This guide explains where each massage comes from, how a session runs from start to finish and what to think about when you choose between them. For the wider picture, see our guide to types of massage. For sessions where two people work at the same time, such as Synchronised Abhyanga and Mandara, see our four-hands massage guide. All three are on the Beatus menu. Which location offers which one is not the same everywhere, so ask when you book. You can browse our Istanbul locations to start.
What is the main difference between Shiatsu, Lomi Lomi and Abhyanga?
The difference lies on three axes: the setting (floor or table), the oil (none or plenty) and the nature of the movement. Shiatsu is held pressure, Lomi Lomi flows like a wave and Abhyanga is a slow glide.
The table below puts the three side by side. The durations are taken from our menu. The table is meant to make reading easier, not to rank the options.
| Shiatsu | Lomi Lomi Nui | Abhyanga | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Origin | Japan | Hawaii | India (Ayurveda) |
| Setting | Floor mat | Table | Table |
| Clothing | Comfortable clothes | Under a drape | Under a drape |
| Oil | None | Plenty | Plenty, warm |
| Touch | Thumbs, fingers, palms; pressure | Forearms and elbows; long waves | Palms; slow, rhythmic strokes |
| Pace | Steady, patient | Flowing, in step with the breath | Slow, calm |
| Your part | Medium: you may change position | Low: you let go | Low: you let go |
| Length at Beatus | 55 min | 80 min | 55 min |
| Afterwards | You can get up straight away | Think about a shower because of the oil | Think about a shower because of the amount of oil |
What is Shiatsu and where does it come from?
Shiatsu means "finger pressure" in Japanese and is a hands-on method that took shape in Japan. Its roots go back to the older Japanese massage called anma. It is done on a floor mat, in clothes and without oil.
From anma to Shiatsu
A study in a peer-reviewed journal describes anma as a form brought from China in the 6th century, based on Chinese medical theory but developed in Japan to local taste, and today one of the most common complementary practices there (Donoyama and others, 2010). Shiatsu grew out of this ground and gained its own name and discipline in the 20th century. The usual account credits Tokujiro Namikoshi (1905–2000) most of all. That detail rests on encyclopaedic sources, so read it as historical context, not as an official record.
A systematic review in BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine notes that Shiatsu and acupressure have roots in Chinese medicine and adopt ideas such as yin and yang, energy pathways (meridians), the five elements and "ki" (Robinson and others, 2011). In other words, Shiatsu has a language of its own. That language is one culture's way of describing the body, and we do not present it here as a scientific model.
Schools and variety
The same review notes that Shiatsu is practised in Europe in different styles and philosophies, among them Zen Shiatsu, Macrobiotic Shiatsu, Namikoshi Shiatsu and Hara Shiatsu. This has a practical consequence: two sessions sold as "Shiatsu" in two places may not feel alike. It is worth telling your massage specialist at the start what you expect, how much pressure you like and what pace suits you.
What the evidence says
The review also says the evidence for Shiatsu is weak and that better-designed studies are needed. That is why we describe Shiatsu as an experience and a cultural practice, not as a treatment: a session of pressure, breath and slowness.
How does a Shiatsu session run?
Shiatsu is done on a floor mat in comfortable, loose clothing. The massage specialist applies rhythmic, patient pressure with the thumbs, fingers and palms. Each pressure stays on one spot for a short time and then moves on.
Preparation and clothing
Because no oil is used, you do not need to undress. Avoid tight or restrictive clothes. Cotton trousers and a T-shirt are enough. Our guide on what to wear for a massage covers clothing in more detail and applies to all three massages. Staying dressed can make Shiatsu an easy first step for anyone uneasy about undressing or oil.
The flow
The core of the session is rhythmic, patient pressure. The specialist holds the pressure on one spot for a while and then moves to the next. The pressure does not have to be deep. It has to be patient and regular. Gentle stretches may accompany it, but do not expect a session as active as Thai massage. You can read about that difference in our article on what Thai massage is: Thai is more dynamic, Shiatsu is more still and pressure-led.
Shiatsu at Beatus
On our menu Shiatsu lasts 55 minutes and is done on a floor mat. It is on the menu. Ask which location offers it when you book.
What is Lomi Lomi and where does it come from in Hawaii?
