Maderotherapy
A toning massage with wooden tools
Wooden rollers and shapes glide over oiled skin, working upward from the legs. A firm, draining massage for lighter legs and more supple tissue — at its best as a course of sessions.
Learn moreWhat is maderotherapy ?
Maderotherapy is a toning body massage performed with wooden instruments. Its name comes from the Spanish word « madera », which simply means wood.
Rather than working with the hands alone, the practitioner uses wooden rollers and shapes, gliding them over oiled skin, always in the direction of circulation. Wood allows for a more even, deeper pressure than the hand, over the full length of a leg or back.
The treatment targets drainage, tissue suppleness and that light-legs feeling. It is a wellness massage : it does not replace medical care, makes no diagnosis, and is not a slimming treatment.
Wood, rather than the hand
The practitioner has several wooden instruments on hand, in different shapes and sizes : some are designed for larger areas such as the thighs or back, others to follow the body's curves or for more precise work.
The choice is made during the session itself, depending on the area being worked and your sensitivity ; the practitioner moves naturally from one to another. All of them are cleaned and disinfected after every session.
Where does maderotherapy come from ?
It is the most recent treatment at the practice. Maderotherapy was developed in Colombia in the 1990s, drawing on an age-old idea : using wooden tools for massage, a practice found in both Asian and South American traditions.
It later spread widely through Latin America, Spain, and then the rest of Europe, where it is now practised as a wellness and drainage treatment.
Who is it for ?
It is the most energising treatment at the practice. People come to it mainly for :
Circulation & heavy legs
- A feeling of swelling by the end of the day
- Long periods standing or sitting
- Temporary fluid retention, summer heat
Skin suppleness & comfort
- A dimpled, orange-peel appearance
- Tissue that lacks firmness
- Wanting skin that feels smoother to the touch
Recovery
- After regular sporting activity
- Tired muscles in the thighs and back
- Wanting a firm massage, not just a relaxing one
The treatment acts on skin comfort and appearance, not on weight. It supports a healthy lifestyle, rather than replacing one.
How does a session unfold ?
After discussing which areas to focus on, you lie down in your underwear, covered with a sheet ; only the area being worked on is uncovered.
The practitioner first warms the tissue with a manual oil massage, then the instruments take over, working from the bottom upward. The pressure is firm, but always adjusted to what you can comfortably handle.
Allow around 75 minutes, including discussion and rest.
A treatment best done as a course
This is the main difference from the other treatments at the practice. A single session brings real, immediate comfort, but it is consistency that makes the difference.
Maderotherapy is therefore most often practised as a course : one to two sessions a week over several weeks, followed by a more spaced-out maintenance rhythm, for example once a month.
The number of sessions depends entirely on your situation, your skin, and your expectations. It is estimated together at the first appointment, then adjusted as the course progresses, based on how you feel and what we observe.
What can you feel during and after the session ?
During the session, the sensation is firm and pleasant, somewhere between a sports massage and drainage. The steady rhythm of the instruments quickly becomes soothing.
Right afterward, the skin is warm and slightly pink : a sign that circulation has been well stimulated. That light-legs feeling is often immediate, and you feel relaxed for the rest of the day. Just remember to drink plenty of water after the treatment.
Frequently asked questions
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