Calabash Massage
San Massage is a traditional bodywork practice rooted in the healing customs of the San people (also known as Bushmen) of Southern Africa, particularly in regions like Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa. It often accompanies or follows the Khoisan Healing Dance, a ceremonial practice that involves rhythmic movement, breathwork, and trance-like states for communal and individual healing.
San Massage typically uses rhythmic tapping, light percussion, and energetic hand placements to stimulate circulation, calm the nervous system, and restore balance. The approach is gentle, intuitive, and often infused with spiritual intention, reflecting the San worldview that body, mind, and spirit are interconnected in health and healing.
It is deeply rooted in ancestral knowledge, with techniques passed down orally through generations.
Berber Massage
Berber Massage is a traditional North African healing practice rooted in the customs of the Indigenous Berber (Amazigh) people of Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia. It combines deep, rhythmic pressure, dry friction techniques, and the use of natural oils and herbs to stimulate circulation, release muscular tension, and promote detoxification.
Often performed in hammams (traditional bathhouses), Berber massage incorporates long kneading strokes, vigorous movements, and aromatic elements like argan oil and black soap. The practice emphasizes purification, both physical and energetic, and reflects the Berber philosophy of holistic wellness grounded in nature and tradition.
African Wood Massage
African Wood Massage is a traditional bodywork technique that uses carved wooden tools—such as rollers, sticks, or paddles—to deliver deep tissue pressure, stimulate circulation, and relieve muscular tension. Practiced in regions like Kenya, Senegal, and the Congo, this modality allows for controlled, consistent pressure that targets specific muscle groups. The tools are often crafted from locally sourced hardwoods and may be used in combination with natural oils like shea, baobab, or marula to reduce friction and nourish the skin. African Wood Massage blends physical therapy with ancestral craftsmanship, offering a grounded, earthy healing experience.
San Massage
Calabash massage is a traditional African technique that uses dried calabash gourds of various sizes as massage tools. The therapist rolls, presses, and glides the smooth, hollow gourds over the body to relieve tension, improve circulation, and stimulate energy flow. The gourds can be warmed for added therapeutic effect, combining deep pressure with rhythmic movements to create a unique and deeply relaxing experience.
Ukuchina Massage
Ukuchina Massage is a traditional Zulu bodywork practice from South Africa, focused on deep pressure, joint mobilization, and energy balancing. Traditionally performed by Zulu healers known as inyanga or sangoma, Ukuchina is used to release muscular tension, stimulate circulation, and restore harmony in the body. It often incorporates herbal compresses, stretching techniques, and rhythmic hand movements, and may be accompanied by spiritual rituals or ancestral invocations. Ukuchina is both therapeutic and ceremonial, blending physical healing with cultural and energetic practices.