I really wanted to have a better experience here, and I debated how to rate it because I do think…read morethis place may be a good fit for someone specifically looking for a very firm, deep-tissue massage at an affordable price. Unfortunately, that was not what I was looking for or what I repeatedly asked for.
I called that morning hoping to find somewhere nearby that could accommodate me on short notice. I had been staying at the hospital nearby and sleeping on a very firm couch, so my back desperately needed some relief. This location was less than five minutes away, they were able to get me in pretty quickly, and their pricing was very affordable. Those were all definite positives.
The experience started off a little awkwardly. When I arrived, there wasn't much of a greeting or explanation of the process. I was eventually asked which massage I wanted, and after looking at the menu, I chose a 45 minute table massage. I wasn't given any intake paperwork or asked about areas of concern, injuries, pressure preference, or areas to avoid. I was simply shown to the room and left to figure out the rest based on my previous experience getting massages.
Once the massage began, the pressure was immediately extremely deep. I told the therapist, "Light, please. I want a relaxation massage." When the pressure continued, I said "ouch" and asked several more times for lighter pressure. Unfortunately, it remained extremely firm throughout most of the massage.
My biggest concern was not simply that the massage was too deep for my preference. It was that I was clearly communicating that the pressure hurt and repeatedly asking for it to be reduced, yet very little changed. At one point, the pressure on my lower back hurt enough as the therapist was pressing on my bones at this point, that I physically reacted and lifted up from the table before the therapist stopped pressing that particular area.
Now, almost 24 hours later, I am still experiencing significant discomfort across my back. My skin and the areas over my bones feel bruised and tender to the touch, to the point that I have taken something to try to alleviate the discomfort. I have had massages before, including massages with firm pressure, and I have never experienced this level of soreness and pain afterward.
I understand that some people absolutely love very deep pressure, and I can understand why someone specifically seeking that might enjoy this establishment. If you're looking for extremely firm pressure at an affordable price and don't need much of the traditional spa experience, this may work well for you. The pricing is reasonable, and they were able to accommodate me quickly.
For me, however, "deep tissue" and "painful" are not the same thing. More importantly, when a client repeatedly says "lighter," "ouch," and "that hurts," the pressure should be adjusted immediately. Being on a massage table is already a vulnerable position, and with a language barrier as well, I reached a point where I was simply trying to get through the 45 minutes rather than continuing to argue about the pressure. Looking back, I wish I had ended the massage early.
I don't expect a lot of fluff or luxury when I'm choosing a more affordable massage establishment. I'm perfectly happy to skip the bells and whistles if the massage itself delivers what I requested. Unfortunately, between the lack of intake or discussion beforehand, my repeated requests for lighter pressure not being followed, and the amount of discomfort I am experiencing the following day, this experience missed the mark for me.
