Very nice salon in upper Nazareth, behind the gas station on Rt 191 and situated between where the Hecktown Dairy/Susan's Catering used to be and the Trolley Station. The ladies at the counter are always nice. The wait time for the manicure (which I made an appt for was minimal.) The massage was right on time. Private parking lot with plenty of spaces and it is on the Nazareth Lanta bus route which is handy for those without a car, the disabled and those going green!
Shellac manicure was perfect and a good Groupon deal at $19 back in the summertime. I think it was Gigi - was very professional and nice to talk to. Very gentle and it was a pleasant visit. They allow you to come back and have the shellac removed for free. Smart move for them to encourage you to get another, which is hard not to do! lol! I'd return in a flash in the future at full price. 5 Stars
Also had a massage using a Groupon over half a year ago. They have more than one therapist with some only doing Swedish. I asked for the one who did deep tissue on the phone and that's what I got, except it wasn't done right. I've had hundreds of deep tissue massage at chiropractors offices over the past 20 years and expert therapists with multiple certifications under their belt said she was probably new to massage and focused too hard on the pressure and not the technique.
The therapist was young, maybe 5'7" tall and with short blond hair. She dug into every muscle and trigger point with a severity from end to end that was painful not therapeutic. There was no variation in the stride or pressure. She had extremely strong fingers and hands, which is usually what I want, but lacked the proper technique. She lacked the awareness that experienced therapists have as to when to press deeply and when to let up to release the tension and let it flow out of the muscle, and to watch the patient's reactions to back off when patient is in pain. It was a very mechanical massage and it didn't flow with any relaxing motions - the entire massage felt like digging into muscles with strong hard fingers. You could never really relax or lose yourself because of the pain digging into your arms and legs and I hurt for a couple of days which has never been the case in the past w/ experienced therapists, so I wouldn't recommend this as the place for deep tissue massage unless this therapist has gotten more certifications. I cannot comment on the Swedish therapists, so you're on your own there and I'm sure they'll be fine!
Chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia patients be aware to ASK in advance for therapists exact certifications and look for multiple certifications to demonstrate that the therapist hasn't just one certification to start working, but several certifications to ensure a better technique and love for the art of good deep tissue massage for muscular conditions. There are too many new massage therapists who take a class or two and need more training to reach the proper balance for therapeutic massages. I still tipped her well, because though she had a lack of technique, she worked very hard, was nice and she definitely put her mind to it. I'm absolutely sure with her strength and attention to detail (just too much right now!) that she will get better over time; she just needs to learn how to vary her pressure. Sorry that I cannot remember her name. 3 Stars
If you are looking for a great massage therapist who can go deep, hit every spot without being painful, and feel refreshed, ask for DavE at Qitopia on Schoenersville Rd, also on the bus route. Just ask for a refreshing massage as opposed to a relaxing massage, as they know very little English. You will get your money's worth and is worth every penny at full price. He was wonderful. read more
