Thai Massage Poses for Gym-Goers

Even if gym-goers are physically fit, they still need some R&R from time to time. Athletes need a special touch from a massage practitioner who understands the workings of the active body.

Those who work their hardest each time they exercise know all about aches and pains. Active muscles respond with soreness after working out, causing the need for soothing stretches to alleviate the damaged tissue. Thai Massage poses can help even the strongest of bodybuilders stretch out, but it’s important to ensure you’re using the right stretches.

Adapted Techniques for Different Lifestyles

The active and inactive body are very different. During athletic activity, muscles bunch up, and can only be straightened through some form of stretching. Active muscles are often free from movement-breaking adhesions, but instead have scar tissue, which requires deep and long stretches as well as significant massage techniques to relieve.

Experienced practitioners know exactly how to adapt their techniques based on the lifestyle of the recipient. Some can even tell how active a person is based on how their body feels. Aside from reading the tissues and their response, discussion is also key to determining the goals of any massage session and ensuring the practice is tailored exactly to the client’s needs.

Half Moon

For the half moon, the subject sits cross legged in front of the therapist. The practitioner supports and controls the stretch by bending the client’s arms over their head and moving them to one side, then to the other.

The pose is intended to stretch one side of the body while the other is fully supported. In this position, the stretch can be as deep as required to relax the muscles. It’s especially great for active people because it stimulates the production of synovial fluid, which is essential for a flexible spine.

Boat

In this pose, the recipient sits cross-legged with their arms behind them. The practitioner sits behind, holding their arms with their feet outstretched and pushing on the lower back.

This seated posture is an excellent way to counteract chest tension by opening the chest and extending the lumbar spine. It’s both beneficial and relaxing.

Fish

To perform the fish pose, the practitioner sits on the floor with their legs outstretched. The client sits with their own legs outstretched and leans back onto the practitioner’s feet, supporting their head with their hands and arching their body to feel the stretch deep in their mid- and upper back.

This pose uses gravity and the practitioner’s support to further open the chest and focus on thoracic spine extension, making it a fantastic way to stretch out the back in a controlled and supported way.

Thai Massage for Deep Relaxation and a Faster Recovery

Those who are big fans of the gym will find they are also big fans of the Navina Thai massage method, especially after trying these stretches. The lengthening and strengthening of the postures partners well with intensive gym work — counteracting negative effects like tension while building on strength and flexibility is precisely what a strong body needs.