The Deep Tissue Massage is perfect if you hurt, all over, or in a specific place. The massage is firm and deep with the aim of relieving pain and promoting the healing process. This can be great for for many issue from DOMS to injury related pain.


What Is A Deep Tissue Massage

My Deep Massage is perfect if you hurt, all over, or in a specific place. I am clothed and you can keep your underwear on or have a towel to cover your modesty. The massage is firm and deep with the aim of relieving pain and promoting the healing process for many issue from DOMS to injury related pain. A Deep Tissue massage is very similar to a sports massage.

Key Points

Traditional Deep and firm massage

No mutual touching allowed

Your masseur is clothed

Underwear or towel to cover your modesty.

Benefits Of A Deep Tissue Massage

A Deep tissue Massage is one that uses much deeper and firmer pressure. With much firmer and more focused pressure we can help release deep rooted muscle tension caused my strain, injury or overwork, either in life, in the gym or after injury.

Ease deep rooted tension in your muscles

Aid recovery from Injury

Increase range of motion and flexibility

Aid the healing process of DOMs (Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness)

Release pain

This is available as a 45 minute option. More than that for this type of treatment is not good for the muscles. This type of massage not available as an outcall appointment.

Deep Tissue Massage FAQs

Deep Tissue Massage Techniques

It uses as strong firm stokes and kneading, with the right amount of pressure in the right places to to work out deep rooted tension.

During this type of massage pressure will be applied firmer to the parts of your body with more muscle, but at the same time, as with all good masseurs, more gentle pressure to parts of the body where there are sensitive organs or skeletal areas. A good masseur will know where and when to apply form pressure for the maximum benefit and when to go easy so as not to cause pain.

What To Expect From Your Deep Tissue massage?

Before Your Massage?

As always, it’s don’t come to your massage drunk, on drugs, just after having wolfed down a big meal or so hungry you want to chew your own arm off. You want to be in that happy spot where you ate comfortable and you can fully enjoy the massage.

Try and be on time for your appointment. So that means not too early and not late.

So please do not arrive more than 5 minutes before your appointment time. If you want an earlier time, contact the masseur direct as he may be able to fit you in sooner. This is for a number or reasons, firstly, we’re not at our studio unless we have a client so If you turn up too early we may not be there, and secondly, our studio is very discreet, and this insures that the only person you will see, and who will see you, is your masseur.

On the flip side, try not to be late, your appointment time starts at the time you book so you really don’t want to be stuck in traffic knowing your actually missing massage time.

As odd as this sounds, before your massage think about what you’re going to do after your massage. You may want to try and leave some free time afterwards, either so you can chill out a little and not have to rush off like man possessed. This is especially true with a deep tissue massage as this type puts the most strain on your muscles and needs a certain amount of aftercare.

Also if you have a little free time after and decide you want to extend your massage, you can do this if you have planned ahead. If your masseur has no appointments immediately after yours then its fine to ask in the massage if you want to extend the time a little.

At Your Massage

When you arrive, you will be greeted by your masseur. Taken to our private room and made to feel at ease.

We will take a moment to ask you about any medical conditions, new or old injuries that may be effected by a massage and find out a little about you, for example if you have had a deep tissue massage before and make sure you know what to expect.

Basically, make sure you are happy and comfortable, as you will have booked a deep tissue massage, we will want to know where you think your problem areas are, how long you have had them and any other info. Your masseur, once he gets to work will know where your problem areas are and where you have knots but its good to get your insight. Its your body after all.

There will be, of course, relaxing music that will also play for the duration of your massage. If the music type is not to your exact taste, don’t be afraid to politely say, it’s all about making it the most relaxing and comfortable experience for you. The massage room has a lamp and some candles for a thoroughly relaxing atmosphere.

You will then be given a little time to undress, and if you need a shower we have one of those too. Although it’s best to shower before you arrive so you are not using your massage time to shower.

With your underwear on or a towel over your modesty, you will be asked to lie on the massage table face down, your masseur will start on your back. (If you are leaving your underwear on, we recommend ones that will not stain or not your best jock or designer briefs. They may get a small amount of oil on.

The massage will be a whole-body massage with the exception of your feet, your head, your glutes and what’s under the towel/underwear. (if you want a FULL body massage try our naturist massage)

If you want to chat during your massage that’s fine, or if you want to be silent, relax, and contemplate the joys of life that’s cool too. Or you can do a little of both.

Once the massage has finished we will gently remove any excess oil and you can have a moment to center yourself, and then, if you have to go back to work or on to something else, you can have a shower.

Is A Deep Tissue Massage supposed to hurt? – In short no but there are some exceptions and some things you need to understand about your massage. This will help you work out which massages you’ve had, have had the right affect on you or help you make judgement when you have your first massage. During the Massage, there should be good pain, not bad pain.

Like exercise, massages move the muscles and joints with pressure and movement and in some instances this new movement can feel uncomfortable and sometimes you may feel light pain (when we say pain we mean the dull achy pain when you’ve been sat too long or your about to get cramp) if it’s more than this and you feel you need to cry out or cry then your masseur is applying to much pressure.

At any point during your massage you feel uncomfortable with the pressure, the masseur or the type of touching to your body you need to address this by speaking directly to your therapist. Open and honest conversation with your therapist will build a relationship that means every return visit allows you to relax more. Adonis masseur’s will always welcome you, be professional and communicate throughout your massage.

