Massages at gyms/athletic centers

[daisymayNY]

Recently, and I may have mentioned this before, I had a massage that was at a YMCA. I had to walk through a bunch of weightlifters, and the room basically had the door open right out to where they people were lifting weights and excercising. I could hear people talking, SportsCenter was on the TV, and it just wasn't relaxing. Plus, I don't like walking through a bunch of people that I might know to get to the massage room. I'm there to relax and get away from people, not perhaps run into them.

Well, recently, my chiropractor moved his office from a quiet place to the Fitness Center in a business park. I understand this is great for the massage therapists and for the chiro. in that they get more clients (and possibly younger ones), but I personally can't stand it. There is almost nowhere to sit up front, and the fitness center check in is right across from the chiro. check in spot. There is loud music on, and it's rather cold in the building. You have to walk through a bunch of people exercising to get to either the massage room or even to just simply get a chiropractic adjustment. Again, don't feel like running into people I know.

I am just curious. Do you any of you work at gyms? As clients, are there any people like me that loathe this type of setting? :

 

[Ham and Cucumber]

How much did your YMCA massage cost? After I find out, I can better answer your question.

 

[Pat M]

How much did your YMCA massage cost? After I find out, I can better answer your question.

That's a fair question. The 1st massage I paid for, and it was about $80 for an hour and a half. (the one with SportsCenter on the TV at the YMCA)

The 2nd situation, where we are talking about the chiropractor, I only paid $10, because insurance takes care of most of it for me, as long as I go to the chiropractor which I need to anyway. I realize that yes, really I shouldn't complain - this is a great situation. Just kind of disappointed the office moved. I really was wondering how clients feel about being at and walking through a gym.

 

[jwerkob]

Is the YMCA's pricing less than other places around town?? Where I live, the Y charges about 55% of the regular going rate around town and the massage is only open to members. They do not offer 90 minute sessions. All sessions are one hour. The massage room is located between the mens and womens locker rooms and I know the massage room gets noisy. However, YMCA members over look it because they expect it as well as the fact they get a steep discount.

Your YMCA charges a little bit more than the average going rate for a 90 minute session where I live. 90 minutes generally run $70 to $75 here.

 

[DarkMaster]

Is the YMCA's pricing less than other places around town?? Where I live, the Y charges about 55% of the regular going rate around town and the massage is only open to members. They do not offer 90 minute sessions. All sessions are one hour. The massage room is located between the mens and womens locker rooms and I know the massage room gets noisy. However, YMCA members over look it because they expect it as well as the fact they get a steep discount.

Your YMCA charges a little bit more than the average going rate for a 90 minute session where I live. 90 minutes generally run $70 to $75 here.

Great Lakes,

I don't belong to the YMCA, but this therapist has 3 or 4 different locations that she works at. One of them just happens to be this YMCA. Maybe she rents out one of the rooms, I don't know.....my main thing is I don't like the atmosphere for getting a massage in a gymnasium/weightlifting room. Not relaxing.

 

[Tera]

I'm not sure why you'd even walk into a place you know you don't like (ie gym, fitness center, YMCA). But, since you did - there are different strokes for different folks. These strokes don't fit you're expectations. I appreciate your enthusiasm for massage, but you are obviously unhappy. I believe you should start looking for a new MT and DC if you don't like the way you are treated, the location or whatever other problem you find.

I also get the feeling you just need someone to talk to or vent at, though I am not sure which. A number of your posts discuss your frustration with bodywork/workers in some way or other. It is nice to see the clients view, but it just seems like there is more going on with you. If you are looking for other people than bodyworkers to talk to this link has a lot of discussion forums on it.

To answer your questions:

I don't work at a gym.

I don't loathe this particular setting.

I go where I get good work and am warm. That's what I want.

 

[Protecting the baby]

Clients that loathe a setting don't go there - up until recently most men would not go into a beauty salon for a mssage, actually I think most still wouldn't. People looking for stress reduction don't usually go to a noisy location (which can be a hair salon or gym type set-up).

People go to a business they are comfortable with, some people go to Walmart to shop, some got to exclusive boutique type shops and everything in between, most people that like the boutique experience will avoid Walmart, most people that frequent Walmart feel uncomfortable in upmarket boutiques type shops whether it's designer label clothes or European deli stuffed artichokes. Most people will go to the business location they feel comfortable with.

