massage nyc

New York City: Massages



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Angel Feet
Reflexology: 60 minutes, $115; 30 minutes, $75
77 Perry St.
212-924-3576
The idea of a massage is sometimes better than the act itself: the incessant drilling of that knot in your shoulders, the oil-matted hair and basted body. Reflexology offers all the pampering with none of the inconveniences. Angel Feet— a tiny storefront with only two oversize chairs—specializes in this incomparably relaxing foot and hand treatment. Our reflexologist was so absorbed in her work that she seemed to enter a trance. We joined her—and the next 60 minutes were a blur of pleasure. Even that knot in our shoulder untangled.


Bliss Spa
Ginger Rub, $270
12 E. 57th St.
212-219-8970
Ginger might be great with sushi, but we were concerned that when rubbed into our skin, it would leave us feeling raw. Our masseuse calmed our nerves as she drizzled an oil containing shredded ginger along our back, assuring us it would merely stimulate blood flow, not burn. (She was right.) She then swaddled us in blankets and left us alone briefly while the ginger warmed our muscles. When she returned, she gave us the longest, deepest massage we've ever had without wincing.



Breathing Room
ROBIN GILLIES
Massage, $100 for 60 minutes
80 E. 11th St.
917-617-1153
Before any massage, we say a prayer that the therapist isn't a chatty, chakra-aligning hippie. Gillies is no such person, and out of a small studio she gives a massage that rivals any big spa experience. She knew precisely where to exert pressure and where to hold back, and she even emailed the next day with advice on treating a bad bruise we'd shown her upon arrival. An answer to our prayers—and much more.


Butterfly Studio
Intense Kérastase Treatment, $100 and up
149 Fifth Ave.
212-253-2100
When a week of dreary weather left our spirits—and our hair—with a serious case of the blahs, we ducked into this airy midtown salon to lift both. Our stylist prescribed a series of rich Kérastase shampoos, conditioners, and masks to smooth our frazzled ends and soothe our irritated scalp (and mind, we hoped). A toe-curling head massage helped the luxurious creams penetrate the hair and scalp, and each gentle squeeze of our neck and shoulders boosted our mood. We emerged with hair so shiny and bouncy that despite the rain, our disposition was nothing less than sunny and bright.

D'mai Urban Spa
Massage, $120
157 Fifth Ave., Brooklyn
718-398-2100
Our masseur explained that he entered the field to help ease his girlfriend's back pain. All tension melted as his hands glided over our torso and legs. He then dug into our shoulders and neck, using Swedish strokes and a muscle-lengthening therapy called myofascial release. Once he demonstrated a few breathing exercises, we found ourselves wishing our own boyfriend could learn from his example.


Deva Spa
NISEEMA DYAN DIEMER
Massage, $150 and up for 60 minutes
425 Broome St.
212-274-8686
We went to this SoHo spa to zone out, but discovered that we needed a more intensive massage when Diemer zeroed in on the knots along our spine. She deftly rubbed out every last one and stretched us by pushing and leaning on our back with just the right amount of force. Next, she treated our feet to a superb rubdown with warm oil. When the hour was up, we felt refocused—both inside and out.


Eastside Massage Therapy Center
Massage, $80 for 60 minutes
351 E. 78th St.
212-249-2927
Sometimes you don't need a foot-washing ritual or oil drizzled on your third eye. At those times, Eastside Massage Therapy Center delivers (at a remarkably good price). We arrived five minutes late for our appointment, and the receptionist let us skip the long questionnaire and get right on the table. There, our masseuse exerted long, firm strokes, crisscrossing our back with her powerful forearms and softening our tension-locked shoulders. She worked silently and efficiently; we'd tell you the details, but we fell asleep 20 minutes into it. There was no aromatherapy, no affirmations—just a comforting, restorative rubdown.

