Costa Rica is well known for its breathtaking tropical beauty, pristine beaches, adventure sports, and more. However, people are less familiar with its reputation as a wellness escape. The land of pura vida (pure life) has been recognised as one of the happiest and most peaceful places in the world. Locals tend to live by this motto and channel a wholesome lifestyle, from eating healthy foods to being active and living in tune with nature.
As tourists, you too can imbibe some of this soulfulness by living like true ticos while you’re here. You can also choose to sample some of the many different types of massage therapies and body treatments available in Costa Rica. You’ll find that the country’s natural vibe lends itself quite well to the provision of these services. Access to top-quality, trained wellness professionals is quite easy in Costa Rica.
If you happen to be staying at Casa Teresa in Santa Teresa, you have access to a range of luxury services, including our wellness services. We can arrange for a number of different types of massage therapy, all delivered in the privacy and comfort of your villa. All our therapists are licensed experts, trained to deliver the specific body treatments we offer our guests.
You can choose to book one session a day or set aside some time for a session every day while you’re a guest at our villa. A therapist will visit you at the villa at your preferred time to perform the treatment you’ve requested for you and your guests.
Set aside some time during your trip to Costa Rica for some healthful body treatments. Rejuvenate your body and mind and leave this tropical paradise a changed person. Here is a list of the different types of massage therapy we offer our guests at Casa Teresa:
1. Deep Tissue Massage
Beneath the skin, the body is composed of many layers of muscles, stacked, if you like, on top of each other. A deep tissue massage is an advanced technique that accesses the deeper layers of muscle and the fascia, i.e. the connective tissue surrounding your muscles.
What to Expect?
It’s much more than just a “hard massage” or an “intense Swedish massage.” This type of massage therapy focuses on realigning the deeper layers of muscle and connective tissue to release chronic tension patterns locked into your body. It uses deep finger pressure and slow strokes on tense areas to relieve stiffness. It’s considered particularly effective for conditions like sore back and shoulders and stiff necks.
Benefits of A Deep Tissue Massage
Specific stretching of the fascia, tendons, and muscles can help improve posture, flexibility, joint movements, and contribute to faster healing of certain injuries. A deep tissue massage can also help to break up scar tissue, reduce pain, ease out knots, loosen rigid muscles, improve blood circulation, and release toxins. It’s recommended to drink plenty of water after your massage.
This type of massage therapy is also more intense than a classical massage. If you feel discomfort or you want to customize the treatment in any way, you should let your therapist know and they’ll be happy to oblige.
2. Manual Lymphatic Drainage
Manual lymphatic drainage was developed in Paris in 1936 to treat swollen lymph nodes. This body treatment is available in Costa Rica at Casa Teresa. Lymphedema is a condition wherein lymphatic fluid accumulates in your muscle tissues, causing painful swellings. Normally, this fluid is cleared by your lymphatic system through blood circulation. However, if your system isn’t working properly, it can collect in your arms and legs.
What to Expect?
Manual lymphatic drainage is a very gentle type of massage therapy that helps move the lymph fluid out of your limbs and ease the swelling. It involves light skin-stretching and slow rhythmic movements that are applied to the unaffected areas first and then to the swollen parts of your body to decongest them.
Benefits of Manual Lymphatic Drainage
A lymphatic drainage massage helps open up your lymph collectors so that fluid and protein can flow into them. It also helps speed up movement of fluid through your lymph passages and towards your heart. Your therapist may begin and end the session by asking you to perform deep diaphragmatic breathing to aid relaxation and lymph flow.
3. Thai Massage
This massage therapy is a type of ancient healing form. It originated 2,500 years ago in India. Today, a Thai massage includes influences from yoga, acupressure, and traditional Indian and Chinese wellness practices. It’s sometimes referred to as assisted yoga.
What to Expect?
It’s performed quite differently to a traditional Western-type massage. You don’t need to lie on a massage bed while a therapist kneads your muscles. You’ll be fully clothed on a mat on the floor and the therapist will manipulate your whole body with a series of pulling, stretching, and rocking movements, similar to yogic exercises.
Benefits of a Thai Massage
This type of massage therapy helps improve the flow of energy through your body which, in turn, helps to promote relaxation, flexibility, and circulation and relieve muscle tension. Research has shown that a Thai massage could help relieve headaches, back pain, joint stiffness, and anxiety. It could also contribute to increased vitality and range of motion.
4. Reiki Massage
Reiki is an ancient Japanese energy healing technique. The term comes from two Japanese words — “Rei” meaning universal and “ki,” which means energy or lifeforce. It’s based on the belief that vital energy flows through your body affecting health, mood, and even bodily function. Casa Teresa is one of the only spots in Costa Rica to offer this type of body treatment.
What to Expect?
This is a different type of therapy with little to no actual massage. A Reiki practitioner will act as a conduit between you and the source of universal energy. You’ll lie on a table fully clothed as they place their palms on or over specific parts of your body, accessing those energy locations. You may experience sensations like tingling, heat, or pulsing as their hands move over you.
Benefits of Reiki
Reiki isn’t specific to any particular condition or disease, but may help with everything from relaxation to pain relief, faster healing, and other symptoms. People with chronic pain, cancer, digestive problems, and stress-related conditions have been known to opt for Reiki.
5. Reflexology
Reflexology is a type of massage therapy that involves applying different amounts of pressure to bodily extremities without the use of lotion or oil.
What to Expect?
A reflexologist will use their thumbs, fingers, and hands to massage specific points on your hands, feet, and ears. The belief is that these parts are connected to and can influence specific organs and bodily systems.
Benefits of Reflexology
This type of massage therapy has been linked to a number of benefits. Reflexology may potentially help to reduce pain and stress and anxiety, lift mood, contribute to a better immune system, correct hormonal imbalances, and improve digestion.
Make sure you set aside some ‘you’ time as you’re visiting Costa Rica. Try out some of these body treatments to cleanse the toxins and negative energies from yourself. At Casa Teresa, all these types of massage therapy are at your disposal throughout your stay. You can also try out guided meditation and yoga on the beach in a one-on-one or group session with your instructor. If there’s a different type of treatment you’d like to try, feel free to let us know and we’ll try to source an expert therapist to match.
Feel free to reach out to us with questions about the different types of massage therapies and body treatments in Costa Rica. Learn more about our villa and all the different experiences we offer our guests. Contact us to book a stay.