There is clearly something wrong with the way Yelp selects which reviews to display, as well as which reviews to factor into the overall rating of a business. I see that 6 reviews are listed, with only a 2 star overall rating, yet, there are more than 20 5 star reviews that are included in a "reviews not recommended" section. Bizarre? It appears to me that the negative reviews here are all from people who have never actually experienced this Spa, or the offerings available, for themselves, and most of the griping appears to be regarding miscommunication, and/or client's issues with waiting too long to schedule appointments. It also seems that some of the complaints may be connected with misunderstandings and misinterpretations of how to use coupon's, or of what was actually being offered from 3rd party coupon websites. Perhaps, a few, were genuine mistakes on the part of the owner, which knowing him, I have faith he would be willing to make right if given the opportunity. As someone who used to be a self-employed wedding photographer, I know, all too well, that many people tend to forget that small business's, like Ancient Art Massage and Bodywork, are not big corporations prepared to bow at your every command, but rather, individual, real people, with real lives and with real bills, who are making their genuine best efforts to make beautiful services available to others with love from their hearts. Too many people just want to get the most bang for their buck, and forget to observe that some things should not be measured in dollars and cents. Jai Michael, with Ancient Art Massage and Bodywork is a truly amazing, beautiful individual who seeks to live from his heart in every aspect of his life. He is no scam artist. I have been struggling financially after relocating to the Orlando area from out-of-state recently, and Jai was kind enough to gift me the absolutely most amazing massage I have ever experienced in my entire life. It was so much more than a massage; it was genuinely a spiritual experience. The treatment space at Ancient Art Massage and Bodywork is extremely beautiful, inviting, and feels like you have entered sacred space. There is a very soothing womb-like atmosphere cultivated, and I absolutely experienced myself being healed, nurtured, and empowered through Jai's loving act of service shared with me from his heart. He is strong, a truly skilled master in his art of healing touch, and he combined and mixed several different modalities, following his intuition to see what my body needed at that time. I have been radiantly basking in awe of it all ever since. Was I scammed? NOPE. Not at all. Was I blessed? OH YEAH!!! I am deeply grateful for Jai and his wonderful, skilled, loving service. He has helped me more than even he realizes. I encourage ALL others out there to let go of demanding, commanding "I'm the customer and you should do what I want, and its all about ME, ME, ME" attitudes, and remember our oneness, and sameness. Remember that we are all one family. We should respect, honor, and lift one another up. That includes being respectful, and approaching small business owners with a kind, loving attitude. I promise, this will take you so far. Jai's massages are priceless. I have faith he is more than worth every single penny he usually charges. If you are able to get a discount of some kind using a coupon, then great! If for some reason, you may need to pay a little extra out of pocket to get the exact kind of massage you want, then by all means, BE WILLING to pay it! Jai needs to eat too! Believe me, what he shares is SOOO WORTH IT! I wish you all endless avalanches of peace, joy, love, light, and abundance of every good thing, now, and always. Sincerely, from my heart, Anna Maria read more

Refused to provide owed services. My first visit to Ancient Art Massage and Spa...my friend and I scheduled a massage, facial and pedicure each; however upon arrival we were informed that the esthetician wasn't available so we didn't get our facials. I'm a pretty understanding person so I didn't make a big deal of it (stuff happens). My pedicure was good, and my massage was great (it was with Francesca). My second visit was to redeem an Odeals offer which included a massage, facial, manicure and pedicure for $99. I went with my mom and when we arrived 15 minutes early, the doors were locked. We waited in the car since it was freezing out that morning and two cars pulled up at the time our appointments were supposed to begin. How on earth do you let your clients arrive before you do??? Needless to say, our appointments did not begin on time so I'm not sure how they could have possibly stayed on schedule the rest of the day. Although these first few experiences were not up to par, my mom, sister and I still had remaining services owed to us on our Odeals certificates so we scheduled one more trip over a month in advance. Along with the services owed to us, we also scheduled two facials and a body scrub at regular prices (no certificates). Three days before our scheduled appointments, Francesca called to inform me that the esthetician was not going to be available that morning so they had to cancel the two facials and body scrub. I was shocked! What kind of business does that and on such short notice??? I called their office and spoke to Jai (the owner). We tried to work something out until he blamed me for the difficulty in scheduling and refused service to all of us!!! Let me remind you that between me, my mom and my sister, we were still owed two massages, a facial, a manicure and a pedicure that were already paid for through the Odeal offer. Needless to say, I could not believe that the owner acted this way. I don't want to go back after all the mistakes they've made, and after how I was treated (by the owner nonetheless! ). AND, he told me the reason the esthetician had to cancel was because she had to pick someone up from the airport. How can a business run that way if they're just going to let their employees cancel for a reason like that? Couldn't the person get a cab from the airport or find someone else to pick them up??? Just ridiculous! Do not recommend unless you want to take a chance of your appointment being cancelled at the last minute, or if you want to be treated like crap. So much for the customer is always right. What has happened to businesses being reliable and friendly? Final note: I regularly visit spas around central Florida, hoping to find one that will consistently provide good services from friendly, knowledgeable staff, but so far I haven't had any luck...too bad because if I could find one, they'd get a lot a business each year from myself, my family and my friends. read more