Lomi Lomi is the traditional massage of Hawaii. According to sources from the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA), the name can be rendered as "to break into small pieces", "to make room" or simply "to rub rub", and its signature is the forearm.
From a family tradition to a massage table
An article in the AMTA's Massage Therapy Journal says the practice was first taught by kahunas (traditional wise people and teachers), was done with long, flowing forearm movements, and arose within the community as a family-based practice of care that was part of daily life (Jamieson, 2010). According to the article, children would walk on adults' backs to reach the deep muscles, and massages were given on the grass or the sand. These accounts come from the oral tradition passed on by practitioners and are not academic history. They still help explain why the tradition is described as a way of life, not a job.
An art taught by watching
The AMTA article says traditional Lomi Lomi was first taught only by observation: students trained for years at the side of a kahuna and learned by copying their teacher. It also says that "pule", prayers, were chanted at the start and end of a session to open and close a sacred space, and that keeping the practitioner's intention clear mattered. The article states plainly that, as the practice travelled west, it moved from the shore to the table, and that practitioners' commitment to the tradition varies greatly with the quality of their training. For that reason, sessions sold as Lomi Lomi can differ in style.
What does "aloha" mean?
The common thread in the article is "aloha": respect, honour and care. In the session this shows up as an unhurried rhythm and attention to the whole body. We share this cultural background as the spirit of the session, not as a promise of any result.
How does a Lomi Lomi session run?
Lomi Lomi is usually done on a table, under a drape and with plenty of oil. The massage specialist works with the forearms and palms in long waves that follow the breath.
Forearm, breath and rhythm
According to the AMTA article, other styles of massage often focus on one part of the body, while Lomi Lomi links the lower and upper limbs with long, flowing strokes. The guest is lightly covered, plenty of oil is used to ease the movement and the breath sets the rhythm. Using the forearm helps the movements stay fluid even when the contact is firm. Practitioners say the wave-like movement spreads attention and eases tension. That is a personal observation, not a promise of any result.
The article also describes alternating movements on the right and left sides, some practitioners taking the rhythm of a session from hula dance, and the importance of room temperature. It says the practitioner keeps moving around the table, so you cannot guess "where they are now". If you want a picture of it, think of the session as a dance: there is no repeating pattern, but there is continuity.
Movement and flow as a whole
In a narrative review in Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, Posadzki and others (2009) treat Lomi Lomi as a practice that joins light massage with passive movement, and suggest that this combination could be studied in more detail in future. This is a conceptual proposal, not evidence. It does show why Lomi Lomi is often described as "massage with movement".
Lomi Lomi Nui at Beatus
On our menu Lomi Lomi Nui lasts 80 minutes. The longer length gives the movements room to travel over the whole body without hurry. It is on the menu. Ask which location offers it when you book. Leave a little time after the session for the oil to settle into your skin.
What is Abhyanga and where does it sit in the Ayurvedic tradition?
Abhyanga means "oil massage" in Sanskrit. In Ayurveda it is described as a massage with warm oil, mentioned as part of a daily care routine (dinacharya).
Ayurveda in brief
The US National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) describes Ayurveda as one of the world's oldest medical systems and one of India's traditional health systems, combining herbs, diet, exercise and lifestyle. The same page states clearly that there are few well-designed clinical trials and systematic reviews showing that Ayurvedic approaches work. The World Health Organization (WHO) also treats Ayurveda as a traditional medical system and has published training benchmarks for it (WHO, 2010). In this guide we present Ayurveda as a culture and a world of ideas, not as a medical method.
Dinacharya and oil
An article in the Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine describes Abhyanga as a practice found in the classical Ayurvedic texts as a daily routine, and says that in the traditional framework it is done regularly with warm oil, often enriched with herbs (Rao, 2018). The same article explains Abhyanga through concepts specific to Ayurveda, such as the doshas and body types. These are the tradition's own framework, not independent evidence. Our approach is clear: we pass these concepts on as the world of ideas the session comes from, not as an effect on the body.
What the evidence says
A pilot study of Abhyanga (Basler, 2011) was run with 20 healthy volunteers and was a small, single-session study, and the author herself says more rigorous research is needed. The same abstract notes that many people offering Ayurvedic massage make unproven claims. So caution is the right approach here: tie your expectations to an experience, not to a result.
