Have you ever had a professional massage?

[terrya]

A NON SEXUAL one, that is. :-)

If you did, what was your experience like? Were you satisfied with it?

[JimmyJazz]

1. Often.

They are great - I highly recommend having one.

[LynzM]

2. Yes, lots

When I was in college, totally stressed, I would go see a masseuse who could fix my neck and upper back. Amazing, totally relaxing. I felt like I was just floating out of my body. She had her own place set up and she was the only one who worked there, so she knew her customers well. Sadly, she moved out of state last September. I did go visit a 'group' while living in Indiana, and was much less impressed by the person I saw there. It was nice, but not the same level of relaxation. My recommendations, find someone who is certified/licensed, and talk to them about their training and their thoughts on what a massage should do for you; people have different expectations.

[demnan]

3. It's a wonderful experience

I especially crave one around the Christmas holidays when light is sparse and times are very tense and my neck and upper back need a lift.

This time of year look forward to swimming in warm water. They both do about the same for me.

[Left Is Write]

4. Yes.

I usually like them, but you have to be comfortable with the person doing it.

My first one was with a massage therapist who came highly recommended by several people I knew.

I couldn't stand her. First, she was twenty minutes late for my hour-long massage, and I was going to be unable to stay late to make up the time. Then, something about her just rubbed me the wrong way (no pun intended), so I was unable to relax, which SUCKS when you're getting a massage. My mind was busy, she was yappy, and I couldn't WAIT to get out of there. She offered to give me a free thirty-minute massage another time to make up for her being late, but I never took her up on it. I just did not like her.

I found a new place to go, and I really like it. It's a full service spa/salon, so I also get facials and pedicures there. It's fabulous to get a good hour-long massage in a nice smelling, dimly lit, quiet room. Very relaxing, very nice for sore muscles.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

5. Yes, and I NEED one right now!!

[leftofthedial]

6. yes

it was excellent

[hyphenate]

7. I love massages

with some of my chronic ailments, they help immensely.

[cassandra uprising]

8. yes, once and it was wonderful

I wish I could afford to get them regularly.

[Lavender Brown]

9. Aromatherapy ones are great

I tried deep-tissue, I didn't like it that much. I want to try the kind with hot stones next.

[Phentex]

10. Yes and it's heaven!

[Hugin]

11. Yuppers!

Although, the last one wasn't finished...

After an hour of beating on my left shoulder
with a meat tenderizer time was almost up.

Took a couple of days to recover. I felt
lopsided.

It's all good though!

:)

[Bossy Monkey]

12. Yes. Somewhat mixed experience

The guy was very, very highly recommended to me. In fact, I had given a girlfriend of mine (now ex-, but not because of this) a massage by him, and she had a very good experience. So I went to try to get my back problems under some kind of control. There were two problems. The first problem was that he wouldn't take any kind of direction. I had pain in my neck and lower back and wanted him to focus there. Instead he just did what he wanted to do. Problem two was what he wanted to do, which seemed to be to trace out my pelvis and take it out with his bare hands. I had the most astonishing bruise for the next six weeks or so. Go figure.

Oh, and I had earlier gone to a masseuse for the same reason. She was a lot more mellow but even less effective. I had to make her switch off the new age muzak, which sucked so bad it made me even more tense.

So I guess what I'm saying is to get recommendations, recommendations, recommendations. Ideally you might want to look for somebody who'll do what the client asks instead of sticking to their own program.

What I eventually did for my back was to buy a slant pillow and sleep on the floor a lot. Of course, I don't know if your back is the problem or whether this would be a solution for you. Best of luck regardless.

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

13. Absolutely - it is the ULTIMATE luxury

I freakin' LOVE it!

[Maat]

14. Yes, regularly.

Always go to a ladies day spa; I want a nice relaxing experience - no funny business. So relaxing - I come out refreshed and ready to take on the world!

And I've never seen any professional behave inappropriately.

[Beware the Beast Man]

15. Yes. It was very relaxing.

Mrs. B and I decided to get them a few years ago. My only complaint is that we only booked 30 minutes apiece instead of 60.

[cally]

16. Yes

I've had wonderful massages and a couple of bad ones. I definitely agree with others that you need recomendations to find one that will take direction. If you prefer less pressure or more, you want a massueuse that will listen to you. I recommend them.

