Deep tissue,
done properly

How the session is built

It starts with a short conversation — where it hurts, how long, what makes it worse. Then the therapist works the surrounding tissue first: shoulders and upper back before the neck, hips and glutes before the lower back. The painful spot is rarely where the problem started, and going straight at it usually makes it defend itself.

Pressure builds gradually and stays slow. You should be able to breathe normally throughout. Pain that makes you tense up is counter-productive — muscle under threat contracts, and the session works against itself. Tell the therapist and the pressure changes.

Desk-job pain — the most common reason people book this

In Bangkok it has its own name: office syndrome. Neck, upper back, shoulders and forearms, in people who spend eight to eleven hours at a screen. Deep tissue work relieves it reliably. What it does not do is keep it away on its own — the desk is still there on Monday.

We wrote the long version, with the evidence behind it, in the journal: Office Syndrome in Bangkok: How to Fix Desk-Job Neck and Back Pain. Short version: massage plus small changes in how you sit and move beats either one alone, and frequency matters more than intensity.

How often, and for how long

From ฿1,590. Exact price depends on length and therapist level — confirmed when you book.

For pain that has lasted months, a single session is a test, not a treatment. Plan on five or six 90-minute sessions over two weeks, then drop to weekly or fortnightly maintenance. This is exactly what the after-session reports are for: each therapist can see what was worked on last time and how you responded.

When not to book deep tissue

Skip deep work and tell us first if you have a fever or an active infection, a recent injury with swelling or bruising, a suspected blood clot or diagnosed DVT, or if you are pregnant. Some of these mean a different session; some mean seeing a doctor first. If you are on blood thinners, mention it — we adjust pressure.

Questions guests ask

Should deep tissue massage hurt?

It should feel firm and specific — the kind of intensity you can breathe through. If you are holding your breath or tensing up, the pressure is too high and the session becomes less effective, not more.

Will I be sore the next day?

Mild soreness for a day is common after a first deep tissue session, similar to after a hard workout. Sharp or lasting pain is not normal — tell us.

How many sessions do I need for chronic back pain?

For pain that has lasted months, plan on five to six 90-minute sessions over about two weeks, then maintenance every one to two weeks. One session tells you whether it responds; it rarely holds on its own.

Deep tissue or traditional Thai massage?

Deep tissue for a specific painful area. Traditional Thai for general stiffness and restricted range of movement. Many guests alternate them.

Other sessions

Visiting HIDE

From the Journal

Longer, evidence-based writing from our therapists on recovery and desk-job pain — read the journal, starting with Office Syndrome in Bangkok.