Quick answer: what is Balinese massage?
Balinese massage is a full-body oil massage from Bali, Indonesia, that combines long gliding strokes with kneading, skin rolling, thumb and palm pressure and gentle stretches, at a pressure that can range from gentle to firm. At Enyo Thai Massage Athens it is our Aegean Nectar Ritual: a Thai–Balinese massage with cold-pressed organic coconut oil, performed by our Asian massage specialists, in 45, 60 or 90 minutes, from €40.50 online.
What is Balinese massage?
Balinese massage is usually offered today as a full-body oil massage. Rather than relying on one kind of stroke, it moves between long, gliding strokes, kneading, skin rolling, focused thumb and palm pressure, gentle stretches and joint movements, all in a flowing, rhythmic sequence.
On spa menus it is often called traditional Balinese massage. In Indonesian, massage is pijat (also spelled pijit), but that is the general word for massage across Indonesia, not a special name for the Balinese style.
Where does Balinese massage come from?
Balinese massage comes from Bali, within a wider Indonesian culture of massage at home and in the village. Massage historians describe a mix of local practices with Indian Ayurvedic and Chinese influences, and older Balinese massage is linked with traditional village practitioners known as balian. No reliable source gives a founding date or a single inventor, so vague claims of a precise ancient origin are best left aside.
As Bali became a major spa destination, traditional Balinese massage grew into a recognised spa brand, documented for example around Sanur, and by 2010 it was already offered in spas worldwide, with each region adapting it in its own way.
How is a Balinese massage performed?
A typical spa session takes place on a padded massage table, with you covered by a sheet or towel except for the area being massaged. The massage specialist then works through the body with:
- Long gliding strokes to spread the oil and warm the muscles.
- Kneading and skin rolling, lifting and rolling the skin and muscle between the fingers.
- Thumb and palm pressure on focused points.
- Gentle stretches and joint movements; some teachers add knuckle and forearm slides.
Coconut oil is the traditional Indonesian base, sometimes infused with pandan leaves, cempaka flowers or vetiver (akar wangi). Recipes vary from family to family and village to village, so there is no single “correct” Balinese oil.
Balinese massage in Athens at Enyo: the Aegean Nectar Ritual
At Enyo, Balinese massage is part of our Aegean Nectar Ritual (Thai–Balinese Massage). Our Asian massage specialists combine the rigour of Thai technique with the gentle flow of Balinese massage, using cold-pressed organic coconut oil and a rhythmic sequence of skin rolling, kneading and pressure points, at medium to firm pressure. It is performed on the skin with professional draping, and the pressure is always agreed with you first.
The Balinese flow also appears in two more rituals: Yin-Yang, which pairs traditional Thai stretching with Balinese massage for two guests side by side, and Gaia Rizoma, where you can choose the Thai Balinese technique (The Exotic Flow) with hot stones.
| Ritual | Durations & online prices | Book |
|---|---|---|
| Aegean Nectar RitualThai–Balinese · cold-pressed organic coconut oil, medium to firm |
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Book |
| Yin-YangFor two · Thai stretching with Balinese flow (price for both guests) |
|
Book |
| Gaia RizomaHot stones · choose the Thai Balinese technique (The Exotic Flow) |
|
Book |
Prices are online prices on Fresha (save up to 10% compared with standard prices). The 90-minute Aegean Nectar is the best value at €0.75 a minute. Every ritual is in our Thai massage price guide.
What does Balinese massage feel like?
Balinese massage feels flowing and rhythmic: slippery, oil-assisted strokes alternate with kneading, skin rolling and focused pressure, so it is never monotonous. It is not always very hard, nor always light; Aegean Nectar sits at medium to firm, and you can ask for more or less at any time.
- Tell us your preferred pressure and where you hold tension.
- Mention any allergy to coconut or other massage oils before we begin.
- Undress only to your comfort level; you stay covered with draping throughout.
- Leaving the oil on your skin afterwards is up to you.
Who should check before a Balinese massage?
These are general massage precautions rather than Balinese-specific rules. Tell us, and check with your doctor first, if any of these apply:
- Pregnancy. From the 4th month, The Motherhood Nest is our dedicated prenatal ritual.
- A recent injury or surgery, or a history of blood clots.
- A fever or an infectious illness: please reschedule instead.
- Cuts, bruises, rashes or sunburn, and any allergy to massage oils.
