Massage Types & Modalities
Not sure which massage is right for you? Explore all 15 modalities offered by our masseurs — what each one feels like, what to expect during your session, and the health benefits you can gain.
Massage Types
Every session falls into one of two broad categories. Understanding the difference helps you choose the right experience.
Therapeutic
Core CategoryTherapeutic massage focuses on addressing specific muscular issues, relieving pain, and improving physical function. The therapist uses targeted pressure and clinical techniques to treat problem areas, correct posture imbalances, and support recovery from injury.
What to Expect
A consultation about your problem areas, targeted work on specific muscle groups, firmer pressure, and possible stretching or range-of-motion techniques. Sessions are results-oriented rather than purely relaxing.
Health Benefits
- Reduces chronic pain and muscle tension
- Improves joint mobility and flexibility
- Speeds up recovery from injuries
- Corrects postural imbalances
- Breaks down scar tissue and adhesions
Sensual
Core CategorySensual massage emphasizes full-body relaxation, intimacy, and sensory awakening. Using flowing, connected strokes and lighter pressure, the therapist creates a deeply calming experience that engages the nervous system and promotes a sense of embodied well-being.
What to Expect
A dimly lit, warm environment with soothing music. Long, continuous strokes across the whole body, lighter pressure, and a focus on creating a relaxing, tension-releasing atmosphere. Sessions are unhurried and immersive.
Health Benefits
- Lowers cortisol and reduces stress
- Promotes deep nervous system relaxation
- Improves body awareness and mindfulness
- Releases emotional tension stored in the body
- Enhances overall mood and well-being
Modalities
These are the specific techniques and styles our masseurs specialize in. Many therapists blend several modalities in a single session — ask them what they recommend for your needs.
Deep Tissue
Therapeutic MassageDeep tissue massage uses slow, deliberate strokes and deep finger pressure to reach the inner layers of muscle and connective tissue. It targets chronic patterns of tension and releases knots that lighter massage cannot reach.
What to Expect
Firm to deep pressure focused on specific areas of tension. The therapist may use elbows, forearms, or fingertips. You may feel some discomfort during the session, but it should never be unbearable. Soreness for a day or two afterward is normal.
Health Benefits
- Relieves severe muscle tension and chronic pain
- Breaks down scar tissue and muscle adhesions
- Lowers high blood pressure
- Reduces inflammation-related discomfort
- Improves recovery from sports or repetitive strain
Swedish
Therapeutic MassageSwedish massage is the most common and well-known massage style. It uses five core techniques — long gliding strokes (effleurage), kneading (petrissage), rhythmic tapping (tapotement), friction, and vibration — to relax the entire body and improve circulation.
What to Expect
Light to medium pressure with smooth, flowing strokes across the whole body. The therapist uses oil or lotion to reduce friction. The experience is deeply relaxing and gentle, making it ideal for first-time clients.
Health Benefits
- Improves blood circulation and oxygen delivery
- Reduces muscle toxins and lactic acid
- Boosts immune system function
- Eases tension headaches
- Promotes restful sleep
Sports
Therapeutic MassageSports massage is designed for athletes and active individuals. It combines techniques from Swedish and deep tissue massage with stretching and compression to enhance performance, prevent injury, and speed up recovery.
What to Expect
A focused session targeting the muscle groups most used in your sport or activity. The therapist may incorporate assisted stretching, compression, and cross-fiber friction. Sessions can be pre-event (stimulating) or post-event (recovery-focused).
Health Benefits
- Prevents and treats sports injuries
- Improves athletic performance and flexibility
- Reduces muscle soreness after intense training
- Enhances range of motion
- Speeds up recovery time between workouts
Hot Stones
Therapeutic MassageHot stone massage uses smooth, heated basalt stones placed on key points of the body. The therapist may also hold the stones while performing Swedish-style strokes, allowing the heat to penetrate deep into the muscles.
What to Expect
Warm stones placed along your spine, palms, feet, and between toes while the therapist massages other areas. The heat relaxes muscles quickly, allowing deeper work with less pressure. The experience is deeply soothing and grounding.
