5 stars for the stretch therapy
0 stars for the massage
PROS:
Clean, quiet & comfortable facility.
Calm vibe with soft 90s/2000s R&B playing--love that.
Bathrooms are beautifully decorated & pristine.
Clients are offered red or white wine at check-in (a nice touch, though glasses vs. plastic cups would elevate it).
Massage chairs in the Ascension Room are amazing, though some are visibly worn & the digital touchpad on mine was wobbly. They also aren't intuitive--I couldn't figure out some functions.
Filtered water machine in the Ascension Room.
Skincare products--Epsom salts, masks, aromatherapy oils, lip treatments--available at the front desk.
The stretch therapy was incredible. Intense but thorough. Tiara explained everything clearly, encouraged open communication, & I felt so much relief after just 30 minutes. Appreciated the ottoman at the table for belongings.
CONS:
The walls are very thin. I could hear conversations, laughter, and music coming from the hallway and nearby rooms.
When I was called for my service, the staff member's voice was a bit louder than I would expect for a relaxing spa setting. It startled me because it was a dark and otherwise quiet room (except for the background music), and I was relaxing with my eyes closed.
In the massage room, there was nowhere to put my clothes or purse. I had to hang my purse, clothes, and underwear on the back of the door... On full display. Didn't like that.
The massage was...weird. One of the weirdest I've ever had in my life. It also seemed like the massage therapist, Mendel, wanted to do what SHE wanted to do instead of what I asked. Before the massage began, she asked me if there were any areas she would like me to focus on. I mentioned that my neck, back and shoulders were tight. She then looked dismayed and said "Well.. I do *full body* massages", emphasizing "full body" as if I was asking for a service that she didn't provide. I responded by informing her that I was simply responding to her question.
I was also not prepared to answer so many questions prior to receiving my service... Especially questions that I had already responded to on the pre-appointment survey I completed before booking. I was even more frustrated that even though, during this Q&A I indicated that there were certain areas I didn't want massaged (i.e., my scalp), they were massaged anyway.
She also forgot about my aromatherapy add-on. initially it wasn't a big deal, but she asked me about it after I was already undressed. It would have been much more appropriate and comfortable if she had stepped inside and closed the door to ask me about it. But instead she knocked on the door, stood in the open doorway (which faced the hallway, where anyone walking by could have seen me) to ask me about it. Although I was lying face down and covered, I still had to sit up (potentially exposing myself) to smell the different fragrances...all while the door remained wide open. It felt both uncomfortable and unprofessional so I told her to skip the aromatherapy altogether.
When she came back in the room, I was laying face down on the table because that's standard practice.. When she returned and saw this, she grumbled, "I thought we were starting face up".
Ma'am, if you want me to do something just say so. Just tell me to do so. The passive aggressive grumbling is not necessary.
She also didn't have much in terms of bedside manner. Additionally, her touch was not relaxing at all--more jarring than anything. And Her "technique" was strange--I've never experienced anything like it. She would do things like lift my head off the table and just hold it there, lightly rub the tops of my shoulders in circular motions, pinch the base of my skull (for like 30 seconds), under my arms at the base of my rotator cuffs, and periodically mash her hands and fists into my skin--almost like she was pawing at me. She also attempted to massage my belly which was... weird. This was not a prenatal massage and that's also not a common place for someone who is not pregnant to be massaged. It was uncomfortable and weird.
She was also not attentive. Even though I stated my problem areas, she completely ignored my neck. She also burned my back with the hot towel. Additionally, as I mentioned, she massaged my scalp even though I indicated that that's not one of the places I was interested in being massaged.
"Awkward and uncomfortable" pretty much sums up this massage experience. One of the worst I've ever had. read more