Healing hands
Achieving balance and harmony is the main aim at Tauranga’s new Thai Touch.
Words Nicky Adams / Photos Jahl Marshall
Massage has been increasingly incorporated into the mainstream for both physical and mental wellbeing – a holistic approach to wellness, it is undeniably beneficial. I’ve personally been very slow off the starting block – my last massage was in Fiji many years ago and a virtual pummelling left me too winded to ask the lovely lady to ease off the pressure with her very strong hands; I learned part of the process is communicating what works for you.
Booking into the new Thai Touch in Elizabeth Street was quite a different experience, though. From the outset it was consultative, and having opted for a relaxing massage (rather than the popular injury-orientated targeted therapy) I was quick, when asked, to say that my preference was gentle – very gentle – applied pressure. Arriving at the brand-new studio felt almost like a destination spa experience. High ceilings lend a sense of luxury, the décor is authentic without feeling kitsch, and the hush straight away makes you want to melt into your chair. Moving from reception to the treatment area in fresh new slippers, the sparkling cleanliness is apparent, with the rooms an ambient but adjustable temperature, furnished with fresh towels and sheets, and low-level background music. Wanna, my masseuse, was perfection – friendly but so respectful; I felt totally at ease in her company, bonded by a silence that was golden rather than awkward.
Speaking with the owners, Orasa and Nigel, my experience was exactly what they have set out to achieve across each of their three studios (Mount, Bethlehem, and the latest in Tauranga). Orasa herself trained in Thailand at a massage school that taught an art that is over 2000 years old. Steeped in history, Thai massage is characterised by its energizing and vigorous processes. Drawing on ancient practices, massage and herbs are traditionally used for healing by treating muscle problems while clearing energy blockages and restoring balance. Falling into two different camps, one style of Thai massage concentrates on circulation and pressure points – known as a yoga massage. The other variety incorporates herbs by using a compress (or hot herb ball). At Thai Touch the massages follow a standardised process, apart from with the therapeutic massage where the therapist can address specific needs.
Orasa and Nigel have aimed to incorporate many authentic customs into their studios – from the greeting with rehydrating lemon water, to the herbal tea served afterwards. As Nigel points out, “The element of ritual is a key part, even down to the silent prayer, hands together, said at the start by the therapist unbeknownst to the client.” The therapists themselves are all Thai; Orasa and Nigel travel to Orasa’s homeland to interview experienced therapists with multiple years of commercial experience that they feel will fit into their spa family. The community aspect of this is very strong, with both relatives in, and an emotional attachment to Thailand, Orasa and Nigel love that they get to bridge the gap between the two countries and cultures in a positive and constructive way. With a team of 70 (that will rise to 80 over summer) everyone from the 35-40 therapists to the housekeeping staff that make up the whole team, are able to send money back to help their families – many of whom live in rural Thailand.
With the new salon Nigel believes their previous experience has culminated in what I consider to be exceptional premises. I was particularly struck by the high hygiene levels – always a priority for them, post-pandemic these meet stringent standards. Health concerns are taken very seriously (hence the in-house housekeeping for laundry). Indeed, Nigel mentions Bethlehem and the Mount have sterile air going through the air conditioning unit, while in Elizabeth Street fresh air is continuously vented through the building.
Here at Thai Touch, Nigel notes, “Relax and the healing can happen.” The aim was to achieve “a seamless experience – from walking in the front door into a tranquil oasis of relaxation and rejuvenation, with the whole environment a backdrop to a sense of trust in a place that is going to take care of you and your whole being.” From beginning to end there is an air of timelessness – always efficient, but not hurried. Nigel, himself an artist, has incorporated an art gallery to the side of the reception area, which will become a place where people can simply extend their stay in what he sees as a “conversational space.”
It is this strong alignment with the essence of Thai culture that makes the whole process feel so beautifully authentic, to the point where the treatments, in all their wonderful relaxing glory, feel a part of a wider holistic experience.