Readers Respond: What Was Your Worst Massage?

Since Nancy felt invaded, she should have gotten up right then and there. Remember you always have the right to stop a treatment.

My worst massage was by a well-meaning, over-eager newbie who left my neck in spasm. How about you? What was your worst massage? Share Your Story!

Massage Therapist Hates Job

I have never been picked on more my my boss in my life. All my boss seem to care about is money. They don't care about the well-being of the client nor therapist. There is stuff they make mandatory. They make you pay for things directly from your paycheck and these things are overpriced. I'm not even making enough money to pay back my student loans, yet I HAVE to pay for these ”mandatory” items from my check. I'm not talking about taxes either.

—Guest hates chains

Grrrr. Massage? I think not

I have been going to said place for years now. I made an appointment, except instead of my usual girl I got a different one who apparently had been doing "massage" for 23 years. I arrived early (as usual) she sent me through and told me to get ready, I did and she left me waiting for 20 minutes! It was now 10:15 even though my appointment was for 10. She used the suction cups roughly for 10/15 min. I told her it was hurting around the sides but she continued. She coarsely pinched and pounded me for another 10 min. And that was it! even though I was booked in for an hour. That's $70, thank you. By the time I payed it was only 10:40. I wanted to cry. I was already having a bad day and I had to fork out $70 for a 20/25 min session which left me bruised and with a back spasm. But I didn't complain because I'm to shy to do anything like that. :(

—Guest Angry and Bruised

I didn't think a massage could be boring

My friend and I went to a spa in a hotel. My massage therapist said she'd been there since the opening 3 years before. When she had me inhale the aromatherapy I said I didn't like it, but she didn't listen and used it anyway. Then she spent the entire massage using only effleurage, as if she didn't learn the other Swedish techniques. My foot massage was equally uninspired and she spent a lot of time rubbing my big toe, ignoring the other toes! Just to add insult to injury, the spa enforces an 18% gratuity - even though I wasn't happy with my treatment. Never again. I'm still looking for a go-to spa.

—Guest April

Massage Surprise!

As a spa director, when hiring a new massage therapist, for consistency I required that he or she give me a "typical" massage which I then discussed with my massage team if I thought there was a fit. One applicant, a big, burly guy, seemed nice enough. The massage seemed OK at the beginning as he went through most of the expected protocols when, suddenly and without warning, he jumped up on the massage table, straddled me and began vigorously massaging my back. I was so startled that I didn't know what to do, but then common sense took over and I stopped the "treatment" then and there. Needless to say, he was NOT hired! Never could figure out where this unorthodox method came from....

—Guest KathrynStolle

Massage therapist speaks out

Wow...the thing about spas, they are commission-only pay. If you have allergies and are sniffling...and you call in? NO PAY...most of us aren't paid enough to be able to afford that. If you call in frequently you get fired. Any good therapist will be pleased you spoke up and asked for a quiet massage...we really do want you to be happy. As for your therapist's smell, are you sure he didn't give an Ayurvedic treatment before yours (some of the oils aren't so great), and still smells like that treatment? Can't change between each client. I worked at a Conde Nast top 10 spa. Don't fool yourself, a 50 minute massage is 42 minutes. 50 minutes includes pick up, disrobing, INTAKE (so don't talk excessively, use the restroom after your 'time' starts-you're paying to pee), the work and taking you back, AND your spa tech NEEDS to stay on schedule or ELSE. I'm a seasoned pro but my worst EVER is when they spend the majority of time on my back and ignore the rest of me...or are unskilled.

—Guest anonomyssy

no way

PLU Day spa in Alpharetta, Georgia. DO NOT EVEN THINK ABOUT IT! Terrible!

—Guest joc

New Forum

Can we please start a thread for massage therapists complaining about the worst clients EVER?

—nic_224

Too Light, and The Therapist Had a Cold

My worst massage was not even bad. It simply was too light. My second worse massage was a good massage; however, the therapist had what I think was a cold and I am uncomfortable with sniffling. It makes me think of snot; not the most pleasant thoughts in the world.

—Guest machomachoman

Massaged By A Burper.

I went for a massage instead of relaxing, there was constant blabbering and talking so I could not close my eyes. And she was constantly burping!

—Guest peter marcus

I Was Cheated On The Time!

I have had some wonderful massages and a few awful. The worst was one I got at a spa. I was scheduled for 50 minutes, and she told me how busy she had been and rushed through my massage..40 minutes if I was lucky..too fast and not at all caring. When she told me it was over, I said that was not 50 minutes, and she said it was. There was no one around to complain to. I was very disappointed. It's not good to be cheated out of time, and have the therapist not caring.

—carollee0123

Bad Mall Massage - The Woodlands TX

I had a sore shoulder for a few days & decided to stop at the mall for a quick massage, bad move! I paid for 25 minutes of pinching, squeezing, pounding and by the time I made it home which was only 15 minutes away, had bruises all on my back. I told the man that it was too hard, the Asian (very little English speaking man) repeated me "too hard". I squirmed & periodically would say, ouch, or let out a grunt & say that hurts, finally I had to lift my head & say, thats it, no more. He had the nerve to expect a tip! Due to the language barrier, I paid my minimum $25 & walked away as fast as i could!!!!

—Guest Patricia W

My Worst Massage

When I saw the fluffy fake fur mat on the table I had a clue this would be my worst massage. I asked the therapist about her experience and found she had been an aide in a hospital and had workshops on massage. In talking to her she started telling me about her religion. She really got into the subject and I felt I was the pulpit and she was the preacher pounding it. I told her she was being too rough. She eased up but started scrubbing me as if I was an item on the wash board. I was glad when the ordeal was over. The moral to this story is never get on the subject of religion with a therapist.

—Guest Kee Kee Brown

Bad Massage at Spa Mandalay

I had a hot stone massage at Spa . The therapist wore a fragrance that, I’ll try to be polite here, didn’t smell very nice. I had never experienced this before. Normally, spa's smell of essential oils and eucalyptus. I was aware of this fragrance throughout my treatment, which really took away from the enjoyment of my experience. Then we couldn’t get the pressure right. I spoke up 2 or 3 times to ask her to adjust the pressure (it was too rough), but we could never recover. My therapist was also a little rough around the edges, not calming or soothing at all. When the treatment was over, I asked to speak with the spa manager. She came to talk with me in the relaxation area, which made me uncomfortable because it was a public place and other customers were within earshot. I explained that the there were a few problems with my therapist and treatment and went into detail about what they were. The spa manager thanked me for my feedback and offered me 15% off my treatment. I app

—Guest cnyspagirl