A Massage after Shopping (“Aiko Health Spa” @ Tanglin Road) April 14, 2009

This spa is located in the midst of a shopping centre. It has the claim of relaxing your mind and body in a cosy ambience. You will be able to treat yourself with a wide range of their services. Their body massages are provided in individual rooms with shower attached.

Some other facilities include steambath, sauna, jacuzzi and a coffee lounge. If you like to, you may also opt to relax yourself at the Theatre Room and have a go at the mini buffett with some light refreshments. The operation hours are between 10am till 11pm.

Skillful Massage? (“Skill Massage Centre” @ Orchard Towers) April 13, 2009

The shop’s outlet name is “Skill Massage Centre” and that makes one ponder how skillful are their masseuse? It claims to be newly opened and has a promotion that is $42 an hour. This is located at Orchard Towers and they offer Aromatherapy, Swedish Massage, Shiatsu Massage and Thai Massage.

Australian? (“Solid Gold Coast Health Centre” @ West Coast) April 7, 2009

No Australians sighted…although this place is named Solid Gold Coast. It was a tough day at work rushing out proposals and indeed relaxing just to drop by a massage place after all those tiring rush.

The outlet comprise of steam & sauna, jacuzzi, large screen TV lounge and also a coffee place. No worries about carpark as there’s ample space, moreover, if you come after 5pm, its free parking. Their business hours are till 11pm and open from Mon-Sat.  In this line of business, I came to understand that many of these outlets are seeking masseuses regularly given the high turnover rate. And chanced upon knowing that this outlet is also looking for more masseuses.

As greeted upfront at the reception, I was shown to my room but prior to that, I took a quick sauna session. In the private room of mine, my masseuse appeared soon after. The massage session was a comfortable one as she rubbed my body of work pressures away and soothe the fatigue away. Going in circular motions, she used the back of her palms to massage my shoulders with adequate force. This is a simple but yet effective technique coupled with those gentle hands of my masseuse.

The session ended on the dot and I proceeded forward with some light snacks and drinks at the coffee lounge. The whole ambience was light hearted and pretty much relaxing.

Local Chinese Girl (Kelly’s Spa @ Guillemard Rd) April 6, 2009

It was formerly known as Kelly Wellness Massage but had since changed its name to simply Kelly’s Spa. The location is at a quiet shopping centre some distance away from Paya Lebar MRT. And the owner is quite particular about making appointments in advance.

The emphasis of this outlet is that their masseuse is local Chinese girls and not of those from China.

Upon making my appointment through the phone, I arrived pretty much on the dot. A local Chinese girl greeted me and shortly without striking up much of a conversation, we proceeded on to a good hard massage. The strength used was quite solid and hand techniques used were firm on the body. This is suitable for those who like it hard especially the part when she grinds her knuckles on your back.

Sweating Out in Spa Centre (“Royal Classic Spa” @ West Coast Recreation Centre) March 24, 2009

It would have been more appropriate if this spa centre provides sports massage. Why? It is just located next to the stadium…how convenient it would have been if you needed a sports massage due to an injury and you could get it just right there!

Royal Classic Spa is has a cosy massage room to begin with and I learnt that there’s Wifi access too, great for people like me who is unable to detach away from the internet. I had my complimentary drink before proceeding to use some of their facilities like steam and sauna.

My massage took place as soon as I had enough of my steam and sauna. I requested for my lower half of body to be massaged. She concentrated on my calf and gave my pair of tired legs a good rub. As her tender touch nimble my legs, it relieves those tensed muscles that was accumulated through my 2 hour run at the stadium…yesterday.

Should I come to the stadium in the future, I am pretty sure I will get myself the massage nearby.

A Japanese Experience (“Elegance Health Spa” @ Japanese Garden) March 23, 2009

Fancy having a Japanese massage in Singapore? That will definitely going to be costly but at least there’s a place for a nice massage at Japanese Garden Rd…and it is economical.

The business hours are till 11pm at night and I went there just an hour before their closing time. Parking is free over there. I came a bit late to understand from them that there’s a special promotion should you go during the off peak hours from 11am – 5pm period. But since I am there, and it is still highly affordable even without the promo, why not?

