On the infrequent occasions when I do treat myself to a massage, I prefer the deep tissue version closest to the Swedish method. On rare occasions, particularly in Japan, I opt for Shiatsu. I am fine with the Chinese style, I don’t have much of a preference for Thai style, I don’t really care for the fru-fru Aromatherapy style, and I absolutely completely avoid the common Indian style, though haven’t tried the more traditional Indian Aryuveda style. So this time when I was in Singapore, I gave the Malay style a try and found it to be a good balance between the Swedish and Chinese methods – lots of deep tissue style massage but utilizing the thumbs, palms and elbows. Singapore also is a good place to try it since its Asian and you are in a more predictable, clean and hygienic environment. Sipping chilled coconut water in the coconut casing afterwards, I decided Malay comes after Shiatsu and before Thai on my preferential listing.
