Natural World Spa

This is the first low rating I’ve written ever — to give you perspective on how reasonable and generally understanding I am as a consumer. I would give one star but I have had decent experiences here before.
My mom and I used to like this place and if you get people that know what they’re doing, it’s an hour worth the $ 30. However my mom and my last experiences were so terrible that I am compelled to let everyone considering spending a full hour here know.
The service ended 15 minutes early, which for a massage service that promises an hour is basically the equivalent of serving you only 3 courses out of the 4 courses you paid for at a restaurant. And when we let the receptionist know, our masseuses came to the front desk to argue and accused our watches to be wrong. We both have smartphones.
During the massage, it was so obvious that they didn’t want to be there and didn’t want to be doing what they were doing. There’s nothing more frustrating than an apathetic masseuse taking out their boredom for life and hatred for what they’re doing on your back. I felt like their stress ball and each annoying poke got increasingly aggravating. At some moments I felt like I understood what my puppy must feel like when Im smearing him around my bed.
On our way out after letting the receptionist know how bad of an experience it was, how we are regulars and how they didn’t finish the full hour my masseuse started to fight me. We’d already paid up front so we decided to eat the cost and were on our way out when my masseuse stopped me to ask for tip. I just looked at her, confused as if she was speaking to me in a different language and just walked out. That was the most refreshing and relaxing part of the whole night.
Moral of the story — don’t take your chances here if you don’t already have someone that you know and trust here.

Shouldve read the reviews. All of the one stars were apparently right on point. Burping while massage was happening. Room was dirty. «Therapist» answered the phone in the middle of the session. Would go out in the hall and shout to her coworker in Cantonese… yeah…not so zen. But I wasnt at the point of complaining yet.
Rub down was just ok… but kept stabbing my nutsack with her nails while massaging my leg… which was pretty awkward to have to explain why not such a good thing. ugh
Said to take my time after massage was done…(45 min, was supposed to be an hour)…then 2 minutes later barges in turns on light while Im still dressing and demands a 50% tip.
Embarrassing, and awkward.
I left stressed… and so my review in a nutshell (which I recommend wearing so as not to have your goods shish ka baabed)…fuck this place.

Not a good experience. So dissatisfied that the first thing I did when I got home was start this review. Not a deep tissue massage, constantly leaving the room without explanation, and most unforgivably my neck feels worse than before I went in. I would have been okay with everything if that was it. But you should NEVER ask for a larger tip. Also, asking for an extra $ 10 tip on top of the 15 I’d already given you is terrible etiquette. Never happened before and hopefully won’t happen again.

Worst body massages I’ve ever had! Because this place is in my neighborhood I tried them several times thinking maybe i would eventually find a decent masseuse and stick with them because the $ 45/​hr price is good for SF. However it was a waste of money each time. Plus, the service is AWFUL! They are rude, have no consideration for noise (the staff has very loud, endless conversations, microwave is always going off, etc.), the massage tables stink, they don’t put a a cloth towel on the headrest so you smell all the others people sweat on the vinyl head piece, and they don’t provide adequate change if you need to break a bill to give the correct tip. Not to mention the masseuse hovers over you and is not gracious in the slightest bit. At least if the massage was decent I could look over some of these other things given the price. I could go on and on… TERRIBLE.

Out of all the massage places that I have ever been to, this one is definitely the cheapest. The GF and I came here past 9:30 pm on a Saturday. There was a man taking the sign located outside in, most likely meaning they were closed or closing soon. We decided to try our luck and walked in anyways. We were acknowledged (not greeted) by two women. We asked if we would be able to get a one hour massage. She reluctantly asked the people doing the massages if they would have us. With a loud sigh, they both agreed.
The grand total that I paid was $ 56 for the both of us. At other places, it would be double. I was interested in the 45 minute body and 45 minute foot massage for $ 50. That would have been awesome! However, seeing as how it was already so late, I did not even bother to ask.
We were led into the common area where there were about four reclinable chairs for massage purposes. This was the first time a man has ever massaged my body. It was awkward at first, but then as I drifted into relaxation mode, I no longer cared. He used a lot of strength, which was surprising to me because I figured he would be exhausted from all the massages he would have given throughout the day.
The first half of the massage is focused on the head, face, shoulders, and feet. The remainder of the time is spent on the back. I thoroughly enjoyed the massage. As with all massages, time flew by so quickly. Before you know it, the massage is over, and the mandatory (every masseuse expects it) tipping begins. $ 30 total for tip was what we gave, which was more than half of the actual cost of the massage.
Overall, this place offers extremely good value and good quality. Some things that would have made the massage more enjoyable include less talking amongst the workers and a better attitude from the receptionist. I will definitely be back.

