By Navitas Spa & SportsPublished: 25 August 20261 min read
At a glance
Tell your therapist the pressure you want before the massage — light, medium or firm, or a number out of ten — and say so again during it if anything changes; a good therapist adjusts instantly and never minds. At Navitas Spa the team speaks Turkish and English; the Turkish for lighter is “daha hafif”, for firmer “daha sert”, for perfect “tam böyle”.
Before
- Pressure: light, medium, firm, or a number — “about a six”
- Areas to focus on: shoulders, lower back, legs
- Areas to avoid: an injury, a sensitive spot, the feet if you are ticklish
- Anything else: oil or no oil on the scalp, music or silence, room warmer
During
A single word is enough: lighter, firmer, there. Discomfort is information the therapist needs; silence is read as consent to continue. Deep work should feel intense and never sharp — sharp means stop.
In Turkish
| English | Turkish |
|---|---|
| Lighter, please | Daha hafif, lütfen |
| Firmer, please | Daha sert, lütfen |
| That is perfect | Tam böyle |
| That hurts | Acıyor |
| Thank you | Teşekkürler |
Frequently asked questions
Is it rude to ask for changes?
The opposite — therapists prefer to know.
What if I fall asleep?
It happens often and is taken as a compliment.