J Madison Spa — Local services in Kingston

Had my first visit to J. Madison and overall my experience was positive. I am by no means a "spa expert" and so take my review for what its worth. I will compare J. Madison to the Woodhouse which is next store. I visited Woodhouse two weeks ago and J. Madison this week, both for a sweetish massage. I'll base my review on the pre-massage and then the actual massage itself. J. Madison vs. Woodhouse pre massage. They both are on busy wyoming ave. Upon entering J. Madison, the two gals at the front desk were pleasant and inviting. Woodhouse was also pleasant but more "business like"...splitting hairs here..the gals at J. Madison were just a bit more outgoing and friendly. Woodhouse waiting area is more "spa like". J. Madison was not bad however I would recommend having relaxing spa music played int he waiting area...to get in a relaxing mood. The street traffic was loud and if there was inviting music being played in the waiting area...it would set the mood. Woodhouse wins in this area...very relaxing area before the actual massage and street traffic could not be heard. After completing a client form at both...I was escorted up stairs. Woodhouse has a better locker area that is separate from the toilet area. J. Madison locker and toilet area is combined into one space. Also, Woodhouse locker felt like it was ready for just me. They had one rope hanging and slippers for a man. J. Madison had 6 or 7 robes hanging all in one area and the one issue is that all the slippers were closed inside the robes. I picked one...opened it up...ladies slippers...chose another...same thing...I ended up putting on what was probably a size 7 ladies slipper because I did not want to open up each robe that was tied closed in order to find a robe that had slippers for a man inside. You could not see that unless you untied each robe. Not a big deal...just an observation that if I owned J. Madison I would make an adjustment with that presentation. Also, Woodhouse had combs and hair gel/moose in the bathroom area. This was very helpful because after a long massage at both places, the therapists at both places did an awesome job on the head/scalp area and my hair that already had gel in it...made it looked like I had serious "bed head"when It was over. Woodhouse must be aware of this and had sterile combs there to use along with hair moose to fix the hair... If I was heading back to the office after J. Madison, it would have been an issue as I had no way of fixing a messy head of hair. That attention to detail by Woodhouse was a nice touch. I would encourage J. Madison to make this very easy fix for the client. One other thing to mention, when I left the locker area at J. Madison to look for the therapist, I stumbled onto a storage room and employee break room since that door was wide open. That room is obviously not for a client to see as it looks like what it is...a storage and or break room. That door should be kept closed...it takes from that relaxing spa atmosphere that I think clients look for. Its like seeing a messy kitchen for a high end restaurant....just don't want to see that and I am sure it was not for me to see....the door was just left wide open. Again, its that attention to detail. Overall...I feel like Woodhouse won the "pre-massage"experience but its not a major issue...just something I think J. Madison should be made aware of. The actual massage: J. Madison vs Woodhouse. First let me say, I think both were really good. I also understand that each therapist has their own technique...like a snowflake...no two are alike. If I had to pick on the actual massage...I am leaning toward J. Madison on this particular day. I had Nichole at Woodhouse and she was really good....I had Jolene at J. Madison and she was really good too...maybe just a tad better. But one MAJOR ISSUE I had with J. Madison is that when the actual massage started....(continued on next review...running...

(continued from last review post. I looked at the clock in the room at it read 9:03...I paid for a 120 min (2hr) and when it was over, the clock was covered by 2 small massage oil bottles...I moved one at it read 11:58. I was cut short exactly 5 min. That was not cool. One thing I liked about J. Madison is that they offed a 2hr massage...Woodhouse offers a 1hr 50 min and for the extra 10 minutes at J. Madison, it only cost $10 more. The main reason why I tried both places out within a week of each other is that I want to find a place that I can join their monthly membership. The other differences I mentioned (see previous review) were not "deal breakers" but being shortchanged 5 min was not cool. And I gave a 55% tip because the actual massage was very good...but getting shortchanged that 5 min makes me want to think twice about starting a monthly membership. (why did I tip so well?) Also, when I booked at J. Madison I told them I was testing them next to Woodhouse and I was going to pick one for a monthly membership. With that in mind, I was told I would be getting Bianca...and she was one of their best. When I got there...I got someone else. However, Jolene was good...I was just expecting someone else based upon what they indicated when I booked it. To the owners of both Woodhouse and J. Madison...in the spa world...I would think attention to detail is critical. No small think should be left to chance. Overall...I think Woodhouse wins my personal test...but not by much. The better overall "spa experience and atmosphere. The extra 5 min paid for at J. Madison and not received (as indicated by their own clock in the room) just rubs me the wrong way (no pun intended). To the owners of Woodhouse....please consider a 2 hr message max instead of 1hr 50 min...I'd pay the extra money and you would match the 2hr J. Madison offers and your attention to detail has the overall edge. If J. Madison made some minor changes...and they gave what I paid for...I would probably consider them first. They just need to do a better job at doing what they say, tweaking the process (see previous review) and giving the client what...

This was my first time at this spa I usually go to The Woodhouse and this spa was nothing compared to the Woodhouse in many ways. I go up to the desk to check in and the receptionist didn’t even offer to take my jacket. After that I went up stairs and it was loud, it’s suppose to be relaxing and I couldn’t believe how loud the workers spoke. Then I went into the bathroom to change, not a locker room. The worker asked if I wanted to change into a rope, obviously I am getting a massage, I picked out my own robe from the bathroom and you can tell they’re very old, not soft at all and I had to dig through slippers to find ones for myself. Since they never asked to take my jacket I had to use two lockers because they were so small. Then I went into the “relax room” with a client on her cellphone eating a bag of chips or something ... it wasn’t very relaxing. Then a worker comes in to ask them how they are and not quiet and calm... it was as if we were not in a relaxed setting (very unprofessional) then I go in to get my massage and the room was very bright, I had to ask to have some of the lights turned off. I went to lay on the table and they seemed so cheap it literally moved ... when my massage started I wasn’t even offered an eye mask to relax me while I was receiving my massage & he didn’t even have me inhale essential oils to relax me. The massage was good but the atmosphere here was definitely not enjoyable at all. I wish I could say I would come here again since I know people who come here but I will not be coming here again I am going to continue my business at...