I have heard of Ancient Art and Jai for a while now, and was delighted to be able to purchase a Groupon deal for my first visit. I do get massages on a fairly regular basis, have experience with many different therapists/modalities of massage, am a Reiki Master Practitioner, and have taken a Thai massage course (I am not a massage therapist). I preface my review with the above info to say that I am a somewhat informed consumer when it comes to rating LMTs, and I rate Jai as one of the best. The ambiance was serene and peaceful; the music was lovely and not distracting at all. The space's energy is serene; I could tell that the utmost love and care had been used in creating the decor. Jai and I talked for several minutes about what my specific concerns and needs would be for our session. As I've been living with some back pain for a while now, I was hoping that along with some relaxation, I might get some relief from the pain as well. The massage I received was stellar. Jai focused on exactly the trouble areas we discussed, without neglecting the rest. His use of heat and stones were the perfect addition to the massage and I stayed virtually pain-free all afternoon! The relaxation and therapeutic were seamlessly combined to create a whole-body/mind/spirit experience that exceeded my expectations. I would recommend Ancient Art without reservation! read more

I wouldn't call myself and expert, but I've surely had my share of massage. I've tried all the local corporate/franchise places with infrequent good results. I checked around online and found Ancient Art Massage. Pretty good reviews so I gave them a call. Got VM at first but Ji returned my call fairly quickly. I was impressed by the amount of time he spent with me on the phone prior to even meeting me. He seemed very knowledgable so I booked a session with him (had to wait a few days which a wasn't that happy about). When I arrived I walked into what felt like a sanctuary. Immediate peace and calm. Ji met me at the counter and addressed me by name which was nice. After completing some paperwork and bit of q&a, he showed me back to the treatment area. I didn't think the place could possibly get more serene, but it did. I was so relaxed I fell asleep waiting for him to begin the massage. I got the works!! Not only was his technique and pressure perfect (deep, yes!!), but I got warm stones and oils, hot steamy towels, and plenty of stretching too. Looking forward to returning soon. Also they do some sort of sound therapy on the full moon with crystal bowls and gongs. Sounds cool. Telling my friends. I initially removed a star for having wait a few days, but gladly gave it back remembering how AMAZING the massage was, plus the price was right. read more

Ancient Art Massage & Spa owner Jai Barry is a dishonest businesman, and his staff is rude and even mean. They do not honor their agreements. I would never permit these people to lay a hand on my body with their negative energy. This spa offered a discount through Groupon. Admittedly, I called to make my appointment just before the expiration date, and was told that they were all booked up. In speaking with the owner, Jai, he agreed to partially honor the Groupon but would not make an appointment for me at the time, saying that he "didn't have his appointment book in front of him". I called back as requested and could not make an appointment, as they said they were all booked up for the days my guest was available. In calling back the 3rd time to make the appointment, the female owner answered and said that they were now charging an additional $22.50 over and above what I paid for the coupon. She was rude, overtalked me, and was very angry. I tried to explain that Jai had already worked out and arrangement with me, and she hung up. This rude woman would not put my calls through to talk with the owner, and informed me that they would not honor the coupon at all. Beware: this company seems to be all about the dollar. Do not expect to get any discounts promised. read more

I was in the Orlando area for a wedding last week and had the BEST massage EVER!! I wish I did live in the area, I would visit Jai at Ancient Art Message every month. There is a certain ambiance when you walk through the door - the colors, the aromas, the music, I felt confident that I was in the perfect place. I was very please. I have a lot of tension in my shoulders and neck that I have found are difficult to have treated, well for me anyway. Jai's deep pressure really hit the spot. I only wish I could see him today. With all the computer work I do, I need his touch weekly. I receive therapeutic massages regularly and can honestly say I have never had such an experience anywhere else! Thank you Jai for making me feel so relaxed and well-treated. I am honored to have been one of your clients and would recommend you highly! Thanks again! read more

I'm new to the area (and to Yelp) and have been somewhat disappointed with the other 2 spas I visited for massage recently. I saw that Ancient Art had several great reviews on another review site so I thought I'd check them out. The ambiance is very grounding and calming. Pleasant aromas, music, and subtle energy are everywhere in the small, but certainly adequate space. I was treated by Jai, the owner. WOW is all I have to say! He was awesome. Very professional and thorough. I like that he leaves plenty of time between his patients so there's plenty of time before and after the massage to chill and receive personalized one-on-one care. I'll be back soon (I hope next week). If it weren't on such a busy highway I'd had given 5 stars. read more

