Sports & deep tissue massage

The sports massage is deep work on muscles and fascia. Your therapist seeks out the hardened areas, the knots and the shortened fibres, then works them with firm pressure, cross-fibre friction and passive stretches. The strokes are slow, giving the tissue time to release; oil is used sparingly to keep a good grip.

In Verbier, thighs, calves and lower back pay the price for days on the Mont-Fort pistes or long climbs on foot or by bike. This massage is designed for exactly that. It is offered at Izzy Spa and at Izzy Studio, every day of the week at the Spa.

Who is it for?

For skiers and snowboarders the day after a big session, for hikers and cyclists at the end of a stay, for runners preparing an event at altitude. Also for anyone who carries chronic tension in the shoulders or lower back without doing any particular sport. If you prefer warmth to pressure, look at the Izzy signature massage; for truly stubborn knots, the bamboo and cupping massage at the Studio is a good complement.

How the treatment goes

1. Welcome and consultation We talk about what you have been doing over the past few days, where it hurts and any old injuries. Your therapist quickly checks shoulder and hip mobility to shape the session.
2. Warming the tissue A few minutes of gliding strokes and brisk kneading prepare the muscle. Going deep too soon would be counterproductive: the body braces against it.
3. Deep, targeted work The heart of the session. Forearm pressure along the hamstrings and quadriceps, friction on the calves, sustained pressure points in the glutes and lower back, shoulder stretches. The pressure stays at the edge of comfortable, never beyond.
4. Mobilisation and stretching Passive stretches of the legs, hips and neck complete the hands-on work and restore range of motion.
5. Back to calm Softer, broader strokes bring circulation back to the areas worked on. We show you a couple of stretches to repeat at home and remind you to drink.

Benefits

• Faster muscle recovery
• Relief from soreness
• Mobility restored
• Injury prevention
• Firm, targeted pressure

Good to know

Drink plenty of water afterwards: deep work releases waste products the body needs to flush out. Mild tenderness the next day is normal. At the Spa, ten minutes in the sauna before the massage warms the muscles and makes the work more effective. Not recommended with an acute injury, inflammation, a recent sprain or significant bruising. If in doubt, choose a gentler massage and talk to your therapist.

Frequently asked questions