Massage Zen — Local services in San Jose

This is very much no frills. And that’s ok sometimes if it’s what you’re looking for. I just needed a last minute massage. However, the price point does not match as much. I got a significant discount booking through Classpass but I wouldn’t pay the full price otherwise when I can get a higher caliber / experience for the same price.

Massage: I have no complaints about the massage itself. However, there was no intake- straight to the room and just started massaging. Only about 2-5 mins in was I asked about preferred pressure. Only about 15 mins in was I asked about areas of focus. I get massages a lot so I can gauge time left: at one point I had to remind her for a full body to please address my legs. She responded “oh! Yea!”

Noise: people come to a massage for calm. The heavy walking around the room, bumping into things, slamming the towel warmer door every time was not ok. At one point I believe she forgot something outside the room but she left the door open and was speaking loudly to her coworker. When she came back I still had to ask her to close the door completely. You know, I’m naked and all…

Conversation: I usually don’t like to talk or be talked to during my massage. Generally they eventually get the hint. As I arrived and getting ready comments were made on my hair in interest, that’s ok. But 40 mins in she couldn’t help but blurt out “are you from Africa?” Please educate me if I’m wrong, but do my fellow white or other massage folks get “are you from Europe [Spain, Mexico, South America, etc]?” during their massage? I...

Two of us went together this evening for the first time. They took us promptly, and the place was reasonably clean. But they’re advertising of $110 for 60 minute massage with a 30% discount is misleading – as their 60 minute massage is always $70. So there was that. They put us in the same room, so that was good. The background music seemed to be in some kind of endless loop and 15 minutes into it, I was tired of hearing the same tinkle tinkle of the piano music in the background. But I think the worst part about this massage was how lame the massage was itself. The massage therapist didn’t seem like she knew what she was doing. She rubbed my skin like she was frosting a cake: smooth forward, smooth back, smooth forward, smooth back - all in the same place over and over and over again. There really wasn’t any “massaging”. It was all just swirling and smoothing on the top of the skin. While I didn’t leave this place any worse off then when I went in, neither did I leave any better off. Because it cost $70, I guess I am worse off! I don’t recommend Massage Zen, and I’m going to find somewhere where they know what they’re doing...

I got the full body essential oil massage through ClassPass and my therapist was Rose. This was an absolutely amazing and relaxing experience after a long day at work! The price is also reasonable, so I would definitely come back outside of ClassPass too.

Rose was very thorough and I was impressed by her consistency throughout the session. She also gave me a head massage which I wasn’t expecting. I loved the hot stones and oil massage. Can’t wait...