Cranston Medi-Spa...Did it really happen?

I have been looking over my past postings lately, and I have started to think..."Maybe I am too easy going with my appraisal of other therapists.. I mean, they have all been decent massages, and maybe I can't find those horrible experiences that I have heard of from friends and family..."  I think I spoke too soon.

At the school where I instruct Massage Therapy (MH Vicars School of Massage Therapy), we have a Massage assignment that we have all of our 1st year students complete. The assignment is simple; go out and have a session from a professional Registered Massage Therapist, and analyze what you liked, disliked and observe their general practices.  It is always interesting to have the discussion with the whole class the next time we are together, and hear about each individual experience, and what the students noticed. Most of the time it is the cleanliness of the room, the demeanor of the receptionist, the throughness of the therapist (in both the interview/assessment and the treatment), and the overall feeling of the experience. Something that I try to accomplish with my massage assignment/blog.  This was definitely a disspointment overall at the Cranston Medi-Spa.

I arrived for my afternoon appointment at the Cranston Medi-Spa, and was shown to a nice little consultation room to fill out my questionnaire. I was a little confused to receive 4 pieces of paper, single sided and each one laminated. I was then told that the clinic was trying to be a paper-free facility, and that my health history would be scanned into the computer. Alright... I get the environmentally-friendly feeling, but this is my personal health history.. just seemed a bit odd. Anyways, I finished my form and handed it in to the receptionist. Now, I know that my therapist did not have time to review my chart on the computer, instead just reviewed it at the front desk, and then returned it to the receptionist, and then promptly came to retrieve me for my session. 

As we walked a short way down the hallway, we arrived at her massage room. What then happened truly shocked and disgusted me. I was then given a brief verbal assessment, about my health history, and some personal items that I had written on the health history, aloud, while the treatment room was ajar. Now, I know that it was not a busy afternoon, and I doubt that there were many other therapists working at the same time, however... We had only walked 10 steps to her room from the reception area, and the information that she was questioning me about, was of a very personal nature. I tried to keep my voice down to minimize the potential of others hearing, but it did not seem of concern to my therapist. And despite her inappropriate questions, I noticed that she did not really ask any valuable questions regarding my health history or previous ailments or conditions. Quite vague of an assessment overall. I was then asked what I wanted to have worked on, and I proceeded to say that I had had quite a stressful weekend and day, and that I would greatly appreciate a relaxation massage, however, if she found an area that needed some extra attention, that she could spend a little extra time there as well.  That seem to also be a mistake.

I was left alone to get onto the table, and once she returned, she began by massaging the back of my legs. Now, during this initial massage time, we chatted a bit, and I learned some interesting details. First off, when I had initially booked my massage, I had inquired to the receptionist which therapist of theirs was trained with 2200 hours of education. I have been informed that all of their therapists were 2200 hour therapists, and that it should not be a problem. However...... during my session, my therapist informed me that she was a 2nd year student at CDI college, and would be graduating in August.  I get it. Clinics and Spas want to have student in their spaces to help the students out, get them practical hours and to build their businesses. But flat out lying to the public that these therapists are 2200 hour therapists is wrong. If the spa had told me that they had a couple of massage therapy students who were about to finish their second year, this would have been fine. I could have worked with that. But to have the receptionist say one thing, and the therapist to say another is not good business practices.

I really want to emphasize at this point in my posting, that I am not against any student who has attended CDI college. This assessment of this therapist's massage is just that. An assessment of what she did during our hour long session. I am sure that there are many great therapists that have graduated from this educational facility, but I have yet to see such evidence in my research.

In Massage Therapy, there are certain principles that are taught in regards to technique and theory. One of these principles is to always massage in a centripetal direction (towards the heart). There are certain techniques that are used that may bend this principle, a bit, but overall you should always start and finish an area with this principle in mind. This was not the case with my therapist.  All throughout the session, I was constantly having massage techniques being performed in the complete opposite direction, and with quite some force. There were a lot of techniques on my neck done while constantly moving fluid and pressure from the base of my neck towards my skull. Not really pleasant of a move.

My therapist also seemed to have trouble with depth control. I informed her several times that her depth was too deep, but it did not seem to change much. It was lessened initially, and then the depth resumed. Not so great, since I had just injured my back last week (which had been treated and resolved) , and was REALLY hoping for just a relaxation massage... no strong desire for therapeutic.
The treatment room had quite thin walls, and it was quite easy to hear the receptionist on the phone down the hall, and people out in the waiting talking.

At the end of my massage, which seemed like the hour had withered away, I was given a bottle of water, and told to meet her out at the front desk. There was no homecare recommendations, no suggestions of hot or cold therapy (should I be in discomfort from the techniques performed) or any recommendation for my next session.

I paid for my session and left, secretly wondering if they were serious about asking if I wanted to tip my therapist (and all I could think of was.. watch your depth, massage towards the heart, actually read your client's health history, assess your client - even generally ect..)

I had really hoped for more from my appointment, and after a short drive home, kept wondering if I had actually experienced the massage. What I mean is, I did not feel as if I had had a massage and I was not really relaxed.  Quite disappointing!!

Although the majority of the session's disappointment came from the therapist, the clinical space was clean and organized, but lacked a lot of relaxing qualities. The room felt quite sterile, bare and again... thin, thin walls.

Not my first choice, and will not be one of my referral spots in the area, which is quite unfortunate, as I refer a lot to clinics in the south, and was hoping to refer in Cranston (my home based community).

Cranston Market Medi-Spa
(403) 724-0224
www.myonlineappointment.com/cranstonmarketmedispa/