Body
Wood therapy in Málaga: body massage with wooden tools
Wood therapy (maderoterapia) is a beauty body massage performed with wooden tools such as rollers, cups and boards, which glide and press over the skin. At Narumi, in Málaga city centre, Marta Fernández uses it to improve how the skin looks, including the appearance of cellulite, and to leave the legs, bottom or abdomen feeling lighter. The pressure is more intense than in a standard massage. It is usually booked as a course of 10 sessions.
- Duration
- Between 45 and 60 minutes, depending on the areas
- Sessions
- A course of 10 sessions, or one-off sessions
- How often
- 1–2 sessions a week during the course
- How it feels
- Firm, intense pressure, more than a massage; we adjust it to you
What you can (and can't) expect
What it helps with
- How the skin looks on the thighs, bottom and abdomen
- The appearance of orange-peel skin, gradually
- A feeling of lightness in the legs and body
- Skin that feels more toned to the touch
What it doesn't do
- It doesn't make you slimmer or help you lose weight
- It doesn't make cellulite disappear: it improves its appearance while you keep up the course and your habits
- It doesn't treat circulatory problems, varicose veins or lymphoedema
Is it right for you?
Ideal for
- Anyone who wants to improve how the skin looks on their legs, bottom or abdomen
- Anyone who prefers hands-on work to a beauty device
- Anyone who's comfortable with firm pressure
- Anyone following a body programme who wants to add a manual technique
When we don't carry it out
- Prominent varicose veins, fragile capillaries or a tendency to bruise easily
- Thrombosis, phlebitis or other vascular problems
- Taking anticoagulants (blood thinners)
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding
- Wounds, infection or inflammation of the skin in the area
- Recent surgery in the area
- Cancer under active treatment
- Unexplained pain or swelling: see your doctor first
If you're unsure about your own situation, check with your doctor first. We'll go through it with you at your initial consultation.
Your session, step by step
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Initial assessment
We ask about your health, whether you bruise easily and which areas you'd like to work on. If there's anything vascular, we'll ask you to check with your doctor.
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Preparing the skin
We apply oil or cream so the tools glide smoothly, and start with manual strokes to warm up the area.
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Working with wood
We use rollers, cups and boards of different shapes, depending on the area. We build up the pressure gradually and keep checking how it feels.
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Finishing off
We finish with gentle strokes and give you some tips for the rest of the day.
What is wood therapy?
Wood therapy, known in Spain as maderoterapia, is a body massage technique that uses wooden tools alongside the hands, each shaped for a particular area: ridged rollers, cups, contoured boards. They glide, press and knead the skin with a rhythm and intensity that hands alone can’t easily achieve.
That’s why it feels different. It’s not a massage to doze off to: it’s firm, sometimes intense work that many clients describe as “you can tell it’s doing something”. We always adjust it with you.
What you can expect
The aim is cosmetic and about wellbeing: to improve how the skin looks on the thighs, bottom or abdomen, including the appearance of cellulite, and to leave your body feeling lighter. Over a course of sessions, the skin tends to look more even and feel more toned to the touch.
What it doesn’t do matters just as much:
- It doesn’t make you slimmer or reduce fat.
- It doesn’t make cellulite disappear; it improves its appearance while you keep it up.
- It doesn’t replace movement, hydration or a balanced diet.
Cellulite has hormonal and genetic components. No beauty treatment, whether manual or device-based, can erase it. Be wary of anyone who promises otherwise.
What a course looks like at Narumi
We begin with an initial assessment, because wood therapy isn’t for everyone: if you bruise easily, have prominent varicose veins or take anticoagulants, we’ll suggest another option. If you’re a good candidate, we plan a course of 10 sessions, once or twice a week.
The first sessions are gentler so we can see how your skin responds; after that we adjust the pressure. Many clients alternate wood therapy with pressotherapy: the first works on how the skin looks, the second adds a draining effect and a more relaxing finish.
Areas and combinations
The most commonly treated areas are the thighs, outer thighs, bottom and abdomen; the arms can be worked on too. In each course it’s better to prioritise one or two areas than to spread the time across the whole body. If you’re also interested in firmness in a specific area, Bellaction Duo body can be part of the same programme.
