Ruen Thai FAQs
Yes, customer parking is available in Bays 2 and 3 only, 1-2 Osborne Rd car park. There’s also free two hour parking close by, on Fernwood Rd, NE2 1TT. We advise parking on Fernwood Rd during the week.
Yes, though immediate availability is not guaranteed.
Our quietest time is usually the middle of the day on weekdays. Also consider 7.00 pm: a good slot for a good night’s sleep.
We aim to be flexible. However, if we’re fully booked after the scheduled completion of your massage, your treatment will be shortened. If you’re running late, please call.
We welcome accompanied children age 14 or 15 and unaccompanied clients age at least 16.
We use coconut oil with no additives. Allergic reactions to coconut oil are rare. Because the coconut is not a true nut, it is usually safe for people with nut allergies. Before your massage, reassure yourself about the suitability of our massage oil and our optional compresses, balms and essential oils. Traditional Thai massage can be performed without oil.
Be clean! Arrive early to confirm and pay. If your massage involves oil, undress to your underclothes in the treatment room and cover yourself with the towel provided. Your therapist will knock, enter when you’re ready and begin the massage. Do communicate with your therapist about pressure and areas as needed, especially if you feel any discomfort or pain. Otherwise, chat, remain quiet or sleep as you prefer.
By cash, card or bank transfer. You can also pre-pay by ordering a printed or digital gift voucher from our website. We do not yet accept card payments over the phone.
We do not charge a booking fee or a cancellation fee. We may request a small deposit for triples massages; this is deducted from the overall cost. You can also complete your massage with an authentic application of warm, steamed Thai herbal compresses for £5 extra (£10 per triple).
We will be happy to email a non-VAT receipt; please request at the time of your visit. However, most UK insurers do not recognise the Thai qualifications of our therapists; employers may be more flexible.
No, but our therapists welcome tips for good service. All tips go directly to your therapist(s). The average massage career lasts six years.
We welcome feedback. Most of our reviews are on Google with some on Facebook and Tripadvisor. If you wish to complain, please email with details, including the time and date of your massage. We’ll investigate and reply.
We have a toilet but no shower.
Massage FAQs
The American Massage Therapy Association reports that relaxation and pain management are the two main reasons for considering massage. Other common triggers are soreness and stiffness; rehabilitation; health and wellness; quality of life; headaches and migraines. These American findings chime with our own experience of massage in Newcastle.
Because massage is a form of exercise, you should build in adequate recovery time. To reap the full benefit, allow several days between sessions.
Time of day is a matter of individual preference. As with exercise, a late afternoon or evening massage will help you to sleep well.
Avoid eating a large meal or drinking alcohol.
Sixty minutes is the most popular length, enabling the therapist to work the whole body. But 30 minutes can suffice for a head, foot or back massage. If you’re comfortable on the table, longer treatments of 90 and 120 minute allow more personalised treatment and deeper relaxation. Our 2-in-1 and 3-in-1 massages are well-suited to these extended sessions.
If circumstances allow, take a few hours to relax, avoiding exercise and stimulants. We advise against strenuous exercise for at least 24/48 hours.
Massage should leave you relaxed and a little tired, but not sore. However, as with other exercise, soreness, inflammation or bruising can occasionally emerge, especially to a body unaccustomed to massage and other physical activity. This risk increases slightly If the therapist has focused on a specific area (e.g. the lower back), Any type of massage can induce these effects, including sports, traditional Thai and hot stones.
To prevent post-massage soreness, inform your therapist as soon as her pressure or moves feel excessive. ‘No pain, no gain’ is a myth. In addition, be in good shape before your treatment; choose short, light sessions for your initial massages; and allow the therapist to treat the whole body.
Expect the soreness to resolve within a few days; medical attention is rarely required. The best treatment is rest, supplemented by warm baths (preferably with Epsom salts); by applying hot and cold compresses to the affected areas; and by drinking water. Avoid vigorous exercise during your recovery. The NHS offers further advice on pain after exercise.
Massage is non-invasive, generally safe and helpful in managing pain. However, it is contraindicated when it risks your own or your therapist’s health.
Avoid massage if you have fever (high temperature), any infectious illness (e.g., Covid-19, flu, sore throat, infectious skin conditions), atherosclerosis, endocarditis/pericarditis, hepatitis, meningitis or severe unexplained internal pain. Sources such as Medical Massage Therapy provide fuller lists of contra-indications.
However, many painful conditions, such as fibromyalgia, do benefit from a light massage. Other ailments, such as hypertension, some heart conditions and moderate osteoporosis, are also compatible with a light massage.
In many other cases, including arthritis, inflammation, hernia and varicose veins, your therapist can simply avoid the affected area(s). However, if you have cancer, please seek medical approval before taking a massage.