I've been going to Bambu for a couple of months now and have been meaning to leave a review. Simply put, they're amazing! I'd never gotten a massage before going (I know, I know...I've been missing out) but I've been a regular ever since. So I can't compare it to places like Massage Envy but I can base if off of my own experience.
I made my first appointment over the phone with Matt. He was very helpful in recommending which service was best for a first-timer and explained the differences between Swedish and deep tissue. I never felt pressured into any sales pitches or to make an appointment.
Bambu is a small, cozy space. When you first walk in, the ambiance is calm and the aesthetics are pleasing. It smells wonderful; not overpowering or anything. Soothing music plays almost imperceptibly in the background. Every single person is genuinely friendly. It's like the Trader Joe's of spas.
I didn't pick any particular masseuse, although I believe you can on their website. I was scheduled to meet with Shondolyn. During our first session, she was incredibly nice, thoroughly explaining the process and what the session entailed. And then the magic happened: I melted into the table. I'd never felt so relaxed in my life...Shondolyn is legit! She focused on my problem areas (neck and shoulders, or as she calls it, "text neck"). For lack of a better way to explain it, I could literally feel the kinks being popped in my muscles, kind of like little balloons being popped maybe? She also stretched muscles I didn't think could possibly be stretched. And the only person who gives as good (possibly better) a foot massage is the little Vietnamese lady at the nail salon where I get pedicures. I knew then this was going to become a problem for my bank account. I was right; I was hooked.
Fast-forward several sessions later. I've only seen Shondolyn for all my appointments but I'm sure the others are just as good. I'm almost sad my little muscle balloons have been mostly popped even though I still text and use my phone the same way (you know what I'm talking about; we all do it and have "text neck"). I've only booked her for one hour. I'm afraid to book a two-hour session because I'll get spoiled and never be able to go back to just one hour without feeling like it's too short. I'm not even going to set myself up for that kind of heartbreak lol. Maybe I'll treat myself on my birthday next year. In the meantime, I've now budgeted this into my self-care routine because it's just as important as getting my nails done. My back and neck aches are virtually gone. I pretty much go just for maintenance now and because it's the best hour to clear my mind and detach and relax. I'm a chronically late person everywhere I go but I damn sure show up early for my Bambu appointments.
Couple of things: again, I've never been to Massage Envy. Before looking into Bambu, I considered ME but wasn't crazy about the idea of signing up for a monthly membership. At least, I didn't see anything about a la carte sessions so maybe I missed something or I'm wrong. And while it's convenient to be able to go to any location nationwide, I like the personal factor of a local, non-franchised place like Bambu. Their prices are reasonable and they offer all the same services as ME (massages, facials, aromatherapy, and so on). Bambu's bathroom is immaculate (bonus points for offering hand towels in place of paper towels; we stan an environmentally friendly business!) Maybe someday I'll try other spas but for now, I'm completely happy with Bambu! read more