[Lauri16]

17. Yes!

My husband and I both got one right on the beach when we were in Hawaii. I did NOT want to get up! It was awesome!

[Skittles]

18. no

I very much dislike the idea of a stranger feeling me up in ANY way

[Magrittes Pipe]

19. Does a "happy ending" count as "sexual?"

:shrug:

[terrya]

34. I'd say that a happy ending counts as a great ending to a massage.

But that's just my opinion. :-)

[CornField]

20. I had one daily when I was in the hospital on bedrest

It was one of the few things I enjoyed about being stuck there. :)

[Scout1071]

21. Absolutely love them. My favorites were on the beaches of Thailand.

Breeze blowing only steps from the water. Paradise.

[Jean Louise Finch]

32. I try to get one twice a week....

But I live in Bangkok and its like $10.00 for two hours, so obviously it's a little different. I go for the traditional thai, which is a bit like passive yoga, and i've had a few really painful experiences, but overall its incredibly rejuvenating and I feel like I get my daily exercise while I'm doing absolutely nothing.

I did have one very bad experience with an oil massage, which required nudity, and there was considerable confusion with what I thought was a hat (but was in fact a paper thong. Whoops).

[In_The_Wind]

22. Yes

With the right masseuse it's great!

[youthere]

23. Yep, and it's divine.

[uppityperson]

24. Regularily and mostly always satisfied.

I get massages by several different people. It all depends on what I want, what I need, how I feel and who I want to deal with as these things change all the time. Recognize that each massage therapist is different and does different things, get recommendations, give feedback if necessary and relax. Professional massage therapists don't "feel you up" and only undrape/expose the part they are working on. It is relaxing and has helped me very much with my aches and pains.

[steely]

25. Wife always gets'em.

runs her about $65.00 and it helps her sciatica (sp?)

[NMMNG]

26. Yes, several

The most recent one was last week. It was mildly to moderately painful at times as it involved deep pressure and I had a back injury and very tight muscles in my neck and shoulders, but therapy sometimes involves pain. If I had the money (or if it were covered by insurance) I'd get it done far more often.

[MissHoneychurch]

27. yes, more than one

SIGH ..... very relaxing ..... need another one.

[fleabert]

28. many. LOVED IT.

would get one every day if I could afford it.

I plan on becoming a masseuse when I can afford that too!

[Robeson]

29. Yep, as long as the person doing it is experienced.....

...and knows what they are doing, then its great.

[VOX]

30. Is it ever "too much" for anyone?

I don't mean in terms of $$$, either, although that's a consideration.

I've been meaning to get one for my back and neck, but it seems like an hour would be too much -- pushed, poked and prodded, etc. When my wife gives me a good rubdown, it feels great, but it also leaves me feeling kind of woozy, too -- slightly stomach-sick. :shrug:

I would really have to have a lot of trust in the pro, as I am extremely ticklish in certain spots. :bounce:

[neweurope]

31. Some... one was incredible.

I had some because of my back and neck, and after a week the guy said "now I could begin working" - but my health insurance didn't pay anymore. Then we were on vacation in Hungary and stopped by a public bath simply to get a shower (we sleep in the car on vacation); and you could get different massages there. I chose an underwater massage because I don't really want to be touched by strangers; had to get into a huge bathtub with massage thingies, and in comes this huge guy ! who starts massaging me, to... and it was heavenly. That guy was a wizard!


---------------------------

Remember Fallujah

Bush to The Hague!

[WilmywoodNCparalegal]

33. Oh yes, as often as I can

Here in NYC I use the Chinese Qi Gong Tui Na people. Not all are licensed and there are some bad practitioners. But some in two specific spots I go to are just awesome and the price is right. They somehow know where I need it the most. These places are also much cheaper than other masseuses/seurs. I've had a 'professional' massage done a few times, but I never came away from these experiences as happy as with my Tui Na ones.

[Debbi801]

35. Yes, it is absolutely heaven...

But very difficult to drive home afterwards, because I am so relaxed. I would love to find someone who would come to my house and do it, so that I could immediately take a nap. :-)

Debbi

[MsAnthropy]

36. Passive exercise!

That's what sold me. A complete body workout and I don't have to do anything! Well worth every penny for someone as lazy as I am.