Finding Your Local Oasis: A Guide to Massage Parlors Near You

In the fast-paced world we live in, it becomes increasingly important to reward our bodies with relaxation and rejuvenation. Massage parlors near me? Yes, that’s the question we often ask when we need to relieve the stress and tension accumulated within our bodies and minds. In particular, office massage Sydney has been quite a talked-about service among professionals aiming to balance work and relaxation.

A massage session can help lower blood pressure, improve circulation, and boost your overall wellbeing. But finding a professional message parlor that provides a wide array of services in a serene environment can be challenging. That’s where this guide comes in handy.

Let’s start with office massage services since more people are starting to seek on-the-go solutions to cope with hectic schedules. These services target work stress, offering massage sessions within office premises for ultimate convenience. Services such as office massage Sydney have gained enormous popularity for their offer of therapeutic soothing during lunch breaks or after exhaustive business meetings.

These services usually comprise various types of massages that address different issue areas. From sports massage to fight physical tension to reflexology for revitalizing power, the options are diverse. The ultimate goal is to bring tranquility into your everyday corporate routine.

Now, if you are the type that prefers to separate work from relaxation completely, finding a parlor in your neighborhood may sound more appealing. You may be wondering, “How do I find the best massage parlor near me?” Here are some tips.

First, check the type of massage a parlor offers. Some specialize in deep tissue or sports massages, while others may excel in hot stone massage or reflexology. Knowing the type you prefer will help narrow down your options.

Second, look out for qualified professionals who have adequate knowledge about your body’s pressure points and are skilled in different massage techniques. Their ability to release tension and promote relaxation is vital for an effective massage.

Lastly, the ambiance matters as much as the service itself. A serene and quiet environment narrows your focus down and lets you get the best out of your relaxation time. Hygiene, too, is very crucial, and it’s advised to inspect the surroundings before you make the final call.

If Sydney is your calling, office massage Sydney might be your ultimate answer. Performed by professional therapists, these services aim to improve your productivity, morale, and overall health.

Getting a massage is not a luxury but a necessity in today’s fast-paced environment. So, whether it’s the convenience of an office massage or the tranquility of a massage parlor, arm yourself with the right information to choose the most suitable option. Who knows, a simple search like ‘massage parlor near me’ could open up endless possibilities to rejuvenation and relaxation.

By Dodie Cross

I was introduced to a real stress-reliever while in Thailand; a most amazing practice, and one that all new expats come to love. It was the wonderful Thai massage. It is usually performed by strong young girls, however I did notice a few males in the trade. One hour of this relaxing massage and most women would be able to negotiate with a terrorist. What a warm and muscle-stimulating practice it is for most people. I have a problem with pain. I admit it. I have no tolerance for pain and don’t try to hide it.

After a few trips to the massage parlors around town, I’d earned a reputation as Madame Ow-Ow. The tiny massage girls all seemed to be amazed that I could be so sensitive. As soon as I appeared in the waiting room, I’d hear the giggles start. Fine, giggle all you want just don’t hurt my body. Like it or not, they had to use a little less muscle with me. One of the little power-houses literally left her fingerprints on my arms and legs in the form of purple circles. I warned her about my condition before she started on me; in fact, I showed her some old bruises that the last girl had left on my rump. She obviously had no clue why I was pointing to four round dots on my butt, but as was the norm in this land of smiles, she giggled and began leaving her own marks. Giggling I later learned, can also be the Thai way of hiding embarrassment. Bruises or no, I kept going back possibly because it felt so good when they stopped. Okay, I admit it, I’m a masochist.

Seeing all the massage parlors in town brought back memories of an earlier visit to Thailand. I had to laugh as I remembered being introduced to the words: “Physical Massage.” It was in the 70s and we were expats living in Iran. My husband, feeling we had earned this treat just by living in that hotbed, had surprised us with a week of R&R at Pattaya Beach. On our first day there we decided to let the kids enjoy the pool while we read and soaked up the sun. We were half asleep when my youngest son, about ten years old at the time, came running up to us. “Dad! Can I have ten bucks?”

“Whaa for?” my half-asleep husband asked.