I love deep tissue massages but have not had one in a while. I had the absolute best one yesterday here with Jai. The minute I walked into the space I felt relaxed and forgot about the world outside. It was beautifully decorated and the music was soothing. Jai was wonderful and his massage experience was something very different than I've ever had before. The bodywork he does is incredible and the hot stone was so nice. I had never had that before and apparently he does that in all deep tissue massages. I bought a package before I left and will definitely be back! I thought the pricing was very reasonable for how great his work is. read more

I just came back from my 2nd appointment with Jai. So far Jai is 2 for 2 with me in regards to meeting and exceeding my expectations for the session! I have had my share of fakes or unpleasant situations... Anyone that gets work done with Jai can tell he takes pride in what he does and is a master of his craft. In regards to the other bad reviews that others have left-some people are impossible to please and although they had a bad experience from the start (everyone has personal emergencies and is human) Jai has done what he could to rectify each bad experience. As always Jai, I look forward to our next session thanks again! read more

I got the best massage of my life from Jai!!! My husband bought a groupon to Ancient Art Massage 1 1/2 years ago for me. With my busy work sched I never booked my massage and frankly forgot about it. I came across my groupon last week called Jai and without a blink he honored the cost of it. I went to my appointment and he was very friendly from begining to end. Jai was professional and made me feel comfortable the whole time. When I left I grabbed a bunch of his buisness cards to give to my friends. I went home took a nap and felt like a million bucks when I got up! I will not go anywhere else! read more

I just had a 60 minute massage this past week with Jai. It was amazing and exactly what I was needing. He use hot towels and hot stones. I asked him to focus on my feet, upper back and head. The cushioning of the table and arm rest were the best. It was the best massage I have ever had and can't wait to go back. I scheduled my massage through the website and had no problem with the scheduling. The atmosphere is more than anyone would expect and the whole atmosphere was so relaxing and beautiful. He has also run great discounts on Groupon. read more

5 STARS, FINALLY, A TRUE HOLISTIC DAY SPA! Ancient Art Massage & Spa is a blessing to Central Florida. I've been in the spa business out west for decades, and have been so thirsty for a Holistic approach to the spa experience in Orlando. I've finally found the perfect sanctuary! Their energy is so calm and nurturing. I saw Jai for massage. He's very strong and thorough, yet soft and wise as well. They also do sound healing meditation with crystal bowls 2x a month which sounds amazing. I'm looking forward to my next visit! read more

I've been dealing with Fibromyalgia for years and couldn't really tolerate even the lightest touch. Funny thing though, my husband got me a series of massage treatments for Valentine's Day and I've been to see Jai 4 times since then. I'M A NEW PERSON! Nearly all of my symptoms have vanished including my IBS, lack of sleep, and depressive moods. My doctor also says in can begin to cut back on the medications too. I feel like I've been blessed with a miracle. I can't thank you enough Jai! See you nest week :) read more

Ancient Art Massage & Spa is a blessing to Central Florida. I've been in the spa business out west for decades, and have been so thirsty for a Holistic approach to the spa experience in Orlando. I've finally found the perfect sanctuary! I recommend you see Jai for massage. He's very strong and thorough, yet soft and wise as well. They also do sound healing meditation with crystal bowls 2x a month which is amazing, as well as other cool events. read more

To begin with, I RECOMMEND JAI HIGHLY!! From the moment Jai and I spoke on the phone, I knew my experience would be special and different. His style, approach, and commitment to his art are above and beyond anything I could have imagined. Since meeting him 2 weeks ago (i've returned twice), the depth of my sleep, overall range of motion, and level of inner peace have shifted dramatically. Give him a try. You won't be disappointed. read more

I just had my second massage with Jai. He gives the best massage that I have ever had and I have had a lot! When you walk through his place, you feel like you are in a trendy studio in Berkeley CA. Jai looks the part and there is a meditation room for "the night before a full moon" gathering, which I can not wait to attend. Pricing is good, parking is easy and I am still tingling from head to toe. Love it! read more

Had a fantastic full body and Reiki massage from Jai. I swear he found every knot in my back, legs and arms and worked through each! I had come to him with some neck pain and he really took extra special care of me. Not only did he stay late to fit me in, but he also spent a good 2 hours on my massage. What a deal! I just loved it and will definitely be back. My friends are excited to try, too! read more

I have a gift card from Spa, and he would not honor it, even though he is listed as a participant in Spa website. He complained (TO ME, A PERSPECTIVE NEW CLIENT) that Spa does not reimburse him the full value of the card. He told me that he would honor it for 50% or the face value. What a rip off...he has tons of coupons and groupons out there....don't trust that he honors any of them. read more

Absolutely wonderful. I'm a massage therapist and understand what a quality therapist feels like and that is Jai at Ancient Art Massage & Bodywork. It's rare to come across a healer of this caliber. I highly recommend his massage for a deep and powerful therapeutic experience. He gives you his full undivided attention with truly gifted hands. I'm so glad I found this total gem. read more