Union Square Stress Reduction Center

My girlfriend and I enjoyed a foot massage her a few months ago and now that I’m back in town my daughter and I were interested in the same enjoyable experience… well, apparently being rude and straight up discriminating against thirteen year old girls is the business union square stress reduction center is in. Can’t have that.

Unilocalers! Calm down. There is nothing dodgy or dicey about this place. No, they are not doing happy endings and it’s clearly posted. This is your average Chinese massage joint, better than most I frequent in NYC.
I am a massage therapist with a biz on Unilocal and get a lot of massage. I had just arrived in my hometown of SF and was looking everywhere for a massage. The thing about Chinese shops, you can always get in.
This is not your Swedish aromatherapy day spa, this is Asian style «we got elbows and we’re gonna use em».
My therapist, Lina, (I think) was skilled enough for what I needed. I got a 30 min back massage to address a locked up trapezius. She got the blood flowing again and I am out of pain.
Nothing to worry about here, solid massage for a good price. If you want to be pampered go somewhere else. If you want to be massaged strongly with a smile, get in here.

I walk by this place all the time going to work and read the sign $ 25 for a 30mn massage. It was 30mns of torture, someone just scratching me, being ruff with my feet and there was not one relaxing thing about it. She knew nothing about massage or even pressure points. Did I mention she finished off the foot massage by punching my feet and legs.

This place is totally sketch, and while I just had a foot massage, I can see how a happy ending might be normal for the men’s massage.
The décor is awful. It’s actually stress-​inducing. Reflexology is done in the «lobby» area, and while I was sitting there, I enjoyed the sounds of someone cleaning the floors, lots of yelling in the break room, and another woman talking on her phone out in the stairwell (immediately in front of me). It was awkward & uncomfortable.
The woman who did my massage was very kind & nice, but I’m not sure it was really reflexology. It felt more like someone just rubbing my feet for 30 minutes. Not the worst thing, but I’ll skip this experience next time I’m in town.

Went back to this place for the first time in a couple of years. I think it’s pretty solid.
What’s with the $$$$? This place is super cheap. $ 45 for a 1 hour massage. Someone made a mistake.
My massage was very good this time. She focused on areas I asked her to, she didn’t use the elbow too much, she didn’t just rub over and over… it was pretty good. Not mindblowing, but you can’t expect mindblowing for $ 45.
This is not a spa. The ambiance is not great. The rooms are fine, but you can definitely hear some noise from outside the room. I had no problem still relaxing and almost falling asleep.
A couple of weird things to note —
They didn’t have me fill out anything and they didn’t ask me about any injuries or areas of focus. I had to bring that up myself.
The therapist talked to me while she did the facial massage at the end. I’m getting a massage. I don’t want to talk to you while i’m relaxing. Talk to me before. Like you should have done anyway.
I’ll be going back when I can’t afford my regular (mindblowing but more expensive) therapist.

I was a little timid about coming here after reading about some of the experiences others had. But I for Xmas last year my office gifted me with a certificate good for a half hour chair reflexology session, and I had pulled something in my back at the gym earlier in the week. So I took the plunge.
Making an appointment was weird. I called the number listed and no one picked up after several rings. I hung up, and about a minute later I received a call from the same number. The person on the other end did not identify herself nor say she was with the business I called, so I said «Hi, I called to make an appointment at the Stress Reduction Center.» From then on it was business as usual. But weird.
My appointment was for 2pm on a Tuesday. The building is right across from Banana Republic on Sutter, and up on the top floor. It’s very minimal inside, with a reception desk in the waiting room and the reflexology chair right there on the other side of a wicker screen.
Fortunately there was no one in a string bikini when I walked in and everything looked normal. My masseuse came out in a polo shirt and instructed me to sit in the chair, and went right to work. There was a lot of random rubbing and buffing (like Mr. Miyagi’s wax-​on wax-​off) and then of course the chop chop slap slap. I’m not sure if this was a licensed therapist, but whatever. She did dig into my shoulders with her elbows and I did walk out feeling better than when I went in.
I don’t know if I’d go back because the prices are similar to Breakpoint Massage in the Crocker Galleria, which is far far far superior. But if you were worried about getting a happy ending, just visit during the day and be sure to bring a gift certificate.

