Had a lackluster birthday celebration at Burke Williams today. I was really excited about this and…read moredon't do it often, this was my birthday present and I was beyond excited.
I've been to Burke Williams several times before and have also gifted massages as well because I've always considered them the best of the best. I've always had an incredible experience. So needless to say when it was time for my birthday (big birthday too!) I knew I wanted this as a bday present and went with my bf.
Staff was friendly, and very kind, the facilities are also great.
My massage today, was not.
I was practically just pet for an hour. My massage therapist was not overly friendly or talkative and didn't make me feel necessarily comfortable. Once we started she essentially just pet my skin for 90% of the time. She put little to no pressure at any point. She didn't rub half of my body, even the hands and feet were practically just patting them.
Rubbed around the muscles and areas you'd want rubbed but would get close to them and then just pass them by and barely touch them.
Once we were probably close to 45 min in she did ask me if the pressure was ok, but it was clear she really didn't care and wasn't in the mood for this. At that point I'm butt naked, annoyed, disappointed, and then what do I say? No im really unhappy about my massage and don't think you're doing a good job? And then we just sit there awkwardly for 10-15 more min, that's even worse. The entire thing was anything but relaxing because I was just incredibly frustrated the entire time and hate being put in a situation where now I'm just uncomfortable to even say anything because it's just going to make it worse.
This was not the standard massage by any means.
Any area she would get to which would normally be rubbed, like hand for example, she pretty much just touched them and held them, there was 0 pressure, and and overall just complete miss of the mark on any normal part to rub. She rubbed my thighs for about 10 seconds each, rubbed my love handles but never touched my lower back just passed through it once or twice barely touching it, hamstrings/glutes/lumbar completely missed. Many spots were completely missed.
Lots of walking around and digging through drawers. Initial lotion used on my back was ice cold before the hot lotion. 0 communication and 0 care and love. Just barely going through the motions.
Once I was flipped over I'm not sure if it was a nail or a ring was just scratching my calves and shins.
I will give her the benefit of the doubt where the last.... 5 min or so where I was laying flat up she finally started putting in some work on my traps and back of the head with some actual pressure and that was nice.
The stretching motions weren't done, other than to my neck, and it felt completely wrong and way too crooked, it just hurt.
Then she just mumbled something. Tossed my robe on my feet and offered me water. Walked me half way out and thanked me.
This was just not up to Burke Williams standard at all, and was essentially just a useless massage that was uncomfortable and frustrating.
My bf had an incredible experience with his massage therapist so that was a plus, and I've had nothing but great experiences prior to this, but this really sucked, and I was so looking forward to this.
I told the front desk because I was massively frustrated about this, and the original girl I told was very receptive and apologetic. I had to reexplain the situation to the manager which I didn't mind and he was very friendly and offered a small discount, but it was nerve wracking because again, I'm upset and not overly comfortable complaining about such a personal service especially one where someone is putting in physical effort but it was so awful and so phoned in, I had to say something, but when he came out like 3-4 more people followed to stand behind the desk and listen to my complaint which was also frazzling.
This was anything but a good experience and I'm really disappointed about this.
I greatly appreciate the wonderful service from the kind employees at the front desk and locker rooms though and grateful my bf had a good experience, I just wish I was as lucky.