You’d think I’d benefit from them, as I always hear how tense I am from masseuses, but they hurt whenever I have them.
No. I loathe them too. I had one years ago. Never again.
I’ve never actually had one, but I cannot conceive of the appeal. I do not want a stranger touching me. Actually, I don’t particularly want anybody touching me for an extended period of time, and I generally find the sensation of being rubbed annoying in the extreme.
I’ve never had a professional massage but I imagine it would be heaven. I, personally am a sucker for back and shoulder massages. In fact, I have a few friends who will simply start massaging my shoulders and neck before asking for a favor because they know I’ll be more inclined to do it. I also am unfamiliar with your human concept of personal space. If I know your name, I’m totally game for you to massage my shoulders.
I love them. My wife, who doesn’t like massages, used to work as the office manager at a massage school - which meant I got a discount. And once, the school had a very small class and needed a subject, so I got an hour long massage from the teacher and the student. Sheer bliss, tempered only by the need to give feedback to the instructor on how the student was doing.
I’ve the same problem. My mother used to give shoulder massages to my Dad and my brother; I couldn’t stand it.
This is how I feel. No hate, but don’t enjoy them either. Would rather avoid the whole thing.
I’m kind of surprised that so many people don’t like firm pressure. My experience has been that most amateurs don’t use enough force when giving them, not that they use too much. Especially men giving them to women, who are not, contrary to some reports, made of blown glass.
Assuming it’s not jerkey or pokey force, of course, but no one who’s paying attention to what they’re doing should have trouble figuring out what kind of sensations they’re causing.
Course, that’s really about giving massages, not getting them . . . But you got to play to your strengths.
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Ah, what’s NOT sexy about a back?
I’ve received numerous massages both pro (dozens) and informal girlfriend rubs (hundreds). A couple of the pro, licensed masseuses did apply too much static pressure particularly at or near the shoulders and caused slight bruising or other slight pain that lingered a couple days afterward. Most of the rubs were awesome and relieved back/neck tension for me. Not all masseuses are created equal, so don’t let a bad egg or two discount the whole masseuse population. Shop around.
I love massages so much that I’d immediately hire a 24/7 on-call masseur if I won the lotto, and he would earn his keep. For now, I’m just glad my SO doesn’t mind giving massages, and does not like getting them.
I had to google face pillow - half the hits I get look like travel pillows.
The one time I got a professional massage, no such thing was involved. The masseuse had a variety of different pillows available, the one I chose for being faceup was my usual preference of “the hardest one you have”, the one for facedown was soft and I turned my face to the side when she wasn’t working on my top. I don’t think I would like a face pillow either.
She’s also the only manicure I’ve met who could deal with my irregularly-shaped nails, so I think she may actually be somewhat of a genius…
They don’t feel like anything to me. Not ticklish, not tingly, not relaxing, not anything. I don’t get why people like them. Are you people sore all the time or something?
I hate being touched so having a massage would not be one of the top things I would like to experience. A mere facial or pedicure makes me nuts, a massage would probably have me jumping out of my skin. Which would be the opposite of the desired result.
Here I am, in the land of inexpensive masseuses who will come to your house and massage you for an hour for about $10 bucks (Indonesia), and yet … count me as another person who doesn’t really get why people love them so much when they are administered by strangers.
The funny thing is, I just bought a massage table from a friend who was moving away and had a garage sale, so I picked it up supercheap. But, it’s in our bedroom. It’s been used a lot since we bought it, but [LEER] just by me and my husband. [/LEER]
My dislike of massage-by-stranger is, ironically enough, because a massage feels so great. With my husband I can let loose and fully enjoy the sensuality of it, tell him exactly where to touch, and anticipate … an escalation. Likewise, giving a massage feels like a very sensual act - touching someone with whom I am on, cough-cough, intimate terms.
When the dumpy middle-aged lady with thick glasses, batwings, and a placid smile delivers the massage, it just isn’t what I think massage is all about, and I’m uptight.
Despite this, I will probably pick up where my departed friend left off, and do “spa parties.” My friend would invite 3-5 of her buddies over on a Sunday morning, and we’d sit and gossip and nibble, while we took turns getting a massage from the masseuse. As a social event, and opportunity to give the masseuse a shot at good earnings without having to travel to a lot of houses to earn some cash, it’s too good to pass up. But will I really enjoy the massage itself? No.
I’ve had a few chair massages here at work (there’s a lady who comes in twice a week) and I enjoyed them. The only reason I don’t do it more often is the cost ($18 for 15 minutes). I only do it when I get a bad headache, because those always occur at the base of my skull and a neck/shoulder massage helps a lot.
I have no problem “being touched by strangers.”. It’s not like it’s just someone off the street, they’re licensed professionals. I love a good massage, and usually go for 90 minutes.
I’ve never had a professional back massage, but I’ve never been interested by amateur massages beyond “hey, this might lead to something really fun!”
I went for a foot massage once (my wife’s idea) and apparently that involves alternately putting my feet into scalding water and jabbing a knuckle into the arch of my foot as hard as possible. I was astounded by the thought that I was supposed to pay them for that!
I love a professional massage, though I do admit it can be tough to get my face aligned “just so” in that face hoop thingy.
I have a friend who has had a couple, and hated every one.
Of course, she loves pedicures, and I hate those. I mean, really TRULY hate them and find them just this side of torture. The “soaking in the water” bit is nice; the bit where they’re pumicing away the worst of the calluses is OK (though unpleasantly ticklish) but then they grab your foot and start at it with SHARP IMPLEMENTS. It’s always just this side of painful, and often crosses over into actual pain.
I tried them again last summer - 3 times with 3 different people. The first one, I was literally yelling in pain and finally told her to STOP. A supervisor actually came over to make sure everything was OK. Not being a bitch, I assured her it was and that I was just oversensitive (though frankly I’ve never had one quite that bad).
The second time was actually pretty tolerable though when she did the nail polish, her nail was gouging the skin of my toe (something that happens every single time, so not just her). The third wasn’t quite as tolerable but still better than the time I was screaming.
I wonder if there’s any general pattern of people liking pedis and hating massages, or hating pedis and liking massages.
As far as massage pressure goes: the firmer the better. I always say “hurts good” when they ask how firm. Anything lighter is too ticklish. I had one once, when I’d been suffering from a muscle spasm for a week that had me downing Advil like M&Ms, where I could swear she left bruises. But the next day I was pain-free.
We just got a couple’s massage last Saturday as our V day present. I love massages. I actually fell asleep for a little bit during it. Not for the first time, either.
I’m frankly shocked at all the massage hate around here. I’d get one every week if I could afford it.
About ten years ago my wife planned a 50-minute couples’ massage for us, my first professional massage. I went along with it, but I was sure I’d get bored to death just lying there for nearly an hour. Holy cow, was I wrong. It was more like, “It’s over* already*??!!”
Since then I’ve gotten many more, and I love them. I have yet to find a masseuse who rubbed too hard. As for the “stranger” aspect, I have no problem with it. In fact, I prefer it that way. I’m not here to make friends or to hear your life story. Just rub me. Aaah, yes, right there. Just like that…