“That lady over there said to bring ten bucks and she’d give me a good massage.”

At these not so soft-spoken words, we both sat up as well as most of the people around the pool and looked in the direction my son pointed. And there she was, a beautiful Thai girl who looked to be no more than sixteen, standing in her shimmering red gown, leaning seductively against the massage parlor door, smiling the sweet Thai smile and motioning for my son to come to her.

“Uh, I think not, son,” I said.

“But, why?” he whined in his usual “you love her more than me” voice while pointing to his sister. “You give her money all the time. Can’t I just have ten bucks?”

Honey,” I whispered, “she’s not a nice lady. She’ll take your money and God knows what she’ll do to you. Besides, massages are for grown-ups. Wait until you’re older, then you can pay for it.”

“Paaaleeez,” he cried plaintively.

By now the male population around the pool was sitting upright, awaiting our decision.

“No! And that’s final,” said my husband in a not-so-final voice. This was not the answer my son wanted to hear. He was the kind of kid who never would accept the word “No” and could argue you to the ground until you cried “Uncle!”

“She said it was good for me,” he yelled in his outdoor voice. “How could she hurt me, Mom? Dad could go along with me to make sure I got my ten bucks’ worth.”

“No.” I said, this time in my outdoor voice. “No more talk of massages.” I turned to my husband for reinforcement, but he was busy putting a bookmark in his novel. “Go back to sleep,” I said, “you’re not going anywhere either.”

One of the best massages I found was in an old run-down home outside of town. The Hilton Hotel Spa it was not, but you soon overlooked the lack of fluff for the wonderful treatment you received. The house was over 100 years old, with cracked windows, torn curtains, sagging sills, patches of linoleum missing here and there, and a musty smell that permeated the whole environment. The interior walls in the center of the house had been removed and the space had been converted to a large dormitory-type room, with mats laid out side-by-side on the floor. Much to my discomfort, air conditioning (or air-con as the Thais say) was sadly absent in this old house. The AC phenomenon was introduced to Thailand with the advent of the farangs invading their land. The Thais don’t seem to feel the heat as the farangs do. When the temperature drops to eighty-five degrees, it might move them to put on a sweater.

Now, I could handle everything else in this place, but when the weather was at its worst, the massage room became one huge sauna and bordered on feral. I tried to get there early before it became too warm. Warm, as in 100 degrees F. The place lacked the niceties of Muzak and ambiance, but it was home to some wonderful girls.

The Blind Student Massage School, appropriately named, was home to young girls who were clinically blind, but who gave wonderful massages. The girls were mainly from poor villages where their parents were unable to get help for them. They were brought to Bangkok by Good Samaritans and schooled in the art of Thai massage. Once trained, they were sent to Pattaya and other towns to live with their benefactors, working to earn their keep. The Thai couple who owned this establishment gave the girls a home to live in, in exchange for their massage work and a small salary. They did very well on their tips and always thanked us profusely. We did wonder how they knew how much we tipped.

The routine went something like this: After check-in, you were given a towel and a pair of cotton PJs designed to fit a ten-year-old then escorted to individual vapor steam rooms the size of a small shower, with a bench seat for snoozing. After disrobing, you’d be saturated in wonderful mystical aromas of incense, eucalyptus steam and various other herbal delights. It took me five minutes of this heaven before I would doze off and dream I was Eve, lolling about the Garden in my birthday suit. When you’d yell “Uncle” they’d scoop you out of the shower, help you on with your PJs, and lead you to the massage room and the assigned mat on the floor. What joy! You were clean, warm, snugly, and then the fun began.

The girls would first try to identify you a game they all played with giggles and excitement. They’d begin by running their sensitive little fingers over your face and downward. By the time they reached your legs they could identify you. Of course, with me, as soon as I uttered “Ow-Ow” I was caught, and had to listen to a chorus of giggles wafting through the room. I still think it was unfair; when they couldn’t immediately identify me, they’d give a pinch to hear my Ow-Ow.

