Deep tissue massage, at the studio in NW6 or your door

What it is

Deep tissue massage works through the deeper layers of muscle and connective tissue rather than the surface. Instead of covering the whole body lightly, the time goes where the tension is, usually the back, shoulders, neck, hips and the muscles along the spine. The therapist uses slow strokes, sustained pressure and forearm work to reach tissue that has been tight for months rather than days.

It is a treatment for a specific problem. If you have an area that a lighter massage never quite reaches, this is the one that addresses it.

What it helps with

Most people book deep tissue for tension built up over time: a desk posture that has shortened the chest and loaded the upper back, a lower back that stiffens after sitting or driving, shoulders that sit up around the ears by the end of a working day. It also suits people who train regularly and carry tightness through the hips, calves or forearms.

The aim is to restore movement and ease the pull of tight muscle. It is not a medical treatment and does not replace advice from a GP, physiotherapist or osteopath, but it works well alongside them.

What happens during the treatment

He arrives about ten minutes early and sets up the table, fresh linens and oil in whatever room has the floor space. Before starting, he asks what you want from the session and where the trouble is.

The first five to ten minutes are broad and fairly light, warming the tissue and finding where it is holding. From there the pace slows. He spends ten to fifteen minutes on each main area, working with the muscle rather than against it, pausing on the tightest points and waiting for them to give. Around the halfway mark he checks pressure and whether the priorities have changed. The last few minutes ease off deliberately, with lighter strokes to settle the areas that were worked. In a 60 minute session that is two or three regions covered properly. In 120 minutes it is the whole back of the body, with time to return to anything stubborn.

Who it suits, and who it does not

It suits you if you want firm pressure and have a clear idea of where the tension is, and if you are comfortable with a strong sensation while a tight spot is worked. It is a good regular treatment every three or four weeks for people whose work keeps reloading the same muscles.

It is not the right choice if what you actually want is an hour of calm and light contact, in which case Swedish massage is better. Let him know in advance about recent injury, surgery, or conditions affecting circulation, blood pressure or bruising, as pressure and technique are adjusted or an area avoided. If you are unsure whether massage is suitable, check with your GP first.

How it differs from the other treatments

Compared with Swedish massage, deep tissue is firmer, slower and more local. Compared with sports and recovery massage, it is less about a training programme and more about undoing everyday tension, with less assisted stretching. If you only have half an hour and the problem is the upper body, the back, neck and shoulders treatment uses the same techniques in a shorter form. The two-hour massage can be booked as deep tissue throughout when several areas need attention.

How often to book it

For a specific flare-up, one or two sessions a week or two apart often makes the difference. For tension that keeps returning because of how you work or train, every three to four weeks keeps on top of it. Many clients settle into a standing monthly appointment.

What to expect afterwards

Expect the treated areas to feel tender for a day or so, similar to the day after unfamiliar exercise. Drink water, keep the area warm, and move gently rather than sitting still for hours. A warm bath or shower helps. If a spot feels sharply sore rather than dull, or the tenderness has not eased after two or three days, ease off any strenuous exercise and get in touch. Most people notice the area moving more freely once the tenderness passes.

Price and duration

Deep tissue massage is available at the studio in NW6 and as a mobile visit. At the studio it is £70 for 60 minutes or £120 for 120 minutes. As a visit to your home, hotel or office it is £85 and £145, including table, linens and oil, with travel included within five miles of the studio. See the treatments page for travel bands and block bookings.