Deep Tissue Massage
Targeted tension relief at MASAJ London
Our guests describe Deep Tissue as:
Our go-to for relieving patterns of muscular tension, breaking down painful knots, and restoring ease of movement. Deep tissue massage is designed to cut through the build-up, ease tension at its source and bring you back into balance.
Menu
Targeted
Pressure
Tailored
30 Minutes - £60
45 Minutes - £75
60 Minutes - £105
75 Minutes - £120
90 Minutes - £135
120 Minutes - £185
With studios in Shoreditch and Marylebone, our team of highly trained therapists deliver treatment that’s both restorative and results-driven. Everyone is welcome.
Treatment Details
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Relief from Pain & Tension: Eases chronic back pain, muscle tightness and the impact of sports injuries.
Faster Recovery & Better Performance: Supports flexibility, aids repair and helps prevent future injuries.
Calm & Reset: Beyond the physical, our treatments quieten the nervous system and bring deep relaxation.
Improved Posture & Movement: Releases fascia, rebalances posture and restores natural mobility.
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Unlike relaxation-focused massages, deep tissue uses firm pressure and slow strokes to reach deep layers of muscle and fascia. Your therapist will work with your breath and feedback to ensure pressure is effective but never overwhelming.
You'll start your session by filling out our MASAJ slate, where you can indicate how much interaction you'd like with your therapist, the mood you’re after (guided or quiet), your preferred music, oils, and any areas that require special attention.
Each treatment is completely bespoke, focusing on what you and your body need in that moment.
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Yes. Our deep tissue massage is covered by most private health insurers, and the process is straightforward with four simple steps. Visit our insurance page to learn more about how it works.
How does a Deep Tissue massage differ from Relaxing massage?
Deep Tissue massage is more penetrative of the deeper layers of tissues so it allows more change to take place within the fibres such as ‘breaking down’ scar tissue, realigning fibres that have become shortened and are hypertonic and reducing adhesions (knots) to allow better glide of the tissues.
It can help increase range of movement, allow for better performance within sports and exercise, release trigger points that may be causing pain and discomfort in the body and flushing through any waste products that the body needs to get rid of.How does Deep Tissue differ from Sports or Focus massage?
Sports massage uses very similar general techniques as Deep Tissue, however there are more techniques that can be used in Sports massage which require more participation from the client such as; contracting their muscle to meet your force, moving a particular body part or performing a range of tests to gather more information about how the muscles are performing. Focus Area massages at MASAJ can be a blend of Relaxation, Deep Tissue & Sports, but the idea is that it focuses on a particular area. This is a good choice for people who have a specific issue they would like addressing such as injury rehab or areas of particular tension.
We often see clients under this treatment wanting their back, neck and shoulders focused on and now we are getting into marathon season, a lot of people want their legs focusing on.What person would be suited to a Deep Tissue massage?
Every person is suited to a Deep Tissue massage because the depth of the pressure is all relative. One person’s pressure level 8, is another person’s 5, so as long as you're working within the limits of that individual deeper pressure can be applied. We have practiced this massage on very athletic people with very hypertonic muscles, to people who are very sedentary with low muscle mass but have lots of ‘knots’ due to poor posture.What are some common misconceptions of a Deep Tissue massage?
That it should be painful! There is a preconceived idea that Deep Tissue massage should ‘hurt’ - a ‘no pain, no gain’ mentality. But this is actually counterproductive. When working with deeper tissues it’s extremely important that the client remains calm and relaxed in order to maximise the results of the treatment. This is because there are nerve endings within our fascia that speak directly to our nervous system and vice verser. If the nervous system is relaxed, this will in turn help the tissues to relax also, allowing for more reduction in hypertonic muscles, tension and knots/adhesions. If there is pain the body will ‘guard’ (tense up) to protect itself and this is actually counterintuitive for the treatment. As therapists we’re taught that you can go up to the point of discomfort, but never through pain. There is a numbering scale that can be used 0-10 where 10 in unbearable pain. Usually throughout a massage we’d like the pressure to be around a 6 and no more than an 8 when working on trigger points and tense areas. 
Deep tissue massage vs Sports massage:
What’s the difference and what’s best for you?
We get the question a lot.
Therapist Simona Lacorte gives her thoughts and brings her expertise & experience to help you make up your mind.
Our Studios
Both studios are environments that invite you to pause. Each space is designed to slow the pace of the city outside and help you find a moment of stillness in the midst of London life.
MASAJ Vouchers
Give them what they actually need – a MASAJ experience that translates tension into relief and everyday stress into serene calm through the power of expert touch.
Our Treatment Menu
MASAJ’s treatment menu blends advanced bodywork techniques with a contemporary approach to wellbeing, designed to restore balance, relieve tension, and reset both body and mind. Each treatment is tailored to your individual needs, delivered by expert therapists in calm, thoughtfully designed surroundings