A good Thai massage does not begin on the mat — it begins a few hours earlier, in small preparations. None of them are complicated, but guests who pay attention to these points gain noticeably more from the session. Here are our recommendations, gathered from many hundreds of intake conversations on Stievestraße.
Eating and drinking
Avoid heavy meals within 2 hours of your appointment. A full stomach makes lying face down and certain stretches uncomfortable, and a body in the middle of digestion is less willing to let go. A light snack — a banana, a yoghurt, a handful of nuts — is perfectly fine if you do not want to arrive on an empty stomach.
Drink plenty of water during the day. Many guests find the session more pleasant when they have drunk enough during the day. Please avoid alcohol, even a single glass of wine at lunch. Alcohol and massage are not a good combination.
Clothing
For a classical Thai massage, we provide a set of loose cotton clothing — no special outfit required. If you prefer, you can arrive in comfortable clothes: wide trousers that can be rolled up, a loose top. That makes changing easy. Underwear stays on during the massage.
For aromatic oil treatments, you change in a private cubicle; during the treatment you are covered with a cloth and only the area currently being worked on is uncovered. Expect some oil residue on your skin afterwards — do not wear anything you would be upset to see stained.
Body hygiene
A shower before the appointment is welcome — for you and for the practitioner. Please avoid heavy perfume or intense cosmetics, and freshly applied body lotion (it prevents proper pressure). Classical Thai massage is done without oil, so dry, clean skin is ideal.
Jewellery, hair, glasses
- Please remove rings, bracelets, necklaces and larger earrings before the session — they press during lying down or stretches
- Tie long hair loosely; a soft hair tie is more comfortable than a thick or hard one, since we work around the neck
- Keep glasses or contact lenses on or off, whichever feels more relaxed
- Take off your watch, including smartwatches
We have a secure space for your belongings in the studio.
Toilet and phone
Use the toilet shortly before the session begins. A full bladder makes lying face down and stretches uncomfortable, and depending on your booking the session lasts 60, 90 or 120 minutes.
Put your phone on silent or off. No vibration, no "flight mode with notifications". The hour is yours — and you only feel that if nothing beeps.
Be open about health topics
This is the most important point. Be honest with us during the intake about what is going on. That includes:
- Pregnancy (especially the first trimester)
- Acute infections, fever, colds
- Recent surgeries or scars that have not fully healed
- Thrombosis, varicose veins, vascular conditions
- Cardiovascular conditions, very high or very low blood pressure
- Use of blood-thinning medication
- Herniated discs, acute back problems, recent falls
- Osteoporosis
- Skin inflammations, open wounds, skin infections
- Cancer or ongoing oncological treatment
- Diabetes with peripheral neuropathy
- Epilepsy
In these cases the answer is not automatically "no massage" — it means we adapt the session, skip certain areas or choose a gentler variant. If in doubt, please clarify suitability with your physician in advance. We are trained Thai massage practitioners, not medical therapists in the clinical sense.
Arrival time
Plan a 5 to 10 minute buffer before the appointment. Arriving in a rush means starting the session with a racing pulse — the first ten minutes go to finding your breath. Arriving on time leaves space for the intake, the toilet and changing.
If you come by public transport: tram 17 and buses 51/151 stop within walking distance of Stievestraße. By car, parking in the area is limited — count a few minutes of searching.
A brief note
A Thai massage at Sala Thai is an offering for wellbeing and balance, not a medical procedure. For persistent complaints or unclear symptoms, your physician is the right first step.
Around the studio in Nymphenburg
Guests who have time after their appointment will find a fitting frame in Munich-Nymphenburg: the Nymphenburg Palace Park is a few minutes on foot and counts among the quietest corners of the city. Members of Urban Sports Club, Wellpass or Parkclub Nymphenburg are also welcome with us — feel free to mention it when booking.