During your massage you will have an achy pain as muscles have pressure applied to work out the twists in muscle fibres. Tension in your muscles is like kneading bread dough after is dried out whereas muscles with less tension in relate to the elastic dough your use to. With this analogy then the more you see your masseur the better the muscles become and thus a reduction in the discomfort you will feel.

If you are very tense or tight after working out at the gym, then you will probably have more discomfort. As this ache fades your focus on the music and the atmosphere around you will allow you to relax further.

Breathing is very important during your massage, when your masseur gets to an area that is knotted and you feel discomfort you then need to breath in and out allow more oxygen to be circulated to your muscles. As you work with your masseur, they will help you breath correctly to help alleviate the discomfort. What you mustn’t do is tense up more and brace as this then adds more tension in the muscle so when pressure is applied you will feel even more discomfort than before.

Like exercise when you have completed a new movement your body the next day will let you know is it repairing by aching. That delayed onset of muscle soreness (DOMS) can happen after a massage as well as a good workout. If the ache is very painful and you feel that you need to cry or its bad enough you need pain killers, then seek medical advice as the massage may have twinged your muscles or the pressure may have caused an injury.

After your Massage

Deep Tissue Massage

As mentioned above, with a deep tissue massage, above all others, it’s important to ensure you take care of your aftercare. As we have already mentioned, a deep tissue massage is firmer than the other types so is more likely to stimulate the release of toxins. Make sure you keep hydrated as this will help fluch them out.

Why do I feel tender after a Deep Tissue massage?

Your massage is going to focus on parts of the body that you indicate need attention and you will suffer some discomfort during and sometime after. In your deep tissue there is going to be a lot of applied pressure, use of forearms, elbows, fingertips, knuckles and hands. When we say applied pressure, we don’t mean so painful that you feel like you have been beaten up. You may feel like you have been beaten up that day after and we will cover this in a moment. Deep tissue is about working and aligning the different layers of tissue, treating the tendons, fascia and ligaments and the muscles themselves.

The main question is does it hurt? And why do I feel tender the day after? Well yes you are going to feel discomfort from the direct applied pressure and working with your masseur this should be bearable and not go into you crying like you’ve beaten up. Depending on the muscle being focused on will indicate the amount of discomfort you make need to put up with. We have found from many deep tissue massages that very deep knots and tense muscles discomfort is going to be extreme. Calves and upper back can be areas that you feel like you want to cry; this is because of your own pain thresholds and experience of pain.

So why is it painful? With scar tissue being loosened, muscles being lengthened, knots being forced to unwind, and sub-layers of muscle being forced to move back in the right place, definitely equate to discomfort. Imagine being able to remove a plaster from your skin without it pulling your hairs, not going to happen. You are forcing the muscles and the tension to move.

Best thing to do is work with your masseur in a way that helps during discomfort. Taking a deep breath and using good breathing, allows oxygen to help relive the pain. Just remember oxygen is usually given to people in high levels of pain in hospital as it helps blood to circulate and gives the muscle the oxygen it needs to recover. At this stage of your massage you need to communicate with your masseur which areas are painful and if the soreness becomes too much.

The day after or in some cases two days later you will feel the massages affects. When you train at the gym you move your muscles in directions, under resistance or with more work (repetitions) that are out of you normal range. You get what is known as DOMS the delayed onset of muscle soreness.  This means the muscle fibers have been pushed beyond their normal range, break apart and grow back forming stronger and bigger muscles. This is the same after a massage you are pushing the muscles and tissue back into alignment or stretching them more than they are used to.  But there is more….

Massage techniques help improve your circulation thus these techniques carry blood and nutrients to the muscle but at the same time remove toxins. DOMS is a physical response to inflammation as your muscles heal. The tissue manipulation during a massage is like we have said exercising a muscle in a way they are not use to. Lactic acid builds up during exercise and is that burning feeling you get during your repetitions; this is the same in massage as your masseur manipulates your tissue and muscle the lactic acid builds up.

If you are new to massage you’re going to feel more after the first session or if the intensity in your massage has increased. It is normal and there are a few things you can do to reduce and relieve this soreness.

Hydration – drink plenty of water after your massage and stay away from stimulating drinks for up to 24 hours after your massage.

Stretching – regular stretching after a workout, after a massage or part of your daily routine helps reduce the fatigue and soreness.

Heat – having a hot bath or applying heat pack can relieve the soreness. Heat helps muscle stretch and is also why we warm up before starting a workout.

Oils – essential oils in your bath, moisturising lotion will help reduce soreness. Use lavender, orange or tea tree to help stimulate recovery.

Medicinal – if you are suffering, seek medical advice. Use muscle rub creams or other treatments advised by your doctor or pharmacist.

Herbal – taking a supplement or drinking a good cup of herbal tea will help relieve the soreness. Drink or use supplements like turmeric, clove, black pepper, ginger, cinnamon and garlic.

Recovery – actually take time after a massage to rest, book it in after work on Friday and take Saturday off. Sleep, chill and reduce your activity. This bodes well for both after a massage and a good training session.

Meditation – previously we looked into meditation, this meditating or yoga will help you relax, rest and stretch.

Ice Pack – if you have very tender areas then applying a cold compress or icepack to an area for up to 15 minutes with help reduce the soreness. As with the heat therapy a cold or ice bath may just do the trick.