Yoni Massage & Yoni Mapping – What They Actually Mean

If you’ve come across the terms therapeutic yoni massage and yoni mapping, it may seem as though you’re reading about two entirely different things.

In my work, they’re not.

When I say, therapeutic yoni massage or yoni mapping, I’m talking about the same core thing:

A consent-centred, therapeutic style of pelvic bodywork for women and vulva-havers, blending touch, education, mapping and somatic coaching.

A quick breakdown of pelvic work:

• Yoni massage – the term most people search for when they’re curious about vulva/vaginal bodywork

• Therapeutic yoni massage – how I emphasise that this work is educational, trauma-aware and consent-based, not a fantasy or performance

• Yoni mapping / vulva mapping / pelvic mapping – a way of describing the slow, detailed exploration of sensation across the vulva, vagina and pelvis (which is what we do in a therapeutic yoni massage sessions).

• Pelvic floor physio – a medical/allied-health service focused on assessing and treating pelvic diaphragm muscles (for things like incontinence, prolapse, pain, post-birth recovery), often using exercises and clinical techniques; it can sit alongside therapeutic yoni massage/mapping but is a different profession and scope of practice.

• Tantric yoni massage – what many people call it when they’re looking for something more spiritual, pleasure-focused, partnered or ritualised, which is very different from therapeutic yoni massage.

What actually happens in a therapeutic yoni massage/mapping session?

Every practitioner is different, so here’s what I mean when I use these terms.

A session with me may include:

• A thorough intake conversation – goals, boundaries, access needs, any pain or medical history you want me to know

• Education about anatomy, arousal, the pelvic floor and the nervous system

• Somatic practices – breath, grounding, gentle movement, touch you can do for yourself, nervous system regulation

• External pelvic work – on the belly, hips, thighs, jaw, pelvis and vulva

• Internal vaginal work (only if you want it and give ongoing consent)

• Yoni / vulva mapping – slowly exploring different areas and naming what you feel: numbness, pain, pleasure, neutrality

• Time to integrate and talk at the end, plus simple home practices

Some sessions feel more like a massage (soothing, rhythmic, nurturing). Some feel more like mapping (slow, specific, “what do you feel here?”). Most are a blend, adjusted to your body on that day.

What this kind of bodywork can support

People come to therapeutic yoni massage / yoni mapping for many reasons, including:

• Pain, burning or stinging around the vaginal entrance or inside the vagina

• Tightness or “clenching” that makes penetration difficult

• Numbness or “I don’t feel anything there”

• Reconnecting with the pelvis after birth, surgery, trauma or long-term shutdown

• Wanting to feel more pleasure, ease and aliveness in the body

• Learning how to notice and communicate boundaries, not just push through

This work is not a replacement for medical care, pelvic physio or therapy. It can sit alongside them as a way to include the body, pleasure and consent in your healing process.

How I keep it safe and consent-centred

Because this work involves such a personal part of the body, how we do it matters.

In my practice:

• You always choose whether we include touch, and what kind

• You can keep some or all clothes on – there is no “right” way

• External and internal touch are optional, not automatic

• Consent is ongoing – you can pause, stop or change your mind at any time

• You’re encouraged to speak up if something feels “off”, too much, too fast, or simply not right today

• We work at the pace of your nervous system, not at the pace of a goal

The aim is not to “fix” you or perform. The aim is to help you hear your body, honour your boundaries and rekindle your own relationship with your pelvis.

Why you’ll see “yoni massage” and “yoni mapping” on my site

Some platforms heavily censor words like yoni massage, even when we’re talking about education and therapeutic work. Others don’t recognise newer terms like pelvic mapping yet.

So on this website I intentionally use:

• “Yoni massage/ therapeutic yoni massage” – so people searching for that phrase can find accurate, ethical information

• “Yoni mapping / vulva mapping / pelvic mapping” – to describe the slow, detailed, consent-based style of touch and awareness that’s part of every session

Different words, same core practice.

Therapeutic yoni massage with me is always mapping-based, trauma-aware, and centred on your consent, your pace, and your body’s wisdom.

If you would like to book in a session, you can find more information here.

If you would like to becoming a therapeutic yoni massage/mapping practitioner, you can find more information here.

This page is for education only and is not medical advice. If you have new or worrying symptoms, please also speak with a trusted health professional.