On 2 October 2026, the masseuses of Rose & Wine led a tantra workshop at the Elysium club. Participants watched demonstrations of professional massage techniques and learned the basics of working with the breath and slow touch. It was the first meeting in a series – the tantra workshops will be held regularly.
What was the workshop like?
The evening had a calm atmosphere: dimmed lights, music and candles. Qualified Rose & Wine masseuses demonstrated the tantric massage techniques our guests experience every day at the salon – long, flowing strokes, working in rhythm with the breath and gradually calming the body. That evening it was also possible to book an individual massage.
What does science say about tantric touch?
Tantra is an ancient tradition, but several elements of tantric massage can now be described in the language of science. Here are three of them.
Slow touch and CT fibres
Human skin contains special nerve endings called C-tactile (CT) fibres. They respond most strongly to gentle, slow stroking at around 1–10 centimetres per second, and their activation is linked to the feeling of pleasant, soothing touch. This was described by a team of Swedish and British researchers in “Nature Neuroscience” (Löken et al., 2009). It explains well why the strokes in tantric massage are so slow: fast, firm pressure stimulates these fibres much less.
Slow breathing and the vagus nerve
The second pillar of tantra is the breath. Research on heart rate variability (HRV) shows that calm breathing at about six breaths per minute increases HRV, which is considered an indicator of vagus nerve activity – the part of the nervous system responsible for rest and recovery (Lehrer and Gevirtz, “Frontiers in Psychology”, 2014). That is why a tantric massage session starts with a few minutes of calm breathing, and the masseuse matches the rhythm of her touch to the guest’s breath.
Touch and oxytocin
Touch also affects hormones. In a study by Morhenn, Beavin and Zak (2012), massage increased levels of oxytocin – a hormone associated with closeness and trust – and lowered levels of ACTH, a hormone involved in the stress response. These are, however, single studies, and massage remains a form of relaxation, not therapy.
Where does tantra come from?
Tantra is a spiritual tradition that developed in India within Hinduism and Buddhism. Modern tantric massage took shape in the West in the 20th century and draws from the old tradition mainly mindfulness, breathwork and respect for the body. Read more about how a session works in our guide what is tantric massage.
Upcoming tantra workshops
Tantra workshops with Rose & Wine masseuses will be held regularly. They are a chance to learn the basics of working with the breath and touch and to see professional massage techniques up close. We will announce the dates of upcoming meetings on our website, and you can also ask about them by phone at +48 501 705 155.
Tantric massage in Warsaw – Rose & Wine
Every day we welcome you at the Rose & Wine salon, ul. Jana Szymczaka 1, in the Wola district of Warsaw – Tuesday to Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. You will find the details on the tantric massage page.