Massage at Enyo is for relaxation and wellbeing, not a replacement for advice from your doctor.
Balinese massage myths
- “Balinese massage is always very hard.”
- Pressure ranges from gentle to firm, depending on the massage specialist and on you.
- “Every authentic Balinese massage follows the same ancient sequence.”
- Techniques are combined and adapted, and no source documents one fixed, dated original routine.
- “It must include hot stones, herbal compresses and a special oil blend.”
- The core of Balinese massage is manual oil massage. Stones and compresses are separate additions.
- “Pijat is the special name for Balinese massage.”
- Pijat simply means massage in Indonesian and covers many Indonesian traditions.
Balinese, Lomi-Lomi or Thai oil massage?
If you love long, wave-like strokes, read about Lomi-Lomi massage. If you want firm pressure above all, see our deep tissue massage guide. Every oil ritual, from Attic Avra to Aegean Nectar, is compared in our Thai oil massage guide.
Balinese massage near the Acropolis: how to find us
Enyo Thai Massage Athens is at 12 Athanasiou Diakou in Makrygianni, 2 minutes on foot from Akropoli Metro (Line 2) and 9 minutes from the Acropolis Museum, so a Balinese massage fits easily into a day in central Athens. We are open daily 11:30–22:00, and online booking is open 24/7.
Enyo Thai Massage Athens
12 Athanasiou Diakou, Makrygianni117 42 Athens, Greece
Αθανασίου Διάκου 12, 117 42 Αθήνα
- +30 210 922 1822 · +30 698 120 2615
- WhatsApp · Viber
- Daily 11:30–22:00
- Book online 24/7 on Fresha
Google Maps Apple Maps Directions
Plus code 8G95XP9J+87
| From | Walk | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Akropoli Metro Station (Line 2) | 2 min | 0.1 km |
| Temple of Olympian Zeus | 7 min | 0.5 km |
| Plaka | 8 min | 0.6 km |
| Theatre of Dionysus (Acropolis south slope) | 9 min | 0.6 km |
| Acropolis Museum | 9 min | 0.6 km |
| Koukaki | 13 min | 0.9 km |
| Odeon of Herodes Atticus | 13 min | 0.9 km |
| Syntagma Square | 14 min | 1.0 km |
| Monastiraki Square | 18 min | 1.3 km |
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Balinese massage: FAQ
Is Balinese massage gentle or firm?
It can be either: Balinese massage ranges from gentle to firm. Our Aegean Nectar Ritual sits at medium to firm, and you can ask for lighter or deeper pressure at any time.
How much is a Balinese massage in Athens at Enyo?
The Aegean Nectar Ritual (Thai–Balinese massage) costs €40.50 for 45 minutes, €49.50 for 60 minutes, €67.50 for 90 minutes when you book online on Fresha. Standard prices start from €45.
Which oil do you use for Balinese massage at Enyo?
Cold-pressed organic coconut oil, the traditional Indonesian base oil. Tell us before your session if you are allergic to coconut or other oils.
What is the difference between Balinese and Thai massage?
Traditional Thai massage is done clothed on a mattress, without oil, with acupressure and assisted stretches. Balinese massage is an oil massage on a table with gliding strokes, kneading and skin rolling. Aegean Nectar combines the two.
Can couples have a Balinese massage together?
Yes. Yin-Yang combines traditional Thai stretching with Balinese massage for two guests side by side, in 60, 75 or 90 minutes, from €99 for both online.
Who performs the Balinese massage at Enyo?
Our Asian massage specialists, who combine Thai technique with the Balinese flow and agree the pressure with you before they begin.
Sources
The general background in this article (history, names, technique and precautions) is based on these published sources. Everything about Enyo comes from our own menu and studio.
- International Massage Association: Balinese massage and the Indonesian massage tradition
- Bali BISA: traditional Balinese massage course
- Skin Inc: “The Bliss of Balinese Massage” (2010)
- Journal of Business on Hospitality and Tourism: traditional Balinese massage as a spa brand in Sanur
- World Massage Encyclopedia: techniques of Indonesia
- AMTA: what to expect at your massage session
About this guide
Prepared by the Enyo Thai Massage Athens spa team. Prices and durations come from our live Fresha menu and were last checked on ; walking times are calculated with OpenStreetMap routing. Prices are in euro, per session.