Somatic Massage vs Traditional Massage

Which One Is Right for You?

Massage is not a single experience.Depending on the approach, it can be purely physical or deeply transformative.

Two of the most common paths are traditional massage and somatic massage. While both involve touch and support well-being, they work in very different ways and speak to different needs.

This article helps you understand the difference so you can choose what truly supports you.

Traditional Massage

Relief for the Physical Body

Traditional massage focuses on the muscular and structural body.The intention is clear: reduce tension, improve circulation, and help the body recover.

Sessions usually feel:

• Grounding

• Relaxing

• Physically relieving

This approach is ideal when:

• You feel muscular tightness or soreness

• You want to relax and disconnect

• You need recovery from physical effort or repetitive strain

During a traditional massage, the body is mostly passive. The therapist works on the tissues while you rest and receive.

It is effective, direct, and familiar.

Somatic Massage

Listening to the Body From the Inside

Somatic massage works with the body as a lived experience, not just as anatomy.

Instead of doing something to the body, the session becomes a process of listening, sensing, and responding.

The focus is on:

• Internal sensation

• Nervous system regulation

• Awareness of holding patterns

• The link between physical tension and emotional experience

Sessions are typically slower and more subtle. You may be invited to notice breath, sensation, or movement impulses. Sometimes emotions surface. Sometimes there is quiet. Sometimes there is deep release without effort.

This work is especially supportive when:

• Tension keeps returning without a clear physical cause

• Stress or emotional load lives in the body

• You feel disconnected or numb

• You want more than relaxation, but not therapy in words

Somatic massage is not about fixing.It is about creating the conditions for the body to reorganize itself.

If your body is asking for more than relaxation, somatic massage may be the right next step.

You can book a session directly below or contact me for guidance before your first visit.

https://www.somaticmarbella.es/treatments