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A spa and massage junkie that is.....after college I always thought I knew when I "Made It" in life when I could afford a weekly massage or spa treatment. Well life in China has done just that but I haven't gotten the satisfaction that I have completely "Made It' in life.
I have had massages and/or spa treatments in every country we have traveled to since moving to China. When we lived in San Diego I would go to the School of Massage in PB every so often for the $40 hour massage, living in San Diego $40 was a bargain. But after living in Asia for 2.5 years $40 can get you one hell of a spa treatment, especially in Ubud, Bali.
I have had the run of the mill treatments from foot massages, to head massage/hair washes in China, hour long massage in the Philippines where they come to your hotel all for $7, to a thirty minute oil back massage at a nice spa in Hangzhou for almost $40. They suck you with an intro treatment for $12, then jack up the rate on your next visit, only worked on my once
and never returned as there are TOO many spas around Hangzhou to feel ripped off.
There are many places that aren't so "clean" in Asia and the US for that fact, where massages parlors can also be a front for prositution shops aka red light districts. I have heard my fair share of stories from other friends in China where they checked out the "massage" place to find beds in the rooms instead of massage tables, cigarette butts on the ground and even hearing the moaning from other rooms. Yep, clear sign to get the hell out before you are offered a service you may not have intended on having.
I have tried to keep an opened mind to all types of treatments and this past 2 months have treated myself to xi tou's, a hair wash, massage and style for $1.75; weekly foot/leg massage with K at new clean establishment; treated myself to a few NICE spas in Hangzhou, Dragonfly & Tea Boutique Spa.
In the past few weeks I have experienced two treatments that I had always wanted to do but never got around to:
cupping (fire pot) and
ear candling . You may think "What the heck are those treatments?" They are very common in China for locals to do, but not the typical treatment for an American.
While Pete was in Beijing, I had convinced Ms Gao that her and I needed to go to the Spa together. I had been asking her since we got our unexpected 800 rmb bonus at the start of the term that we should treat ourselves. She has been busy with the Summer Program for American students and teachers at our college this Summer, doing research to become a Professor instead of Associate Professor and preparing her son for his very important high school entrance examination. We finally went on that Sunday afternoon before Pete arrived him later that evening. She took me to a place that I thought was only a hotel but also has a decent Chinese Foot Spa.
When I say Chinese I mean there are TV's in each room to watch instead of relaxing, stained carpets from dropped tea or herbal foot bath water and who knows what else. The woman are usually dressed quite nicely in case a man would like
any "additional" services, as the place was a hotel and one room even offered a shower in the massage room (not typical in these foot spa businesses). The massages are very theraputic in the fact that they usually hurt do to the pressure points being worked instead of the usual relaxing rub down.
To my surprise, this was the first time after the hour leg and foot massage that they would perform cupping on my feet. I had always wanted to try it out but only had seen it done on one's back to pull out the "bad" blood or toxins from one's body for better health. It was quite the strange sensation as the pot was hot when it first touched my skin but then felt fine afterwards. Ms Gao told me it was to remove any "humidity" from my body, I think what she meant was if I was retaining water it would drain into the pot. Luckily for me the pot was dry and I was told I had great health, except for sometimes I may feel very tired as I have more blood in my vessels in my feet which causes tiredness.
Cupping 2
supposed to take out the humidity in your bodyEight Days later, on a Monday afternoon, I was riding my bike past the Tea Boutique Hotel, which I had read great reviews about online. So I stopped to check out the rooms as N's parents are coming to China in June and will be in Hangzhou for two nights. The rooms were amazing, the staff spoke excellent English and the aromas coming from the spa were brilliant. The manager showed me the spa menu and I thought to myself "I have 2 hours before I have my next class...WHY NOT?"
I chose to do the Aromatherapy Ear Candle for 55 minutes total at 298rmb (about $45). I was shown to the room (see photos above), given tea, shown my robe and disposable underwear and bra which I was to change into after my shower. Then I was to press 0 on the phone once I was ready for the therapist to enter. I was quite surprised after my foot soak and leg rub that I was told to lay on my stomach on the massage table, as I figured by the following description on the spa menu I would be laying on my back
the entire time.
10 minute foot soak
45 minute aromatherapy ear candle
"Ear Candle Therapy can help to alleviate: Tinnitus, compacted ear wax and glue ear, sore throats and hay fever, headache and migraines, stimulation of blood and eneryg flow, regulation of pressure in ears and head, energetic revitalization of hearing impairment, relaxation in conditions of anxiety and stress."
I was given an amazing oil back, neck and shoulder massage, then flipped over for a short facial massage, followed by applying oil to my hair in a very theraputic way then the candling began which wasn't awkward at all. I could hear small fizzling in my ear which I figured was the ear wax heating up. I had never had ear wax removed from a professional in my 31 years of life so I had no idea what to expect. After I was done I was given a porridge type substance and was finished. I highly recommend the spa at the Tea Boutique Hotel as for guests staying there you get a discount.
Five days later, K and I decided to treat ourselves to the Dragonfly Spa on Xixi Lu for our
"Last Friday night foot leg massage" in Hangzhou. We chose the Top to Toe treatment for 60 minutes and we left in total bliss. There are 2 therapist working on you at the same time, one doing your feet and legs and the other working your upper back, shoulders, neck, head and finishes with the arms. K is a member at Dragonfly so she gets 30%!o(MISSING)ff massages and 15%!o(MISSING)ther spa services (waxing, manicures, pedicures, etc). I am kind of glad I didn't know about this membership until these last 2 months as I would have spent WAY MORE money at this spa but it would have been totally worth it.
On a sidenote, there was a period of time this term that I didn't wash or style my own hair for about a month. I went across the street from our school to the hair salon for 10 rmb ($1.75) for a hair wash with head massage, blow dry and style about twice a week. You better believe I will be taking full advantage of these services during my last three weeks in China.
And this is my story of "How I Became a Spa Junkie in Asia."
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anonymous
non-member comment
wax in the ear
I want to know more about wax in your ear!