I apply continuous pressure with bamboo sticks of different thicknesses. What does the work is the cylindrical shape and the weight of the stick: a steady pressure a hand alone cannot hold for a whole session.
Duration: 60 minPrice: R$ 280Travel includedCopacabana, Ipanema, Leblon, Barra and Centro
Qualified in Physiomassage Therapy, 2024 · I work in English, Portuguese and Spanish · The person at the door is always me.
What the sticks do
A hand gets tired. After a few minutes of firm pressure the fingers and the thumb lose strength, and the pressure starts to vary: stronger at the beginning of the stroke, weaker at the end. The sticks solve that mechanically. The weight and the cylindrical surface hold the pressure steady through the whole stroke, over a wider area than fingertips can cover at once.
It also changes the reach. To get into a deeper layer of muscle with hands alone I would have to load more weight onto my fingers and wrist, and that limits how long I can hold the pressure without straining my own joints. With the stick the weight comes from the arm and the movement, not from the fingertips. I reach deeper without wearing out my hand, and you get a pressure that does not fade halfway through.
I do not use bamboo for any special property of the material. A solid wooden stick of the same shape would do the same job. Bamboo is light, tough and cheap to replace.
How the session runs
I work with bamboo sticks of different thicknesses. The movement is a glide and a roll over the skin, and the pressure is adjustable — I ask during the session whether it is too much or too little. The session runs 60 minutes and costs R$ 280, with the trip to your address already in the price.
The sheets and towels are mine: sterilised, and each one used only once before being sterilised again.
Who it usually suits
People who book this have often had other kinds of massage and feel that pressure from fingers on single points is not enough — the same thing people look for in a deep tissue session, but over a larger area of the body at once, like the whole lower back or both legs.
Muscular tension spread across a large region, not just one point
A preference for steady pressure rather than pinpoint work
Having had firm-pressure massage before and tolerated it well
If you have never had firm pressure, or you have a health condition, tell me before booking. Where massage is not advisable for a medical condition, I only work with a signed medical clearance. After surgery I start from seven days, also with signed medical authorisation.
The pressure is firm but adjustable. I ask during the session whether it is too strong, and take it up or down as you tell me. This is not a technique for putting up with pain in silence.
Is it the same as a hot stone massage?
No. They are different sessions: one uses heated stones, bamboo massage uses sticks to apply pressure and rolling. The prices and durations differ too.
How long is it and what does it cost?
60 minutes, R$ 280, with the trip to your address already in the price.
Can I ask for one part of the body only, like the legs?
Yes. Tell me when you book which areas to prioritise — back, legs or shoulders, say — and I build the session around that.
