Brooklyn N Wellness 1 - 4th Avenue — Local services in New York

I will start by saying that this establishment is very clean and the environment is serene and the individual at the front desk is very kind. However, I think it’s really important to note that the massages done here are HARD, and there does not appear to be a way to communicate you would like otherwise.

I was drawn here because of the pricing and reviews, and was honestly surprised by the experience I had considering all the good reviews. Maybe it was a one-off or just the masseuse I had, but I feel it’s worth sharing for others to be aware of what their experience could be.

I am not sure of the name of the woman who provided my massage as she did not introduce herself, but I unfortunately would not recommend her if you are looking for relaxation. As others have said there is not much English spoken here outside of the receptionist, and I believe the language barrier proved to be an issue during my massage. I’ve had my fair share and know what routines and pressure is typical and also what I enjoy. This massage wasn’t just unenjoyable but painful. I tried multiple times to express I would like lighter pressure, but it seemed the masseuse did not understand what I was asking. She would ask “softer?” to clarify and I would say yes. She would use lighter pressure for maybe 15 seconds, and then immediately go back to extremely hard pressure - also ignoring my obvious signs of physical discomfort such as squirming beneath her, asking for breaks, and white knuckling the table. It took extreme effort not to cry out in pain during this massage, and I developed bruises and was sore for 3 days after the treatment which has never happened to me before. In addition to the pain, the massage had no obvious flow to it and seemed random with some areas being skipped entirely (shoulders and arms) while others were worked on excessively (my actual tailbone and glutes). At one point the masseuse started massaging my sinuses and ears without even asking. It felt she was just making stuff up as she went along in order to fill the time. Ultimately, the massage was far from relaxing, preferences were ignored, and I was relieved when it was over.

If extremely hard massages are what you are looking for then you will enjoy this place, but otherwise I would unfortunately not...

A massage parlor that punches way above its weight. It's not as luxurious as a spa, but it's new and clean, which gives it a better ambiance than anything I've seen in this price range.

The masseuse kept both hands on my body, and never got her phone out. She never jabbed me in the spine or any other bony area. She rubbed my arms and legs without disturbing my body hair and making me beg for more oil.

Whenever I try a new place, I always start with an hour (full-body) as a hedge against those people who will rub your shoulder until you're bored out of your mind. I wanted more time here.

In part that's because it was a well valued massage, but it was also an issue with the pacing. She spent an inordinate amount of time "warming me up" through the towel, so by the time the oil came out, the massage was already half over. I really wanted some calf work, but it felt like my arms and legs only got a couple minutes each. Next time, I'll definitely ask for more time on the oil portion.

Note: Except for the teenager at the front desk, there's not much English...

My massage was excellent once I got one, but I had to fight to get one and to get one that wasn't making my situation worse. The first person assigned to me ignored my telling him what to avoid and was causing me spasms. Yet I had to be extremely assertive to get him to stop. The owner then came and explained that the therapist doesn't speak English. I replied that they have to at least be able to understand someone telling them to stop and where to focus their efforts. I felt like he wasn't really listening; he just kept laughing and saying 'okay, okay' and I finally just said, "You can understand English, but you're not actually listening" and he finally listened. He then brought in another therapist who was more responsive, and I had a great massage. Other things to be aware of: there are no private rooms, just little cubicles with curtains. I was repeatedly walked in on while changing, and during the massage, the owner ducked his head in and asked if it was okay. He wouldn't leave until I responded. This felt jarring and...