Some people still go to Walmart even though they disagree with their policies because they are cheap, some people LOVE Walmart because everything is there and it's cheap, some people won't step inside the door due to their policies no matter how cheap. People make their own decisions about what they are prepared to ignore/put up with/don't notice.

 

[Recipe4Living]

ace88,
Yes, some clients are very fond of their Massage Therapists, but after perhaps visiting once, can not stand a certain location.
I've had clients who were referred to me at the salon I used to work at by a chiropractor. Some didn't mind coming to me there, but some didn't like the perm smells and the noise.
After that I was working out of a treatment room shared with an acupuncturist at a local health food store. I sent postcards to some of my best local clients from the salon... but only one of them came to me more than once in a year. They didn't like the room and the people right outside the door.
You have a few choices. You can see your MT at a different location. Or you can continue to see her at the YMCA fitness center. You can continue to see your chiropractor there (or at a different location if he still has one)... or you can search for a new chiropractor.
What I would encourage you to do though, is share why you won't be coming back, it's not her work that is the problem, it's the location. Perhaps she can come up with a different solution.

 

[Maria G]

I'm not sure why you'd even walk into a place you know you don't like (ie gym, fitness center, YMCA). But, since you did - there are different strokes for different folks. These strokes don't fit you're expectations. I appreciate your enthusiasm for massage, but you are obviously unhappy. I believe you should start looking for a new MT and DC if you don't like the way you are treated, the location or whatever other problem you find.

I also get the feeling you just need someone to talk to or vent at, though I am not sure which. A number of your posts discuss your frustration with bodywork/workers in some way or other. It is nice to see the clients view, but it just seems like there is more going on with you. If you are looking for other people than bodyworkers to talk to this link has a lot of discussion forums on it.

To answer your questions:

I don't work at a gym.

I don't loathe this particular setting.

I go where I get good work and am warm. That's what I want.

Are we a little sensitive here? This is a client section. Yet what I find is therapists like you trying to read into the clients minds and trying to figure what is wrong with the CLIENT, and not what the therapist might be doing wrong. "It just seems like more is going on with you." And how would you know? Perhaps I'm just asking other clients whether they have had massages in this type of atmosphere. As for it being at the gym in this situation, and you claiming I should have known this, you are entirely wrong, but I shouldn't have to explain myself, because the post shouldn't become about me when I am asking a general question. Yet some can't resist the temptation to make it personal.

And just because I might write about a problem with massage, doesn't mean I don't appreciate massage therapists and the work that they do. I could never do what they do. I've had plenty of great massages in my lifetime and am very appreciative, particularily with some of the medical conditions I have had.

 

[A Wolf at the Door.]

.. .. .. the post shouldn't become about me when I am asking a general question.

I see. My mistake. It read as though the post was about your unhappiness with yet another situation.


I obviously failed to realize you weren't complaining.

 

[suthrngal]

I work in 2 different settings. One is a gym and the other is a manicure/pedicure place. Both have very different clientele. I have been working at the gym as a massage therapist for over 3 years now and regularly see clients that are not gym members. I meet my clients at the front desk and try to move them quickly to the quiet, relaxing massage room. Since the massage room is in between the women's and men's locker room, the noise from there can be more intrusive than the weights clanging. The music and low lighting helps create a relaxing atmosphere (I hope. Themanicure/pedicure place definitely has a different feel to it...less noise, has a nice waiting area with snacks and drinks. But, of course, no showers or changing area, just a regular bathroom. If someone were to approach me on the street about obtaining a massage from me, I would want to get a feel as to which place would be more comfortable for them. I have, obviously, a lot of male clientele at the gym location and more female clientele at the manicure/pedicure place. I started 4 years ago with some home clients, mostly seniors, and have found they are more comfortable going to the manicure/pedicure place than the gym. For me, if I was uncomfortable with the place I was getting a massage, I don't think having a massage therapist that I really liked would keep me coming back, unless he/she was able to create an atmosphere where I felt comfortable, warm, safe and relaxed. That's what I try to do, regardless of the location, but if someone doesn't feel comfortable with what is going on outside the room, then it's best that they find a place where they do, so they can get the full benefit of the massage.