Do you do deep tissue?

No. Yes. It depends. Tell me about what you think of when you ask for “deep tissue” before I answer.

I mean I want to feel intense sensation, i.e. “You’re really getting in there.”, or “That hurts so good.”, or “That hurt but I feel better now.” This is the definition of deep tissue that I think of when I encounter the term because it’s the one we used in school. A handful of techniques that massage therapists use like trigger point therapy, cross-fibre frictions, and direct myofascial technique belong here. With informed consent and good client communication these deep tissue techniques can feel therapeutic and be beneficial. Conversely, including them without client informed consent and adequate client communication, or overusing them can ruin a session, and hurt the client.

I mean I want to feel heavy pressure, i.e. heavy-handed, steam-roller quality, flatten me out pressure, as perceived by you the client. I also mean do NOT give me light pressure because I had a massage that didn’t feel engaging in any way (i.e. “They just rubbed lotion on me.”) and I’m trying to avoid getting that kind of massage again. Tip: if your massage therapist checks in “How’s the pressure?”, and you want a change try “Can you show me what less/more pressure would feel like?”

I mean work on actual deep tissues, anatomically. Keep in mind that deep is a relative term: the trapezius muscle is deep to the skin and superficial fascia, the serratus posterior is deep to the trapezius, and the erector spinae are deep to the serratus posterior.

I mean I want a profound experience. Leave me feeling like the massage was just for me. I felt tended to in ways that align with my therapeutic goals and deeply connected to my body.

I mean a mix of all these things.

If you have a massage therapist that makes an effort to understand what you are expecting to feel and accomplish with your massage, attempts to get your input and work with you during the session, and gets it right (although this can take a couple sessions to figure out), they’re a keeper.

But, ANNIKA, do you do deep tissue? Well, thanks for inquiring, client. If the most important aspect of your session is intense sensation, I use deep tissue techniques on an as-needed basis when alternative gentle approaches have failed to provide relief. If the most important aspect of your session is heavy pressure, that will depend on how things feel to you, but many clients report back that my pressure feels firm, which is less than deep. If the most important aspect to you is getting to deeper layers of muscle and connective tissue, yes, we can certainly do that. If the most important aspect to you is having a profound experience, absolutely — I think I do this very well.