The two-hour massage, at the studio in NW6 or your door

What it is

The two-hour massage is a full body treatment with the time to do it properly. Two hours is enough to work the whole body and still spend twenty or thirty minutes on the areas that need it, without the clock forcing anything. The pressure can shift through the treatment, firmer where there is tension and lighter where there is not.

It can be booked as deep tissue throughout, as a relaxation treatment throughout, or as a combination of the two.

What it helps with

It suits accumulated tension that has built up over months, the end of a heavy period at work, and the case where an hour has repeatedly felt too short. It is also a good choice for a slow weekend morning or the evening before a long flight, when there is no reason to hurry.

Like the other treatments, it is for general wellbeing and muscular tension rather than a medical problem. Mention any injury, surgery or health condition in advance so the treatment can be planned around it.

What happens during the treatment

Setup takes the usual ten minutes. Before starting, he asks how you want the two hours spent: which areas matter most, and whether you want firm work, light work, or a mix.

A typical session opens with fifteen minutes warming the whole back. The next forty to fifty minutes work through the back, shoulders, neck, hips and the backs of the legs at whatever pressure was agreed, with time to stop and stay on the tightest points. After turning over, thirty to forty minutes cover the fronts of the legs, the arms, hands, chest and neck. That leaves twenty to thirty minutes to return to the two or three areas that needed the most, and a slow finish with lighter strokes and the scalp. The halfway check is more of a conversation than usual, since there is room to change direction.

Who it suits, and who it does not

It suits you if you value unhurried time, if several areas need attention rather than one, or if shorter treatments have left you wishing for more. It is a good occasional treatment every four to six weeks, or a regular one if the schedule allows.

It is more than you need for a single tight spot or a quick reset before going back to work. For those, book deep tissue massage or the back, neck and shoulders treatment. If you are not sure you want two hours, start with a 60 minute Swedish or deep tissue and extend next time.

How it differs from the other treatments

It is the same work as deep tissue, Swedish or sports and recovery massage, with roughly twice the time. That time is spent on fuller coverage and on second passes over stubborn areas, not on new techniques. The back, neck and shoulders treatment is the shortest option and the opposite end of the range.

How often to book it

As an occasional treatment, every four to six weeks works well. Booked as deep tissue, expect the same next-day tenderness as a shorter deep tissue session, so leave a clear day after. Booked as relaxation, it can be as frequent as suits you. A block of five 60 minute treatments is available if you would rather have shorter sessions more often.

What to expect afterwards

Plan to do very little for the rest of the day. Most people feel heavy and calm straight after, and clearer once they have had water and something to eat. If it was booked as deep tissue, expect tenderness in the worked areas for a day or so and keep exercise gentle. Warmth and water help. If any area feels sharply sore rather than dull after two or three days, ease off and get in touch.

Price and duration

The two-hour massage is available at the studio in NW6 for £120 and as a mobile visit for £145, for 120 minutes, including table, linens and oil. Mobile visits are included within five miles of the studio; see the treatments page for travel beyond that and for the five-session block.