Maderotherapy Massage

A body-contouring massage that uses shaped wooden tools instead of, or alongside, the hands. The rollers and cups glide, knead and press the tissue in a way hands alone do not, which stimulates circulation and drainage. The technique comes from Colombia and is now offered in studios worldwide.

No treatment of this kind burns fat or removes cellulite for good. What you can expect is smoother-looking, firmer-feeling skin and less fluid retention, with results that last longest when combined with regular movement, water and a balanced diet. A short series of sessions gives a more visible effect than a single one.

It is firm and can feel intense on tight areas, but pressure is adjusted to you and should never be sharp. Skip it or check with a doctor first if you are pregnant, have varicose veins or a history of blood clots, a skin infection or open wounds in the area, or have had recent surgery.

Maderotherapy Massage costs $60 and lasts 60 min.

In person, at our studio at 26 Gergi Zeidan Street, Tabaris, Achrafieh, Beirut.

Khouloud or Rima. You can ask for a particular practitioner when you book.

Swedish for general tension and stress, and the default if you are unsure. Deep tissue for persistent knots and long-held tension. Thai for stiffness and restricted movement, done clothed on a mat. Lymphatic drainage for fluid retention and heavy legs, not for muscle knots.

You undress to whatever you are comfortable with, in private, and lie under a sheet on a heated table. Only the area being worked on is uncovered. For Thai massage and reflexology you stay fully clothed.

For general wellbeing and stress, once a month is a sensible default. For a specific problem, weekly or fortnightly for three to six sessions, then space them out. For desk stiffness, every three to four weeks alongside some daily stretching.