Great Jones Spa
Lemon Verbena Body Polish and Massage, $150
29 Great Jones St.
212-505-3185
After we got past the utilitarian look of the treatment room, we settled in for what turned out to be a very relaxing head-to-toe scrub of jojoba, shea butter, and aloe vera that left us gleaming like sparkling china. But our pampering was temporarily interrupted when our therapist instructed us to put on our robe and follow her up two flights of stairs to the massage room. As soon as she started the Swedish Massage with ginger and lemongrass oil, employing deep-tissue techniques for our sore legs, all was forgiven. Our advice: Skip the scrub and book a massage.


Haven Spa
VLADIMIR ZHADANOV
Massage, $115 for 60 minutes
150 Mercer St.
212-343-3515
We told Zhadanov that we love the benefits of deep tissue but can't endure intense probing. He promptly tackled our stubborn knots in the most humane way possible, kneading our tightest areas with the perfect amount of force and leaving us sighing with pleasure instead of writhing in pain. The only unbearable part of our massage came when it was time to leave. $115 for 60 minutes.

Iguazu Day Spa
JOSEPHINE DAMIANO
Hot River Stone Massage, $138
350 Hudson St
212-647-0007
We love the idea of massage but find the experience itself sometimes annoying: The pressure is either too light and itchy or so probing it brings tears to our eyes. But Damiano delivered a silent, confident massage that would soften even hard-nosed skeptics. She started with long, tingling strokes, then zeroed in on our tense neck and back. At one point, she folded our shoulders together and pressed at the tight areas around our shoulder blades until we felt almost buoyant. One quibble: The stones weren't hot enough. But that seemed unimportant after Damiano left us blissfully calm and grateful.

chair massage

Chair massage is a style of seated massage that is typically short -- 10 or 15 minutes -- and focuses on your back, shoulders and neck and arms. Chair massage is done over clothes and doesn't require any massage oil.

For chair massage, you are seated in a special chair with your face resting in a cradle, looking down towards the floor, with supports for your arms. Your back and neck completely relax while the therapist relieves muscle tension using Swedish massage moves like kneading and compression and tapotement, which don't require oil.

Chair massage is often offered at high-stress locations like airport spas and trade shows. It's a great way to work out muscle tension before it turns into a full-blown spasm.

Chair massage is sometimes a free perk at corporate party or event. And some enlightened employers bring therapists in to offer chair massage to their employees. Companies can pay the entire cost, split it with employees, or give employees the time and let them pay for the chair massage themselves.

chair massage

CHAIR MASSAGE




Feeling stressed, tense or mentally foggy? A few minutes of chair massage can improve circulation, reduce stress, relieve tension, decrease pain and rejuvenate your spirit. Chair massage is provided by a professional practitioner in an ergonomic chair and focuses on key tension areas in the back, neck, shoulders and arms.

Meet John Conroy, our chair massage therapist

Chair Massage Locations

Chair massages are now conveniently available at multiple locations, 11am-2pm:

Mondays: KREC (11000 Kinross Ave)
Wednesdays: Wilshire Center, Suite #107
Thursdays: General Services (Facilities Management Building)*
Fridays: John Wooden Center Lobby
*Directions to General Services: From Westwood Blvd, proceed down (west) on the private service road on the right side of the UCPD Station. The Facilities Management Building is located behind the UCPD station. Proceed down the service road (approximately 300 feet) and enter the Facilities Management Building using the blue door on the left side marked “Entrance." Take the Elevator to the mezzanine level (indicated by an "M") and exit right towards the massage chair designated area.


STEP 1: Purchase Minutes

Two ways to purchase minutes (choose one):

Buy online by clicking here.
You'll need to create a new account using your 9-digit Bruin ID number or your UCLA Recreation membership number.
Visit Sales and Service - Cashiering in the John Wooden Center (1st floor).
Massages can be purchased in packages of $20 for 20 minutes and $60 for 60 minutes.

STEP 2: Schedule Your Massage

Two ways to schedule your massage (choose one):

Call FITWELL at 310.206.6130 with your confirmation/receipt handy.
To secure a reservation, call by 6pm the day before you would like a massage.
Visit the FITWELL Desk in the John Wooden Center (1st floor) with your confirmation/receipt.
To make a walk-up appointment, please call the day of to check availability or see the massage therapist in person.
Massage can be scheduled in any 5-minute increment (minimum of 10 minutes). For example, purchase 60 minutes and schedule six 10 minute massages, four 15 minute massages or in any other way you would like to break it up.
NOTICE: You must cancel or reschedule within 24 hours of your appointment or your minutes will be considered used.

