upward into the head.

🔹 Sharp or stabbing pain at the base of the skull
🔹 Tender scalp
🔹 Pain radiating to the temple, forehead, or behind the eye

2️⃣ Cervical Radiculopathy
When a lower cervical nerve root is compressed, pain often travels downward.

🔹 Neck pain with shoulder pain
🔹 Tingling in fingers
🔹 Arm weakness
🔹 Pain radiating into the wrist or hand

💆 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐃𝐨 𝐈𝐟 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐒𝐮𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐈𝐭?

The most important rule is:

Diagnosis first, massage later.

Strong neck massage done without proper assessment may aggravate symptoms, especially if there is active nerve inflammation, disc herniation, or significant compression.

🔹 Recommended first step: consult a qualified professional such as an orthopedic doctor, neurologist, physiotherapist, or sports medicine specialist.

They may assess:

🔹 Reflexes
🔹 Arm strength
🔹 Sensation changes
🔹 Neck mobility
🔹 Which nerve root may be involved

Sometimes imaging such as MRI or X-ray may be recommended.

🔹 Common conservative treatment may include:

Anti-inflammatory medication (when prescribed)
Pain relief medication
Physical therapy
Mobility exercises
Posture correction
Nerve gliding exercises
Neck stabilization work

🔹 At home (if symptoms are mild):

Avoid sudden neck movements
Limit long periods looking down at the phone
Use good neck support during sleep
Take short walks
Maintain neutral posture

💆 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐇𝐞𝐥𝐩?

Usually after professional assessment and outside the acute phase.

Gentle work for surrounding muscles — upper back, shoulders, chest, and supportive soft tissue care — may be helpful.

Deep pressure directly into a painful neck segment is not always appropriate.

🚨 𝐒𝐞𝐞𝐤 𝐌𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐨𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐈𝐟:

🔹 Arm weakness is worsening
🔹 You drop objects unexpectedly
🔹 Constant numbness develops
🔹 Walking or coordination changes
🔹 Symptoms begin after injury
🔹 Severe pain does not ease

Sometimes the safest treatment starts with understanding the true cause of the pain.

In our next post, we’ll explore pinched nerves in the lower back — including sciatica and disc-related nerve pain.