Upon recommendation from a friend, I called Natural World Spa to enquire about their package deal for massage and facial. The woman who answered my call spoke English quite well but was unbelievably rude and inpatient. I would think a business would appreciate all calls, especially when I mentioned my friend suggested I call to find out their facial/​massage deal and possibly to book an appointment. Well, apparently, it was too annoying to answer my queries and she became rude when she had to repeat the charge for a facial once again. Okay, woman, you won yourself the free time to twiddle your thumbs instead of an appointment from a paying customer. Your attitude needs adjusting.

This review is for waxing services only (even though during my visit I got to hear some reviews on the massages!).
I needed a place that was open late so I came here.
When I walk in there’s a lady getting a massage who’s complaining about the guy giving it to her. The receptionist tells her he doesn’t speak English so that’s why he doesn’t understand what she wants from him. Fine, whatever.
Wax lady comes out, takes me into a room. It’s a massage room. Tells me to take off my shirt while she goes to get the wax. I tell her it’s for my arms so no need to remove the shirt. She said she misunderstood and thought it was my armpit I wanted waxed.
Comes back and starts waxing me. Numerous problems:
A) She pulls the strips off the wrong direction, not against my hair growth so she’s not doing it properly. I told her several times to do it the opposite direction. She didn’t listen.
B) There’s no light in the room so I had to shine my cellphone light on my arm so she can see that she missed patches. Literally, took out my phone and shined light on myself!
C) She dripped wax ON MY PANTS and didn’t even notice until I pointed it out. Then she took baby oil and rubbed it on the spot to try and get it off the pants. Fail.
Overall it was a terrible experience and I decided halfway through that I’m gonna regret paying for it. When I leave the receptionist says $ 32 and I say I’m sorry, it was terrible service and I’m not paying. She says she is the receptionist for the massage service (lady that was complaining about the massage guy is still complaining behind me!) and calls the wax lady over. Wax lady comes and asks what’s wrong so I tell her that the service was terrible and that she didn’t do a good job. She looks at me and says «it’s ok…» and runs away. So I just left. But I’ve never done that before and honestly don’t regret it. But still it was a bit nerve wrecking saying I hated it. But in all honestly it was terrible!!! Don’t advertise services you cannot perform!!!
Never coming back again.
Oh, and she called me an hour later to say I can come in for something without a charge but the damage has been done and I will not return.

My friend’s and I did our Annual Christmas get-​together this past Saturday and started with our annual foot reflexology massage.
4 of us — 4 completely different massages. Eduardo nailed it when he said there is no training of how each massage should be done. His was very different than mine — and Sammie’s was more like mine — good, or very good for the low price of $ 28.00 for an hour. We all tipped $ 10 bucks because I don’t think the staff makes much.
You get in and take your shoes and socks off and put your feet in a bucket of hot water — (not scalding as some do — just the right temp) then lie down on a comfortable reclining chair.
Your masseur starts rubbing your shoulders and arms. My guy was more so grabbing at my arms — haha — I suppose it gets the blood flowing in your body. I’m a big guy with muscular arms and shoulders so I think mine was substantially different than theirs.
Then they pull your feet out one at a time, wipe them down and start rubbing your feet and lower legs with a cream. They rub it so many times that my legs and shoulders are sensitive for about a week — HOWEVER — I know that this is good for my body and that it doesn’t get this treatment often enough. So does it hurt — yes, it sure does.
I could hear my friend’s wincing slightly from pain — not terrible pain, just enough that keeps you awake: D.
They work on each foot, the bottoms of the feet, and the legs. Then work on your upper thighs. Then I was done — even though everyone else was on their stomach getting their back, shoulders, and buttocks worked on — my guy said I was finished. So he comes back with a Dixie cup of water and I ask him again — why don’t I get any treatment on my back? He caves in and points to the chair — I lie face down and he grabs and pulls at my back and the back of my arms. Voila — it’s over.
Definitely worth it — this is NOT about Pleasure. it’s about the after effects.
I hope

I’m usually really fair with massage places, especially cheap ones. I understand that we get what we pay for so it does not take much to impress me.
This review is based on my experience today. My friend took me here and paid so not sure how much it was but I wouldn’t go here if they paid me. We had a body massage and then a foot massage. Body massage was pleasant for about 10 seconds and then I didn’t know how to get out of there — the lady was pressing on my lover back and spine with such blunt force that I feel like she pinched a nerve now.
Just when I thought it couldn’t get worse… It did. When the ‘massage’ ended, we were told to get dressed and go to the front for our foot massage… As we’re getting dressed one of the ladies barges in and starts cleaning the bed… The door is open, people walking by and we’re in our underwear but no biggy. THEN I got the worst foot massage ever– the lady had really long nails and kept jamming her nails into the soles of my feet at full force, then she proceeded to scratch me. I finally couldn’t take it and they finished early.
I left hurting more than when I came in, NOTHING felt better. Plus I was disappointed Ted for wasting my time on this joke of a place.

