Hold My Vodka

Painful “BDSM Massage” Becomes a Trend in Dagestan

An unusually intense form of massage nicknamed “BDSM massage” is reportedly attracting long waiting lists in Dagestan.

Clients are said to wait months for appointments with practitioners whose forceful manual techniques can leave the back painful and covered in bruises. A 40-minute session reportedly costs between 2,000 and 6,000 rubles, approximately $25–$77.

Critics argue that a proper massage should not leave clients injured. Practitioners, however, say stronger pressure may be used in some therapeutic treatments for muscle tension and certain chronic pain conditions. The more dramatic claims surrounding the trend have not been independently verified, and aggressive massage can carry a risk of injury.

Dagestan is already central to the viral MMA phrase “send him to Dagestan for two or three years and forget,” originally linked to Islam Makhachev’s advice about serious wrestling training. Apparently, the full Dagestan experience now includes a massage you may also need two or three years to recover from.