Health Benefits
- Relieves deep muscle tension with minimal pressure
- Improves blood flow and circulation
- Reduces stress and anxiety
- Eases pain from arthritis and joint stiffness
- Promotes a meditative state of deep relaxation
Shiatsu
Therapeutic MassageShiatsu is a Japanese massage therapy based on traditional Chinese medicine. The therapist applies rhythmic pressure to specific points (acupoints) along the body’s energy pathways (meridians) using fingers, thumbs, and palms to restore balance.
What to Expect
You remain fully clothed and lie on a mat or low table. The therapist uses fingers, thumbs, elbows, and knees to apply sustained pressure along meridian lines. Sessions may include gentle stretching and joint rotation.
Health Benefits
- Balances the body’s energy flow (qi)
- Relieves headaches and neck stiffness
- Reduces fatigue and improves energy levels
- Eases digestive issues
- Alleviates stress and insomnia
Reflexology
Therapeutic MassageReflexology applies targeted pressure to specific points on the feet, hands, and ears. Each reflex point corresponds to an organ or system in the body, and stimulating these points promotes healing and relaxation throughout the entire body.
What to Expect
A focused session on your feet (and sometimes hands or ears). The therapist uses thumb and finger pressure on specific reflex points. You remain comfortably seated or reclined. The sensation ranges from relaxing to mildly tender at stressed points.
Health Benefits
- Improves nerve function and blood flow
- Boosts energy and metabolism
- Reduces headaches and sinus congestion
- Promotes better sleep
- Supports overall nervous system health
Aromatherapy
Therapeutic MassageAromatherapy massage combines gentle Swedish techniques with essential oils chosen for their therapeutic properties. Each oil blend is selected based on your specific needs — relaxation, energy, stress relief, or immune support.
What to Expect
A consultation to select the right essential oil blend, followed by a gentle to medium pressure full-body massage using the warmed oil. The scent of the oils enhances relaxation throughout the session. Deeply calming and restorative.
Health Benefits
- Reduces anxiety and depression symptoms
- Relieves muscle and joint pain
- Boosts immune system function
- Improves sleep quality
- Eases PMS and menopause symptoms
4-Hand
Both MassageIn a 4-hand massage, two therapists work simultaneously in synchronized movements. The brain cannot track four hands at once, which leads to a profound state of relaxation where the mind quiets and the body releases tension more deeply.
What to Expect
Two therapists performing coordinated, mirror-image strokes across your body. The experience can feel disorienting at first as the mind tries to track both therapists, then settles into deep relaxation. Often combined with Swedish or deep tissue techniques.
Health Benefits
- Achieves deeper relaxation than single-therapist massage
- Doubles the muscle coverage per session
- Quiets mental chatter and racing thoughts
- Releases tension more quickly and thoroughly
- Enhances the overall therapeutic effect
Tantric
Sensual MassageTantric massage draws on ancient Tantric traditions to awaken and circulate sensual energy throughout the body. The therapist uses slow, mindful touch and breathing techniques to build and move energy, creating a deeply connected, full-body experience.
What to Expect
A slow, meditative session in a warm, candlelit space. The therapist uses long, flowing strokes across the entire body with mindful attention. Breathing exercises may be incorporated. Sessions are unhurried, focusing on energy flow and full-body awareness.
Health Benefits
- Releases deeply held emotional and physical tension
- Improves body awareness and mind-body connection
- Reduces performance anxiety and stress
- Enhances sensual energy and confidence
- Promotes a deep sense of presence and grounding
Nuru
Sensual MassageNuru massage originated in Japan and uses a special, ultra-slippery seaweed-based gel. Both the therapist and client are typically unclothed, and the therapist uses their entire body to glide over the client, creating a uniquely intimate and deeply relaxing experience.
What to Expect
A warm, waterproof environment. The therapist applies the odorless, colorless nuru gel and uses full-body contact with sliding and gliding movements. The sensation is unlike traditional massage, focusing on skin-to-skin gliding and deep relaxation.
