Which massage is right for you depends on three things. Choose by how you feel, how firm you like it and what you are doing afterwards: tired means full body, tight means deep tissue, stiff means Thai.
How we work: If you cannot decide, describe how you feel on WhatsApp and we will suggest a treatment.
Further reading: Massage (Wikipedia)
Looking at a spa menu can feel like reading a menu in a language you only half speak. Swedish, Kerala, Nuad Thai, hammam, deep tissue. Names are not much help when what you really want to know is: what will feel good today?
So let’s skip the names for a moment and start with you. Which massage suits you depends on three simple questions.
Key takeaways
- Which massage is right for you? Choose by how you feel: tired means full body, tight means deep tissue, stiff means Thai, dry skin means the Moroccan bath.
- Choose by pressure: gentle for full body or Kerala, firm for deep tissue or Russian.
- Choose by what comes next: less oil if you are going back to work, a bath and massage if you have the evening free.
- When in doubt, choose the gentler option. Pressure can always be increased once you start.
- At Olive Spa massages start from AED 120 for 60 minutes.
Question 1: How does your body feel today?
The short answer: “Tired. My head won’t stop.” You need to switch off, not be worked on. Choose a full body massage: warm oil, long strokes, light to medium pressure.
“Tight. Especially my neck and shoulders.” You want focused, slower, firmer work. Choose a deep tissue massage, and consider 90 minutes if your lower back and legs need attention too.
“Stiff. I can’t touch my toes like I used to.” You want movement. Choose a traditional Thai massage, with assisted stretches, done fully clothed.
“Homesick for a proper oil massage.” Choose a Kerala massage: generous warm herbal oil and a slow, traditional rhythm.
“My skin feels dull after the sun.” Choose a Moroccan bath: steam, black soap and a full-body scrub, ideally followed by a massage.
“Energised would be nice.” A Russian massage, firm and brisk, tends to leave guests feeling lively rather than sleepy.
Question 2: How firm do you like the pressure?
| Pressure | Styles that suit |
|---|---|
| Gentle | Kerala, full body (lighter setting) |
| Medium | Full body, Thai oil, traditional Thai |
| Firm | Deep tissue, Russian |
Not sure? Start at medium. You can always ask for firmer during the session, and it is much easier to go up than to recover from too much.
Question 3: What are you doing afterwards?
The short answer: This one is often forgotten, and it matters.
- Going straight back to work or a dinner? Avoid the most oil-rich treatments. A full body massage or traditional Thai leaves you presentable.
- Free for the evening? Kerala, with time to shower, or a Moroccan bath followed by a massage.
- Training tomorrow? Deep tissue is best on a rest day, with water and an easy evening afterwards.
Which massage for which situation?
The short answer: Sometimes the easiest way to choose is to start with what happened this week. These are the situations guests describe to us most often, and what we usually suggest.
| Your situation | Our usual suggestion | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Long week at a desk, stiff neck and shoulders | Deep tissue, focused on upper back | 60, 90 or 120 min |
| Long drive or flight, stiff hips and lower back | Thai massage | 90 min |
| Can’t switch off, sleeping badly | Full body massage or Kerala | 90 min |
| After hiking or training, heavy legs | Deep tissue or Thai | 90 min |
| Dull, dry skin after sun and sea | Moroccan bath | About 60 min |
| Anniversary, birthday, time together | Couples massage | 60, 90 or 120 min |
| First massage ever | Full body massage | 60 min |
| Missing the oil massages of home (Kerala, South India) | Kerala massage | 90 min |
The whole menu at a glance
| If you want to… | Book |
|---|---|
| Switch off completely | Full body massage |
| Release tight shoulders | Deep tissue massage |
| Feel looser and taller | Traditional Thai massage |
| Relax with Thai rhythm, no stretching | Thai oil massage |
| Feel energised | Russian massage |
| Enjoy warm oil, slowly | Kerala massage |
| Refresh your skin | Moroccan bath |
| Share the experience | Couples massage |
Which massage to avoid if you already know what you dislike
Ruling things out is just as useful as choosing:
- Don’t like oil on your skin or hair? Choose Thai massage, or ask for light oil and no scalp massage in a full body treatment.
- Don’t want to undress? Thai massage is done fully clothed in loose clothing we provide.
- Don’t like firm pressure? Avoid deep tissue and Russian; choose full body or Kerala.
- Don’t like being moved or stretched? Avoid traditional Thai; choose an oil massage.
- Don’t enjoy heat? Skip the Moroccan bath and steam, and choose a massage in a cool room.
Pregnancy, older guests and other special cases
Pregnancy. Tell us when you book, and check with your doctor first. We will advise whether a treatment is suitable and how it should be adapted. Heat treatments such as the Moroccan bath and steam are usually best avoided.
Older guests. A gentle full body or Kerala massage, with lighter pressure and extra care getting on and off the table, is usually the most comfortable choice.
Recent injury, surgery or a medical condition. Massage is not a medical treatment. Check with your doctor first and tell us what they said. We may suggest avoiding certain areas or choosing a gentler style.
When your doctor should have the final say
Whatever you choose, tell us if you are pregnant, recovering from an injury or surgery, or managing a medical condition. Some treatments can be adapted, and some are better avoided. Massage is for relaxation and wellbeing; it is not a medical treatment.
Not sure which massage to ask for? What to say when you book
You do not need spa vocabulary. Plain words work best. For example:
- “My shoulders are very tight, I like firm pressure, I have 90 minutes.”
- “I’ve never had a massage. Something gentle, please.”
- “I drove from Dubai and my back is stiff. I’d rather stay clothed.”
- “It’s our anniversary. One of us likes it firm, one of us likes it soft.”
Send something like that on WhatsApp (+971 50 271 8276) and we will reply with a suggestion, a length and a price.
Questions to ask your therapist
You can also ask your therapist directly during the consultation. Good questions include: “Which areas feel tightest to you?”, “Would 90 minutes make a difference for me?” and “What would you suggest next time?”. Therapists notice a lot through their hands, and their answer after your first session is often the best guide to your second.
Still unsure? Ask us
“Which massage should I book?” is the question we answer most often on WhatsApp, and we are always happy to. Send us two sentences about how you feel and how firm you like it, and we will suggest a treatment and a length. Message WhatsApp (+971 50 271 8276), call +971 54 594 0701 or +971 50 271 8276, or compare every style on our massage center in Fujairah page. Every style here starts from AED 120 for an hour.
When in doubt, choose gentle
If you are torn, choose the gentler option. You can always ask for firmer pressure once the massage has started, and your therapist will adjust. It is much harder to relax after a session that was too strong. Start with a full body massage, notice what your body enjoys, and use that to choose next time.
