Thai Lotus Bodywork South Loop — Local services in Chicago

This was my first experience with Thai Lotus. I write this review in the spirit of providing info on my experience that may influence your choice. First, The facility is nice enough, clean, warm and inviting. When I arrived I was greeted pleasantly by my practitioner and directed to the room. There are a few concerns that I have 1) Typically a massage establishment asks you to fill out forms regarding your medical history, emergency contacts, etc. This did not occur. 2) I didn’t see any evidence of formal training or certifications. I am sure they must be licenesd appropriately by the State of Illinois and the City of Chicago, but nothing that spoke to the skills of the the technicians/practitioners 3) This is NOT traditional Thai massage. I have had those services in Asia, as well as in real Thai massage places around Illinois and Arizona. So if you are seeking Thai massage this may not be the place for you. In fairness to the establishment I don’t think the website purports to be such. I read the name and the mention of stretching through my own lens. Not their fault. This is basically Swedish massage with a little bit of stretching. Now I consider myself to be a spa baby meaning I love therapists who read your body and adjust accordingly. The service I received was more workmanlike and performative meaning 10 strokes here, 10 strokes there—NEXT. It was hard for me to relax because the pressure was way too intense. Again, on balance when I said ouch the therapist immediately adjusted. In fact, more than a week later I have an issue with my neck induced by the therapy. I doubt these folks have studied anatomy, neurological connections etc. They are nice enough people (even give you cookies and tea!) but I wouldn’t go back. I’d rather pay a bit more for a more skilled and competent practitioner. If you are looking for a good rubdown this might be the...

Okay so the one critique i have is - I wish they had those quick forms for you to fill out on what's off limits/your preferences etc. However, I'm sure you could ask your masseuse directly any questions/requests you have!

Other than that, I had a fantastic experience with Bella. Always speak up if the pressure isn't to your taste, if you need water, etc. Everyone I encountered was very friendly. I was still able to relax even with a literal jackhammer outside (out of their control obviously, and speaks to the comfortable environment provided).

If you're in the area, highly recommend.

For my friends who are apprehensive about new experiences, hit the buzzer to be let in shortly, walk up to the second floor, open the door to the entrance, & they tend to ask you to remove your shoes upon entry (I arrived 15 minutes early and brought a book to give peace of mind as oppposed to scrolling through my phone). Once you enter the individual room, they'll say to keep your underwear on, put your belongings in a cubbie/on an empty shelf, and get under the sheet provided face-down, if you have longer hair - tie it up, then just breathe slowly and deeply. Recommend being hydrated, having eaten something 1-2 hrs prior (my stomach was growling so I'll eat more next time), not having too much caffeine, and allowing yourself to be mindless.

Additionally, the appointment confirmation text will arrive the day before. In my only experience, there's a deal if you pay cash. I tipped on the original price, and upon asking the name of my masseuse, I received a hole-punch card that allows for a free 30 minutes after the 4th massage. You can request the same masseuse through text.

Will be coming back! Hope...

Unfortunately this one wasn't for me. Pros: -staff is VERY nice and welcoming. relatively cheap for Chicago warm towels wipe each body part after using the oil means I could go before/after work without feeling oily afterward. -they wipe your feet with a baby wipe, which I thought was a nice touch. atmosphere was nice (and I liked their music), though you can ear the bar downstairs blaring it's country songs sometimes

Cons: my massage was very rough, even after i started by stating I wanted something more light and relaxing, and asking on multiple occasions for less pressure. I think the main issue (in hindsight) was that he was going too fast and was too focused on specific areas instead of varying to a different type of movement or adjacent area after a few strokes of the same movement. In the end, it felt kind of like a burn and I wasn't able to relax. on multiple occasions (4-6 during the 1h massage) he switched to one hand only for about 1-2min and the massage felt very "unengaged" as if he was not paying attention at all. Not sure if he was distracted, checking his phone for time or something else

All in all, it's a shame, the guy was very nice and clearly wanted me to have a good time when I arrived, but it just was a painful experience and I came out more stressed than in. I think this place is more suited to you if you like rough and more aggressive type of massage. Will...