Travel India Info

Kerala Massage

Think twice before opting for massages

The majority of tourists going to Kerala, will have a massage on their mind. Kerala is famous for its unique massages, advertisements for various types and benefits of a massage in Kerala cannot be ignored by the bulk of tourists visiting Kerala. My wife and I recently visited Cochin, Munnar & Kumarakom and in the spirit of true tourism, did try out the famous Kerala massage and hence this article offering some tips for tourists planning a visit to Kerala with massage on their mind. Here are a few pointers to those contemplating on getting a massage during their Kerala visit or even a massage anywhere else where tourists have a tendency to try out massages and massage therapies. During our visit, we told our driver that we would like to try the famous Ayurvedic massage. We were shown a few massage outlets by our driver, who said these were the popular massage outlets in the city. The first place we went to, while talking at the reception desk, I was able to walk into one of the adjoining rooms where I saw a massage table with dirty sheets and oil stains on it. On finding out more at the desk I was told this was one of the few rooms that they used for massages. Customers were actually sitting outside on a bench waiting their turn. Needless to say, we left the place without a massage or making an appointment to get one. Next place our driver took us was supposed to be better, they wanted us to pay up front, I wanted to see the massage room first. Apparently this was not allowed without payment and we opted to not get a massage until checking the place out. The hotel ( four stars) we were staying in also had a massage spa on the hotel premises. So we decided to check this one out. We were allowed to see the massage rooms, they had two, one for females and the other for males. Massage rooms are generally dimly lit and difficult to see the entire room surroundings in detail. The massage table was wooden and no sheets were required. This is where we decided to give Kerala massage a try.

Ever wonder what happens to the gallons

of oil used in massages?

The one hour session, involves lots of oil being used and at the end, this place used old newspapers to wipe of the excess oil from your feet and neck etc. At the end of the massage, the lights are turned on to help clean up and gave me a chance to see the room in better lighting. Since a lot of oil is used during massages and there is no way a human body could soak up such a large amount of oil, I asked the massager what happens to all the oil that flows off your body during the massage. In case any of you are wondering, the massage table apparently had an outlet to allow the oil to collect on a bottle under the table. The massager, when I questioned him if the same oil was used on other clients, denied it and said I could take the oil with me if I wanted. Drums and drums of oil are used by these massage places and this makes me wonder whether these people are actually discarding all this oil that they collect during massages? With close bodily contact and the numerous types of ailments that these massage places claim to cure, one has to wonder about the possibility of ending up with problems by getting massaged with oil that may be reused by unscrupulous massage parlors. My suggestion would be, visit Kerala and enjoy the scenic beauty and the many attractions that Kerala has to offer its visitors, just stay away from the massages! On a lighter note, this article is not meant to scare anyone, just some points to make you all aware to exercise some care and not waste your money at the wrong place. Kerala has so much to offer and overall we truly enjoyed our visit.

Ayurvedic Massage - Tips for Tourists

• If you want to get a massage keep in mind that regardless of what people advertise, ailments such as arthritis and diabetes cannot be massaged away! • Taxi drivers and hotel staff will naturally steer you towards massage places that offer them the highest commission. So take a look at a few places to compare not only the price but the facilities. • From our experience, we still think the hotel spa’s are a safer option than going out into the town. Unless of course someone that you know has recommended a place.