I purchased a voucher for a 1 hour full body massage at this clinic, which promised a relaxing and…read moresoothing experience, for a reasonable £19. When I arrived at the clinic in Ealing I was told that I was an hour early, but that they could see me then and there. I had a consultation (which I thought was unusual for just a massage) with the masseur and the receptionist/her translator. She looked at my tongue and stated that I had a lot of toxins in my body, and that I needed acupuncture and cupping as well as massage. The clinic was seriously untidy and the consultation room was smaller than a bathroom so I said no to acupuncture and to cupping. I had to repeat myself more than five times because they really really thought I needed them, and eventually I caved to pressure and agreed only to try cupping, still no to acupuncture.
So we then go into the treatment room and the masseur asks me to take off my clothes and lie on the table, then she left the room. There was no towel and she hadnt told me what exactly to remain wearing, so I had to go out and find her to ask. I laid there in my underwear in a very small, cold room with no cover, waiting for her to come back. When she does, she proceeds with the worst head massage Ive ever experienced; she placed her thumbs at the top of my head and rubbed the same place persistently for 10 minutes. She was wearing latex gloves as well so they would catch my hair. Not pleasant at all.
Then, quite a nice back rub for about 5 minutes followed by the cupping. She pressed them along my body and then popped them and I said it hurt a bit (i had made it very clear in the consultation I was nervous about it). She then put 7 on my back and left the room, with absolutely no communication. I called for her to come back, i then started to shout as the cups began to burn and pinch, as i dont think you are supposed to just leave them sucking your skin. No one came despite me shouting, and after some panic i decided to get up (very difficult and painful) and venture into the shop for the masseur, topless, to remove them. She was not there, she was having a consultation with her next patient and so i told tbe receptionist i needed her right now to take off the cups. The receptionist, barely understanding me because of her minimal English, said she would get her, but after a minutewaiting in the treatment room in agony, i went out again and the recepionist had not done a thing i asked her. She then came and took the cups off and guess what, tried tocotinue with more cupping. I said no way and she then asked me, "well, what is there for me to do??". She then gave me an awful massage (if you have seen the episode of Friends where Monica gives massages and everyone is in agony, it was worse than that) including pushing my hair backwards, like cats hate, really hard, until my "masseur" decided to come back. They spoke in Chinese, laughing, clearly about me, and I then received a continuation of a hard and nasty massage, like I had insulted her. I stayed because I didnt want to be rude but I hated every minute of it. When i left, the masseur made no eye contact with me and the receptionist tried to sell me oil (ha!)
I left absolutely freezing, in pain, with a headache. I had to have a McDonalds to cheer myself up. I felt prodded, humiliated and actually a bit abused! When i got home i noticed the huge bruises on my back from her leaving the cups on, and was surprised that the "small marks" the masseur said Id have were actually huge, angry hickeya.
Now, 2 days later i still have the bruises and I cannot describe how broken my back feels. Ive been in agony. My back clicks every time i move, it hurts everywhere. I feel like I need a massage (ha) but i dont want anyone touching me!
All I can say is i am glad i didnt agree to the acupuncture.
Dont go here unless you know exactly what to expect from cupping/acupuncture/chinese massage. Even then, you can expect rubbish communication, amateur staff and a cold and painful experience.
