What is a Four-Hands Massage?

A four-hand massage is a wonderful spa journey that allows us to experience the effects of two massages in one session. Although each type of the massage therapies is essentially aimed at supporting our holistic wellbeing, they can prioritize different aspects of it through their unique massage techniques and pressure applications.

This in turn might challenge our choice of the right massage in our spa visit when our time is limited; but our need for the therapeutic effects of massage is high. In such moments, you may want to consider experiencing a four-hand massage, which can double the effects of a traditional massage in the same amount of time, pumping you with some sort of a “selfcare fusion”...

In this article, we're looking at what a four-hand massage is and what kind of benefits it can bring you...

What is a Four Hands Massage?

Four handed massage, as the name suggests, is a type of full body massage applied with four hands, instead of two. Two therapists with similar energies, specially trained to move in harmony, create a massage choreography that suits your needs and preferences, and work together to relieve your body of stress and pain.

In a 4-hands massage, your therapists combine relaxing and slow techniques similar to Swedish massage with deeper and firmer movements, often accompanied by aromatic oils. This combinations of movements not only relax your body and mind, but target problems in your muscle tissues. And the choreography may vary depending on the type of treatments and whether they are performed simultaneously.

In the classic flow of four-hands massage, therapists mirror each other synchronically, applying massage techniques with the same pressure and speed on the right and left sides of your body. But in choosing the massage steps, one therapist takes the lead, while the other follows. At first, your therapists will concentrate on long, slow stroking techniques that will create deep relaxation throughout your entire body. Afterwards, other techniques such as reflexology, acupressure, deep tissue massage, etc. can be applied to your problem areas like your back, shoulders and legs upon determining the pressure levels needed. This simultaneous practice allows energy techniques that focus on your meridians and frequencies to be blended into your therapy. So in a classic four-hands massage, since your therapists can focus better on each part of your body while applying mirroring techniques thanks to the increased number of hands, you will be able to experience the effects of your massage equally in all parts of your body, but doubled.

Another form of four-hands massage is one in which therapists focus on different parts of your body with different techniques, rather than applying the same movements to your entire body, following the effleurage techniques to induce relaxation. Pressure levels and speed of these movements can vary accordingly, but the therapists usually try to move slowly and in a coordinated way to avoid drawing your sensorial attention to one area. For instance, one therapist might use reflexology or deep tissue massage on your leg, while another uses Swedish massage techniques on your shoulders. Or one might apply an aromatherapy massage throughout your body, while the other targets the tensions on your neck. 

Not only Swedish and Aromatherapy massages, but also harder and drier techniques like Thai massage can be adapted to your 4-hands massage. There are also other forms, like a Balinese four-hand massage which incorporates the massage with Balinese rituals, or Chathushkara Abhyanga which adapts the Ayurvedic Abhyanga massage into a four-hand massage. These can offer unforgettable and holistic experiences, especially for spa goers with more time to spare who want to embark on a transforming retreat.

What are the Benefits? 

Enhances the efficacy of your massage: A four-hand massage, synchronized or not, is equivalent to experiencing two massages at a time. When there are two people applying the therapy, all the benefits of your massage experience are doubled with the time and energy efficiency your therapists have gained. Moreover, its ability to be customized based on your needs allows you to blend relaxing and purifying techniques, like Swedish massage, with more pressurized movements that alleviate your pain, offering you more versatile benefits. In short, the four-hand massage is the massage world’s version of the phrase “Two birds with one stone!”

Brings you to the present in a faster way: Due to your body’s self-defense mechanism stimulated by stress, your brain often reflexively tracks and predicts the moves of your massage therapist and the parts of your body being worked on. But when the number of therapists increases to two, the double sensation created makes it harder for your brain to anticipate the next movements. Thus, your mind soon stops “assuming” and focuses only on your overdriven senses, allowing you to experience the relaxing effects of the massage more deeply. This sensorial flow of the massage allows you to regain your body-mind-spirit balance in a shorter period of time, which in turn increases your focus and positive feelings.  

In other words, a four-hands massage makes it much easier for your body and mind to switch from “Fight or flight!” to “Rest and digest…” mode than traditional massage therapies.

Relaxes your circulation: As your therapists massage multiple areas of your body at the same time, your veins dilate more quickly than when massaged by a single therapist, which improves your blood and lymphatic circulation sooner. This speeds up the healing process of your soft tissue, your bones realign more easily and your organs start working more efficiently. Just as a four-hands massage soothes your stress more smoothly, it also facilitates relieving your pain and tension and improving your sleep. In fact, you’re even more likely to fall asleep during this massage.

In summary, a four-hand massage can be a unique experience for you to completely relax and clear your mind during your “me-times”... We recommend you try it, of course taking into account your health condition... May you have many treatments where you can strengthen your connection with your body and rest your mind!