Massage Styles Guide · TAO Spa · Tysons & Vienna VA

TAO Massage Styles Guide

A practical, opinionated walkthrough of every style on the TAO menu — written by the senior therapy team so you can pick the right one before you even walk in.

Quick Answer: TAO Therapeutic Massage Spa in Vienna, VA offers Swedish and Deep Tissue sharing one price ladder — $60 / $100 / $150 / $200 for 30 / 60 / 90 / 120 minutes — while the TAO Signature Combo is a small step up at $70 / $110 / $180 / $220, so you can choose by goal, not budget. Specialty styles Sports, Natural Oil, and Reiki run $70 / $120 / $180 / $240, and Foot Reflexology is $50 / $80 for 30 / 60 minutes. For first visits, the team recommends a 60-minute TAO Signature Combo ($110). Studio at 8292 Old Courthouse Rd, minutes from Tysons Corner. Open every day 10am–9pm. (703) 906-0992.

Every Body Wants Something Different

No two clients walk through our doors with the same week behind them. Some are recovering from a hard training cycle. Some are pinned under a knot that has been there since the November project went sideways. Some just want ninety quiet minutes away from a phone. Our menu is wide for exactly that reason — and choosing the right service is less mysterious than it looks once someone walks you through it.

That is what this guide is. Each section covers one style: what it is, who it is for, what it costs, and a link to the detail page if you want to go deeper. Read it top to bottom if you are new. Skip to the section you care about if you already know your body. By the time you finish, you should know exactly what to book at TAO Therapeutic Massage Spa in Vienna, minutes from Tysons Corner.

Swedish vs Deep Tissue — When to Choose Each

Swedish Massage

$60 / 30min · $100 / 60min · $150 / 90min · $200 / 120min

Long, flowing strokes and gentle kneading. The pressure is moderate, the rhythm is consistent, and the goal is to bring the nervous system down rather than dig into deep tissue. Walk out feeling calmer, looser, and notably more rested.

Best for: first-time massage clients, pure relaxation, high-stress weeks, second- and third-trimester pregnancy (with clearance), people who find deeper pressure too intense.

Deep Tissue Massage

$60 / 30min · $100 / 60min · $150 / 90min · $200 / 120min

Slow, firm, targeted pressure that reaches into deeper muscle layers and fascia. The work focuses on knots, adhesions, and chronic tension patterns — usually the upper traps, lower back, hips, and IT band. Some "good hurt" is normal, and the therapist adjusts pressure with you in real time.

Best for: chronic muscle pain, desk-job tension, old injuries, athletes between hard sessions. For the full breakdown, see the Deep Tissue Benefits Guide.

TAO Signature Combo — Why It Is the #1 Booking

The TAO Signature Combo Massage is our most-requested service, and it earned that spot honestly. Instead of forcing you to choose between relaxation and therapeutic relief, your senior therapist reads your body in the first ten minutes, listens to where you are tight, and weaves Swedish flow, deep tissue release, and meridian-inspired pressure into one fully customized session.

That makes the Combo the right default in almost every case. New clients who are not sure what they need? Combo. Regulars who want different things on different weeks? Combo. Athletes who want both recovery and full-body decompression? Combo. It runs a small step up from Swedish and Deep Tissue — $70/30min, $110/60min, $180/90min, $220/120min — a modest premium for the customization.

Best for: first-time visitors, clients who change goals visit-to-visit, people who want one therapist who can do everything in one session. Price: $110 for 60 minutes is the standard starting point.

Sports, Foot Reflexology, Natural Oil, Hot Stone, Reiki

Sports Massage

$70 / 30min · $120 / 60min · $180 / 90min · $240 / 120min

Recovery-focused bodywork that combines deep tissue, assisted stretching, and pressure-point release. Faster pace than pure deep tissue, with attention to specific muscle groups for your sport.

Best for: runners, lifters, weekend athletes, anyone whose training load is showing up in their body. Book the night before a long run or the morning after a hard session.

Foot Reflexology Massage

$50 (30 min) / $80 (60 min)

The overlooked gem on our menu. Reflexology-inspired foot and lower-leg therapy that relieves fatigue, stimulates circulation, and triggers deep relaxation through the body's pressure pathways. Surprisingly powerful for people who stand all day.

Best for: nurses, teachers, restaurant staff, retail workers, anyone whose feet log 10K+ steps a day. Also a beautiful add-on tail to any 60- or 90-minute massage.

Natural Oil Massage

$70 / 30min · $120 / 60min · $180 / 90min · $240 / 120min

A warm aromatherapy-style massage using high-quality natural oils. The oils nourish the skin while the warmth and scent quiet the nervous system. More sensory than Swedish, slightly less mechanical than Deep Tissue.

Best for: dry winter skin, sensory-driven relaxation, clients who love warm oil on tired muscles. Pairs well with the facial spa services.

Hot Stone Massage

Available as 5-min add-on ($20) or full session

Heated basalt stones placed along key meridian lines to warm tight muscles before — and during — the deeper work. The heat lets the therapist achieve deeper release with less pressure, which makes hot stone particularly effective when paired with deep tissue.

Best for: cold-weather sessions, clients who feel chronically cold, anyone wanting deep release without aggressive pressure. The most-added enhancement on our menu in winter.

Reiki

$70 / 30min · $120 / 60min · $180 / 90min · $240 / 120min

The calmest service on our menu. A gentle, energy-balancing session with light touch — no kneading or pressure. The work happens at the nervous-system and energetic layer rather than the muscle layer.

Best for: stress and anxiety patterns, touch-sensitive clients, post-illness or post-surgery recovery, anyone wanting to address tension at a deeper layer than physical bodywork reaches.