After one hour of this heaven you were escorted to the co-ed shower room where you’d find the usual male opportunists showering, changing clothes, urinating, or sitting and watching you do the same. At first it was difficult, but over time I would envision myself as Raquel Welsh loin cloth and all and didn’t feel quite as modest.

At this same establishment they offered haircuts, facials, manicures and pedicures I asked for the sighted girls for these jobs ‘all for less than ten dollars. If you came in for a wash, you were put on what looked like a hospital gurney and rolled to the shampoo bowl. The first time I experienced this I was a tad apprehensive. Okay, where s the operating room? But it turned out to be another treat for the pampered farang. They had a very inventive way of preparing you for the shampoo by slipping one end of a rubber tray under your neck, while the other end drained into the shampoo bowl. Why don’t we have this technique stateside? What a simple concept: the water doesn’t drain down your neck, leaving a soggy blouse; no wet towels to deal with, and no concrete slab for your arthritic neck to balance on. You’re in a lying position and soon you’re fast asleep.

Along with these wonderful shampoos would come a head massage, neck and scalp massage, and anything else you wanted massaged. The shampoo was something all the expat ladies looked forward to; three washes, three rinses, and a twenty-minute head and neck massage.

Other pleasures to the senses were the trips that many of the ladies took to Bangkok for beauty treatments. The salon offered massages, hair and nail services, and pedicures. It was heaven to spend the day being pampered. If you were in a hurry it was the best place to go. To gain entrance you had to ring a buzzer, wherein the manager would greet you at the door and ask you three questions: (1) Are you in a hurry? (2) What services do you want? And (3) Whom would you like to have work on you? If the answer to number one was in the affirmative, the manager would assign as many girls to you as you had appendages; one girl for each hand for manicures, one girl for each foot for pedicures, one girl for cutting, curling and blow drying your hair. Watching all these girls working on me, I felt I was being prepared for a Thai barbecue.

It was marvelous if you needed to be in and out quickly, but made it quite difficult to read a book.

(Reprinted with permission from A Broad Abroad in Thailand by Dodie Cross).

About the Author: Dodie Cross is a freelance writer who has received numerous awards for her writing and poetry. Dodie has traveled the world, writing about her life in foreign countries. Learn more at:

A Broad Abroad

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byAlma Abell

One of the most important things that you will learn when you take massage courses is how to become successful and independent. Going to a massage school will enable you to help make other people’s lives better while improving the quality of your own. Massage therapy is a thriving and rewarding career that offer innumerable benefits and a high level of satisfaction and accomplishment.

Learning About Different Types Of Massage

There are several different types of massage courses that a person can take depending on what their interests are and what type of career they wish to pursue

• Swedish Massage – a Swedish massage course will cover the basics of massage, how to perform different strokes and how to use the circulatory system to relax the client and help them feel optimal. This is a foundational type of course and most other types of massage course will build upon the knowledge learned in this class. Contrary to the name Swedish massage did not originate in Sweden. It is simply the most basic and popular massage method that is done. It is commonly used to increase circulation and help clients relax.
• Connective Tissue Massage – this type of massage is an advanced technique that specifically targets the fascia, or middle connective tissues, of the body. It is especially helpful with relaxations and helps clients feel more vital and alive. Connective tissue massage also focuses on seeing the body as a whole for healing rather than working on specific areas or sore spots and therefore can be very beneficial to people that have degenerative issues.
• Reflexology – the art of reflexology focuses entirely on the feet and sometimes the hands, which are connected to every area of the body. There are many benefits to having reflexology done such as lowering stress levels, balancing the equilibrium, reduced pain, improved blood flow, better relaxation and lower blood pressure.
• Shiatsu – the shiatsu type of massage or bodywork comes from Japan and focuses on the energy in the body. Massage therapists who practice this type of therapy use their fingers, palms and feet to apply pressure on certain points on the body to release or refocus the chi, or energy, in the body.

By knowing what types of massage classes can be taken anyone who desires to pursue a career in massage therapy will have a better understanding of which types of course they might like to take and which career path they want to follow.

In addition, various CEU courses in massage therapy can be a great way to explore your interest in this field. Continuing Education, and or Massage Workshops can be a way to begin this Journey Worth Taking.