Zrelax on Union Inc. — Attraction in New York

I have been coming to Z Relax pretty regularly for over 5 years now (time flies). They are one of the best walk-in massage clinics that I’ve been to in NYC, and believe me, I’ve tried out A LOT of places. The staff is consistently well trained and I’ve never left dissatisfied with my massage, which is something I can’t say about other places ¯(ツ)/¯

I’m an acupuncturist, so I know that massage not only helps with muscle tension, but it also has other health benefits, such as lymphatic drainage. I credit the staff at Z Relax with keeping my immune system strong in the winter. Whenever I have a headache that lasts more than 24 hours, I go to them and they help me get rid of it. And most importantly, as someone who exercises 4-6 days a week, being able to get regular body work is crucial to helping me maintain a consistent workout schedule.

The prices at Z Relax are fair, so I can actually afford to come in on a semi regular basis instead of once every month or so. Definitely check this place out if you’re looking for a high quality yet affordable massage, or if you’re curious about receiving body work and want to skip the process of finding a legit place in a sea of mediocre parlors in NYC. Trust me, Z Relax is the...

I love this place. I’ve truly had some of the best massages of my life here, despite having gotten official sports massages before. The people are kind, and they do a great job of doing deep tissue massages (if that’s what you ask for, they don’t have to if you don’t want to). Cici and Helen are both excellent, I’ve been going with Cici for a long time—she’s friendly, is very strong and does a great job. Helen knows a lot about pain points as well, especially for anyone who has pain from strength training. Additionally, the prices are fair. Don’t let the small size of the establishment put you off—this is New York City! Yes, it’s a small space, and yes you don’t have your own room (rather, there are dividers to provide full privacy), but they keep it clean, professional, and quiet. They work hard, and truly want to do good job (they’ve often checked in and asked if the massage was too hard or too soft). Something I recommend for everyone in general: don’t be afraid to speak up before the massage begins and tell them what you want / where you have pain! They can’t read your mind. Let them know what you want and I’m certain they’ll do a great job. I’m going to come here for as long as I...

I initially thought this place was great. Over time, my opinion changed drastically.

I went here for two years, on average once every two to three months and sometimes once/week. And after a stomp-on-my-back to the point where my back still hurts four weeks later experience and two disrespectful/greedy tip experiences, never ever again, and you should think twice.

I am not giving 1-star because it feels dramatic. There were good moments and authentic smiley, happy interactions. But more memorably, zero-star moments that I would never wish on anyone.

:::To anyone planning on going here::: Do not expect a consistent experience. Do not let them bully you into tipping more than you feel is appropriate. Request that they massage you with their hands, not stand on your back. Go early in the day if you can, the quality dips later in the day.

:::To Z Relax::: Stop telling people who tip 20% to tip more, AND DO NOT PRESS THE 25% TIP BUTTON AFTER I SELECT THE 20% BUTTON AND HAND THE CARD READER BACK TO YOU.

It seems so silly I need to correct this greedy, predatory behavior. You...