Which massage is right for me?

By the ESCAPE team

There you are, looking over our menu, eyes sliding from one name to the next. One question sits in your head: which one? Oil, traditional Thai, herbal compress, ritual… Sixteen kinds of massage is a lovely thing to have. At least until you have to pick your one in the next few minutes. Take a breath. Deciding is easier than it looks.

The trick is to start not with the names but with yourself. Once you know what you want from the hour and how firm a touch feels good to you, the choice narrows almost on its own. We then happily fine-tune the rest with you on the day. This guide walks you through it by goal: I want to switch off, my back hurts, it’s my first time, I’m expecting. For each path you’ll find the specific type, a sensible length and how firm the pressure should be. There’s no single “best massage”. There’s only the best one for what you need today.

First, answer three questions

Before you start comparing names, ask yourself three questions. They settle most of the hesitation before you even reach the price list.

• What do I want from it? Mainly to switch my head off and rest, or targeted relief from a specific bit of tension? Relaxation leads to smooth oil massages, “I’ve got a knot here” to deeper, more targeted work.
• How firm a touch feels good to me? We work with gentle pressure (soothing, almost sleep-inducing) and firm pressure (deep, stimulating, right on the edge of good pain). We fine-tune it throughout and one word is enough. Still, it helps to know where you naturally sit. Deeper isn’t better, just different. More force doesn’t mean a more effective massage.
• How much time do I have? For a first full-body massage we recommend 90 minutes. Sixty minutes covers the whole body at a calm pace; ninety gives the therapist time for the stiff spots too. Targeted (partial) massages of a single area, on the other hand, make sense even at 30–60 minutes.

Want to get your bearings among the types? Read the overview of types of massage. What each one costs by length is in our pricing guide. And if you’re still unsure how Thai differs from “classic” European massage, the comparison Thai vs classic massage helps.

I’m getting a massage for the first time

The hardest part of a first time is only the first step. The massage itself is pure rest. You have two great starting choices. They differ mainly in whether you’d rather be an active participant or simply surrender.

• Traditional Thai Massage is done without oil, over comfortable clothing (we lend it to you) and combines stretching, palm and thumb pressure and work along energy lines. It’s more active, a bit like “yoga someone does for you” while you lie there.
• Thai Oil Massage is the opposite: smooth, warming strokes with gentle unscented argan oil. Nothing is asked of you but to lie back and breathe. For a first encounter with touch it’s usually the easiest choice.

Whichever you choose, give yourself 90 minutes for your first time and say right at the start that it’s your first visit. The therapist will adjust the pace, the pressure and how much (or little) is said. What exactly awaits you on the table is in What is Thai massage. How to arrive prepared and relaxed is covered in How to prepare for a massage.

I mainly want to relax and switch off

When the goal is pure rest and a quiet head, go for oil massages with slow, predictable strokes. It’s exactly that flow and rhythm that tell the body nothing is wrong and it can finally let go. Lean towards gentle pressure. Deep work would keep you on alert instead.

• Thai Oil Massage: neutral, warming, the ideal base for relaxation with no demands on you at all.
• Aromatherapy Massage: adds the scent of essential oils of your choice to the touch. In the brain, smell goes hand in hand with emotion, so the aroma adds a second, surprisingly powerful layer of calm.
• Coconut Oil Massage: nourishing and gentle, lovely for dry winter skin too.

If you’d like to turn rest into a small ceremony, longer, with a welcome and extra time just for you, look at our Tranquility Ritual.

My back, neck and shoulders ache – and I’ve got knots

Hard, overloaded spots and the famous “knots” (technically more like muscle trigger points) respond to deeper, more targeted work. This is where firm pressure earns its place. Always, though, within what feels good to you. A simple rule: good pressure is pressure you can still breathe calmly through.

• Back, Neck & Shoulder Massage: targeted relief exactly where desk work and hours over a phone press hardest. It works beautifully as a partial massage of 30–60 minutes when you don’t want the whole body.
• Traditional Thai Massage: traditional Thai, for when there’s more stiffness than just your back: stretching and deep pressure release the whole body at once.

Sit at a computer all day and the pain is specifically in your upper back and neck? Go straight for the Back, Neck & Shoulder Massage. It’s built for exactly this. And one important note: massage is relief and care for your wellbeing, not treatment. If pain persists, shoots into your limbs, tingles or followed an injury, see a doctor or physiotherapist first. The table can wait.

Stress, poor sleep and an overloaded head

Tension doesn’t sit only in the back. When you carry it mainly in a clenched jaw, temples and neck, and can’t “switch off your thoughts” at night, a mix of gentle oil strokes and targeted head and neck work helps.

• Anti-Stress Massage: aims exactly at the areas where stress most often settles; the perfect full stop after a demanding week.
• Aromatherapy Massage: calming essential oils help you slow down so you fall asleep more easily that evening.

Keep both on the gentle side. The aim is to quiet the body, not to “wake it up.” And if stress keeps coming back around, regularity may help more than one intense session. How many a month makes sense is in How often to go for a massage.

Sport, fatigue and tired legs

An active body has different needs than a stiff shoulder from a desk. It wants to get moving, warm up and recover. Choose by whatever is bothering you right now.

• Sports Massage: to loosen up before a workout or to help muscles recover afterwards; it takes, and often asks for, firmer pressure.
• Foot & Leg Massage: relief for legs tired from long standing and walking; surprisingly blissful on its own.
• Thai Herbal Compress Massage: warm herb-filled pouches loosen muscles and heat up stiff spots; a lovely recovery add-on when you want heat along with pressure.

After a harder session a mix of deep work and heat makes sense. And don’t be shy about where to add and where to ease off. Just for a day or two after a really tough effort, keep the pressure gentler. A tired muscle doesn’t need another battle.

Pregnancy and special occasions

Some situations have their own safe, clear choice. This is not the place to experiment.

• Pregnancy: always choose the pregnancy massage, done gently and in safe positions (on your side, well supported). We offer it at 60 or 90 minutes. In the first trimester we don’t offer it, out of caution; from the 2nd trimester, always with your doctor’s approval.
• A gift or a celebration: give a loved one our Tranquility Ritual, or book a couples massage together: two massages at the same time, side by side. And if you’d rather let them choose, reach for a gift voucher. More tips on giving massage as a gift without missing the mark are in Massage as a gift.
• Sensitive to strong pressure: stick to oil massages (oil, aroma, coconut) at gentle intensity and save traditional Thai with its stretching for another time.

Still not sure? Just ask us

That’s fine. It’s the most common situation in the world, and it’s certainly no reason to walk in feeling defeated. Let us advise you directly. Message or call +420 734 331 444 (WhatsApp too), tell us in one sentence what’s bothering you and how firm you like it, and we’ll recommend a specific type and length. We’re open daily 10:00⁠–⁠22:00.

Want to browse all the options in one place first? See our full list of massages, or simply book online. We’ll fine-tune the type and timing together.