If you have ever tried a gua sha facial tool at home, you know how good a few minutes of scraping under the jaw can feel. A professional gua sha session takes that same principle to the whole body — and the results are remarkable.
What is gua sha?
"Gua" means scrape, "sha" means the redness that appears on the skin. Using a smooth-edged tool (traditionally a bone or jade plate, today often stainless steel), the therapist applies oil and slides the edge along the muscle in firm, controlled strokes.
The brief redness that follows means stagnant blood and toxins have been moved to the surface where they can be cleared. The deeper effect is profound relaxation, less pain, and an immediate drop in tension you might not even have realized you were holding.
Best for
- Tight, "stuck" trapezius and neck muscles that do not respond to massage alone
- Tension headaches from screens or poor sleep
- Stress that lives in your shoulders and jaw
- Stiffness after long flights or long drives
- Sluggish lymphatic drainage
What a Montreal gua sha session looks like
A 45-minute body session focuses on the back, neck and shoulders — the areas most clients in our downtown and NDG clinics need worked on. We oil the area, then move the tool with the muscle fibres in long, deliberate strokes. You will feel pressure but it should not be painful.
After the session, the redness fades in two to four days. You will likely notice a cooler, lighter feeling in your shoulders and a deeper sleep that night.
Pair it with massage
We often combine a 30-minute gua sha session with a 60-minute Swedish or deep tissue massage for one of the most complete relaxation experiences we offer. Ask your therapist when you book.
Find a therapist and book online — gua sha sessions start at $70.
