Many guests treat the sauna as a freebie, but the order in which you use heat and massage changes the outcome considerably.
Heat first — so tissue lets go
Warmth raises circulation and makes fascia more elastic, so a therapist can work deeper while you feel less of it. Good for very stiff muscles, for people who tend to ache the next day, and in cool weather. Ten to fifteen minutes is enough — long enough to exhaust yourself and there is nothing left for the massage.
Heat afterwards — to hold the release
Once muscles have released, heat helps keep them there and flushes what the massage stirred up. Best if you came to relax and want deep sleep that night.
Sauna or steam?
- Sauna — dry, hotter, fast sweat, clears the sinuses.
- Steam — humid, cooler but tolerable for longer, kinder to skin and airways.
If in doubt: dry skin and allergy-prone guests usually prefer steam.
Cautions
- Not after alcohol or on very little sleep.
- High blood pressure or heart conditions — check with a doctor first.
- Drink water before and after, every time.
- Dizzy or racing heart: get out immediately, do not finish the clock.
The order we recommend
Steam 10 minutes → scrub → massage → onsen soak → hot tea or matcha. That is exactly the sequence in our Age of Angel and Heaven on Earth packages, and why they run 150–180 minutes.
