Nuru Massage

Nuru came out of Japan and takes its name from a word meaning slippery. The technique depends entirely on the gel: a clear, odourless, seaweed-derived preparation that is warmed before use and produces a surface with almost no friction on it.

Both bodies are covered in it. From there the masseuse works using her entire body rather than her hands alone — long gliding passes down the back and legs, weight distributed rather than pressed. The absence of friction is what makes it feel unlike any other massage: there is contact everywhere and resistance nowhere.

It is messy by design, which is why every one of our rooms has its own shower. Nuru is best on a table rather than a bed, and we set the room up accordingly.