Deep Tissue & Chinese Tuina Massage in Chinatown

Tuina here is done dry through a cotton sheet or thin clothing, not with oil, because the therapist needs grip to knead and lift muscle rather than glide over it. You stay face-down on the table for most of the session, with a face cradle so your neck is not turned to one side.

The first few minutes are diagnostic: the therapist presses along the shoulder blade edge, the base of the neck and the lower back to find where the tissue is actually hard, then spends the bulk of the time on those two or three spots instead of covering the whole body evenly. If you want a full-body even massage rather than problem-area work, tell us and we will book you an oil massage instead.

Strong does not mean silent. Our Centre St therapists ask for a number out of ten at the start and again once they reach a knot, and 60 minutes is the shortest length we recommend for back and neck cases — a 30-minute slot only allows one area.

Two groups book this most: desk workers from the offices and courts around Foley Square with neck and shoulder tension from screens, and gym-goers whose backs and legs are tight after training. Tell the therapist which one you are — the areas and the pacing are different, and for post-workout soreness we keep the pressure one notch lower than usual.

Not suitable straight after an injury, with a herniated disc under active treatment, with osteoporosis, or while on blood thinners. Say so at check-in; we will switch you to gentler work such as hot stone or an oil massage.