This was, without a doubt, the WORST massage experience I've ever had. Based on numerous five-star…read morereviews, I had high expectations for my recent visit to Healing Foot Body. However, the outcome was nowhere near what I expected from a place with such high customer ratings.
I arrived and was greeted by a lady who was to be my assigned therapist. She pointed out the posted massage options and prices, and I chose the one-hour body massage for $80. I'm used to a therapist getting things started by asking me questions and identifying problem areas in advance. In this case, there was little to no concern or empathy about any of that. Just an impersonal "walk this way, take your clothes off and lie on the table." Unfriendly and very unwelcoming. Not a good way to set the right tone for a good client experience.
My session began and it was clear early on that I was NOT in the presence of a well-trained massage therapist. Instead of the lightly applied massage lotion I'm accustomed to, she smothered her hands with it and slathered it all over my back, arms and palms. I could feel the oily residue slowly seeping into my skin. As things progressed, she spent a longer than necessary amount of time on certain areas, and completely ignored others. To make matters worse, her "technique" was not therapeutic by any means. I sensed a very limited knowledge of pressure points, muscle tissues, etc. I felt awkward, tense and uncomfortable, definitely not relaxed. I started to wonder if this would get any better.
About two-thirds into the massage, I had to excuse myself to use the restroom. When I returned, she rubbed a wet, abrasive towel harshly over my back, presumably to remove excess lotion. I felt like I was being scraped with damp sandpaper. It's been a few days since my visit, and my back is still irritated from that unexpected torture. Then, as if things couldn't get worse, she finished by randomly slapping my back and legs with both hands, in the most comical way possible. Like a two-year-old splashing in a bathtub. She wrapped it up by passively saying, "OK that's one hour" and then just walked out of the room. I sat up on the massage table and tried to make sense of what had just happened. And why someone this poorly trained, unfriendly and unsympathetic could possibly be allowed to treat a massage client.
This was the first time ever that I spent an entire massage session on my stomach. No direction to lie on my back for any front body treatment. Since she was the only one present at the time, I couldn't lodge a complaint with a manager. So I just paid my $80 plus tip and walked out, feeling completely cheated and far from satisfied. Not only do I fault the therapist for her lack of skill and empathy, but I also hold the business responsible for failing to ensure quality service from its staff.
Despite my unpleasant experience, I hope others who choose to get a massage at Healing Foot Body have a much better outcome than mine.