Tetty, your experience sounds a lot like mine. I will NEVER EVER go back to this place. I’m shocked that it hasn’t been shut down. This is definitely a sleazy place where happy endings are definitely on offer.
I went in to the place and the owner made me pay upfront which I thought odd, i didn’t offer a tip as I hadn’t received my foot rub at that point. I was then asked if I wanted to sit in the reception area for my foot massage. I thought this would be uncomfortable with people walking in and out so I said that I’d prefer to go into one of the private rooms. That was a HUGE mistake! This was not a relaxing experience at all as the guy in the next room was moaning «oh baby, oh baby» over and over. Then the guy in the room next door and the masseuse start whispering, though not quietly enough as I heard him offer her $ 100 for 10 more mins. He then said «you understand right…$ 100…you understand… I’ll give you $ 100.$ 100…let’s go baby».
I opened my eyes at this point and my masseuse just laughed and then proceeded to call over to her colleague in the room next door. I’m not sure what she said as she spoke Chinese but I suspect it was something along the lines of «ugh we can hear your conversation, keep it down».
I couldn’t wait to leave. The massage was terrible and the whole experience incredibly uncomfortable. The owner saw me leave without tipping and got angry saying i should leave a tip. At this point I was a little scared, so said I’d give a tip on my credit card (I had no cash on me). She said no and that the masseuse would escort me to a cash point. I went to the 7eleven down the street. The masseuse walked sheepishly behind me down the street and waited outside until i came out and gave her the cash tip.
Ladies, avoid this place like the plague, it’s truly awful!!!

Great place to stop in for a massage.

Great foot massage! Worth the 4 stars alone!!! But there is no ambiance what so ever, but I’ll trade it for that amazing massage! It kinda hurt so good.

After lots of cobblestone walking days in Europe, my dogs were aching more than usual and I was literally filled with anticipation at the thought of some relief when I popped in here after a nearby appointment. Anticipation being operative word here, because it was not achieved through their «40 minute foot massage».
Combined with the totally impersonal, unwelcoming attitude of the owner, I kind of got a bad feeling at the 10 minute foot soak, 30 minute foot rub description, and of course my instincts were right about it being a rip-​off in terms of the time. First off, got less than 10 minutes in a lukewarm foot bath filled with something «herbal» that looked awful but was otherwise innocuous, i.e., no odor, but also no evident effect. That would have been fine if the extra time was spent on my feet, but instead they shorted me about 9 minutes on that front too (I know this sounds anal, but I was watching the clock). When I tried to communicate that there was still time remaining, my masseuse didn’t understand and the owner had to come out and talk to me which of course made me feel lame. She assured me it wasn’t over, and clearly told the masseuse to continue, but she just pounded on my feet and legs for a couple more minutes, which still didn’t get me my full time. I had my shoes on and was out the door 5 minutes before the 40 minute timeframe.
To top it all off, I would categorize the massage as more of a foot rub, and I’ve had better at nail salons while getting a pedicure.

BEWARE of the lady at the Front Desk (which I think she is also the owner) I was lure by the signed «Special 60 mins body massage and 40 mins foot massage for $ 65) so I went in, upstair 7^th floor to be excact. THIS PLACE IS MONEY MONSTER AKA MONEY HUNGRY!!!
As soon I walked in the lady at the front door knew I was a first timer at this place and I said I wanted to try the $ 65 special, the place kind like weird, but I needed massage so badly and still thinking that the $ 65 might be a worth of try.
The lady at the Front Desk said «Ok, that’s $ 65» so I handed her my credit card she said «For tips cash only, can you go accros the street to the ATM for tips now?» WHAT A JERK!!! I was just walked in and she already DEMANDED tips??? So I said? «What??? Can I get my massage first???» then she said «Ok».
I feel really sorry for the ladies who works here specially to the lady who gave me a massage, she was really talented, I bet you she maybe never even seen her tips, the owner maybe take all her tips, it feels like slavery type of place.
The massage I received was pretty good, but during my treatment I could swear I heard some guy moaning in the room next to me, the room has a very thin wall, I heard a guy walked in and talking to a female (which I really think also giving him a massage next door) and then they became very quite/​silence then the next I heard was a moaning noise. come on I was not born yesterday… then I knew this is that kind of massage place… oopss I walked in to the a happy ending massage place???
Anyway, so after my massage I really was going to forget what happen at the room next to me and was really thinking about leaving some tips to the lady who gave me a massage until the owner/​the lady who was at the front desk approached me and said «Do you mind going accross the street to the ATM to give her tips?» I looked at her and said «I’ll think about it» then I just left the place.
SERIOUSLY, what a JERK!!! Do you know that tipping is NOT mandatory???
I WOULD NEVER GO BACK!!! I just hope all the ladies who works there are treated nicely by this MONEY MONSTER LADY AT THE FRONT DESK/​OWNER!!!

I saw the 45 dollar massage sign and thought «why not!» the staff was polite and friendly. also, it seemed clean and well taken care of.
The therapist i don’t think was licensed. there was not technique or any kind of warmth during the massage. At the end she came with cold wash clothes and wiped me down .not sure why.
a couple things i didn’t love. no sheet to cover you up. the only coverage are small hotel style towels and they don’t cover much. so you end up being mostly naked the whole time and the room was cold.
you could hear people talking on their phones, to clients, and the front desk talking. it was pretty noisy.
they do have foot massage type stuff which i think would be great. i wouldn’t recommend it for a full body massage.