After your session
Aftercare
- Drink water as normal
- Walk or move around a bit during the day
- If your skin is red, avoid strong direct sun and intense heat straight afterwards
- If a bruise appears, let us know so we can adjust the pressure next time
It's normal to notice
- Redness in the area that fades within a few hours
- Tenderness to the touch for a day or two
- On delicate skin, the odd small bruise that soon fades
Ask us
- Wood therapy
Guide prices for 2025, VAT included. Please confirm the current price on WhatsApp.
Comparison
| Wood therapy | Pressotherapy | Bellaction Duo body | |
|---|---|---|---|
| How it's done | Hands-on massage with wooden tools | Sequential compression boots | Beauty device |
| How it feels | Intense, more than a massage | Snug, relaxing pressure | Comfortable to tolerate; we explain it beforehand |
| Main focus | How the skin looks, and lightness | Light legs and a draining effect | Firmness and contour |
| Ideal if | You like hands-on work and can take firm pressure | You want to rest with no effort | You want a programme focused on one area |
Other options that may suit you
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If you'd prefer a gentle, relaxing sensation with a draining effect
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If firmness in a specific area is your priority
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If you simply want to relax, with no skin-appearance goal
What our clients say
Frequently asked questions
Where can I get wood therapy in Málaga?
At Narumi, Calle Cristo de la Epidemia 33, in Málaga city centre, a few minutes' walk from La Victoria, El Ejido and the historic centre. Before your first session we carry out an initial assessment. You can book by WhatsApp or phone on +34 611 500 328, or through the form. Sessions are in Spanish, but message us on WhatsApp and we'll do our best to help.
How much does wood therapy cost?
The price table on this page shows the single session and the package of 10 sessions. If you want to do a full course, the package is the most practical option. If the table says 'Ask us', send us a WhatsApp message and we'll give you the current price.
How many wood therapy sessions do I need?
To notice a change in how your skin looks, a course of 10 sessions, once or twice a week, is typical. A one-off session leaves you feeling lighter, but the appearance of the skin improves with consistency. Results vary from person to person, depending on their skin and habits.
Does wood therapy hurt?
It's more intense than a standard massage, and in some areas you'll really feel the pressure. It should always be bearable: we adjust it with you and ease off if it's too much. We usually keep the first sessions a little gentler to see how your skin responds.
Does wood therapy get rid of cellulite?
No. It can improve the appearance of orange-peel skin while you keep up the course, together with a balanced diet, physical activity and good hydration. Cellulite has hormonal and genetic components, and no beauty treatment can make it disappear.
Does wood therapy help you lose weight?
It doesn't help you lose weight or burn fat. What you'll notice is better-looking skin and a feeling of lightness. If weight loss is your goal, diet and exercise are the foundation; wood therapy can go alongside that process.
Will wood therapy leave bruises?
On delicate skin or if you bruise easily, the odd small bruise may appear and soon fade. That's why we ask beforehand and adjust the pressure. If you take anticoagulants, have fragile capillaries or prominent varicose veins, we won't carry out the treatment.
Which is better, wood therapy or pressotherapy?
They're different. Wood therapy is an intense hands-on massage focused on how the skin looks; pressotherapy is gentle sequential compression with a draining effect. Many clients combine them. If you're unsure, our comparison guide explains how to choose.
Which areas can be treated?
Mainly the thighs, bottom, outer thighs ('saddlebags') and abdomen, and the arms too if you wish. In each session we focus on the areas agreed at your assessment so we make the most of the time.
Who can't have wood therapy?
We don't offer it during pregnancy or breastfeeding, with prominent varicose veins or fragile capillaries, if you take anticoagulants, have a history of thrombosis or phlebitis, have had recent surgery in the area or cancer under treatment, or on skin with wounds or infection. If in doubt, check with your doctor first.
Written and reviewed by Marta Fernández · Last reviewed:
Sources: Spanish Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (AEDV): general information on cellulite
Shall we talk about what you need?
Tell us what you'd like to improve and we'll recommend the option that genuinely makes sense for you, with a no-obligation initial consultation.
Send a messageWhere to find us
A few minutes' walk from Málaga's historic centre
- Phone and WhatsApp
- 611 500 328
- Opening hours
- By appointment only. Check availability on WhatsApp or by phone.
- [email protected]
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