Jingjok
ข้อห้าม: when not to get one
jèp mâak
Thai hospitals publish a list of when a massage is a bad idea, and the shops know it. Skip it with a fever, a fresh injury or bruising, a bad back that has not been diagnosed, during pregnancy unless the shop does pregnancy massage, and with serious heart or blood-pressure trouble. Do not go straight after a big meal or after drinking, and no bar afterwards either: alcohol on freshly worked muscles makes the ache worse. A good massage can be intense, but sharp pain is never part of it; say เจ็บมาก and it stops. Drink water afterwards and expect to feel it the next morning, in a good way.
Try this today
Tell the therapist about any sore spot before you lie down: เจ็บตรงนี้.
Learn this in “Massage hour” →
Your first 90 days of Thai
Culture cards in Jingjok are tied to the words that carry them, each ending in one thing to try today.
- WEEKS 1–2 · SURVIVEGreet anyone, pay, and order food and 7-Eleven exactly how you like it.
- WEEKS 3–6 · SETTLE INGet around by taxi, Grab and skytrain, find anything, and handle your landlord.
- WEEKS 7–12 · RUN YOUR LIFEPharmacy, bank, SIM and apps, how you feel, and a weekend away, all in Thai.
The first week is free.