Where can I get the Very Gentlest therapeutic massage in San Francisco?

April 29, 2015 6:31 PM

I want to schedule a nice, very gentle, relaxing massage (for my upcoming birthday - yay). What type of massage should I look for, what kinds should I avoid, and do you have any specific spa recommendations in SF? What I want is probably closer to a back rub with very gentle pressure, and not so much "kneading" and "manipulating" muscles. So I probably don't want Swedish or Shiatsu massage (right?), but what DO I want?
posted by anonymous to Health & Fitness (8 answers total)

You want a de-stress or relaxation massage.

The best massage therapist I know works in SF, but it's through an app where therapists come to your home.
posted by guster4lovers at 7:02 PM on April 29, 2015

Yes, you do want Swedish. Just explain to the therapist what you've explained here, any decent therapist will customize the massage to suit you. Speak up if at any time something would feel better another way.
posted by mysterious_stranger at 7:47 PM on April 29, 2015 [3 favorites]

I am a massage therapist and mysterious_stranger is correct.
posted by MillMan at 8:21 PM on April 29, 2015

Mainly, you want the therapist to speak your language. At least just a few extremely relevant words, like "That hurts", "Stop it, that HURTS!" and so forth.

I speak from experience.
posted by serena15221 at 8:47 PM on April 29, 2015

Definitely let the masseur/masseuse know at the beginning what you're looking for. Like all good businesspeople, massage therapists want repeat customers, so s/he is going to make sure that you're getting the type of massage you want.
posted by xingcat at 6:08 AM on April 30, 2015

Yeah they'll do whatever you say. If you were looking for a code word, Swedish would be it, but you absolutely do not need one. You just tell them what you told us here.
posted by fingersandtoes at 7:53 AM on April 30, 2015

If you're seeing a licensed practitioner (as you should be doing) please refer to them as a massage therapist, not a masseur/masseuse. The latter terms are considered strongly derogatory by the vast majority of practitioners.
posted by mysterious_stranger at 9:13 AM on April 30, 2015 [1 favorite]

Give a call to Integral Body in Bernal Heights, on Cortland. You can call them for a consultation regarding therapeutic massage. They're very friendly. My friend (a teacher who is also the school's assistant gymnastics coach) was in town last month for her spring break, which was right after some sort of gymnastics qualifying competition. After that plus a very long cross-country flight, she was a wreck. I live near Integral Body, so I walked her over so she could ask them what they could do. She got a massage and acupuncture and raved about the experience. They're oriented toward providing services to women (whether or not that has value for you).
posted by late afternoon dreaming hotel at 9:53 AM on April 30, 2015