Which Massage Treatment Is Right for You? A guide to NOVO Therapy in Glasgow

If You Want to Relax and Reset: Swedish Massage

Swedish Massage is the best starting point if you want a traditional hands-on massage that can be adapted around you.

Rather than following exactly the same routine for every client, pressure, pace and areas of focus can be adjusted depending on how you are feeling and what you want or need from the session.

You might choose Swedish Massage if you want to switch off, ease general muscle tension, spend more time on a particular area or simply take some proper time for yourself.

At NOVO Therapy, Swedish Massage is available in shorter focused appointments as well as longer full-body treatments, making it one of the most flexible options on the menu.

Best suited to: relaxation, general tension, regular massage and first time clients

Hot Stone Massage takes the relaxing qualities of massage and adds on sustained warmth of heated basalt stones.

The stones are used alongside hands-on massage and placed strategically during the treatment. The warmth creates a very different experience from a standard massage and is particularly appealing if you enjoy treatments that feel slow, grounding and deeply relaxing.

This is not necessarily about using maximum pressure. For many people, the combination of warmth and flowing massage is exactly what allows them to settle more completely into the treatment.

NOVO Therapy’s Hot Stone Massage is offered as a full-body treatment in 60 and 90 minute appointments.

Best suited to: deep relaxation, warmth, switching off and clients who enjoy a slower treatment experience

If You Want Something More Invigorating: Hot & Cold Contrast Therapy Massage

Hot & Cold Contrast Therapy combines heated basalt stones with chilled marble stones.

The contrast between warmth and cold creates a more stimulating sensory experience than traditional Hot Stone Massage. One NOVO Therapy client described it as feeling like lying on a beach in the sun and then taking a cold dip in the sea.

The temperature changes are integrated into the massage rather than becoming a separate treatment, creating an experience that can feel both relaxing and refreshing.

It can be a good choice when you want something a little more unusual than a traditional massage while still enjoying plenty of hands-on treatment.

Best suited to: clients who enjoy temperature contrast, an invigorating treatment and something different from conventional massage.

If You Want a Body Sculpting & Contouring Treatment: Brazilian Lymphatic Drainage with Wood Therapy

Brazilian Lymphatic Drainage has a very different feel from Swedish or Hot Stone Massage.

The treatment combines rhythmic hands-on techniques with wood therapy tools and is designed around movement, lymphatic system flow and the temporary aesthetic effects often associated with this style of massage.

Some clients choose it because they enjoy the lighter, rhythmic nature of lymphatic-style techniques and how they receive a deep sleep that night and feel less puffy overall, while others are particularly interested in the body-contouring and sculpting element provided by wood therapy.

It is important to keep expectations realistic. Massage is not a substitute for medical treatment or permanent body-shaping procedures, but clients may enjoy the temporary feeling and appearance that can follow a session.

NOVO Therapy offers both 60- and 90-minute options, with the longer treatment allowing additional time for a more comprehensive experience and optional inclusion of the face.

Best suited to: clients interested in lymphatic-style massage, a lighter rhythmic treatment and temporary sculpting or body-contouring effects

If You Want to Focus on the Face: Biohacking Facial Massage with Red Light Therapy

The Biohacking Facial Massage is one of the most distinctive treatments at NOVO Therapy.

Rather than being a conventional beauty facial, it combines an extended hands-on facial massage with elements influenced by Ayurvedic massage, myofascial techniques and targeted red and near-infrared light therapy.

The treatment includes the face, neck and upper chest, with time dedicated to massage before a professional multi-wavelength LED panel is positioned for the red-light portion of the appointment.

While the light is working, the treatment continues rather than simply leaving you lying under the panel.

Research into photobiomodulation has investigated red and near-infrared wavelengths in areas including skin appearance, cellular activity and tissue function, although outcomes vary depending on the equipment and treatment protocol.

The overall experience is designed to combine relaxation, facial massage and modern light-based wellbeing in a single 60-minute treatment.

Best suited to: facial massage, relaxation, skin-focused wellbeing and clients interested in red light therapy or biohacking

If You Want Massage and Red Light Together: Red Light Therapy Massage

Red Light Therapy Massage brings red and near-infrared light into a more traditional body massage.

Swedish Massage remains the foundation of the treatment. During part of the appointment, the LED panel is positioned above a chosen area while massage continues elsewhere on the body.

Depending on what you want from the session, the light can be focused on areas such as the upper, mid or lower back, thighs and calves, or the face, neck and chest.

Photobiomodulation has been studied in areas including muscle recovery, post-exercise soreness, tissue function and physical comfort. Individual responses vary, and red light should be seen as an additional element of the treatment rather than a guaranteed solution to a particular problem.

This is a good option if you want the relaxation of massage but are also curious about incorporating red and near-infrared light into the appointment.

Best suited to: massage with an additional recovery or wellbeing element, tired muscles, active clients and people curious about red light therapy

Still Not Sure Which Treatment to Choose?

If you are completely unsure, Swedish Massage is usually the easiest place to start.

It gives the greatest flexibility and lets the treatment be shaped around your preferences without committing to a more specialised style.

If you already know what kind of experience you enjoy, the choice becomes easier: Hot Stone for warmth, Hot & Cold for contrast, Brazilian Lymphatic Drainage with Wood Therapy for a lighter sculpting-style treatment, the Biohacking Facial for face-focused treatment, or Red Light Therapy Massage when you want massage and light therapy together.

And you don’t need to arrive knowing exactly what every technique does. A short conversation before the treatment gives us the chance to discuss what you want from the appointment and adapt where appropriate.

Book Massage Therapy in Glasgow

NOVO Therapy offers personalised massage and wellness treatments from a private treatment space in Glasgow.

Whether your priority is relaxation, recovery, facial massage or simply taking some proper time fo ryourself, the aim is always the same: to create an appointment that feels considered, unhurried and genuinely personal.