Hot Stone Massage Chinese Styles

My sister generously gave me a coupon for the facility my niece does swimming lessons at which has a pool spa and yoga place. I decided to used it on a hot stone massage. The spa is Chinese owned and run, so predominantly is the clientele Chinese that they answer the phone in Mandarin, which I cannot speak. When they didn't have any opening on the Monday before I started work I just said thanks and hung up! So because my sis goes there a lot for Kaylies swimming lessons she went and booked it for me for this Saturday just past.

The reason I mention this is because this definitely caused some confusion for them - they called me Yvonne the entire time. My cup of tea left by the relaxing sofa area had a post it that said Yvonne Lee on it.

Now I've been to quite a few spas, and each of them, while generally working the same, do have it's own quirks because of how its facilities are laid out. So the language barrier didn't really stop there. The lady that took me into the changing room showed me the private changing stall and then my locker. Usually robes and slippers are provided for you to change into - but the locker was empty. So I said "no robe?" and she repeated back at me "no robe" so I thought maybe u just get nekkid in the treatment room. But then I went into the changing stall and found slippers and robes so I was like do I wear these or what!

Also in all spas I have previously been to the robes are ROBES. This was a towel with snap buttons at the top. Skimpy.

Next the differences came in the actual massage itself. I always get hot stone massages and they do differ by spa - what areas they concentrate on, the pressure they put on it, etc. but almost always they focus the most on your back and when they ask you to turn over and lie on your back they are mostly doing shoulders neck and head. But here u started lying face up, which worried me that there would be no back work cuz that's the best bit. But anyways she started with the legs and feet and I had to repress the first giggle when she put a tiny hot stone between each of my toes. Whats the point of that! My toes aren't under a lot of stress. I thought about wriggling them out for fun but your toes can get a pretty good natural grip on stones - who knew?

But the funniest part was when she massaged my BELLY. Who needs their belly massaged?? Mine barely has muscles in it. It certainly never aches. But slap a hot stone on it she did it made me feel a bit like a piece of meat being marinated (mmm who doesn't like a good slab of roast pork belly!) and again I fought hard against the giggles... I tried to think of the most somber thing I could and ended up thinking about visiting Auschwitz in Poland - a bit of a callous use for the experience I am ashamed to say, but it was the first sobering thought that popped into my mind.

I thought maybe the belly rub had to do with the totally unscientific belief Chinese people have about breaking up the fat in your problem areas so that you could lose the fat easier... Once upon a time they sold gimmicky contraptions to middle aged ladies where they basically put a vibrating belt around your waist to achieve this effect. Chinese people don't believe in the no pain no gain attitude of getting in shape - miracle products and starvation are where it's at!

However where they do wholeheartedly believe in no pain no gain is where it comes to pressure in massages - at one point I thought she was going to break the bones in my neck she was steamrolling over them so hard. That little lady has strong hands!

Overall still a very enjoyable and relaxing sat morning!