How does an Abhyanga session run?
Abhyanga is done on a table, under a drape and with plenty of warm oil. The massage specialist uses the palms for slow, rhythmic, long strokes, and each part of the body is covered in turn without hurry.
The role of the oil
What marks Abhyanga out is the amount of oil. There is clearly more than in other oil massages, and it is applied warm. In the traditional account the oil is chosen for the person and enriched with herbs. At Beatus you can ask about the type and contents of the oil when you book or at the start of the session. If your skin is sensitive, you are allergic to an oil or you are sensitive to scent, say so before the session.
Pace
Abhyanga is the slowest of the three. Its menu description is "slow, rhythmic" strokes. The aim is not deep muscle work but a steady, calm rhythm. It suits people who like to lie back and let go without looking at the clock. Because of the amount of oil, you may want to shower afterwards or wait for the oil to settle into your skin, so allow for this in your plans after the session.
Abhyanga at Beatus
On our menu Abhyanga lasts 55 minutes and is described as a slow, rhythmic session with warm Ayurvedic oil. It is on the menu. Ask which location offers it when you book. Synchronised Abhyanga (four hands), where two massage specialists work at the same time, is also on the menu. It is covered in our four-hands massage guide, so we do not repeat it here.
How do you choose between Shiatsu, Lomi Lomi and Abhyanga?
If you like firm pressure and a particular posture, consider Shiatsu. If you want a long, flowing session, consider Lomi Lomi. If you want to slow down with warm oil, consider Abhyanga. There is no single right answer, only your own preference.
Work through the questions below.
Pressure or flow?
Shiatsu likes pointed, patient pressure. Lomi Lomi has pressure too, but it melts into a flow. Abhyanga has less pressure and more gliding. Someone who has sat at a desk all day and wants a spot "pressed" may lean towards Shiatsu. Someone who wants the whole body met like a wave may lean towards Lomi Lomi, and someone looking for a softness where nothing tightens may lean towards Abhyanga.
Oil and drape
If oil and a drape bother you, Shiatsu is the easiest option because you stay in clothes. If you are comfortable with both, you can choose between Lomi Lomi and Abhyanga. If you have no time for a shower or a rest afterwards, Shiatsu can be the practical choice.
Length and rhythm
Shiatsu and Abhyanga last 55 minutes, and Lomi Lomi Nui lasts 80. If you do not have time for a long session, you can plan a separate evening for Lomi Lomi. In rhythm, Shiatsu is patient and measured, Lomi Lomi is flowing and Abhyanga is slow.
Which one in which case?
- If you want to stay in clothes and want pressure: Shiatsu.
- If you want a long, unbroken, flowing session: Lomi Lomi Nui.
- If you want warm oil, scent and slowness: Abhyanga.
- If you cannot decide: talk through what you expect with the massage specialist at the start and set the pressure together. Our guide to setting time, pressure and areas can help you shape the session.
What should you know before the session?
Massage is not a treatment. It is a relaxation and cultural experience. The NCCIH massage guide says the risk of harmful effects appears low, but rare serious side effects have been reported, some of them with forceful massage styles or in people at higher risk.
So if you have a health condition, are pregnant or take regular medication, ask your doctor before you book and tell the massage specialist at the start of the session. Mention any sensitive area or any place you do not want worked, and describe pressure with a number from 1 to 5, which is clearer than saying "medium". If you feel anything sharp, stabbing or tensing during the session, say so at once. If an unusual discomfort lasts after the session, see your doctor.
One practical reminder: the other two involve oil. If you have an important meeting straight after the session, or plans in light-coloured clothes, plan accordingly. Our guide to the first 24 hours after a massage answers questions about showering, drinking, eating and getting back to work.
These three massages at Beatus
Beatus Spa has worked inside hotels since 2011. Shiatsu (55 minutes), Lomi Lomi Nui (80 minutes) and Abhyanga (55 minutes) are on our menu. Ask which location offers each one when you book. To choose a location, look at our Istanbul locations, and you can see the whole menu on our massage page. To book, write to the location's WhatsApp line.
You can ask the location about your choice of massage specialist when you book. To understand what a well-run session looks like, our article on how to choose a massage spa is also useful. If you are curious about the difference between Thai and Balinese massage, see our article on Thai vs Balinese massage.
