Relaxation massage in Calgary

A relaxation massage at Renu is a Swedish-style, full-body massage with flowing strokes and light to medium pressure, given by a Registered Massage Therapist. Sessions run 30 to 90 minutes ($80 to $157), with warm towels, a soft robe, music at a pleasant volume and tea afterwards. For a whole-body reset most people choose 60 or 90 minutes, and new clients can book a 60-minute massage for $120 plus GST that includes an infrared cocoon session.

A relaxation massage in Calgary, booked with us, is a Swedish-style massage from a Registered Massage Therapist: long, flowing strokes over the whole body at light to medium pressure, in a quiet room designed to help you switch off. You choose the length, from a 30-minute reset to a 90-minute session, and the rest is about making the hour feel unhurried. Here is what is included, what it costs, how to pick a length and what the research says about massage and stress.

What a relaxation massage at Renu includes

The massage itself is Swedish in style: gentle, full-body, flowing strokes with light to medium pressure. It is the right fit if you are new to massage, carrying a lot of tension, or sensitive to touch. Swedish or classical massage is also the core of most massage training programs, according to the US National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), so it is the style every RMT knows thoroughly.

Around the massage, the room is set up for rest:

• warm towels on the table;
• a soft robe for before and after;
• music at a pleasant volume, which you can ask us to turn down or off;
• tea after treatment, so you are not rushing straight from the table to your car.

You undress to your comfort level and are draped with sheets throughout, with only the area being massaged uncovered. If you prefer to keep some clothing on, that is completely fine. Our page on whether you have to undress for a massage answers the common worries.

Prices and choosing your length

Relaxation massage sits on our standard massage price list, the same rate as any other style.

Length	Price	What it allows
30 min	$80	Back, neck and shoulders only
45 min	$100	Back plus legs, or back plus neck and scalp
60 min	$120	A full-body massage at an easy pace
75 min	$141	Full body with extra time on the areas that hold stress
90 min	$157	Full body, slowly, with time for feet, hands and scalp

For relaxation, time is the main ingredient. In 30 or 45 minutes we can settle one or two regions well, but the full-body sequence that people picture when they say “relaxation massage” really starts at 60 minutes. If you sleep poorly or feel wired by the end of a work week, 90 minutes gives your body time to slow down before the session is over.

New to Renu? The 60-minute new client massage is $120 plus GST and can be Swedish, relaxation or a combination, with a complimentary 20-minute session in the infrared cocoon pod. The pod has limited spots, so call before your visit to reserve it. Details are on what the new client massage special includes.

What research says about massage, stress and anxiety

The evidence for relaxation massage is encouraging but modest, and we would rather tell you that plainly. Two studies are useful here because both compared Swedish massage with light touch, a stronger comparison than doing nothing.

• Anxiety. In a randomized trial at Emory University, 47 people with generalized anxiety disorder who were not on other treatment received either Swedish massage or a light-touch control twice a week for six weeks. Anxiety scores fell in both groups, but more with massage: by 11.67 points versus 8.41 on the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale, a difference of 3.26 points.
• Stress hormones and immune markers. A preliminary study of healthy adults compared one 45-minute Swedish massage with one light-touch session. Massage produced a large drop in arginine vasopressin, a hormone involved in the stress response, and a small drop in cortisol, along with changes in circulating immune cells. The authors called the findings preliminary and in need of replication.

What that adds up to: a Swedish massage appears to do something measurable beyond simply lying down and being touched, but it is not a treatment for an anxiety disorder on its own. If anxiety or poor sleep is getting in the way of daily life, please speak with your doctor as well; massage can sit alongside that care.

Leaving the table calm, and sometimes sleepy

Most people leave a relaxation massage feeling heavy, calm and a little slow. Give yourself a few minutes before driving, drink some water and sit with the tea. Some clients feel tired or unexpectedly emotional, which is common and passes; our article on feeling tired or emotional after a massage explains why.

Soreness is less likely with light to medium pressure than with deep work, though not impossible. Cleveland Clinic notes that post-massage discomfort usually lasts a few hours to about a day and a half, and that telling your therapist about sensitive areas, medications and recent illness helps them adjust their technique.

Health reasons to pause before a relaxation massage

A gentle massage is low-risk for most people, but a few situations call for a conversation with your doctor before you book, and a mention to your therapist on the day:

• a recent or suspected blood clot, or throbbing pain and swelling in one leg, usually the calf or thigh;
• pregnancy (book a prenatal massage instead, which is positioned and adapted for it);
• cancer treatment, recent surgery or a new, unexplained lump;
• a fever or an infection, including a bad cold, when it is kinder to reschedule.

NCCIH also suggests that if you are unsure whether massage is appropriate for you, you discuss it with your health care provider.

Booking a relaxation massage in Calgary

Book online through Jane by choosing “Massage” and the length you want; you do not need to choose Swedish or relaxation from a menu. Tell your therapist at the start that you are there to unwind, and say if you would like quiet rather than conversation. We are open seven days, with evening appointments Monday to Friday, which suits an end-of-week reset, and there is free street parking on 19 Street NW. If you are weighing us against a day spa, our comparison of RMT massage and spa massage sets out what differs.

Questions people ask

Is a Swedish massage the same as a relaxation massage?

At Renu they are booked the same way. Swedish massage is the flowing, full-body style most relaxation massage is built on; you simply book a massage for the length you want and tell your therapist that calm is the goal.

Will I get an RMT receipt for a relaxation massage?

Yes, when the session is with one of our Registered Massage Therapists, the receipt is the same whatever style you chose. Whether your plan reimburses it depends on the plan, so check its massage coverage first.

Can I fall asleep during my massage?

Yes, and plenty of people do. Your therapist will carry on quietly and let you know gently when it is time to turn over or finish.

Is relaxation massage a good first massage?

It is one of the easiest places to start. Swedish massage suits people who are new to massage, who carry a lot of tension, or who are sensitive to touch, and pressure stays light to medium unless you ask for more.

Sources

1. NCCIH: Massage therapy, what you need to know
2. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry (2016): Swedish massage for generalized anxiety disorder, randomized trial
3. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine (2010): A single session of Swedish massage, neuroendocrine and immune effects
4. Cleveland Clinic: Why does my body feel worse after a massage?
5. NHS: Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) symptoms

Page reviewed October 5, 2026. This page is education, not a diagnosis. For your own situation, talk to your doctor, surgeon or care team, or ask us.