By Navitas Spa & SportsPublished: 25 August 20261 min read
At a glance
The foam massage, or köpük masajı, is the stage of the Turkish bath in which an attendant fills a cotton cloth with olive-oil soap and air, squeezes a cloud of warm foam over the body and works it in with long strokes on the heated marble. It uses no oil, leaves you clean rather than coated, and is available on its own as a 25-minute Focused Care ritual at Navitas Spa.
Making the foam
A cotton cloth or a special mesh bag is dipped in soapy water, filled with air by swinging it, and squeezed so that a mass of dense, warm foam falls onto you. It looks like theatre and partly is — but the foam is also a lubricant that lets the attendant's hands glide without oil.
The massage
Long strokes along the back and legs, kneading of the shoulders and calves, circular work on the feet, all under the foam, all on the warm marble. The pressure is medium and the pace is slow. Because the soap cleans as it goes, the ritual ends with a rinse rather than a shower — you leave clean.
Foam massage vs oil massage
| Compare | Foam massage | Oil massage |
|---|---|---|
| Where | Heated marble | Treatment bed |
| Medium | Soap foam | Warm oil |
| Afterwards | Clean, rinsed | Oiled; shower optional |
| Depth | Medium, relaxing | Light to deep, by style |
| Best for | Heat lovers, first-timers, layovers | Specific muscle work |
Frequently asked questions
Is the foam massage a real massage?
Yes — medium-pressure work on the back, legs, shoulders and feet, softened by heat. It is not deep tissue work.
Can I have it without the scrub?
Yes: the 25-minute Focused Care Foam Massage is the foam stage on its own.