Yuan Foot & Body Spa

This is a Chinese massage business, the typical nondescript, but clean and efficient place you’d find in NYC’s Chinatown. I’ve also had massage in China that was in a similar type of place. This means that it’s bare bones, and not a Western spa with lavish décor and the scent of essential oils. The furniture is very clean, but worn. By not investing in expensive décor, you’re really paying for the service you receive, and getting a great value.
They are currently building their business, so it’s easy to walk in and be seen right away. I have two friends (a husband and wife) who have regularly had massages for years, and they absolutely rave about this place. My friend even bought massages for this place as Christmas gifts for his direct reports. With that kind of recommendation, I had to immediately make plans to visit.
They have a variety of offerings you can view on professionally printed posters as you enter. They do full body, but I opted for the winter special, which is a 40 minute foot massage for $ 28. The sign indicates they do more than just your feet, and I was pleasantly surprised by how comprehensive it was. I’ve had this service twice now. They have 4 low massage tables in a fairly open area (so other customers may also be there). You remain fully clothed, so it’s best to wear comfortable clothing and pants with legs you can pull up to your knees.
You lie on the table face up and they put a large towel on your body and a small one on your head and over your eyes. Your feet are hanging off the end of the table soaking in a warm bath. Not sure what’s in the water, but there was a tea bag in there. Chinese classical music is playing in the background.
While your feet soak, they start with a face, neck and head massage, focusing on pressure points. I was pleasantly surprised with how well the therapist worked on this area during my visits. She moves down to shoulders and arms from there and on to tops of thighs. I thought she did a great job massaging and stretching my shoulders. It was perfect for this type of massage.
The therapist spends a lot of time on your feet and shins and uses lotion for this part. I especially liked the foot massage. Both times the therapist really worked on my arches and also hit key reflexology points.
Once finished with your feet, she has you turn over. There’s a section of the padded table that is moved under your feet and lower legs at this point. There’s also a face cradle for added comfort. The final part of the session is her working her way up from your feet, stretching the back of your thighs, back, shoulder blades and neck. Again, GREAT job finding my hot spots from sitting at a computer all day.
I thought hard about my rating and I tipped in favor of 5 stars because of the great service I’ve received, the cleanliness and the value. The only negatives are they have a Facebook page that is essentially empty and a website link that doesn’t work. Having their services and prices posted online would be great. Some customers may feel the space is awkward because it’s not the typical Western spa environment.
I will definitely continue to be a customer and look forward to a more traditional massage in the future. There are several private rooms for that purpose.