What is so special about Balinese massage and where to get the best on in Ubud? There are things in Southeast Asia that you might not only love to learn about, but also to experiment with yourself: alternative medicine is most likely one of them. Get ready for some luxurious pampering, the best ingredients in essential oils and amazing treatments by some pros!
Ubud as a growing Balinese “capital of wellness” (maybe also growing too fast?), is the right place to get the best of traditional holistic treatments.
Contents hide 1Balinese massage in Ubud: how is it different compared to a Thai one? 1.1So what’s the main difference between a Balinese and Thai massage? 2Where can you get the best Balinese massage in Ubud? 2.1Eco-friendly Ayusha Wellness spa in Ubud 2.2Let’s get the treatment started 2.2.1Like it? Pin it!
Balinese massage in Ubud: how is it different compared to a Thai one?
Similar to Thai massage, a Balinese one is strongly influenced by traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicines.
In a Balinese massage, you’ll find techniques of acupressure, reflexology, aromatherapy and even some methods of classic Swedish massage (kneading strokes). Your skin will be rolled and flicked by a masseuse during the procedure, while some essential oils will be applied to stimulate the flow of your blood and chi energy in your body.
So what’s the main difference between a Balinese and Thai massage?
* A Balinese massage is more relaxing. During Thai massage your body is twisted and moved into different positions, while during a Balinese massage nobody will test your flexibility. You’ll lie down the whole time and the only physical effort you’ll make will be turning from your stomach onto your back.
* In a Balinese massage, the movements of a tukang pijit (a local masseuse) are smooth and firm, but there is no strong pressure of stopping and releasing the blood flow applied as in a Thai massage.
* Unlike in Thai massage, where you need to wear loose clothes, a Balinese massage requires you to undress and stay only in your underwear (no bras for women.) Afterwards, you’ll be fully covered with warm towels during the massage. That said, Balinese massage requires more private space and is more suitable for spas rather than massage shops.
* In Balinese massage essential oil is used, while in a traditional Thai massage it isn’t.
Join one fo the local tours in Bali:
- Bali: Mount Batur Sunrise Hike and Natural Hot Spring
- From Ubud: Balinese Cooking Class at an Organic Farm
- Bali: Mount Batur Sunrise Trek with Breakfast
- Kintamani: Sunrise Yoga, Meditation, Earth & Water Rituals
- From Bali: Swim with Manta Rays in Nusa Penida
* While Thai massage is usually done on a floor mat, in Bali you’ll be treated on a comfortable padded table.
* However, both types of massages help to relieve pain in your body as well as reduce stress and bring your body back into balance, just via different techniques.
Apart from a Balinese massage, you can find other types of massage treatments in Indonesia: Javanese massage (rougher and sometimes focuses only on a certain part of the body; (Javanese Lulur Ritual which is performed on brides when getting them ready for a marriage), Sasak, Lombok or Urat massage.
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Check this guide on the best private pool villas in Bali.
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Where can you get the best Balinese massage in Ubud?
No worries about finding a good place to fix your backache, relax your muscles and get rid of stress in Ubud. Although, if you care about the environment and responsible travel, you’ll be more picky when choosing an environmentally conscious spa. After having done our research, we found a gorgeous, very mindful and eco-friendly spa in the Penestenan area, which is only a few minutes’ drive (about 15 minutes walking) from Ubud: Ayusha Wellness spa.
Eco-friendly Ayusha Wellness spa in Ubud
‘Ayusha’ in Sanskrit means “a long life” and this is the main principle that the spa follows. Not only do they provide excellent holistic treatments that might contribute to your longevity, but Ayusha works to provide a long life for the surrounding nature too. The facility is built right in the middle of a lush forest near the Campuhan river and not a single tree was cut while building the spa.
In Ayusha, they follow Boreh Balinese tradition, which is basically a massage technique created by rice farmers who used it to relieve their pain using natural ingredients (clove, ginger, turmeric, galangal, cinnamon, coriander.) Essential oils used in Ayusha Wellness Spa are prepared by local herbalists from organic herbs and spices. In addition Ayusha also uses Australian organic cosmetics, Mukti.
The spa has only three rooms and six massage tables, one infrared sauna and an absolutely fantastic stone bathtub just near the river. All of the rooms are actually in open-air space and in the couples rooms you’ll get a stunning view of the river and into the lush green forest.
Join one of the local tours in Bali:
- Ubud: Spectacular Waterfalls Tour
- Mount Batur: Black Lava Cycling Tour w/ Natural Hot Spring
- Uluwatu: Tandem Paragliding Experience
- Mother Temple of Bali and Lempuyang’s Gates of Heaven Tour
- Best of Bali: Private Customized Full-Day Tour
Let’s get the treatment started
Ayusha pays a lot of attention to your medical history, previous injuries and your actual physical condition so that a masseuse can choose the right Ayurvedic oil for you and avoid possible parts of your body that can still cause you pain. To warm up your tissues and make your body more relaxed, you’ll spend a maximum of 30 minutes in the “far infrared sauna.”
This sauna is supposed to be more effective than a traditional Finnish sauna, since the infrared rays speed up your blood circulation and allow more oxygen to arrive to injured areas (so the recovery of wounds is faster.)
To enhance the warming up procedure and to follow the Ayurvedic tradition, you’ll be served a ginger-lemon tea.
And then, an hour or an hour and a half of pure bliss awaits you. You’ll lie on a padded table, covered with warm towels and the masseuse starts the massage by touching your back for a minute so that she can get more in touch with the natural flow of your body.”
Our masseuses Puri & Sari were very well-trained specialists and the whole Boreh Balinese massage at Ayusha Wellness spa was beyond a simple treatment. It was like a symphony of nature where you can experience all elements: the air from the breeze of the nearby forest, the water from the sound of the river below, the fire from the warm towels and the kneading of the masseuse and the earth from the touch of your therapist that leaves you feeling “grounded”.
I can highly recommend going for a body scrub, after which you’ll be wrapped in warm towels for about 15 minutes. Oh, and the head massage at the very end: this will make you feel like a new person, indeed.
Ayusha Wellness cares a lot about the details of their interior, too. You’ll find that there are beautiful bowls of white stones and purple flowers on the floor so you will get a great view while laying on the bed face down for about an hour. Delicate decorations, calm colours and the wooden structures of the space makes you feel very comfortable and relaxed even before your massage starts.
At Ayusha, you’ll finish your treatment by relaxing on the table for a few minutes and will receive a cold drink afterwards so that your body can cool down.
Once you finish your massage therapy at Ayusha, you feel rejuvenated and will want to visit there more often to meet their great and knowledgeable staff, be in the care of professionals, spend quality time amongst nature and leave from there feeling refreshed and relaxed.
If you are looking for a deeper experience you might want to check the retreats organized by OneWorld Kumara just few minutes out of Ubud.
You might want to check this article if you want to know where to stay in Bali.
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Disclosure: Our 90 minute massage at Ayusha Wellness Spa was complimentary. As always, our opinions, relaxed muscles and balanced bodies afterwards are our own.
