Anaïs, massage therapist in Hossegor
“The intelligence of the hands, the strength of intention.”
Training and approach
I trained as a beautician in Toulouse and have worked in wellness since 2011, learning the trade in 4 and 5-star hotel spas in France, Switzerland and Australia. That is also where I got used to working in English.
I moved to Hossegor in 2020 and opened my own practice in 2022. Today I see clients at the Maison Rita studio and travel to homes, rentals and hotels along the south Landes coast, including Les Hortensias du Lac (4★).
What I trained in
- Traditional Chinese medicine: two years of training in Bordeaux. A global reading of the body, energy work, rituals inspired by the TAO;
- Fascia therapy (Tissual Balancing®): work on the fascia, for bodies that feel stiff or sore;
- Assisted stretching (Be.Stretch®): guided stretches on the table, the basis of Deep Stretch & Massage;
- Kobido, the Japanese facial massage, learnt in the tradition of the houses where I worked.
Listening comes first: each session follows the body’s reactions and signals. Physical tension, emotional and energetic dimensions are taken together, and techniques and pressure change freely according to what does the most good at that moment. The treatments are technical but never mechanical.
What a session looks like
- Arrival: a few minutes to talk about what you need, what you expect and how you feel that day;
- Settling in: comfortably on the table, in your underwear, covered with a towel that preserves your privacy;
- During the treatment: you are invited to say what you feel, especially about the pressure;
- Afterwards: time to come back gently, a hot drink or a glass of water, and a last word on how it felt.
Products respect all skin types and lean towards natural, eco-responsible and certified organic: Anne Millois, Oliambru, Weleda Arnica, coconut oil, Eona organic cryo gel. Linen is cotton, washed and reused.
Working with visitors in English
From June to September a good share of my clients are visitors from the UK, Ireland, the Netherlands, Germany and further away, staying in villas, surf camps and campsites around Hossegor and Capbreton. Sessions, messages and online booking all work in English. You can explain what pulls or what you would like in your own words; I will ask the questions I need. The studio is about 40 minutes from Biarritz airport.
Reviews
Les mains d’Hana is rated 5.0 from 62Google reviews. “Hana” means “flower” in Japanese: softness, growth, balance. The name says the intention: tailor-made treatments, from relaxation massage to sports recovery, at the studio or as a mobile massage.
The massages offered are wellness massages, not a medical treatment, and are no substitute for medical advice or care.
Your questions
Are you certified?
I trained as a beautician in Toulouse, then spent two years studying traditional Chinese medicine in Bordeaux, and hold certifications in fascia therapy (Tissual Balancing®) and assisted stretching (Be.Stretch®). I am a registered sole trader in France, with professional liability insurance. I am not a physiotherapist: the massages are wellness treatments.
How long have you worked in Hossegor?
I moved to Hossegor in 2020 and have been self-employed here since 2022, after 15 years in the wellness field, mostly in hotel spas. The studio is at Maison Rita in Soorts-Hossegor; I also work with hotels on the coast and travel to clients' accommodation.
Do you work with men, athletes, older clients?
Yes, all three: surfers and golfers after their sessions, runners before a race, residents who come regularly for stiffness. Pressure, positioning and duration are adapted to each person; you stay in your underwear under a towel throughout.