I rarely leave negative reviews, but I feel I need to share my experience to help other customers.
Yesterday, I visited this massage spa because I saw that it had many great reviews. Before booking, I called and specifically requested a 90-minute full-body deep tissue massage for relaxation, and I also asked for foot massage because my feet had been very sore.
Unfortunately, my experience was extremely disappointing.
My massage therapist was a Chinese woman who seemed to have very limited English. Communication was very difficult. Many times I could barely understand what she was saying, and it became clear that she did not understand my requests because she did not provide the massage I had asked for.
During the massage, she repeatedly used her elbow with excessive force around my shoulder blades and along my back. She also performed cupping directly over the middle of my spine and dragged the cups forcefully along that area. She frequently applied pressure directly on my bones instead of the surrounding muscles.
Throughout the session, I repeatedly asked her to be gentler because I was in pain. She would reduce the pressure for only a few strokes, then immediately return to using the same excessive force and speed.
When she worked on my lower body, she used her forearm to apply very strong pressure along my IT band. The pain was so intense that I cried out. Again, she eased up briefly after I asked, but within moments she returned to the same painful pressure.
To make matters worse, she never massaged my feet at all, even though that was one of the main reasons I booked the appointment and specifically requested it when making the reservation.
After I got home, my entire body was extremely sore. My husband noticed the severe marks on my back from the cupping. I understand that cupping normally leaves temporary marks I have had cupping many times before but I have never experienced long bruising and discoloration running along the center of my spine like this. This is the first time I have been in so much pain after a massage.
Because of this experience, I called the owner to ask whether the therapist was licensed. He told me that everyone working there is licensed. However, based on the way I was treated, I genuinely question whether the therapist had the proper training or qualifications. A licensed massage therapist should understand appropriate anatomy, know where excessive pressure should be avoided, respond appropriately when a client says they are in pain, and provide the service that was requested.
The owner did not seem concerned about what happened. He simply said he would let his wife know, and that was the end of the conversation.
I am not asking for a refund. My purpose in writing this review is to let the owner know that this therapist provided a very poor experience, could not communicate effectively in English, ignored repeated requests to reduce the pressure, and failed to provide the service I booked.
This was without question, the worst massage I have ever received. I sincerely hope no other customer has to go through the same experience.
If the therapists at this establishment are indeed licensed, I hope the owner provides additional training and supervision. If not, I hope the appropriate licensing authorities will verify that everyone providing massage services is properly licensed and qualified.
I encourage anyone considering this spa to think carefully before booking. read more