Massage Types: Which One Is Right for You?

Every spa menu looks the same from the outside: a list of names, each promising to relax, restore and renew. The real differences sit in three places — how firm the pressure is, which tradition the technique comes from, and what the session is actually trying to achieve. Get those three right and choosing becomes simple.

This guide walks through all eleven styles we offer, grouped by character rather than alphabet, with honest notes on who each one suits and who it doesn't. At the end there is a thirty-second selection table. And if you would rather skip the reading: send us two sentences about how you feel today on WhatsApp, and we will match you to a session.

Gentle to moderate: classic and Swedish

Classic massage (45 min · ₺2,000) is bodywork in its most essential form: moderate pressure across the whole body, with extra attention to the back, shoulders and lower back. If you have no specific complaint, or if this is your first professional massage, this is the correct door. Swedish massage (50 min · ₺2,000) is the systematised European school: five movement families — effleurage, petrissage, tapotement, friction and vibration — applied in sequence, with a clear focus on stimulating circulation.

Choosing between them is straightforward. If you simply want to unwind, take the classic. If your complaints lean towards circulation — cold hands and feet, heaviness in the legs at the end of the day — Swedish is the better fit. They cost the same, so there is no wrong answer.

Sensory sessions: aromatherapy and hot stone

Aromatherapy massage (60 min · ₺2,750) adds scent to touch. You choose from three blends — lavender-led for the evening, eucalyptus-mint for freshness, citrus for daytime brightness — and the movements are slower and longer than in a classic session, aimed at the nervous system rather than the muscle. It is the session we recommend most often for disrupted sleep and a mind that won't switch off.

Hot stone massage (60 min · ₺3,500) uses heat as its main tool: basalt stones warmed to a controlled temperature are placed along the spine and then worked across the body like a second, heated hand. Heat reaches deep muscle layers faster than hands alone, which makes this the winter favourite and the go-to session for chronic stiffness and for guests who feel the cold.

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Firm work: deep tissue and targeted therapeutic massage

Deep tissue massage (50 min · ₺2,750) is the firmest session on our menu. Forearms and elbows come into play; the target is not the surface of the muscle but the layers beneath it, and the therapist pauses on stubborn knots until the tissue releases. It suits shoulders shaped by years of desk work, athletic bodies and anyone who finds gentle sessions unsatisfying. A mild, pleasant soreness the next day is normal.

Targeted therapeutic massage (50 min · ₺2,750) differs by focus rather than force: instead of travelling across the whole body, the session concentrates on the area you describe — neck, lower back, shoulder, legs. An honest framing: this is not medical treatment, it does not diagnose, and it does not replace a doctor. What it does is apply focused, systematic work to the region where tension has gathered. If you have a diagnosed condition, please consult your physician first; with their approval, this session works well alongside their guidance.

Far Eastern school: Balinese and Thai

Balinese massage (60 min · ₺2,750) blends flowing oiled strokes with acupressure points and gentle stretches. The rhythm rises and falls, which keeps the session from becoming monotonous — a middle path for guests who find deep tissue too firm and aromatherapy too light.

Thai massage (60 min · ₺2,750) is the assertive end of the tradition: no oil, performed clothed in comfortable garments, and built around passive stretching. The therapist moves your limbs and torso through yoga-like positions while you do nothing at all — hence its common description as "lazy yoga". You leave feeling opened rather than melted. Bring loose clothing, or we will provide a set. Not suitable during pregnancy or with certain joint conditions; please tell us in advance.

Ritual and experience: Sultan, couples and VIP

Some sessions target an experience rather than a muscle group. Sultan massage (60 min · ₺2,500) is our signature: hot towel compresses open the session, warmed oil and a steady rhythm carry it, and the closing compress across the face is the moment most guests remember. It draws on the hammam culture of this region and is the session we recommend to visitors who want something specifically Turkish.

Couples massage (60 min · ₺4,500 for two) places two tables and two therapists in one room; each person chooses their own style and pressure. The jacuzzi VIP package (₺5,000) combines a private jacuzzi, a 60-minute massage of your choice and refreshments into a half-day experience. Both are detailed on our couples and VIP page.

Thirty-second selection table

The whole guide, compressed:

• First massage, general fatigue → Classic (₺2,000)
• Sluggish circulation, heavy legs → Swedish (₺2,000)
• Racing mind, poor sleep → Aromatherapy (₺2,750)
• Chronic stiffness, always cold → Hot stone (₺3,500)
• Want it firm, have knots → Deep tissue (₺2,750)
• One painful area (neck/back/shoulder) → Targeted therapeutic (₺2,750)
• Exotic but gentle → Balinese (₺2,750)
• Want flexibility, no oil → Thai (₺2,750)
• A Turkish ritual with hot towels → Sultan (₺2,500)
• With your partner → Couples (₺4,500)
• Celebrating something → Jacuzzi VIP (₺5,000)

And remember: every day from 10:00 to 13:00, sessions start from ₺1,200 — the cheapest way to discover which style is yours.

A word on pressure: firmer is not automatically better

The most persistent myth in this field is that a massage must hurt to work. It doesn't. Correct pressure meets the muscle's resistance and dissolves it; pressure that causes real pain makes the body defend itself, and a defended muscle does not release. That is why every session here opens with a short conversation about pressure, and why one sentence from you — "a little lighter" or "you can go deeper" — is all it takes to adjust at any point.

Roughly speaking, our scale runs like this: aromatherapy, Balinese and Sultan sit in the gentle-to-moderate band; classic, Swedish and targeted therapeutic in the moderate band; deep tissue and the stretches of Thai occupy the firm end. Hot stone applies moderate pressure but heat carries the effect deeper. We'll find your band together in the first session — and after that, your preferences are on file.

Questions about massage styles

Which style is most popular? Classic massage first, followed by the Sultan ritual and aromatherapy. Most first-time guests start with the classic and branch out later.

Which is the firmest? Deep tissue, followed by the stretches in Thai massage. In both cases intensity is adjusted to your feedback — firm never means unbearable.

Which is the most relaxing? Aromatherapy for mental relaxation, hot stone for physical release. These two collect the most "I melted" comments.

Why do prices differ between styles? Duration, materials (special oils, stone sets) and preparation time. Hot stone requires the longest preparation, which is why it sits at the top of the list.

Can I combine two styles in one session? Yes — the most common combination is a hot stone opening followed by deep tissue or a classic flow. Ask when booking and we'll plan the timing.

Is massage suitable during pregnancy? Only with your doctor's approval, and with pregnancy-appropriate positioning and gentle technique. Hot stone, deep tissue and heat rooms are not applied during pregnancy.

How often should I come? For general maintenance, every 10 to 14 days; during intense periods, weekly is the rhythm most of our regulars settle into.

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Last updated: August 2026