SPA VILNIUS Massage Championship: A Celebration of Excellence in Druskininkai
Last Wednesday, the wellness resort SPA VILNIUS Druskininkai hosted its internal massage championship, bringing together some of Lithuania’s most talented massage specialists to showcase their professionalism and advanced techniques. Participants competed in three categories: Classical Massage, Facial Massage, and Freestyle Massage.
The event was filled with an atmosphere of quiet focus, rhythmic movements, and a deep respect for the art of touch. Every treatment told a story, and every technique reflected the individuality of its creator. The championship once again demonstrated the rapidly growing level of massage expertise in Lithuania.
Winners of the Freestyle Massage Category
- 1st Place – Nerijus Malijonis
- 2nd Place – Katerina Bohush
- 3rd Place – Martyna Trinkūnienė
Winners of the Classical Massage Category
- 1st Place – Katerina Bohush
- 2nd Place – Nerijus Malijonis
- 3rd Place – Martyna Trinkūnienė
Winners of the Facial Massage Category
Kristina Burbulė, Ingrida Gelumbeckienė, Emilija Čiginskaitė, and Gabija Nakrošienė
A Community Built on Experience and Growth
One of the championship organizers, multiple-time massage competition winner and licensed judge Tadas Stonkus, highlighted the strong sense of unity among participants and colleagues:
“It is inspiring to see everyone contributing to the success of the event – from service staff to massage masters – sharing knowledge, support, and advice. The SPA VILNIUS facilities provided the perfect environment: welcoming, elegant, and professionally prepared, allowing participants to relax and fully focus on their performance.”
According to Tadas Stonkus, the grand prize – qualification for the World Massage Championship in Copenhagen – served as a powerful source of motivation, while the high level of professionalism demonstrated by participants once again confirmed the remarkable potential of the massage profession in Lithuania.
Judges’ Insights: A New Generation Raising the Standards
Linutė Radvilavičienė, a vocational educator with eight years of teaching experience and one of the championship judges, praised the participants for their professionalism, creativity, and dedication.
“Events like this are incredibly important because they reveal the bright future of the massage profession. Young specialists impress with their preparation, empathy, and desire to improve. Massage therapy requires both sensitivity and mastery, and this was clearly visible throughout the competition.”
This year’s evaluation criteria included ergonomics, treatment structure, technical execution, and the ability to establish a meaningful connection with the client. The judges emphasized the value of learning from one another, as the level of competition continues to rise each year alongside growing client expectations.
Winners’ Stories: Inspiration to Achieve More
Nerijus Malijonis, winner of the Freestyle Massage category and second-place recipient in Classical Massage, shared his enthusiasm:
“Learning and continuous improvement bring me genuine joy. I saw the championship announcement a month ago and immediately knew I wanted to participate. My main goal was to gain knowledge, refine techniques, and exchange experiences.”
Nerijus specializes in aromatherapy, therapeutic, and hot stone massages, while his personal favorites remain classical and jazz massage techniques.
“You can immediately identify an issue, stimulate circulation, and help a person feel better. That creates real change in someone’s everyday life.”
According to Nerijus, success came through preparation, focus, empathy, proper ergonomics, and the confidence to stand out.
“The most important thing is to trust yourself and take pride in your work. Winning motivates you to continue growing.”
Professionals Shaping Massage Culture in Lithuania
This year’s SPA VILNIUS Massage Championship became a meaningful event for the professional massage community. It reminded everyone that true professionalism is not defined solely by technique but also by the ability to:
• build connections,
• listen,
• inspire,
• share experience,
• continuously grow.
As Tadas Stonkus summarized:
“The championship revealed a high professional standard and demonstrated the steady growth of massage culture in Lithuania. It is an event that reflects today’s level of excellence while helping shape the standards of tomorrow.”