Thai massage in Madrid: what a session on a futon is really like

Thai massage in Madrid surprises most people the first time, and not because of the pressure. It is the setting. There is no raised table and, in the traditional version, no oil. You lie on a futon on the floor, dressed in comfortable clothes, and your therapist moves you through stretches and sustained pressure. This guide walks you through a session from arrival to the next morning, so you know exactly what you are booking.

We offer three versions at our studio on Calle Justiniano, in the Justicia neighbourhood: traditional, with hot stones, and with warm herbal balls. The booking page for all three is the Thai massage page. This article is the longer explanation behind it: what it feels like, what to wear, what to tell us, and how to choose the version that suits you.

How is Thai massage different from a Western massage?

In a Western style massage you lie still on a table while the therapist works on the muscle with oil and long strokes. In Thai massage your body is part of the work. The therapist uses hands, thumbs, forearms and body weight to press along lines of the body, and guides you through stretches for the hips, back and shoulders.

The feeling afterwards is different too. People often describe it as closer to finishing a guided mobility session than to being covered in lotion. Many say they walk out feeling taller, or looser through the hips. That is a description of how it feels, not a promise of a result: bodies respond differently, and a massage is not a treatment for any condition.

A session, step by step

Here is what happens in a traditional 60 minute session with us. The two other versions follow the same shape, with heat added.

1. Arrival and a short chat

You arrive, we offer you a moment to settle, and your therapist asks a few questions. Where do you carry tension? Have you had Thai massage before? Any injuries, operations or sensitive areas? This is the moment to be honest. The stretches can be adapted to almost anyone, but only if we know.

2. Changing

You can change at the studio. What matters is that you can move freely: no jeans, no stiff waistbands, nothing that pulls when you bend a knee to your chest. Soft trousers and a T-shirt are ideal.

3. On the futon

The session starts lying down, often on your back, with pressure along the feet and legs. There is no sheet to tuck you in and no music cue to close your eyes, although many people do. The therapist kneels beside you and works with rhythm, leaning in with body weight rather than muscle force.

4. Pressure and stretches

This is the core. Your therapist alternates sustained pressure on points where you feel tight with stretches that take you further than you would go alone: a leg crossed over, a gentle twist through the lower back, arms drawn back to open the chest. Some positions are on your side, some face down, and some sitting up.

The intensity is set from the first minute. If a stretch is too much, or the pressure is too firm, just say so. It changes straight away. There is nothing to put up with and no prize for silence.

5. Closing

The last minutes are slower, usually around the shoulders, neck and head. You get up in your own time, drink some water and get dressed. Most people want to walk for a few minutes afterwards rather than rush for the metro.

A note on breathing

The one thing that makes the biggest difference to how a Thai massage feels is your breath. When a stretch arrives, breathe out slowly into it rather than holding your breath and bracing. Your therapist will often time the deeper part of a stretch with your exhale. You do not need any experience for this; just notice when you are holding your breath and let it go.

What does the pressure actually feel like?

Firm, slow and deep, rather than sharp. Body weight gives a broad, sinking pressure, which is why many people who find some deep tissue work painful are comfortable with Thai massage. That said, the traditional version is the most intense of our three in terms of joint work and stretching.

• Normal: a strong stretch you can breathe through, pressure that feels like a relief once it lands.
• Say something: sharp or shooting sensations, pain in a joint, anything that makes you hold your breath.
• The next day: mild soreness, especially the first time, that passes within a day.

Traditional, hot stones or herbal balls: which to choose

All three are on a futon and all three use the same base technique. What changes is heat, length and how enveloping the session feels.

Version	Length	Price	What sets it apart	Choose it if
Traditional Thai massage	60 min	59 €	No oils, acupressure and deep assisted stretches	It is your first time and you want the real thing
Thai massage with hot stones	60 min	70 €	Warm volcanic stones added to the pressure and stretches	You arrive cold or very tight
Aromatic hot herbal ball massage	70 min	75 €	Warm herbal compresses infused with essential oils	You want to relax more than stretch

The hot stone version

Warm stones are used alongside the hands to soften the tissue before and during the pressure. If you tend to arrive tense, or if the weather has turned and you feel stiff, the heat makes the first part of the session easier to settle into.

The herbal ball version

Pindas, the warm cloth bundles filled with herbs, are pressed and rolled over the body. They bring heat and scent, and the 70 minute format leaves more room to slow down. If the idea of being moved around a lot does not appeal, this is the gentlest way into the technique.

Who Thai massage suits, and who might prefer something else

It tends to suit people who sit for long hours, people who like to feel stretched, and anyone who dislikes oil on the skin. It also suits people who get restless lying still on a table for an hour, because the session keeps changing position.

It is not the best choice for everyone. If you want to switch off completely without being moved, a relaxing massage on a table will feel better. If you only have half an hour at lunchtime, an express massage from 30 € fits the gap. And if you have a recent injury, a diagnosed back problem, a joint replacement or you are pregnant, tell us before booking and, if in doubt, ask your doctor first. We adapt, but a massage does not replace medical care.

Practical details for your booking

You book online on the Thai massage page: choose the version, then the day and the time. The availability you see there is live. If you cannot find a slot, you can message or call us on +34 877 24 89 34.

• Where: Calle Justiniano 9, Justicia. Metro Chueca or Alonso Martínez, with Gran Vía and Banco de España also close. It is the urban studio format of the city centre, which we explain in how a city centre spa actually works.
• When: Monday closed; Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday 11:00 to 21:00; Thursday to Saturday 11:00 to 22:00.
• How far ahead: around a quarter of our sessions are booked for the same day, and the median booking comes in three days ahead. Evenings and weekends go first.
• Timing: allow about fifteen minutes before and after the session.

If you are coming as a couple and want a session together, Thai massage is individual on a futon. For two people in the same room, our couples rituals use a synchronised massage on side by side tables, with movements drawn from Filipino and Thai massage. If you are booking between the two of you and want the full picture first, we walk through it in what a session for two is really like.

Frequently asked questions

Do I get undressed for Thai massage?

No. Traditional Thai massage is done in comfortable clothes on a futon. You can change at the studio into something loose that lets you move and stretch freely.

Is Thai massage painful?

It is firm, but it should not hurt. The pressure comes from body weight, so it feels broad and deep rather than sharp. Your therapist adjusts it from the first minute, and you can ask for softer or firmer work at any time.

How much does Thai massage cost in Madrid at The Queen’s Rituals?

The traditional version is 69 euros for 60 minutes, the hot stone version is 70 euros for 60 minutes, and the aromatic hot herbal ball massage is 75 euros for 70 minutes.

Is oil used?

Not in the traditional version. The herbal ball version uses warm compresses infused with essential oils. If you prefer a classic oil massage on a table, the relaxing massage is the better option.

Will I be sore afterwards?

Some mild soreness the next day is common, especially after the first session. It usually passes within a day. If you feel sharp pain during the session, tell your therapist straight away.

In short

A Thai massage in Madrid with us means a futon, loose clothes, firm pressure and stretches you take part in. Start with the traditional version if you want to know the technique, add hot stones if you arrive stiff, and choose the herbal balls if you would rather melt than stretch. Tell us about your body before you start, and the session adapts to it.