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Fitness

Urban blog | Fitness

Urban beauty pro Olga shares her tried-and-tested dos and don’ts when it comes to waxing – from what to do if you're nervous, to avoiding ingrown hairs.

Waxing 101: A pro's guide to smooth results 

If your brain’s still at the beach – read this

I’m a massage therapist, and here’s what sitting at a desk all day is doing to your posture

The productivity of rest: How one hour can change your whole day

Climbing the ladder differently: My path to head of marketing

I’m a qualified physio – here’s everything I would (and wouldn’t) do when training for the Euros

Meet Rozalia: Longtime Urban pro, music lover and crochet queen

I started painting miniatures after work, and my mental health has never felt better

I thought working a 9-5 would hinder my creativity – turns out, it actually helps

Life after amputation – photographer Sonny on adapting to a new normal with Urban

The best massage for each phase of your menstrual cycle

I wanted to be a bus driver - now I'm COO

Feel-good health and fitness upgrades to power your 2025 routine

Meet the women leading Urban

How our team keeps burnout at bay

Safe at home: A guide to booking mobile services safely

How this new Mum finds balance with Urban

How we’d spend a relaxing weekend in Birmingham

13 indoor things you’ll actually want to do when it’s raining in Birmingham (again)

Our favourite wellbeing activities in Birmingham

Where to go for a relaxing walk in Birmingham

From training to the table: Why sports massage has become a non-negotiable in my routine 

How a TMJ massage can help you smile again

The essential apps for city life

Our favourite hidden gems in Manchester

Where to go for a relaxing walk in Manchester

Our guide to a relaxing weekend in Manchester

The best things to do in Glasgow to relax

The best places to walk in Edinburgh

Hidden gems in Edinburgh: A wellness-seeker's guide

Unique things to do in Edinburgh – our 14 top picks

How to spend a relaxing weekend in Edinburgh

The best hidden gems in Glasgow – our 11 favourites

10 unique things to do in Glasgow

Unique things to do in Manchester for a trip with a twist

From Amna to Shiatsu: What is Japanese massage?

Maternal mental health tips

Six surprising ways your body changes during pregnancy

The best gifts for new mums

Mental benefits of massage: How it can boost your wellbeing

Perimenopause: Everything you need to know and how massage can help

Finding sanctuary in cycling – charity founder Ben’s journey through grief

Massage for grief – finding comfort in difficult times

What is a Thai massage?

Crick in the neck? Better call Paul

How massage helps this climber reach new heights

How weekly osteopathy gave me my life back – in the studio with disabled artist Charlotte

The overthinker’s guide to a home massage

When monthly massage is a non-negotiable: the menstrual coach doing city life her way

Different types of lymphatic drainage massage – manual vs Brazilian vs sculpting

Meet the Urban beauty pros

How often should you get a massage? The ultimate guide

15 different kinds of massage

The top 10 benefits of sports massage

Four of the best massages for climbing enthusiasts

How often should you use retinol? Here’s everything you need to know

Do pores open and close? Let’s put this beauty myth to bed

Three skincare myths, debunked

Ollie Jones chats about life behind the handlebars

The four best massages for back pain

The benefits of a stress relief massage

How to reduce knee pain when cycling with massage

Tennis elbow and massage: The ultimate guide

Physiotherapy and osteopathy – what’s the difference?

Can you get a massage when you're sick?

Lymphatic drainage and anti-cellulite massage – what’s the difference? 

Why massage should be part of your London marathon training plan

3 spine health myths, debunked

Customer story: Penny & Rozalia

14 unique Valentine's Day Gifts

What is foot massage?

The best massage for a good night's sleep

Lunar New Year gift ideas

Five great stretches to do at your desk

How to reduce DOMS

 Make better mental health a priority with online counselling

The five best massage oils to try

Up your swimming game outside the pool

The best massage for sciatica pain relief

Skincare the Urban team is loving

A runner's guide to massage

The best gifts for busy people

Best beauty gifts for Christmas

Christmas gifts for Dad 

Christmas fitness gift ideas

Unique Christmas gifts for Mums

The best facials in London

I tried assisted stretching - here's what I thought

The Urban fitness handbook

Massage for PMS

Burn bright, not out – Urban pros on how to avoid burnout

How stress affects your gut health

How to give yourself a face massage

The best deep tissue massages in London

Best London parks to play football in

What is Chinese massage?

