Today’s post focuses on spa and massage clients who have had less-than-great experiences. My goal is to help both the therapist and the client better understand each other, so every spa experience can be positive. By airing pet peeves, I hope to open communication. Massage therapists and bodyworkers, please read and feel free to respond—next week’s post will be all about your client pet peeves.
I don’t have many spa grievances, but I will mention one. If I’m paying for a 50-minute massage, I expect to receive a full 50 minutes of hands-on work. Starting late or ending early cuts into therapy time that I’ve paid for.
Even when sessions begin on time, many therapists spend the first few minutes lightly grazing hands over the body—over the sheets or blanket—rocking the client, or asking for deep breaths to “prepare” for the massage. A similar routine often happens at the end, with gentle brushing motions to signal that the session is wrapping up. Personally, I’d prefer these steps be skipped in favor of more focused massage time. I don’t feel a noticeable benefit from this type of warm-up. Time can also be lost when therapists leave the room for several minutes to allow clients to undress. It typically takes less than a minute to get on the table, yet three or four minutes are often allotted. While I understand the intention, it can feel like unnecessary time taken from the session itself.
Debbie Unruh, a health administrator in San Diego, had been enjoying pedicures from the same place for 8 years, until she contracted a severe infection that required 2 weeks of antibiotics. She did not report it and instead just stopped visiting that spa. But when something like this occurs, it’s important to say something to the spa manager, because your complaint could lead to stricter disinfecting practices, which are essential for spas that offer manicures and pedicures.
Would it annoy you to listen to your aesthetician chat nonstop with a coworker while painting your toenails? When Bonnie Schwartz, a Santa Fe, New Mexico, resident, went to a local salon for a pedicure, her nail tech and the technician beside her were “verbally bitch-slapping each other the entire time,” according to Bonnie. She did complain to management and received an apology, nothing more.
Jill Koenigsdorf, a Sonoma, California, resident, prefers that her massage therapist not speak at all (unless necessary) during the massage. I usually prefer quiet as well, and appreciate it when the therapist knows when light chatting is okay and when it’s time to be silent.
Communication is so important when it comes to the intimate nature of body therapies. Kindness and respect also go a long way. But when Beth Spotswood’s massage therapist intrusively threw talk therapy into the equation, even claiming that Beth’s ankle pain was her mother’s fault, the therapist had overstepped her boundaries. Spotswood is a former journalist at the San Francisco Gate, currently at the San Francisco Chronicle.
Do you have any pet peeves for your massage therapist, aesthetician, or spa? Let’s open the lines of communication. Next week, the therapists speak out. We’re listening.
16 Responses
My pet peeve might be specific to cities…but maybe not! My pet peeve is when all of the women giving manis and pedis chat non stop with each other in their language. Maybe it’s not politically correct of me to say this, but I KNOW THEY”RE TALKING ABOUT ME!!!!!! (haha- hope not, but it sure feels that way!).
That is so funny. It reminds me of the Seinfeld episode where the nail techs are speaking Korean, and Elaine just knows they’re talking about her. Well, they were. 🙂 What city are you in?
-Val The Wellness Gal
I am in NYC. And YES! I cracked up like crazy at that Seinfeld episode!!!!
My pet peeve might be specific to cities…but maybe not! My pet peeve is when all of the women giving manis and pedis chat non stop with each other in their language. Maybe it’s not politically correct of me to say this, but I KNOW THEY”RE TALKING ABOUT ME!!!!!! (haha- hope not, but it sure feels that way!).
That is so funny. It reminds me of the Seinfeld episode where the nail techs are speaking Korean, and Elaine just knows they’re talking about her. Well, they were. 🙂 What city are you in?
-Val The Spa Gal
I am in NYC. And YES! I cracked up like crazy at that Seinfeld episode!!!!
So on the 60 minute massage being only 50 minutes, do you recommend we speak to the massage therapist or the manager? Just wondering.
That’s a good question, but I would say something to the manager. It’s their job to ensure that the therapists are doing what they’re supposed to do. Also, if you say something to the massage therapist, they’re not going to go back in and give you 10 more minutes of massage; and the issue will also not get resolved. If you tell the manager, he or she might mention the issue in a staff meeting so that all the therapists can hear it. Plus, if enough people complain, the more likely the problem will be addressed and resolved.
So on the 60 minute massage being only 50 minutes, do you recommend we speak to the massage therapist or the manager? Just wondering.
That’s a good question, but I would say something to the manager. It’s their job to ensure that the therapists are doing what they’re supposed to do. Also, if you say something to the massage therapist, they’re not going to go back in and give you 10 more minutes of massage; and the issue will also not get resolved. If you tell the manager, he or she might mention the issue in a staff meeting so that all the therapists can hear it. Plus, if enough people complain, the more likely the problem will be addressed and resolved.
Sometimes we need a short massage. A 15 minutes short massage can be really beneficial, in case you don’t have time.
Sometimes we need a short massage. A 15 minutes short massage can be really beneficial, in case you don’t have time.
I have to say that laying down sometimes it’s so uncomfortable laying on a flat table and having someone press hard on your back when you have ……boobs. I’m thinking that they have special massage tables for pregnant women with a big cutout for a stomach, right? Or don’t they? Can’t they have a table with some kind of cutaway in the chest area? I can’t be the only one who feels this way.
Thanks for your input, Lydia. I can’t say I’ve ever experienced this myself, but what an interesting idea! I’m sure massage table manufacturers could come up with something. In fact, I’ll even pass this on to some of the massage organizations I’m aware of. My questions for you, though, are: Does this happen on all massage tables, or only at one particular place? Also, could it be that the massage therapist is simply going too deep? You can always ask him or her to use a lighter pressure on that area.
-Val The Wellness Gal
I have to say that laying down sometimes it’s so uncomfortable laying on a flat table and having someone press hard on your back when you have ……boobs. I’m thinking that they have special massage tables for pregnant women with a big cutout for a stomach, right? Or don’t they? Can’t they have a table with some kind of cutaway in the chest area? I can’t be the only one who feels this way.
Thanks for your input, Lydia. I can’t say I’ve ever experienced this myself, but what an interesting idea! I’m sure massage table manufacturers could come up with something. In fact, I’ll even pass this on to some of the massage organizations I’m aware of. My questions for you, though, are: Does this happen on all massage tables, or only at one particular place? Also, could it be that the massage therapist is simply going too deep? You can always ask him or her to use a lighter pressure on that area.
-Val The Spa Gal