G5 appears on the price list between the massages and the body treatments, and most people have no idea what it is. It is a mechanical massage — a machine, driven by a therapist, that works deeper and more consistently than hands can sustain. Here is what it does, who it suits, and what a course actually involves.
What a G5 machine actually does
The G5 is a handheld mechanical massager with a motor that drives a rapid vibrating and percussive movement. The therapist holds it and works it over the body much as they would their hands, but the movement itself comes from the machine.
That vibration stimulates blood flow and circulation in the tissue underneath. It is the same broad principle as a vigorous hand massage, delivered at a speed and consistency no therapist could maintain by hand for thirty minutes.
Different heads attach to the unit, and each mimics a different massage technique — some broad and flat for large muscle groups, some more focused. The therapist changes heads according to the area and what is being worked on.
How it differs from a hand massage
Three things, really.
Depth. A G5 reaches deeper into the tissue than a therapist can comfortably reach and sustain by hand. For dense muscle and larger areas — thighs, back, hips — that depth is the point.
Consistency. Hands tire. A machine does not. Over a thirty-minute treatment the intensity at minute twenty-eight is the same as at minute two.
Sensation. It feels different, and people should expect that. It is a strong, buzzing, percussive feeling rather than the flowing pressure of a hand massage. Most people find it invigorating rather than relaxing — this is not the treatment to book if what you want is to fall asleep.
Who it suits, and who it does not
It suits people who want a treatment that feels like it is doing work: stiff, dense muscle; areas that a normal massage does not seem to touch; anyone looking to stimulate circulation in a specific region as part of a longer course.
It suits less well if you are after an hour of calm. If your goal is to switch off, a full body massage at R580, or a hot stone version at R630, will serve you far better.
Tell us before booking if you have any of the following, as they change whether and how we treat: recent surgery, blood thinners or a bleeding disorder, varicose veins, fragile or thin skin, a pacemaker or other implanted device, pregnancy, or any acute injury or inflammation in the area. None of these is automatically a refusal, but some are, and it is a conversation to have first rather than on the bed. If you are under care for something and unsure, ask your doctor.
What a course of ten looks like
G5 at Windrush is sold as a course rather than a single session: ten treatments of thirty minutes for R1 700, which includes a hands-on lymph drainage massage.
The course structure is deliberate. The effects of mechanical massage on circulation are real but temporary; the value comes from repetition over a period of weeks rather than from one intense session. Booking ten and spacing them sensibly is the treatment. One G5 session in isolation is mostly a novelty.
Work out at R170 a session, it sits below the price of a half-hour hand massage, which is the sense in which a course represents value.
The lymph drainage part
The course includes hands-on lymph drainage massage alongside the machine work, and the pairing is the interesting bit. Where the G5 is vigorous and deep, lymph drainage is the opposite: very light, slow, rhythmic hand movement, working with the lymphatic system rather than the muscle.
The two do different jobs, which is why they are combined. It also means the treatment does not end on the buzzing note it starts on.
What to expect afterwards
Expect to feel worked-on. Some people are slightly tender the next day, in the way you are after unfamiliar exercise. Mild redness in the treated area during and shortly after is normal — it is increased blood flow, which is the intended effect.
What is not normal is bruising, or pain that is sharp rather than dull. If either happens, tell us, because it means the pressure was wrong for your tissue and we will adjust it for the next session.
Drink water afterwards and do not schedule anything strenuous for the rest of the day.
Booking a G5 at Windrush
Because it is a course, it is worth a conversation before you commit rather than a booking made off a price list. Call the day spa on 072 928 2596, tell us what you are hoping it will help with, and we will tell you honestly whether G5 is the right thing or whether something else on the menu would serve you better.
If you are considering it alongside the Patricia Clarke body wrap at R500, mention that too — they are different treatments aimed at overlapping concerns, and it is worth understanding the difference before choosing.
G5 or the body wrap?
These two sit near each other on the menu and people often ask which to choose. They are not the same thing and they do not work the same way.
The G5 is mechanical massage: vibration and percussion, stimulating circulation in the tissue, sold as a course of ten at R1 700 with lymph drainage included.
The Patricia Clarke body wrap at R500 is a wrapping technique using a contouring gel, applied over ninety minutes, aimed at cellulite and centimetre loss. It is a single treatment rather than a course, and it involves being wrapped rather than worked on.
If you are not sure which is appropriate for what you have in mind, describe the concern when you call rather than choosing from the list. We would rather point you at the right one, or tell you that neither is quite what you are after.
Questions we get asked
Does it hurt? It should not. It is strong and it buzzes, and on dense muscle it can feel intense, but pain is a signal to ease off and you should say so.
Can I have it on any part of the body? The larger muscle groups suit it best. It is not used on the face, over bone with little covering, or over varicose veins.
How far apart should the ten sessions be? Close enough that the effect is cumulative rather than starting from scratch each time. We will map out a sensible spacing when you book the course.
Can I combine it with other treatments? Yes, and many people do — most often a full body massage on a different day for the relaxation the G5 deliberately is not.