For refunds, please visit Sales and Service - Membership in the John Wooden Center (2nd floor). Refunds will be granted for requests received within 3 months of purchase. Minutes must be used within one year of purchase date.

chair massage

Chair Massage is done in an ergonomically designed portable chair. Chair Massage focuses on the head, neck, shoulders, back, arms and hands., Massage therapists are able to offer on-site massage to many corporate environments because of the portability of the massage chair. Clients do not need to disrobe to receive a chair massage. Due to these two factors, chair massage is often performed in settings such as corporate offices, Employee Appreciation Events, Trade Show Events, Conferences and Trainings, Corporate Golf Outings and Corporate Wellness Events.


A robotic massage chair is a chair that contains internal electronic motors and gears designed to massage the person sitting in them. Most robotic massage chairs have some form of controller to vary the type, location, or intensity of massage.
Massaging chairs most frequently resemble recliners. There are many different types and brands, including office-style chairs that operate from internal batteries. A less expensive option is a separate massaging pad that may be used with an existing chair. Some of the available brands include Fujiiryoki, Family Inada, iRest, Masse, Omega, One Life, Kyokei, Masseuse, Back Doctor, Human Touch, NEOX, Sanyo, Panasonic, SHSS, OSIM, OTO, VGO, OGAWA, Homedics, and Oregon Scientific.
Robotic massage chairs were first brought to market in 1962 by the Family Inada company. Today, Japan is the largest consumer of massage chairs with some surveys suggesting that over 20% of Japanese households actually own a massage chair. By comparison, massage chair penetration in the US market is estimated to be in the neighborhood of 1%. The current massage chair market is dominated at the top by a three dominant manufacturers: Fujiiryoki, Family Inada, and Panasonic. After the purchase of Sanyo by Panasonic, Panasonic announced plans to eliminate Sanyo as a brand for all current Sanyo consumer products.
The major US brand has been Human Touch, which fills the low-price to mid-market massage chair categories. Their most popular models are purported to be the sub-$1000 units of the line they call i-Joy. Human Touch grew rapidly in between 2003 and 2007 before their near-complete demise during the recession that followed 2007 - many industry insiders predicted that the company would fold. Their peak year was reportedly just over $127MM in sales. Their worst years in 2008 or 2009 were reportedly down by more than 50% from their peak.
Massaging chairs vary tremendously in price, style and intensity, from cheap "vibrate only" chairs to full intensity Shiatsu models for people who require as close to a real invigorating massage as possible.

chair massage

What is Chair Massage?
(Also referred to as Seated Massage)

The term "Chair Massage" describes the type of massage that is performed while the client sits fully clothed in a special chair.

This unique massage chair is ergonomically designed and offers full support of the head (face forward), arms, torso and legs. Chair massage is performed by certified and insured practitioners who use a combination of deep tissue and swedish massage techniques, usually on the muscle groups in the neck, shoulders, back, arms and hands.

The massage chair folds up easily and is completely portable. It can be set up just about anywhere. A conference room, spare office or quiet room are perfect but if need be, the massage chair can be set up right in front of a desk. No more than a 5x6 foot area is required. This, and the fact that the client remains fully dressed, makes chair massage very convenient and also eliminates the need for total privacy.


Staying dressed and publicly visible has had a tremendous impact on how people perceive massage. With seated massage there is no mystery or fear of the unknown. After all, how can you relax if you are anxious about the experience. Now everyone can enjoy the many benefits of massage and it is perfectly acceptable to watch someone, or be seen, getting a chair massage.


A Brief History of... Chair Massage

And brief it certainly is. In the early 1980's, which isn't so long ago, David Palmer (founder of the TouchPro Institute) thought of ways to make massage more acceptable to the general population. Mr. Palmer is a practitioner and teacher of chair massage as well as traditional Japanese massage, or Amma, which is a combination of deep tissue, acupressure, stretching and percussion techniques.