Can massage ease period pain?

Give your sore calves a treat with a leg massage

Give yourself a hand massage

How can massage help to relieve back pain?

What is a lymphatic drainage massage or detox massage?

Learn how to focus better, relieve stress and take better care of your body after a busy summer.

Urban pro Sev talks all things posture – from her go-to daily stretches, to tips for improving your work setup.

Taking time out isn’t indulgent – it’s essential. This blog explores the power of rest, and how it helps you keep going before your body forces you to stop. 

From a 60-minute massage to a walk without your phone, it’s about finding what fills your cup – and making space to do more of it.

"For me, choosing not to go to university was absolutely the right call."

Urban’s head of marketing, Stacie Price, shares how she built her career – from the retail shop floor to leading nationwide campaigns. 

Urban physiotherapist Samir talks all things training – from his go-to recovery meal to the one thing he'd avoid.

A gentle, full-body massage designed to support your recovery, physically and emotionally, after birth.

Postnatal massage

TikTok health advice can be a bit of a Wild West. We asked our in-house massage expert to take us for a scroll to debunk the most common myths.

Discover the top 10 benefits of sports massage in this detailed guide from Urban. We discuss blood flow, sleep, stress levels and much more.

Can massage really make you less stressed? In this detailed guide we look at the science behind it.

Climbing is a highly-demanding sport that calls for your whole body to be used, so it’s likely to take its toll. How can a massage help? Let's find out.

Let's chat all things back pain. Because a whopping 80% of us will feel it at some point in our lives – here's the best massages to tackle it.

If you dread that time of the month, one of these massages might be able to help ease your symptoms

Focused support to help reduce swelling and aid recovery after cosmetic surgery.

Brazilian lymphatic drainage

Ease aches, whether you run marathons or for the bus.

Sports massage

Discover your deepest stretch ever as an expert does the hard work for you.

Assisted stretching

Get your step count up with our pick of Manchester’s most relaxing walks – from pretty parks to 4-hour hikes, there’s something for every level of walker.

Take a breather with us and enjoy a relaxing weekend in Manchester – from creative classes to canal strolls, we've got 11 activities to choose from. End the day with an Urban home massage, of course.

Discover unique things to do in Manchester, from secret bars to canal cruises and pottery classes, finished with a relaxing at-home massage to unwind.

Find something new to do in Manchester with our pick of the best hidden gems. From Britain’s oldest library to at-home massage, discover your next favourite secret.

Alongside helping hands glide over skin, some massage oils offer plenty of health benefits you might find surprising. Try these five oils to get some extra goodness out of your treatment. 

Uncover Edinburgh's hidden hotspots for a trip you won't forget – here's our favourites...

Craving a pretty walk or bored of the same route? If you're in Edinburgh, you're pretty lucky...

Discover how to spend a relaxing weekend in Edinburgh, from calming walks to an at-home spa experience. Here’s our team’s favourite way to relax in the capital.

Make your trip to Edinburgh even more memorable with our unique activity suggestions...

Can massage benefit your mental health? Yep, in many ways. From better sleep to an overall sense of wellbeing, let’s explore how massage can help your mind unwind.

There’s nothing better than playing football on a proper pitch, so if you’re planning a kickabout in London be sure to make use of one of the city’s many parks. Most of these green spaces have their own pitches inside them, so you can practise your skills in a professional size playing field.

Can getting a massage before or after the marathon really make a difference to your marathon performance? Our go-to massage expert has the answers.

London's best deep tissue massages are plentiful and can be found near you in London's best spas, at iconic hotels and even delivered to you in the comfort of your home. Here are our five favourite places to book a deep tissue massage in London.

Whether your skin’s looking a tad dull and needs a bit of rejuvenation, or you have a skin concern that’s been bothering you for years, a targeted facial can help. London is home to lots of professionals who are passionate about skincare and skin health. Here's our top picks.

Discover how menstrual health coach Destiny uses Urban massages and creative self-care to live intentionally, blending wellness and joy into her everyday.

In honour of Random Acts of Kindness Day, we’re putting the spotlight on just one of the many inspiring client stories we’re privileged to play a part of each day. Meet Penny, and hear why Rozalia decided to make her day in December…

We caught up with adventure cyclist and cycling club HospoFixed Founder Ollie Jones about his 10-year love for cycling, go-to recovery methods and top training tips.

