Years of bad posture, wearing high heels, sitting in front of a computer and now carrying a toddler every where I go has apparently taken its toll on my back. I can't imagine how a 34-year-old could have constant shoulder pain and lower back pain. But it happens. I visited Karada to find out what exactly it was that they do. I've been curious about them since they opened a branch in Aguirre St in Makati. It doesn't look like a spa but they have "therapeutic treatments". The display near the lounge area was a hanging skeleton. The sign was a single word in English with the Japanese version underneath. Now who wouldn't be curious with just those clues? My sister tried it out first and gave me fair warning that the treatment was painful. If I was already hesitant to try them out before, now I am deathly afraid! When I talked to the person at the reception, he did confirm that there will be some amount of pain since it involved spine and pelvic realignment, but it is tolerable. So, I went in with my eyes closed, hoping for the best. I was asked to change into a plain black shirt and black sweatpants. Then I was directed to one of the cubicles with a white massage bed and low cubicle divisions. I was surprised that I wasn't asked to lie face down because the therapist came in with a clipboard. She started asking where my problem areas and my medical history. It felt more like a doctor's appointment than a massage session. Then she asked me to stretch my back, try to reach my toes and to lie face down on the bed to assess the flexibility of my spine. She then gives me an initial diagnosis -- one leg was a bit shorter than the other. Imagine my shock! Apparently the constant wearing of heels and crossing my legs had an effect on the length of my legs. Whoa! This is the coolest therapy I've ever had. She then proceeded to do the work. And that white bed isn't actually just an ordinary massage bed, it adjusts every which way to accommodate the different positions taken for the adjustment -- starting with the therapist pulling at my head and whipping it to the side so I heard a loud cracking noise. Man, I thought they were going to tear off my skull from my neck. Then the spine was adjusted and the pelvis, too. They even asked me to transfer to a drop bed that dropped down every time she pushed on a body part. As she was doing my adjustment, she was actually calling out her findings to the therapist beside her who was confirming in Japanese. Then a different guy came, crossed my arms across my body, put a rolled up towel on top and told me he'll put his body weigh on me. And I heard my spine crack in 5 or 6 different places. The experience was so surreal. This was followed by a massage that poked and prodded my back and pulled at my leg and arms for a good 20 minutes. This is by the guy who was previously being given the findings to during the spine adjustment. It was an other worldly experience which was painful during the actual process but it made me feel truly awesome after. The back pain was gone instantly as was the shoulder issue. I felt the need to sit up straight. So yeah, this is the kind of pain I welcome. Everyone who sits in front of a computer for hours (that means you!) should try this at least once in their life. I can't wait to go back and have another session. read more

See all

Karada is a small chain of Japanese massage and chiropractic services throughout Asia which are AWESOME and necessary. Many people who come are tourists with bad pains like me, but also regulars who come every other week or two, which is always a good sign. On my first trip to the PI I had sat cramped uncomfortably in the aircraft cabin for a 13-hr flight. Shortly after, my neck started killing me and I brushed it off, even got a nice massage and included a neck and shoulders massage thrown in and afterwards it HURT so bad that I couldn't lie down without assistance. I Yelped Karada and found it easily, on the 2F of a building in BGC and walked in. They open at 11 but I came in around 2:25 pm and was seen at 2:30, five mins later after a drink of warm water. My masseuse seemed capable, and although at first not knowing what to expect I was going to opt for a "Japanese trained" masseuse, she started on me and the issue went away. After looking at my questionnaire I told her of my concerns about my neck and upper back and she went to town. I changed into a ridiculous black "one size only" comical outfit to preserve my modesty and she pirouetted my arms and legs in unusual positions to stretch my muscles out and get my body loose, and of course my neck. She moved the chair thing I was laying on up and down and kneaded out my knots capably. The process was incredibly painful given my condition but I have had knots for a long time so it was necessary and felt great afterward. Originally, I had gotten the 20 minute one, but then she changed my mind and I went for the 45 minute one. The only part about it which felt a tad unnecessary (but maybe it was necessary, I just didn't feel like it was) is the part where she had me go to the mechanical table, which was loud. But that was just ten minutes. Afterward, I was instructed to drink lots of warm water and it only cost me ~$22 USD! Highly recommend Karada, and I tipped my girl 100 PHP. read more

Like so many people who do not exercise regularly and carry extra pounds in the middle, I have back problems. In fact, I was forced to see a chiropractor some six years ago, and he had me fitted for a back brace which I wear whenever the pain gets bad. Like last week. One of my daughters suggested Karada, which bills itself as "Japan's most famous Seitai salon." I had no idea what Seitai is, but since one of their four clinics is located at Greenbelt Radissons which is just in front of her office, I agreed to go. What did I have to lose? Good call. A 45-minute session was all it took to ease my chronic back pain, as well as a nagging neck discomfort. Karada is more clinic than spa. The cubicles are open with low dividers and there's none of that nature music that most spas play non-stop. The typical spas charge P300 for a one-hour massage, and the more upscale ones charge P1,000 for the same service. By comparison, Karada has what it calls "Therapeutic AP Balance" service at P845 for 45 minutes, and "Therapeutic Body Treatment" for P745. Without getting too technical, I took the former treatment which aligns the first cervical bone and the pelvis. The first attendant warned me that the treatment would be somewhat painful, but no pain, no gain, right? After around 30 minutes, the male attendant was replaced by a female one, who completed the "relaxing" phase. When it was over, I felt like a million bucks. All the pain of the past couple of weeks was gone. There's a world of difference between the service Karada provides and the different types of massages - Thai, Shiatsu, Swedish, etc. - that other spas offer. It's more clinical. The staff at the Greenbelt Radissons branch was quite friendly. They took me in despite my not having a reservation. But since they don't have that many attendants, it's better to call first. I give Karada five out of five stars. Service and staff deserve all five stars. The only hitch is that street parking can be a problem in Aguirre St. in Legaspi Village where the branch is located. There's no doubt that I'm going back there sometime in the near future. read more

Karada - It's more clinic than spa. - Chiropractors Near Me - Taguig, NCR

Never go to this place. They cheated me. Made me pay in advance and then said I need to bring a card with me . I made the payment by card and so they had a record of it in their system. I am a tourist in a foreign country and it is only natural to misplace things. i lost that piece of paper and so when I went to the place for the scheduled appointment, they wouldnt give me my service saying I didnt have the paper. Secondly they wouldnt even refund me. I have to say: 1) what kind of business is run on the basis of a tiny piece of paper. You have a record in the system that I have paid in advance and yet you refuse me service 2) Rules have exceptions , and every business know that. The amounts they take for hourly rates are not cheap at all and so the least they can do is either give the service or provide a refund, both which were vehemently denied. 3) when asked about what other customers do about this situations, they just say- oh we cant help them either. If you know this is a common problem, why dont you fix your obviously weak business process? The only guess I have is that they intentionally did it to take my money. read more