OW.
and their sign for no inappropriate behavior? buuuuuullllllsssshhhhh — — –t.

Is ZERO stars an option? I stumbled upon this place one day after a long day at work and saw a sign out for a one hour deep tissue massage for $ 50. I used to be a massage therapist and I figured that I would give it a try.
Once there, the hostess took me into the room and told me to undress and lie face down. There was only a small hand-​towel available to cover my body with, so I covered my rear end. I waited about 10 minutes for the «therapist» to come in. She never introduced herself and i had no clue what she looked like because I was face down so immediately I was very uncomfortable. She began rubbing my back and spent around 30 minutes in the same spot, no lie. Clearly the 100 hours of schooling that San Francisco requires you to have in not enough. She then jumped up on top of the table and sat down on my butt and proceeded to rub my back. She did a lot of clapping and punching and I had to ask her to stop and move on to the next area. She told me she was going to grab a hot towel and not to move. Another 10 minutes l later she comes in and places the towel on my back. She then whipped the towel off of my butt and tells me to turn over. I am now lying on the table naked and she does not offer me anything to cover with or the option of her stepping out of the room. At that point I was ready to get up and just say forget it but I thought, maybe, just maybe, that the massage would get better. But it didn’t.
Like I said, ZERO stars for this place.

If you just want a massage with absolutely no frills for the lowest price possible, but in a legitimate establishment, this is the place. The only problem is that the masseuses really vary in skill. The best masseuse they had was a woman named Jamie, but the last time I checked, she was no longer working there. I’ve since stopped visiting because the various other masseuses I had seemed to have no idea how to give a proper massage (i.e. absolutely no finger/​palm pressure). I’d give this place 4 stars if Jamie was still around, but without her, they only get 3. If you’re willing to pay more (about double the price) for 10X the ambience, complimentary wine and tea and much more relaxing experience, go to Chakra Aveda in the same building.

Stress Reduction my a%^%!! Yeah — so I have mixed feelings about this place.
For starters — I found this spot just walking around Union Square and saw that they advertised massage for an hour for $ 50. I was in a bad mood from work that day — so I figured this was a pretty good chance to take.
HAD AN AWESOME MASSAGE!!!
So much that I told friends and then I go and tell my boyfriend about it. So one Friday night around 7 o’clock, he goes and checks it out. And guess what? Read John Z’s review and this is what happened to MY freiken boyfriend. Except when my guy went — there was a red light on and it was pretty dim. He laughed and explained that his GIRLFRIEND had sent him here and he just wanted a normal massage so there was no need for the younger chinese girl to come in with barely anything on. Well, I’m glad he got a laugh out it.
Ladies — you’ll get a good deal here but don’t send the man. Well, not unless you’re both ‘into’ that sort of thing. This place must get alot of business for the prices they charge — but I knew it was too good to be true.

this place is great Good price and really good massages I have been going there for over a year when I get really tense and they are awesome, good idea to tip since they have great prices also

My wife made me go here. I’m not so comfortable getting massages from strange people. «Are you sure this isn’t one of those *sexy* businesses?» I asked.
«Yeah,» she said. «You don’t have to take your clothes off or anything.»
When I first arrived, they gave me a dixie cup of green tea, then escorted me into a room and told me to take of all of my clothes. Then the hostess does some yelling down the hall in Chinese while I undress to my underwear and lie down.
A young Chinese woman comes in a few minutes later and starts rubbing me down with oil. «I’m screwed,» I’m thinking. «She’s totally going to ask if I want the full release.»
But my worries soon fade as the pain of the rubbing, and the rubbing, and the rubbing over and over again on the same spot on my back, and the wondering about how many layers of skin a person actually has, and if after the 17 or 18 that had just been rubbed off I would still have any left, took over my consciousness.
Whew, done. No happy ending offer. Thank god. A little skin left. And luckily I can just glide back into my clothes, still being well lubricated from the minerally oil I’d been covered with.
The good news was it was over. And at $ 50, at least it was cheap. But wait, did she just refuse my $ 10 tip and demand $ 20. She did. Hmmm… So that’s the way it works there.

I’ve been going here for quite a long time. Best massage I ever had… ask for Lin (hope you like deep tissue massage). She’s awesome and the best! Great place…

Update 12−13−06: Go see Gina. Awesome lower back rub.
Have been here several times. The best therapists there are Lulu and Jesse. Very clean place and awesome massage. Definately a gem!