While we're known for massages, did you know we also partner with some of London's best beauty pros? We got to know 10 of our top rated pros over brunch.

Tired of the same old itinerary? This guide's for you. Explore the most unique things to do in Glasgow, from at-home treatments to vintage arcades, discover the city’s most quirky and unusual experiences.

Uncover 11 of the best hidden gems in Glasgow, from secret gardens to historic treasures.

The massage equivalent of a strong espresso.

Energising massage

Advanced massage techniques designed to ease pain and support recovery – at your pace, in your space.

Injury/pain management

Our signature all-rounder, where relaxation and relief meet.

Urban classic

An ancient healing practice blending movement, pressure and breath – performed on a traditional Thai floor mattress.

Thai yoga massage

Over the course of nine months, a pregnant person's body adapts in incredible ways to support growing life. Here are some of the less talked about transformations and how specialist pregnancy treatments can help.

20 non-baby things your new mum friend will love (and actually use), suggested by another mum.

From pregnancy self-care and postnatal recovery, to the first few years for new mums, we look at six simple ways to look after yourself while navigating the ups and downs of motherhood.

Strong pressure, deep relief – ease aches without leaving home.

Deep tissue massage

The massage equivalent of noise cancelling headphones.

Relaxing massage

A blood-flow boosting treatment to help minimise the appearance of cellulite.

Sculpting massage

Extra TLC for the hands and nails, with a classic polish finish.

Classic manicure

The ultimate pampering pedicured, finished with classic polish.

Classic pedicure

Classic polish for fingers and toes, with added indulgence – a scrub, mask and massage.

Classic mani-pedi

The ultimate confidence builder – long-lasting polish on fingers and toes.

Gel mani-pedi

A long-lasting pedicure to keep you walking tall and feeling great.

Gel pedicure

Massage has been a central part of Chinese medicine for thousands of years, with records stretching back as far as the 2nd century BCE. Unlike deep tissue or sports massage, which focus on releasing tight muscular knots by targeting blood flow to the area, Chinese massage techniques also aim to promote overall health by easing the flow of energy, or “qi”, around the body.

Discover what a Thai massage is in this detailed guide where we discuss everything from the history of this ancient practice, to the various benefits of this type of massage.

Let's de-bunk the benefits of lymphatic drainage to see if it's right for you.

Foot massage combines techniques from different traditions to help relax and improve health by pressing on foot nerves. It can make you feel better, boost blood flow, and lower stress

The dream-maker. A deeply soothing full-body massage with sleep-enhancing oils to help you drift off with ease.

Sleep massage

A calming, full-body massage with relaxing oils to help you unwind – wherever your stress shows up.

De-stress massage

A gentle treatment designed to help you feel lighter, de-puffed and deeply relaxed.

Manual lymphatic drainage

A traditional Thai-style massage that blends Thai acupressure, oil-based strokes and gentle stretching.

Thai massage (with oil)

A calming, holistic foot massage that’ll leave you feeling lighter from head to toe.

Reflexology foot massage

A gentle, soothing prenatal massage for tired mums-to-be. 

Pregnancy massage

Quick, targeted and surprisingly effective – all in just 45 minutes.

Express massage

A long-lasting mani including cut and file, cuticle work and gel polish.

Gel manicure

Skincare advice flooding your feed? Us too. To get to the bottom of it all, we’ve called for help from facialist expert Latticia Morapedi. 

Relax in the city with our top picks – from an at-home massage to scenic walks.

From self-care tips to their take on the most beneficial massages, here’s how Urban pros plan to keep themselves shining in the darkness this winter.

A relaxing massage can be a great way to set the tone for a better night's sleep, but which is best? From classic Swedish to new-age CBD, we explore the pros and cons.

The effects of massage therapy tend to be cumulative, but you may also feel relief from your very first appointment.

We sat down with ceramist Charlotte and her Urban pro Fabio in Charlotte's East London studio to talk about life with EDS, advocating for disability acceptance and how Urban truly made a difference.

From Thai to deep tissue, different kinds of massages impact the body in unique ways. The right type for you will depend on your health, needs and preferences.

Burnout can creep up silently. Our team reflects on the warning signs and the things that help ward it off.

Are creativity and wellbeing connected? Jessie Cohen, Urban's graphic designer, certainly thinks so. Queen of prints, pottery and painting miniatures, Jessie shares how her creative hobbies help her reset after a busy day. 