There are dozens upon dozens of types of massages in the world, all meant to help you relax, de-stress, or heal more quickly, depending on your specific needs. But while types like shiatsu and hot rock massages are quite common, others are less well known — which is a shame, as you can't use what you don't know about. For example, how much do you know about Thai massage (nuat phaen thai)?

So if you're looking for a type of massage treatment with health benefits that will improve your life, then here's what you need to know.

It's Not Inactive

Thai massage is a combination of massage, stretching, and even a little bit of yoga mixed in there. This also means that you don't strip down; no oils or lotions are necessary for a Thai massage, meaning you don't risk sensitivity to any of those oils or lotions, nor do you risk plugged pores or a headache from too many different scents. 

The fact that Thai massage is a sort of 3-in-1 is great for your health, because it means that you're not just laying for an hour while someone else works on you. Your body is the one doing the stretching and yoga (though the massage therapist does help you maneuver), and you get the health benefits of that exercise.

It's Energizing

Normally, massage is thought to calm the body down and get you ready for relaxation or for sleep. Thai massage does the opposite; it helps to rev your body up for the day, giving you energy rather than lulling you into a deep state of relaxation.

It does this by aligning the energies within your body, not unlike shiatsu, and stretches your muscles, getting them warmed up and ready to perform whatever you need to do during the day. For this reason, it's a good idea to have your massage done in the morning, especially if you're going to have a busy day following your appointment.

It Heals Your Body

As you stretch, hold poses, and have your muscles kneaded by your massage therapist, it does more than energize you — it can actually help heal your body and make it function better. Among the many benefits Thai massage is said to have are pain relief, quicker healing of cuts and bruises, restoring aching muscles to working order, and even having a calming effect on the mind, decreasing anxiety.