What Is an Athletic Massage—and Should You Get One?

Let’s get one thing straight: you do not need to be a pro athlete to benefit from an athletic massage.

Whether you're training for a half-marathon or just trying to get through leg day without crying (been there), athletic massage is less about titles—and more about how your body feels and functions.

At Aescape, we built our massage experiences to meet you exactly where you're at—whether that's sore, stiff, or just in need of a reset. You choose the pressure, focus areas, and vibe. And yes, that includes your glutes, hamstrings, and all the spots that tend to hold tension after workouts.

So… what is athletic massage, exactly?

At its core, it’s a massage style designed to help your body recover from physical activity. Think of it like a cool-down for your muscles—except instead of foam rolling in pain on your living room floor, you get to lay back and actually relax.

Depending on what you need, athletic massage might include:

• Quick, energizing pressure pre-workout

• Slow, deep work to unwind post-workout

• Gentle compression to help ease fatigue

Some people call it “sports massage,” but that makes it sound like it’s just for Olympians. Really, it’s for anyone who moves their body and wants it to keep feeling good.

So what does it actually do?

Massage is kind of magic—but there’s science behind it, too.

Researchers studying how massage impacts blood flow found that it can improve circulation to the muscles you’ve just worked. That means more oxygen, less stiffness, and faster recovery. One study on lower-limb massage showed it helped increase localized blood flow, which is exactly what your body needs after a tough session.

Another study on lower back massage found it can raise skin temperature and promote better blood movement in the area—which is just science-speak for: your muscles get what they need to chill out and heal up.

And that next-day soreness we all dread? You're not imagining things. Massage has been shown to ease delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS). One meta-analysis found that people who got massage after intense exercise had less soreness and better muscle performance afterward.

(If that hit a little too close to home, you might also like this read on what your recovery routine might be missing.)

Is this only for athletes?

Nope. If you:

• Work out a few times a week

• Sit at a desk most of the day

• Feel stiff, sore, or like your body’s been holding a grudge

• Just want to feel better in your body

…then massage is 100% for you.

We’ve got targeted sessions at Aescape that focus on glutes, hamstrings, and the lower back—aka the trifecta of tightness. Whether you're in for 15 minutes or an hour, it’s a chance to give your body a little thanks for carrying you through life (and burpees).

Let us know you enjoyed this read by booking a massage and using code BLOG for $10 off your first session (30 minutes and up!). Wanna share your thoughts? We’d love to hear from you. Give us a shout at @LetsAescape on social!