There’s no better time than today to take a breather and treat yourself to a relaxing massage in Singapore. We’ve done the difficult leg work for you and reviewed a few massage places below – see what we had to say about some of the best massages in Singapore! Bet you can’t wait for your next one… (Neither can we!)
My Happy Feet
Sound therapy with a Tui Na massage
I have always wanted to try sound therapy in Singapore – and the team at My Happy Feet now offers it! Including a lovely head massage with essential oil, this 60-minute sound therapy session began with a five-minute breathing exercise as I lay down fully clothed in a room, with the sound of water running to help me stay focused. Then, a 45-minute sound bath followed. My therapist rested a singing bowl on my chest, stomach, back, legs and arms while gently tapping it, letting the reverberations flow through my body at each point. The pace of it was so relaxing that I found myself breathing in time with the sounds from the bowl. The vibrations reverberated through my body with a deep tone. The result? I was left feeling tingly and calm afterwards.
Some delicious pu-er tea served by the therapist concluded the session, but I wasn’t about to leave without a much-needed Tui Na deep tissue massage. I braced myself for some pain, but it was surprisingly gentle. Or maybe I was still in a sound therapy daze! Often, these massages are excruciating as they press down on the same muscle repeatedly, but my therapist was clearly very experienced. She could tell where every knot was and focused on each of them individually. She would rest the area for a while and then return to it if it was too stiff. When I mentioned a sore hip, she was gentle there but adjusted my position slightly, relieving the stiffness without unnecessary pain.
Known for its signature foot massages, this massage place has been providing excellent service for over 15 years. The staff were all professional and helpful. The spa has also just been refurbished, so you’ll see new foot massage chairs, bigger body massage rooms and freshly updated wallpaper and lightings. The space was quiet and relaxing, even with clients coming and going. This might have been one of the most relaxing massages in Singapore I’ve tried. The whole experience was very zen-like, and I emerged loose-limbed into the heat of Lorong Mambong with a calm, happy smile on my face.
– Danielle Rossetti
Price: 60-minute Sound Therapy is $348 for 3 sessions. A trial session is $88. A 60-minute Tui Na massage (or other style of massages) is $88.
My Happy Feet
21A Lorong Mambong, Holland Village
6462 0525 | myhappyfeet.com.sg
Chez Moi De Beaute
Located in Far East Plaza, this beauty salon and massage place has been in the business for a whopping 30 years! Led by a mother-daughter duo, Chez Moi De Beaute is popular for its affordable beauty treatments, such as facials and slimming treatments, as well as relaxing massages in Singapore. I’ve been to the salon on a couple of occasions, and each time I go I’m impressed by how clean and cosy they keep the space. The warm and professional service is another big draw for regulars who frequent the spot.
Originally from the land of massages, Thailand, my therapist Nok executed long and deep strokes starting with my stiff shoulders and back. She focused on the areas of tension, kneading away the built-up knots with the perfect amount of pressure. There wasn’t a point in time when I had to request a change in pressure – it was spot on! One word to sum up the hour-long session: bliss.
The next time I return to this massage place, I might just sign up for the package ($480, seven sessions), which works out to be an even better deal! But if you’re strapped for time, consider popping in for a 30-minute back massage ($48) as a quick and relaxing massage fix.
– Anthia Chng
Chez Moi De Beaute
#04-75/65 Far East Plaza, 14 Scotts Road
6738 6108 | chezmoi.com.sg
All about massages in Singapore
EL’s Verne Maree looks into just why we love a good massage!
You don’t have to know anything about relaxing massages to reap its benefits – starting with the sheer pleasure of being touched with kindness by another human being. That said, the research is fascinating.
Studies on massage shows it increases production of oxytocin, a powerful hormone that acts as a neurotransmitter in the brain. Known as the love hormone, oxytocin supports optimal physical health as well as love, kindness, empathy and bonding. Though oxytocin is best known for its role in childbirth, we all need it – all the time.
Massage helps us cope with stress in ways we are only beginning to understand, says my favourite Ayurveda guru, Dr John Douillard. Not only does massage release oxytocin, the loving touch involved also reduces levels of various stress hormones.
How it does this is partly by altering the skin’s microbiology – yes, of course your skin has its own microbiome! – in a multitude of measurable, health-boosting ways. These include promoting immunity, hormonal balance, physical fitness and reproduction, plus improving attitude, empathy and social behaviour. What’s more, it enhances natural skin radiance in a way that pricy cosmetics can only hope to achieve.
No wonder it feels so good! I also love knowing that it works both ways. It’s not only you, the recipient, who benefits. The giver also benefits from oxytocin release. So, if you find yourself particularly connected to him or her at the end of a session – even weepily so, as I have been known to do – there’s a physiological reason for that. What’s more, you can be sure you’ve found a truly skilled and empathetic practitioner.
If for any reason you can’t get to a massage place, DIY is always an option. In fact, Ayurveda recommends daily abhyanga, or self-massage with oil; sesame oil if possible, otherwise coconut or olive. Start with the head, move on to the face, ears and neck, and so on down the entire body. Don’t forget the soles of the feet, which are considered especially important.
We hope you enjoyed this roundup of massage places in Singapore! Now check out our favourite facials. We’ve also got plenty more in our Style and Beauty section.
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