I have had many massages over the years, and this was by far the most unprofessional and…read moredistressing experience I have ever had.
The session began without a proper intake. I was not asked about injuries, medical history, areas to avoid, or consent preferences. Within the first few seconds of the session, the therapist began applying very aggressive, deep pressure with no warm-up strokes. Only after already working on me intensely did she ask what kind of pressure I wanted. I said "medium."
While actively massaging me, she began attempting to upsell me to a higher-priced "therapeutic" massage and repeatedly stated that "relaxation will not help you." I had already booked a relaxation massage. I clearly told her that I was carrying significant grief, including the death of my father, and that I was specifically seeking a gentle, soothing experience for my mental health. I explained that I did not want deep tissue work. Despite this, she continued with very firm, painful pressure and stated that she was "here to help" and that relaxation would not be sufficient.
Throughout the session, I repeatedly communicated that the pressure was too firm. I used phrases such as "that's tender," "that's sore," and "that's too firm." When I identified areas as painful, she would return to those same spots with deep pressure rather than easing up. She would ask, "Is that better?" and I would say yes simply to get her to move on from areas that were extremely painful. I was not experiencing relief -- I was trying to endure the session.
I understand that massage can sometimes be uncomfortable, and I am not new to massage. I was very specifically not seeking deep tissue work during this appointment. It became clear to me that what I wanted, what I booked, and what I paid for did not matter. She chose to focus on tender areas and overwork them despite my requests.
At one point she performed a very deep stretch on my arm that went too far, causing my body to involuntarily spasm. I had to ask her to stop because it was extremely painful. In response, she said things like, "You're so young, you can't raise your arms?" and implied that it was difficult because my body was "heavy." The comments strongly suggested that my body size was the reason for the difficulty, which felt body-shaming and inappropriate.
During the session I became visibly and audibly distressed. I was fully crying and clearly in pain. Despite this, the massage continued with aggressive pressure. Later, while I was trying to compose myself, she asked, "Are you scared of me?" Regardless of intent, this comment felt inappropriate in the context of the distress I had already expressed.
There were also issues with positioning and draping. The face rest was removed at one point to work on my neck and was not immediately replaced when she moved on, leaving my head unsupported for a period of time. Portions of my body were not consistently re-draped after she moved to different areas.
I wanted to end the session early, but I felt overwhelmed and froze rather than feeling able to get up and leave. I left physically sore, emotionally shaken, and deeply disrespected. While some soreness can occur after massage, this experience was not therapeutic or restorative.
I would not recommend this facility to anyone seeking consent-based or, relaxation-focused massage.