I was led to my room by my masseuse whom had this charming smile on her that seems to brighten up the night for me. I got to know that she was at a very young age and started as a masseuse just a few months ago. But it was soon that I got to feel her massage techniques were pretty good even though she hasn’t had years of experience doing this.

The rub off my back was good and firm with constant kneading and I can feel that she is very hardworking…on my tired back. She used the back of her hands to ‘roll’ around in circular motions and it was nice to have her tender hands squeeze the pressures off my shoulders.

The whole session ended promptly on the dot and it was also time for the ladies at the spa centre to knock off work. Sayonara for both me and the ladies for the night.

Watching Balls! (“Sasha Spa” @ Selegie Rd) March 17, 2009

There was this special promotion going on that says with every group of 4 friends, there will be 1 free massage. So who will be the one getting this free massage? Obviously there are two ways, splitting the costs evenly or…the one who knows about this free massage.

Well, in this case, all four of us know about it! The 4 of us went on a Saturday evening together for this massage session and I chose the Swedish massage. We were rushing for time, reason being we understand there was a theatre room for us to catch our EPL soccer games on their cable channel.

I was showed my into my room and was followed up by my masseuse soon. She was gentle looking and I on first appearance, I wanted to ask her to give me a hard massage…a solid one to relief my uptight muscles. Yes, I did ask her to put in strength but yes, I did get it in return too. She really did have some powerful strength given her body size and gentle appearance.

The grinding motion of the back of her palms were especially soothing when she goes back and forth my shoulders. The smooth transition from the massaging of my upper body to the lower body was simply a pleasure when she kneaded my calf with the precise strength needed for me to enjoy the massage.

The session was well over within the specific time limit and my friends met up together at the theatre room. During half-time, we still got the luxury of having a quick soak at the jacuzzi. The evening spent there was really just a relaxing one.

Spa by the Beach (“Spa Cabana” @ East Coast Park) March 16, 2009

It always sounds nice to tell someone that you are going to have a spa or massage by the beach in Singapore. Yes it is truth in this sense, but only not exactly By The Beach….it is Near The Beach.

There’s this outlet at East Coast Park (ECP) , Spa Cabana. I know of this place through a fellow friend’s recommendation and I thought it will be nice to drop by as I go ECP pretty often to relax by the beach.

It is relatively affordable and there are several free facilities such as the refreshment, body scrub and also jacuzzi usage. And yes, the carpark at ECP is free too.

I tried their Thai massage and was greeted by a local masseuse in my room. She had a pretty smile worn on her as she greeted me with her palm closed like how a Thai will greet you. I specifically told her of my sore neck and wanted her to relief the pain I had accumulated over the past week through hours staring at the computer. She was kind enough to show me what level of strength she used from light to heavy and asked my preferences.

As her warm palms cuddle and massaged the neck muscles, it was really so relaxing to the extent that it felt absolutely nice to just simply doze off. After my request on the neck portion, she proceeded on with the standard Thai massage routine of “body twisting”. My back was thoroughly stretched and I can hear myself release a comfortable…”ah…”

Hotel Massage (“Shing Health Spa” @ Kitchener Rd) March 3, 2009

Just like the previous post, this outlet is also located in a hotel…but a much smaller budgeted one. I don’t remember in the past seeing many spa nor massage outlets are in Singapore hotels. But now, it seems that the trend has caught on for this. I used to engage in massage services at the hotel in China during my business trips. It is always nice to have one when you are overseas and feel tired from all those hectic runs.

I did not call to make any appointment with Shing Health Spa as it was an impromptu decision to just pop by. Fortunately, there was a masseuse available for me at the moment I stepped in. In fact, if I were to be late by a minute, I will have to wait as there was another guy who just walked in too.

In an individual room, I went for my shower before engaging in the relaxing process of a Swedish massage. It is by far one of the more common type of massage Singaporeans will opt for. The constant kneading of my shoulder blade area was especially nice. My masseuse seem to form a rhythm as she patted my back. The glide of her hands from the top all the way to the bottom at my calf area…kinda depict the smooth transition from my previous work stress state to the current total relaxed state.