Health Benefits
- Provides intense full-body relaxation
- Improves skin hydration from the seaweed gel
- Reduces stress through intimate touch
- Stimulates the lymphatic system
- Promotes emotional well-being and connection
Erotic
Sensual MassageErotic massage focuses on sensual pleasure and full-body arousal. The therapist uses teasing, varied touches across erogenous zones to build and sustain sensual energy, creating a deeply pleasurable and tension-releasing experience.
What to Expect
A private, warm environment with mood lighting and music. The therapist uses varied strokes — light touches, firmer pressure, and teasing techniques — across the entire body including erogenous zones. Sessions are slow-paced and pleasure-focused.
Health Benefits
- Releases endorphins and boosts mood
- Reduces stress and anxiety
- Improves body confidence and self-acceptance
- Enhances sensual awareness and responsiveness
- Promotes deep nervous system relaxation
Lymphatic
Therapeutic MassageLymphatic drainage massage uses light, rhythmic, sweeping strokes to stimulate the flow of lymph — the clear fluid that carries waste and toxins away from tissues. The gentle, directional technique encourages the lymphatic system to clear excess fluid, reduce swelling, and support immune function.
What to Expect
Very light pressure with slow, repeated gliding strokes that follow the body’s lymph pathways toward the collarbones, where lymph drains back into the bloodstream. The touch is gentle — far lighter than Swedish massage — and the pace is calm and deliberate. Many clients find the rhythm deeply soothing and may feel noticeably lighter afterward.
Health Benefits
- Reduces swelling, puffiness, and water retention
- Supports detoxification and the immune system
- Speeds up recovery after surgery or injury
- Improves circulation and skin tone
- Promotes deep relaxation and calms the nervous system
Prostate
Both MassageProstate massage focuses on the prostate gland (sometimes called the male G-spot) to promote pelvic health and release deep pelvic-floor tension. Performed with mindful, hygienic technique, it can ease congestion, improve blood flow, and support healthy prostate function while also awakening sensitive internal tissue.
What to Expect
A private, respectful session that begins with full-body relaxation to calm the nervous system. The therapist works slowly and communicatively, using lubrication and clean technique. Open communication and breathing are central throughout. Sessions are unhurried, nurturing, and focused on comfort and safety.
Health Benefits
- Releases tension in the pelvic floor muscles
- Improves blood flow and supports prostate health
- Helps relieve pelvic congestion and discomfort
- Enhances body awareness and pelvic sensitivity
- Promotes deep nervous system relaxation
Foot
Therapeutic MassageFoot massage focuses deep attention on the feet, ankles, and lower legs — areas that carry your entire body weight all day. Using kneading, thumb pressure, and stretching, the therapist relieves tired, aching feet while stimulating reflex points connected to the rest of the body.
What to Expect
A focused session on your feet and lower legs while you relax in a reclined or seated position. The therapist uses thumbs, knuckles, and palms to knead the soles, arches, and heels, along with gentle ankle rotations and toe stretches. Pressure can be light and soothing or firm and targeted, depending on your preference.
Health Benefits
- Relieves tired, aching feet and heel pain
- Improves circulation in the lower legs
- Eases plantar fasciitis and arch tension
- Reduces stress through reflex-point stimulation
- Promotes overall relaxation and better sleep
Yoni
Sensual MassageYoni massage is a sacred sensual practice focused on the female body (yoni is the Sanskrit word for the sacred space). The therapist uses gentle, mindful touch to release tension, awaken sensual energy, and promote healing in a safe, respectful environment.
What to Expect
A deeply private, respectful session with a warm, safe atmosphere. The therapist begins with full-body relaxation before focusing on gentle, mindful touch. Breathing and communication are central. Sessions are slow, nurturing, and emotionally supportive.
Health Benefits
- Releases stored tension in the pelvic floor
- Improves blood flow and sensitivity
- Supports emotional healing and body acceptance
- Reduces stress and promotes relaxation
- Enhances sensual awareness and connection