Anyone else particular about massages?

[lpylu]

I don't know if I'm particular or maybe I just don't like massages. They're a rare treat but the last couple of times I've felt more than frustrated.

Since when does someone pay £100+ for an hour massage only for that 'masseuse' to use a tonne of oil and 90% of the time gliding their forearm around my back/body.

When using hands it's un such a light touch way, I don't know if they're attempting to rub in oil or massage.

I asked the masseuse if she could apply more pressure and she said they don't do 'deep tissue' and stopped using forearm for elbow digging.

Am I not a masssge person or should a decent massage be someone who applies technique, mainly uses fingers to manipulate muscles and loosens knots etc?

I called the hotel last week to check I could have a decent amount of pressure so I'm surprised by the response of said masseuse who seemed tired.

I'm curious to know if anyone else would be bothered, it's the second time it's happened so I'm wondering if it's a me problem.

It sounds like you want a deep tissue massage but are booking aromatherapy or Swedish massage.

I guess there are good and bad masseurs. With a hotel I suppose they get a high proportion of one off clients- not relying on repeat business.
Ive had ones that seem to be messing around with the oils than actually doing anything hands on or who don't have good technique - I don't go back. I now have an excellent woman who knows just the right amount of pressure. However my sister was reminiscing about a woman I introduced her to 20 years ago who has moved away - she was tiny but amazing! You have to shop around, get recommendations and just trail and error. Expensive I know.

I agree and that's why I called up to check if they did a sports massage as I've learnt so through injury that's the massage where they apply the most techniques. Whilst the hotel said they didn't do that, they assured me I could have pressure. I just cannot stand light touch, relaxing, oily hands gliding over me. What's the point.

Particular in the sense that no there shall be no massaging by anyone ever

Monday to Sunday - I almost promised myself I wouldn't have hotel massages again. It's the only point in life I have time to have a massage and yet I am disappointed. Looking back this happened in a hotel when I was pregnant and they used the 'you're pregnant card' and it happened way back in 2014 in a hotel, but I have had good ones in between. The worst massages are always in hotels!

I guess in hotels the guests may generally want pampering / soothing, rather than an actual (useful) massage. At a hotel once I had a masseuse apologise because she'd blurted out that I had lots of knots... apparently they were discouraged to draw attention to it in case guests were no longer in a zen mind!

I’ve had a few poor massages, they haven’t all been in the UK but a higher percentage of poor ones have been here. (Also, just to add some balance, the very best massage I ever had was in the UK). Massage therapy is poorly regulated in the UK and because of that practice is less consistent than in more regulated places.

You shouldn’t need to ask for a deep tissue or sports massage. Swedish massages still manipulate muscle, it should involve kneading and percussion as well as long strokes. It certainly shouldn’t feel like they’re just rubbing oil in. I would guess that the massage place are over scheduling their therapists and so the therapists aren’t able to properly massage (massages that use hand pressure require breaks so as not to strain the therapists’ muscles and cause injury). So maybe avoid places that don’t do sports or deep tissue.

Also, since you specifically asked for pressure, I would have complained at the time. You didn’t get what you asked for and they ought to be putting that right.

I am equally picky and will only ever book sports/deep tissue massage - and even then found some weren't tough enough. Thankfully I have now found an amazing massage guy and wouldn't go anywhere else. Hotel massages are almost always disappointing if you like a lot of pressure.

I once saw a great massage therapist. He said 'I understand, you don't want a fluffy massage' when I was explaining I wanted deep tissue.

I learnt Swedish Massage at a local college, but never did it as a job.

I was always taught to ask the client how the pressure was. People like different things. Swedish massage can be quite firm if that’s what you want, but it won’t be the same as sports or deep tissue massage.

As part of the course we had to swap being clients and masseur, some people just have the feel for it and others don’t.

As suggested, I’d look for someone local that is well recommended or who has trained in more than one type of massage. That way you can work with the masseuse to find what you like best.

But as I said, I was trained to respond to the client’s request. Not just deliver the same massage to everyone.

My relative owns a spa so I get to ‘test’ new hires and test out new treatments and I’ve always been able to ask for more or less pressure, and the staff check in on me to see how I’m liking the pressure.

I do agree that you should find a therapist rather than a hotel.

I want to book a massage now

I think in hotels a lot if the therapists are earning atiny bit more than min wage and have back to back bookings. They don’t want to do a lot of pressure as it will knackered their hands / cause injury.

I have regular deep tissue massage at a physio place, £55 for an hour - worth every penny, can be pretty painful at times but weirdly very very relaxing and great results

YANBU I am the same but in reverse, I don’t like a hard massage and am quite particular about the type of massage I receive (I almost just want a nice rub 😅)

If you’re paying for it, you get to decide what works for you imo

I found out recently that a lot of the time, spa hotels don't have qualified massage ppl. So I'd look for a sports massage person

90% of hotel massages I've had are pants.

I go to regular places near me now that do a lovely job for way less money.

Always disappointed by a hotel one I never book them anymore and I don't like deep pressure.

You need to book a sports or deep pressure massage somewhere like a physiotherapy clinic.

If you get a massage somewhere that also does beauty, then most likely the beauty therapist will have had massage training as a very small part of their beauty training. Going to a massage only or physio type place, the massage therapist will have completed a massage course, and know more about muscles, different massage strokes and techniques etc.

It is actually difficult to give a deep pressure massage. I have trained and I would be dripping with sweat trying to give deep pressure, and found it surprising how bad my classmates were, even big men, finding it hard to give pressure! So.... even with training they won't necessarily be great. Maybe try and look at reviews to find a therapist to try.?

I had a fantastic massage therapist. Told a friend about him and she started going to him every week. The ‘friend’ was the sort of person who randomly fell out with people all the time then slagged them off to other people. Of course, my time came but I had no idea what I’d done. Anyway, one day I turned up for a massage and it was clear she’d been talking to him about me because he referred to something personal that had been going on in my life. The next time I tried to book one he said he was fully booked. Same happened the next time. I can only assume she slagged me off during her appointments and he doesn’t want my custom anymore.

I haven’t been able to find anyone half as good since. It’s really annoying.

Sorry off topic but does anyone know a good deep tissue place on London?

I've never had a hotel massage and now I'll definitely steer clear ! I like very strong pressure

Totally agree OP.

Also annoying are 'Indian head massages'. The real thing might be great, but the phoney one I had had some young girl fiddling around with the ends of my hair, then rubbing my hair all over my scalp. They she broke off to ring a bell and asked me to imagine the colour indigo...

The whole experience was really irritating, not relaxing.