Horrible.
I ordered a deep tissue massage; the only thing «deep» about it is the thickness of my skin, now that it has been rubbed raw. Weak, vapid, and, quite literally, irritating at best.
My masseur never asked how the pressure was, left for five minutes to get a towel (which she then tossed on me for a brief moment and immediately discarded). The massage felt as though she was rubbing my back absent-​mindedly with one hand and texting with another, as I lay face-​down, my head throbbing, plastered against the rough paper-​towel headrest cover. Even the towels that cover your body felt like sandpaper.
The puritanical MIDI-​like ambient flute music stopped midway through. Finally it ended, I finally inferred, as she slapped my legs (hard, for once) and said «OK?». As I left, she not only demanded a tip, but sought a larger one — I reluctantly have $ 5 and walked out quickly, causing her to shout something angrily in a language I don’t speak; my friend’s masseur scoffed at the $ 10 tip he gave, saying the standard tip was twice that.
Here’s a tip: go anywhere else. I’ve been to three Thai massage places on Geary wher I’d give five-​star reviews to each.
You’d be better off giving nine complete strangers five bucks each in exchange for a quick shoulder rub.

This place does not even deserve a star for the rude customer service they provide. I came here with two other friends for a full body massage after 8pm. The receptionist was pleasant and led us to seperate rooms.
The ladies that gave us a massage were awfully rude. The woman I got started off rubbing my back with such force. She scratched my back and made me bleed. My massage was suppose to be an hour long but was shorten to 4t minutes because the woman left in the middle of the session to gossip with other workers.
By the end of the massage, I was then harrassed to give her $ 10 for a $ 40 massage. What a fucking rip off!
Never coming back to such a shady business

My 6^th visit today and I must say in ALL CAPS:
BEST FOOT MASSAGE EVER by Billy!
I’m a massage whore, I admit. I get a massage every week and so happened, I remembered I bought a package last year and had 2 sessions left. The front desk lady in her 40’s isn’t the sweetest lady, but whatever, if you go there, please request for BILLY.
I’ve been getting massages for 20 years and I’ve never been in so much (good) pain by Billy.
He got all the kinks out and really massaged me with deep deep deep pressure.
I’ve found my go to guy for my Foot Massage. I’ve been to Massages at the Four Seasons, St. Regis and even all over Asia… Billy is the Man, maybe even the doctor.
$ 25 per hour. I tipped him $ 20.
You should do the same.
he’s off on Wednesdays.
best of luck to you!

Ivan has the touch of an angel and hands like warm apple pie. One hour with him and you will feel intoxicatedly fresh. My grannie goes there all the time and raves about him (not that ding dong fellow).
Keep doing what you’re doing Ivan (love the red lambo polo shirt).

Came here an hour before they were closing yet they still managed to squeeze my boyfriend and I in for an hour long massage.
This place is CHEAP and AWESOME. The staff is pretty friendly too. One thing that I have noticed since being in the Bay Area is that a lot of massage places have a big room where everyone gets their massage. Almost like a common room? Weird. If I’m shelling out the moolah for a massage I want a private room so I don’t have to sit next to any weirdos.
Individual rooms for massages EXCEPT foot massages are in a common room. The massages here are the cheapest you can get in the city and I’m loving it.
I noticed on Unilocal that a lot of users mentioned a mandatory tip. I did NOT encounter this on my recent visit (nor did my boyfriend) so I’m not sure if they just have a sketchy person doing their massage? Hmmm

Their foot massages are great.
However i would avoid letting them massage your back… and get your full body massages elsewhere.

I just wanted to update my old review, which if it’s still going to be posted after I write this, sort of still stands as to how feel about noise and so on, but I have been doing the foot massages at NWS for a while now and my new favorite is «Ivan. «
An older gentleman who can go either way with the pressure and after so many visits seems to know just where I need that pleasure that often verges on pain (until he lets go and my muscles sink into bliss). .. There’s less lounging about by the staff, but you can still hear them in the back, talking, slurping, the occasional gob-​stopper in the throat, but overall a decent experience once you’re in the relaxed phase.
Last time I went in I noticed the new lay-​out and new floors and a lot of clomping about. Perhaps the staff could start wearing slippers on the hardwood (much nicer than the old carpet) floors.
Again, for the price, this is a great place. Best to call ahead, but I am usually able to get a spot within an hour of calling.

