What is a massage?
A massage is touch from the hands, the fingers and sometimes the forearms, applied to the body with a particular rhythm and pressure. Warm oil, a quiet room and a therapist who never rushes: those are the essentials. Everything else is shaped by the technique, the tempo and your own preferences. On a massage table or a floor mat, with oil or without, each technique reaches the body in its own way.
Massage has been part of life in many parts of the world for centuries. From Asian styles performed on a floor mat with gentle stretches to the long, flowing strokes of Hawaii, from India’s Ayurvedic tradition of warm oils to the foam massage of the Anatolian hammam, every culture has developed its own language of touch.
At Beatus you will find many of these languages under one roof. We have run spas inside hotels since 2011, and our therapists come from Thailand and Bali, bringing the techniques of their own traditions with them. That is why, at the same spa and on the same day, you can enjoy two very different massage experiences.
The benefits of massage: what you might feel
What people enjoy about massage differs from person to person. So rather than promising results, we describe the sensations people often talk about during and after a session. Even for the same person no two sessions are quite alike; arriving tired one evening or rested one morning changes how a massage feels.
In the first minutes, the warmth of the oil and the hands comes to the fore. As the rhythm slows, the mind slows with it; your phone, your meetings and the traffic outside drift away for a while. Many people describe this as a rare stretch of quiet set aside for themselves. The soft light of the room, gentle music and the scent of the oil complete that quiet.
Towards the end of the session your body may feel heavy and loose. When you get up, what remains is a sense of lightness, of feeling refreshed, or simply a deep calm. For us, this is where the real value of massage lies: the trace that an hour of your own leaves in the body.
Which massage suits you?
The choice usually comes down to how much pressure you like and how much time you have. For a light, slow session there is the 40-minute Relaxing Massage. If it is your first visit, the Beatus Signature Massage (55 or 90 min), which balances firm and gentle techniques, is a good place to start.
Those who enjoy firmer pressure tend to choose the Deep Tissue Massage (55 min). Thai Massage (55 / 80 min), performed on a floor mat with pressure and stretching, and Shiatsu (55 min), based on the Japanese finger-pressure technique, offer a more active rhythm. For those who would like to focus on the feet and legs, there is also the Thai Foot Massage (55 / 80 min).
If you love long strokes with warm oil, there is Lomi Lomi Nui (80 min) and Abhyanga (55 min), drawn from the Ayurvedic tradition. If you cannot decide, simply ask your therapist: at the start of the session you agree together on the pressure, the oil and the areas to focus on. At some of our spas, couples can also enjoy the Beatus Couples Massage (55 min) side by side in the same room.
How long, and when to come?
Choosing a length is really about the feeling you are after. A 30–40 minute session is enough for a single area such as the back and neck, or for a short break; 55 minutes is a comfortable length for the whole body. Sessions of 80–90 minutes offer a long rest in which the rhythm slows right down and time seems to fall away.
When you come changes the experience too. At the end of a long journey or a day full of meetings, a massage becomes a quiet way to close the day, while others choose a weekend morning for an unhurried start. If you are staying at the hotel, booking your session before dinner and then returning to your room to rest makes for a pleasant plan.
There is no rule about how often to come. Some guests visit as the seasons change; others keep a fixed day each month for themselves. What matters is seeing massage as time you give yourself, not as an obligation.
How to prepare for your session
Arriving 10–15 minutes early gives you time to change and catch your breath. Avoiding a heavy meal just beforehand also makes the session more comfortable. Leaving your jewellery in your room makes it easier still.
Tell your therapist at the start how much pressure you like, and mention any area you would rather not have touched or any sensitivities. If the pressure feels too firm or too light during the session, do say so; your therapist will adjust. You do not need to talk during the session; staying quiet, closing your eyes and simply following your breath are part of the massage too.
If you have a medical condition or are pregnant, please consult your doctor before a massage and let us know when you book.
After your session
Rather than jumping up and rushing off, take a few minutes to sit and enjoy a glass of water or herbal tea. If you can, keep the rest of the day light. Letting the oil stay on your skin for a while and putting off your shower a little is a pleasant option too.
At our spas you can also combine massage with the hammam. Warming up on the hot marble first and then moving on to a massage is a sequence many people love, and the Jet Lag Package (120 min) follows exactly this flow.
If you are trying massage for the first time, or have not had one in a while, message your nearest spa on WhatsApp and we will find a suitable day and time together.
