photos: Soul House.
When the founders of Berlin-based massage therapy platform Soulhouse contacted me a while ago to ask if I would be interested in trying out their new massage service, they probably had no idea it would be a dream opportunity. for me. I’m a bit of a massage fanatic and being offered to try such a premium service is like Christmas and my birthday falls on the same day.
I really love getting massages and will jump at any chance to get one. Whenever I book into a hotel that offers massages, the first thing I will do is book one as soon as possible. When I discover a new massage studio in my neighborhood, I will be the first to try it. And almost all of my previous and current partners have been pressured into giving me massages. So, clearly, I am an expert now in the field of receiving massages and I will not hesitate to share my qualified opinion
For me, massages are not just about style, strength or technique. It is about much more than that. Although I generally prefer to receive massages without talking, communication and connection with the masseur (or the massage therapist if you want to keep it professional) is one of the most important things. It makes a huge difference if the therapist is making an effort to really give you the best experience possible. Often if you book a massage at a spa or studio at the end of the workday, the therapist will simply run their program on you and you must be “lucky” that it somewhat suits your needs and preferences. Unfortunately, it happens too rarely that a therapist asks you a few questions at the beginning of the treatment.
This is probably the only point where my experience with Soulhouse really touched me. Part of their concept is to find the right therapist for you and check with you about your preferences and needs. It seems like common sense, but in my experience it doesn’t happen that often.
When you book your in-home massage appointment with Soulhouse, you’ll have plenty of options for available therapists who come to your area. You can read a bit about their personal philosophy and how they describe their practice. The best part for me was the little video portraits that give you such a great impression of the therapists and give you an idea if you’re going to vibrate with them. Each of them offers different massage techniques which include Traditional Massage, Thai, Shiatsu, Sports, Lomi Lomi, Lymphatic Drainage, Prenatal, Wellness and a few others. (FYI, prices start at 69 EUR for one hour.)
When your therapist arrives at your home for your appointment, the session will begin with a consultation. I loved this part because it was truly the first time after having had hundreds of massages that someone actually assessed my needs and preferences and really listened to me and what my massage should ideally be like. Of course, Soulhouse’s highly trained therapists have so much knowledge and expertise that you begin to understand yourself and your body better during the consultation. Of course, if you’re not as stubborn about massages as I am, then you can just go ahead and share your preferred pressure level and let them do your body assessment for themselves.
In my case, the consultation resulted in a massage that was so perfectly tailored to my pain points and favorite areas that I felt physically relieved and relaxed like I hadn’t been in a while. In fact, as I write this, I have such a strong urge to get another massage like this.
Consultation, at first, was not the only type of communication that occurred during my session. Without words, I felt like the therapist was picking up on my physical reactions and the sounds I was making, either becoming softer or louder, or staying in an area that was particularly good for me. This is of course a skill that might be unique to a certain therapist, but it was such a pleasure to be heard like that without having to say anything (especially since I really don’t like to talk while I am being treated).
What I also really enjoyed, and it’s part and parcel of the Soulhouse concept, is that the therapist created a little spa vibe in my own home with relaxing music and incense. It’s little details like that that will help me really relax and let go of the tension and thoughts of everyday life.
If you got the impression from my little review here that I really loved the experience: you’re right! I couldn’t recommend this any higher. If I were going to start a massage business (and it’s not like it hadn’t crossed my mind), I would do it much like the creators of Soulhouse do. I’m glad I got to try their service and now I look forward to visiting them soon at their Soulhouse studio in Berlin which will open later this year.
Diesen Artikel auf deutsch lesen.
by Franc
April 6, 2022
in Wellness