I used to ask my SO for back massages, which meant two minutes of light random pressing. But no more! Jon at Natural World Spa will now be my go-​to-​guy for massages. For only $ 25 for an HOUR, a «foot massage» from Jon was the BEST MASSAGE OF MY LIFE. (To be honest, I can count the # of professional massages I’ve received on just two hands, but I’ve had a few lengthy Chinese foot massages in Beijing and this was far superior.)
First, I laid down on a big comfy towel-​covered, mattress-​like chair (which is in a small communal part of the place alongside 4 or so other chairs and simply shielded from the front desk by a screen). The room was dimly lit and there were sounds of trickling water and classical music.
Jon brought over a small bamboo tub (lined with plastic) of hot water to soak my feet. Then he massaged my head, temples, neck, shoulders, arms, and hands with lotion. I’m not a massage expert, but there was a lot of long vigorous stroking pressure and he did that finger-​snapping thing that Chinese masseurs all seem do. The pressure was strong and he asked if it was okay. Or at least I think that’s what he asked. He spoke Cantonese but seemed to speak/​understand little English or Mandarin.
Then it was onwards to my calves and feet. Again, the massage consisted of long vigorous strokes and pressing down on certain pressure points here and there. Jon put on plastic gloves for the actual foot massage. He also did some light pounding on my calves and thighs.
After the feet, he had me sit up so he could remove the towel over the face hole on the chair. He lined the hole with a clean towel and had me lie down on my stomach, face in the hole. He placed a large thick towel over my back. Then he massaged my arms AGAIN, my neck, shoulders, back, and yes MY BUTT (as others pointed out), and the back of my legs. It seemed like he was massaging with a combination of his forearms and hands. As someone previously mentioned, butt massages can be weird when the masseur is a dude and you are a girl, but he was massaging over a thick towel and it actually felt pretty darn good.
There were some pressure points that he pressed on with A LOT of force that really hurt! Like in the middle of the bottom of my feet, towards the top of my calves, and a couple places on my back. But hopefully it was some sort of ancient Chinese medicine know-​how that will make my body a super-​functioning machine.
You pay in the beginning at the counter. Credit cards accepted. You tip your masseur directly when the session is over. I wonder if the masseurs are only paid in tips? There is water and little cups on one side of the wall. I didn’t have an appointment and was able to walk in with no wait at 6pm on a Monday. There were three other customers by the time I left.

Ok, so I know half the time with these places it is pure luck of the draw with your own personal preference and which therapist you get… but I had an exceptional massage here as far as Chinese foot massages go. Not too hard, not too soft, super friendly and smiley demeanour (which, let’s face it, isn’t always the case).
Stick with a ‘foot massage’, which is actually a clothed full-​body massage, in addition to a foot massage/​soak. $ 25 for an hour, on par with most other similar places (customary to tip $ 10, for an all in total of $ 35 for an hour massage. Still not bad). Small, affordable luxuries. Love it.

This place is so hit or miss. When it comes to body massage, I have had some great ones and some below average ones here. I always ask for Iris… she has hands of steel and deserves five stars. She really knows where the knots are and what the difference between a «good hurt» and a «bad hurt» is.
When it comes to foot massage, it even gets more inconsistent. Lately I have had a guy named «Ivan» massage my feet. He is simply excellent. My whole body feels relaxed after his foot massage. But sometimes I also have gotten a guy my brother calls «Ding-​Dong» who seems to take pleasure in inflicting pain, not massaging muscles, but massaging your bones. My feet have left with bruises. It hurts. Good luck. Going here is a coin toss… hope you get lucky and get the right masseuse/​masseur.

We all enjoy getting massages, right? But not all of us can afford $ 80 each time we want one. Enter Natural World Spa.
I came here out of desperation today. My shoulders and back were killing me and I needed a good massage asap. I read in reviews a «foot massage» is really more like a full body massage so I opted for that. The sign outside said $ 25/​hr but she charged me $ 20.
I was very pleasantly surprised by the experience. They first give you hot water to soak your feet in then start massaging your head, shoulders, arms and hands. Then they work on your feet for a long time. After that I though it was over but there was more! They then lay you down on your stomach and go back to your head and shoulders and start stretching your back and legs… ahh, it felt great!!! The pressure was perfect and the masseuse checked in with me a couple times which was nice.
Yes he did get up a few times to get a hot towel or talk to someone but honestly I did not mind because it gave me a chance to relax in between body parts and kind of catch my breath before moving on. My only complaint would be the noise level. People should be asked to speak in low voices at spas but here people talk loudly and its really annoying when you’re trying to relax. Staff should only whisper to one another and should ask people to keep their voices down, especially because the foot massages are done in a group room.
When it came time to pay I knew from reading reviews tipping was a big deal. And I did notice my masseuse waiting by the reception area but I didn’t have cash so I tipped $ 10 on my credit card. They can’t force you to tip any amount so just dont feel pressured or offended if they ask. Tip whatever you want and enjoy the fact you’re getting a quality massage for CHEAP.
PS– I found it super convenient that I didn’t need an appointment. I live close by and its awesome to just walk over any time I need. I will be coming back again!