Deep tissue · Oakland
Deep tissue massage in Oakland, slow strokes and pressure that is checked with you
Warm the soft tissues first, then work slowly into the deeper muscle groups. 30, 60 or 90 minutes, by appointment.
Chapter 01
Why more pressure alone does not do more
Deep tissue massage means slower strokes and more pressure. It does not mean the hardest touch you can stand. At Dawson’s Stress Reduction in Oakland, the work starts by warming up the soft tissues, and only then does the pressure move toward the deeper muscle groups.
Clients frequently find deep tissue massages less comfortable, and not necessarily more effective, unless used properly. Depending on the goals of the session, simply using more pressure will not improve the results. A slower pace gives the tissue time to settle in before anything deeper is asked of it.
If a deep tissue session has ever felt like something to get through, say so before you book. The first consultation is free of charge, and it is a good place to describe what you did not like last time and what you would like instead. Nothing about the pressure is fixed in advance; it is set with you, and it can change from one minute to the next.
Massage table with a brown blanket beside a sheer-curtained window, sunlight across the wooden floor
How a deep tissue hour runs
The first minutes are usually lighter. Broad, slower strokes warm the area before the work goes any deeper, so the pressure you feel at minute thirty is not the pressure you felt at minute five.
From there the strokes slow down and the pressure builds into the deeper muscle groups. Your therapist checks the pressure with you as the session goes, so tell them when it is too much or when you would like more. Deep work should never turn into something you hold your breath through. Steady breathing is a fair signal that the pressure is right for you on that spot, and a held breath is a signal to ease off.
Sports massage and trigger point work are also offered, and they can sit inside a deep tissue session when the goal calls for them. The practice provides deep tissue and sports massage for chronic or acute pain issues, so the consultation is the right moment to describe where it hurts and for how long.
Chapter 03
Choosing 60 or 90 minutes, and what to tell your therapist
A 30 minute session is $50, 60 minutes is $100 and 90 minutes is $150. Thirty minutes suits a single area. For deep tissue, 60 or 90 is the better suggestion, because slow work takes time and a short session leaves little room between the warm-up and the finish.
On the day, mention the areas you want attention on, how much pressure you like and anything recent that is worth knowing about, such as a new strain or a sore spot from this week. Whether you would rather talk or stay quiet is worth saying too, and so is anything you would rather the session avoid altogether.
Afterward, drink some water and give yourself an easy evening if you can. Sessions are by appointment, Monday to Friday, 7 AM to 8 PM, in Oakland, CA 94609. Call (510) 229-0214 to find a time.
Certified massage therapist since 1985 · National Holistic Institute, 1986 · Free initial consultation
Session lengths
The hour, set out in minutes.
- 30 minutes$50
- 60 minutes$100
- 90 minutes$150
For deep tissue, 60 or 90 minutes is the suggestion, since slow work takes time. Discount packages are available. Ask for details.
“One of the best deep tissue massages I’ve had! Cute space too - will definitely return.”