Having people leave their clothes on overcame the first obstacle. Then, in 1986 he invented the portable massage chair in order to make it even more convenient. With the mobility of the chair it became possible to bring massage to the people, anywhere, anytime; and the term On Site Chair Massage was born.

Massage Therapy for Inflammation After Exercise

Massage Therapy for Inflammation After Exercise
Research through the Buck Institute for Research on Aging and McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario indicates that massage therapy reduces inflammation of skeletal muscle acutely damaged through exercise. The study provides evidence for the benefits of massage therapy for those with musculoskeletal injuries and potentially for those with inflammatory disease, according to the lead author of the research.

The study found evidence at the cellular level that massage therapy may affect inflammation in a way similar to anti-inflammatory medications.
The researchers “found that massage activated the mechanotransduction signaling pathways focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and extracellular signal–regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), potentiated mitochondrial biogenesis signaling [nuclear peroxisome proliferator–activated receptor γ coactivator 1α (PGC-1α)], and mitigated the rise in nuclear factor κB (NFκB) (p65) nuclear accumulation caused by exercise-induced muscle trauma.”

Massage Therapy for Fibromyalgia

Massage Therapy for Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is a chronic syndrome characterized by generalized pain, joint rigidity, intense fatigue, sleep alterations, headache, spastic colon, craniomandibular dysfunction, anxiety, and depression. This study demonstrated that massage-myofascial release techniques improved pain and quality of life in patients with fibromyalgia.

The study found reductions in sensitivity to pain at tender points in patients with fibromyalgia.
Patients in the massage group received 90-minute massage for 20 weeks.
Immediately after treatment and one month after the massage program, anxiety levels, quality of sleep, pain and quality of life were still improved.

Talking to Your Physician About Massage

Talking to Your Physician About Massage
According to the results of a recent survey conducted by the American Hospital Association’s Health Forum and Samueli Institute, a nonprofit research organization, 40 percent of hospitals indicated they offer one or more alternative therapies—up a full 37 percent from 2007.

Responding to patient demand and the increasing cost of health care, more and more hospitals are taking a good look at complementary and alternative therapies—including massage therapy—to help patients with a variety of issues. From back and neck pain to stress relief, doctors and hospitals are beginning to think a little differently about how they might help patients better deal with some of these conditions.

“Today’s patients have better access to health information and are demanding more personalized care,” says Sita Ananth, study author and director of knowledge services for the Samueli Institute. “The survey results reinforce the fact that patients want the best that both conventional and alternative medicine can offer, and hospitals are
responding.”

Of the hospitals that responded to the survey, 64 percent reported using massage therapy as part of outpatient care, and 44 percent use massage therapy as part of inpatient care.

These results dovetail nicely with the findings of a reader survey published in the September issue of Consumer Reports, where three out of four adults reported using some form of alternative therapy for general health. Chiropractic, deep tissue massage and yoga all dominated the lists of helpful alternative treatments for conditions such as back pain, neck pain and osteoarthritis.

According to the report, survey respondents indicated that yoga, deep tissue massage and Pilates rated the same as prescription medications for help with back pain. And some of the respondents initially looked to complementary and alternative therapies upon the suggestion of their physicians. “Twenty-eight percent of readers who used deep tissue massage, usually for back or neck pain, said their doctors had recommended it,” the report explains.

What This Means For You
As we begin to learn more about the benefits of complementary and alternative therapies, don’t be afraid to talk with your doctor about how these options might fit into your overall health care regimen.

Additionally, talk to your massage therapist openly and honestly about the benefits you want to receive from massage therapy. Take some time to gather information on your own. There are quite a few resources out there that can help you better understand the research being done on the benefits of massage therapy, as well as the different techniques and modalities your massage therapist might use.

More Resources
AMTA has a wide variety of information fo consumers—including clinical research on the efficacy of massage therapy, how to find a qualified massage therapist, as well as tips for getting the most from your massage.