Simona
Rohan
George
Gloria
Who delivers it?
All our massage practitioners offer Restorative Massage. Each brings a slightly different presence to it.
-
Simona, slower-paced, deeply attuned sessions, particularly suited to clients with chronic illness, autoimmune conditions, or trauma histories. Booking Restorative with Simona is the deeper end of "gentle."
-
Rohan, calm and confident, especially good if you want a Restorative session with the option of medium pressure where it would help.
-
George, steady, grounded presence, particularly suited to clients new to massage or returning after a long break.
-
Other practitioners on the team also deliver Restorative work where it complements their main modality
Not sure which practitioner to book? When in doubt, book the one whose schedule fits. The technique is consistent across the team. You can always change practitioner on your next visit if a different presence would suit you.
What it helps with
-
Burnout and chronic stress: When the nervous system has been running too long, you can't will yourself back into rest. A regular session can be the difference between coping and not.
-
Perimenopause and menopause: Hormonal change disrupts sleep, mood, and the autonomic nervous system. Restorative Massage supports parasympathetic activation, sleep quality, and the felt sense of being in your own body.
-
Autoimmune conditions: For people living with Hashimoto's, lupus, MS, rheumatoid arthritis, and others, deep tissue work can flare symptoms. Restorative Massage supports the system without over-stimulating it.
-
Chronic illness and chronic pain: Fibromyalgia, ME/CFS, long COVID, hypermobility, POTS, lipedema, and persistent pain conditions often respond badly to intensive bodywork, and well to gentle, nervous-system-led work. Pressure and pace are adapted to each person, kept below the threshold where symptoms flare.
-
Recovery from surgery or illness: Once cleared by your GP, gentle massage supports circulation, sleep, and the felt sense of returning to yourself.
-
Postnatal weeks and months: Helps the body settle after birth and the nervous system recover from the cumulative tiredness of new parenthood. Positioning is adapted to where you are.
-
Trauma histories and PTSD: Gentle, predictable, consent-led touch can support the body's recovery from trauma in ways that talking alone cannot. Sessions are paced entirely to your nervous system and can be paused or stopped at any moment.
What a Restorative Massage session involves
You arrive a few minutes before your session, and settle into the studio.Your practitioner asks a few short questions, how you've been, what's going on in your body, whether anything has changed since your last visit, if you’ve been with us before. We don't rush this part, unless you want to jump on the table, no questions asked.
You undress to your level of comfort and lie on the table, covered with a sheet. Your practitioner uses long, flowing, broad strokes , Swedish style , across the back, legs, arms, shoulders, neck, and (if you want) the scalp. Pressure stays at a level that lets your body soften rather than brace. The pace is slow.
Sessions are quiet. You can have music or silence, whichever helps you settle. Your nervous system is doing the work, and the work prefers stillness.
Many people fall asleep at some point. This is a sign the session is doing exactly what it's meant to.
Afterwards your practitioner will give you a few minutes to come back to the room. You leave feeling rested. Tonight you may sleep more deeply than you have in weeks.
What clients say
"Abuelita's wellbeing is an amazing community resource. I can't recommend massages with Simona enough, she is knowledgeable and focuses on holistic care on all levels. The studio is also welcoming, warm and comfortable. Highly recommend"
Alice A.
Heading 2
Often combined with
-
Craniosacral Therapy: When the nervous system needs more direct support
-
Breathwork & Somatics: To extend the parasympathetic state beyond the table and into daily life
-
Nutritional Therapy: When chronic stress is affecting digestion, energy, or hormone balance.
-
Reformer Pilates: Once you've rested, gentle movement helps the body integrate.
-
Integrative Care Packages: Restorative Massage is often the anchor session in our Reset & Relief and Restore & Rebalance packages
Wellbeing that gives back
When you book with us, you’re giving back. Every booking directly funds therapy for people facing economic barriers, including refugee women and those living with chronic pain or PTSD.
Frequently Asked Questions
Essentially yes, Swedish technique is the foundation. "Restorative" describes the intent (to rest and restore) and the care with which the session is held. Same bodywork tradition, different framing.
Yes, your practitioner can shift to medium pressure on request. If you mostly want depth, book Deep Tissue or Sports Massage instead.
Yes, with the right adaptations. Book our Pregnancy Massage specifically, it's tailored to each trimester and pregnancy physiology (not before the 2nd trimester - after 12 weeks). See pregnancy-massage.
Often yes, once you've been cleared by your GP or consultant. Mention any specific concerns when you book — wounds, scars, range-of-motion limits, fatigue patterns — and your practitioner will adapt the session.
Generally yes, and often actively helpful. Restorative is one of the few bodywork modalities that doesn't risk an autoimmune flare from over-stimulation. Tell us about your condition when you book so we can adapt pressure and positioning. If you have any specific contraindications from your consultant, please share them.
Done well, no — Restorative work tends to support recovery rather than push you past your energy envelope. We can shorten the session, adapt pace, and check in throughout. If you're early in recovery or unsure, a 60-minute first session is the right starting point.
You might. Many people do. It's not rude, you haven't "missed" the session, and your practitioner will not be offended. Sleep during the session is often a sign that what's happening is exactly what your body has been asking for.
For ongoing nervous-system support, monthly. For acute burnout or a hard season, weekly or fortnightly until things settle, then taper. For maintenance for an otherwise well system, every 4–6 weeks.
Restorative is designed for exactly that hesitation. You stay covered. You undress only to your level of comfort. You can stop at any moment. If you'd prefer to start with even gentler work, consider a Craniosacral session with Renata, which is delivered fully clothed.
Relax, release and reconnect
Unsure if a Restorative Massage is right for you?
We’re always happy to help.
Email us at hello@abuelitas.co.uk or get in touch.
Explore other massage therapies
Restorative Massage in short
Restorative Massage, sometimes called Swedish or Relaxing Massage, uses long, slow, flowing strokes and gentle pressure to bring the nervous system back down to rest. It is the gentlest of our massage offerings, and one of the most quietly powerful. Sessions are 60, 90 minutes or 2-hours long. Available with the full Abuelita's team at both our Hackney and Islington studios.
.jpg)