Meridian Facial Massage

$70 / 30min · $120 / 60min

Our hands-only meridian facial that uses sustained pressure along the facial meridians to sculpt, brighten, and release facial tension. More than a typical facial — there is real bodywork happening across the jaw, neck, and shoulder lines.

Best for: TMJ tension, dull or stressed skin, clients who want facial work with measurable therapeutic effect.

TAO Special Couple vs TAO Aroma Couple

Both couples rituals run side-by-side in our private suite — popular with anniversaries, birthdays, and weekend escapes from the Tysons area. The difference is the depth of the ritual.

TAO Special Couple Massage — $200 for 60 minutes, $300 for 90, $400 for 120. Includes hot stone enhancement and a face mask. The classic couples option: relaxing, indulgent, complete. Best for: a first couples massage together, regular date nights, anyone who wants a strong shared experience without going to the deepest tier.

TAO Aroma Couple Massage — $220 for 60 minutes, $320 for 90, $420 for 120. Builds on the Special by adding our warm natural-oil aromatherapy treatment alongside the hot stone and face mask. The most luxurious shared ritual on the menu, and the one most often described as "felt like a destination spa." Best for: anniversaries, milestone birthdays, babymoons, anyone wanting the full sensory experience.

If you have never tried a couples massage before, the 60-minute Special at $200 is the easiest entry. If you want to make it the centerpiece of a special day, the 90- or 120-minute Aroma is the move.

When to Add Hot Stone, Body Scrub, Essential Oil, or Cupping

Hot or Cold Stone (+$20)

The highest-value add-on on our menu. Hot stone in colder months or any time your muscles need a head start releasing — the heat lets your therapist work deeper with less pressure. Cold stone is the call after intense workouts or when inflammation is the main issue.

Body Scrub (+$30)

Full-body exfoliation that leaves skin smooth and fresh. Especially nice before weddings or vacations, at the end of a long winter, or any time your skin feels dull. Also makes any warm-oil follow-up massage absorb noticeably better.

Essential Oil (+$20)

An aromatherapy upgrade that turns a standard massage into a sensory experience. Pick this when scent matters to you, when you need extra help winding down, or when you are layering a relaxation goal onto a therapeutic session.

Cupping (+$30)

Suction therapy that lifts fascia, improves local circulation, and helps stubborn knots finally release. Pair with Deep Tissue or Sports Massage for serious muscle tightness, training fatigue, or the kind of upper-back tension that resists everything else.

Prepay Packages — Save Up to $200

If you plan to come in more than once a month, the prepay packages pay for themselves quickly. They are not a membership — there is no monthly auto-charge, no contract, no rollover fight. You buy a credit pool once and use it across Swedish, Deep Tissue, or the TAO Signature Combo whenever you book.

  • 5 × 60-minute: $425 (save $75 versus $500 walk-in)
  • 10 × 60-minute: $800 (save $200 versus $1,000 walk-in) — the most popular package, averages $80/session
  • 5 × 90-minute: $675 (save $75 versus $750)
  • 10 × 90-minute: $1,300 (save $200 versus $1,500)

Browse the full lineup on the packages page, or compare the prepay route with our membership options.

Still not sure? Walk in for a 60-min TAO Signature Combo — our most-requested first visit. Your senior therapist takes it from there. For deeper reading, see the Deep Tissue Benefits Guide or the comprehensive Tysons & Vienna Massage Spa Guide. Call (703) 906-0992 or book online at book.squareup.com.

Frequently Asked Questions

If I have never been to TAO before, what should I book first? +

Walk in for a 60-minute TAO Signature Combo ($110) — our most-requested first visit. Your senior therapist reads your body in the first ten minutes, then dials the work between Swedish flow, deep tissue release, and meridian pressure based on what you actually need. It takes the pressure off you to know which style you want before you have ever been on our table.

Are all the massage styles really priced the same? +

Almost. Swedish and Deep Tissue share one price ladder — $60/30min, $100/60min, $150/90min, $200/120min — while the TAO Signature Combo is a small step up at $70/30min, $110/60min, $180/90min, $220/120min, so you can still choose mostly by goal, not budget. The specialty styles Sports, Natural Oil, and Reiki are $70/30min, $120/60min, $180/90min, $240/120min, while Foot Reflexology is $50/30min and $80/60min — slightly higher because they require specialized training or longer setup. Couples rituals and signature packages are priced separately and are noted alongside each in the guide below.

Which add-on is most worth it? +

Honestly, hot stone ($20, 5-min add-on) is the highest-value upgrade we offer — it warms tight muscles before the deeper work begins, which lets your therapist get more done in less time. Body scrub ($30) is the right call before a wedding, vacation, or any event. Essential oil ($20) layers aromatherapy into any session. Cupping ($30) is the move for stubborn back or shoulder tightness that resists regular deep tissue.

How does the prepaid package work — is it a membership? +

It is not a membership. It is a credit pool. Pay once for 5 sessions ($425 for 60-min, $675 for 90-min) or 10 sessions ($800 for 60-min, $1300 for 90-min) and you save up to $200 versus walk-in pricing. Credits are mix-and-match across Swedish, Deep Tissue, and TAO Signature Combo, do not expire under normal use, and there is no monthly auto-charge. Most of our regulars run on the 10×60 package because it averages out to $80 per session.

How long should my session be — 30, 60, 90, or 120 minutes? +

30 minutes is a focused tune-up for one specific area between fuller sessions. 60 minutes is the sweet spot for most people — full body plus targeted attention. 90 minutes opens room for multiple problem areas plus add-ons like hot stone or cupping. 120 minutes is the right call for serious deep work, a major reset, or couples who want to fully unplug.

Reserve Your Hour

Slow down. Breathe. Let go.

Book your visit at TAO Therapeutic Massage Spa in Vienna, VA — we'll take care of the rest.