Today I woke up with a headache. It persisted through the morning so I called and made a last-minute appointment at the Massage Envy near my work for lunch time. I have only been to Massage Envy one other time, and that was at the Cary, NC location. That time, I was not too impressed. My therapist was young and just out of school. I was pregnant and I think he was afraid of hurting me so I had the lightest massage ever. And, I just don't like any place that wants you to sign up for packages, memberships, etc. And, especially after a massage, it's no fun to be hit with sales pitch. On top of that, there is a sign in each room that suggests a tip of $25 to your therapist if you were very satisfied with the massage. I just don't like that kind of high-pressure environment. Judging from some reviews I found on-line, others don't either. But, both locations are always busy, so I guess some people don't mind.
On to this experience. I was told to get there 15 minutes early to fill out a form, which I did. It didn't take that long to fill out so I am not sure that I needed to be there that early. I was seated in what they call the "quiet room" to wait. It was a pretty narrow room that, once four other clients had gathered there, felt a little tight. There was a flat screen TV that had a beach scene playing. The only reading material was a binder that had a short bio on each therapist and there were copies of the Massage Envy newsletter there. No "outside" magazine like People, etc.
The receptionist introduced me to my therapist, who took me to the room. She was pleasant and asked me what I needed to work on today. I told her upper back and neck and she said she would focus on that. She left the the room and I got undressed and laid down face first. The table was comfortable and warm -- there must have been a warming pad in there. When she returned, she put a hot towel/pack on my upper back. It was just under "too hot" and it did feel good. While my back was warming, she massaged my feet. Then she got to work on my back and I could tell she was really good. Right away I could tell the experience was going to be a lot better than what I had expected from Massage Envy, but that was due solely to the therapist, who clearly had a good deal of experience.
She was able to do a deep back/neck massage to really work out tension pretty aggressively but still did enough longer, slower strokes so that the experience was still relaxing. I have had plenty of deeper massages during which I have had to chat the whole time in order to keep my mind off the pain. (I do also like those massages and find them effective). But this was definitely a massage for which you can just turn your brain off and keep quiet. Most of the this work she performed from above my head. She also did a good bit on the shoulder/upper arm as part of this region's treatment.
My therapist probably spent about 2/3 of the 50 minutes with me in this position and then I turned over and she did a scalp massage -- this was very firm and felt awesome. She then did my ears/face and went into the neck. She did a good bit of lifting my neck up and then using the weight of it falling down (guided, of course) to apply pressure to her hands. After this, it was the lower arms/hands, then feet again. At the end, she applied a warm wet towel to each of my feet. Then at the very end she did a little of what I imagine was some basic energy-balancing moves.
Overall, I was very impressed by my therapist. The room and table was basic but comfortable. The music was not too loud and was super generic. At my regular therapist, she plays different music/sounds and she has a great selection from music to natural sounds, etc.
Then, when getting dressed, I had to face the suggested tip sign, and make a decision about that right away. Then, when I went out to front counter, the woman at the front desk tried to sell me one membership after another. I didn't join anything but I did buy a "package" of three massages, the first of which was used today. This makes each massage $59 plus tip. On their own, the massage is $78, which is quite high for the area and the fact that I doubt that most of the therapists are as good as the one I had. Still, you can go to some pretty plush day spas around her for that price.
My therapist's name is Movita and I do highly recommend her if anyone wants to try that location. I will go back to her two more times because it is very convenient to my work an buying the massages in packages of three does not seem like too bad a deal. But I do feel a lot of pressure to tip high since they are probably not paying the therapists much at all. Also, something about getting a series of sales pitches right after the massage just doesn't seem right.
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