A good Thai massage is believed to be therapeutic, stress relieving and muscle relaxing. Treatment takes about two hours and is believed to add years to your life.

By the time King Rama III ascended to the throne, massage had become a way of life in Thailand, so much so that he ordered that the basic theories be carved in stone in the Wat Po compound.

Thus, Wat Po has become the center for traditional Thai massage. At the Wat Po "centers", the same basic principles are followed by massage practitioners, with slight variations in style.

The "mor nuat" (literally "massage doctor") press their fingers on muscles that the patient cannot reach himself. They also stretch the arms and legs. Usually, their efforts are centered on the area where the patient has a problem -- be it an aching back, stiff neck or tennis elbow.

It takes about two hours to conduct a complete Thai massage, which is believed to add years to your life.

The body is first treated from the waist down. The pressure points are then worked on to get energy flowing. Thai massage isn't painful; in fact, it's soothing and relaxing.

Most people find massage an excellent way to unwind after a hectic day of shopping, excessive partying, or after a week of hard work. Thai massage is a form of relaxation, and some practitioners believe it can cure a number of common ailments.

Another ancient curative art known as foot reflexology has also become very popular in the last few years.

In foot reflexology, nerve endings on each foot are stimulated. This is considered another form of holistic healing that is said to have originated from India and spread to China some 5,000 years ago.

Both feet, -- known as the second heart of the body -- have 14,400 nerve endings and over 100 reflex zones. Pressure and massage on a certain zone of the foot stimulates and heals the corresponding organ in the body.

Practitioners says reflexology eliminates uric acid deposits in the feet and improves blood circulation at the same time. It also ensures good health.