Massage Therapy
Eight ways to put a body down.
Swedish, deep tissue, sports, hot stone, aromatherapy, lymphatic drainage, prenatal and fascia work, matched to what your body is actually asking for rather than what you booked.
Most people book a massage by the hour and hope for the best. We would rather ask two questions first, because the pressure that unlocks a calf after a long run is the wrong pressure entirely for someone who has not slept properly in a month.
Every style below is offered in the studio. If you are not sure which one you need, tell us what hurts or how you want to feel walking out, and we will choose it for you.
What it does
Why clients book it
Swedish, or relaxing
Long, flowing strokes at a pressure you could fall asleep under. It moves blood, quiets the nervous system, and is the right first massage if you have never had one.
Deep tissue
Slower and firmer, into the layer beneath the surface muscle. For the knot you have been pressing on for months, and for backs gone stiff from sitting.
Sports
Focused work for bodies that train. Loosens what is tight before it tears, clears the soreness after a hard session, and keeps range of movement where it belongs.
Hot stone
Heated basalt laid along the spine and worked through the muscle. The heat softens everything first, so the pressure reaches deeper and hurts a great deal less.
Aromatherapy
A relaxing massage with essential oils chosen on the day. Lavender to come down from a hard week, eucalyptus to clear a heavy head.
Lymphatic drainage
Very light, rhythmic strokes that move fluid rather than muscle. Brings down puffiness and swelling, and is often booked after surgery or a long flight.
Prenatal
Side lying and properly supported, from the second trimester onwards. Takes the load off the lower back and the hips, and helps with the swelling in the legs.
Fascia therapy
Muscle is wrapped in a thin sheath called fascia. When it tightens from injury, posture or stress it hurts even though the muscle itself is fine. Slow, held pressure releases it, and it makes every other massage last longer.
The session
Exactly what happens
- 5 min01Two questionsWhere it hurts, and how you want to feel walking out. That decides the style and the pressure, not what you booked.
- 5 min02SettleWarm room, low light, and a few minutes to actually arrive before anything begins.
- 30 to 60 min03The workThe style you need, at a pressure checked with you as we go. Nobody has to be brave on our table.
- 5 min04RestYou stay put afterwards. Getting up too quickly wastes half of it.
