Let me tell you about my weekend.
Last weekend, specifically Saturday, M and I decided to treat ourselves to some relaxation by doing to the spa. We decided to used our coupons, and we were just so excited because this certain spa was housed in a hotel/luxury suites that with the reputation of that place, the spa would be at par, and give us a wonderful experience. We were much satisfied with Antel Spa Suites’ Toccare Spa, and this one looked quite promising.
In a span of an hour and a half, I was just glad that it was over. The therapist seemed to be lacking strength, she was able to detect a sore spot on my left shoulder, and she just couldn’t seem to be able to handle it well. My night ended in total disappointment, with me vowing to myself that I’d never go back there again. Too bad that the room was really fancy – with a private, beautiful bathroom, and even a jacuzzi! Looking at their services menu, you will never ever make me pay that kind of amount for such kind of service. Good thing we bought coupons at a substantial discount.
I wouldn’t make a fuss about it and set its name in flames. I was thinking – maybe I was just a really demanding customer. Maybe I had so much body issues – with my left shoulder being really stiff, and painful, down to my arms for the past month, that I needed “hilot,” and not that usual spa treatment. I needed a strong and skilled therapist, knowing her ways around the words “nodules” ( lamig ), and just knowing how to get rid of that. That night, I went to sleep feeling like I didn’t go to a spa at all.
The following day ( a Sunday ), I dragged mom, dad, and my sister to Ascend Chi-Thai Therapy massage place in D. Tuazon street. It was the street full of massage places ( like Thewi, Bali, ), and as M’s friends own Ascend, I was willing to give it a try. With my really painful shoulder, I decided to try their Ventosa treatment.
Why Ventosa?
Ventosa Massage Cupping Therapy is performed by placing glass on specific accupoints on your back. A technique is used to create a vacuum inside the glass placed on your back which lifts the skin. The practitioner then moves the cup toward the outside parts of the body sucking the air away.
With my shoulder pretty much “frozen” already, I think it was the best treatment for me. Okay, I took the plunge, and had the treatment.
There were plastic cups used on my back, that elevated some parts of my skin as it formed a “vacuum” within that cup, aided with a “suction gun” of some sorts. To be honest, when the cups caused some part of my skin to be elevated, I felt sort of alive. The stiffness was slowly alleviated. I was acknowledging senses. The stiff part of my left back, as told by my therapist, was very sore, as compared to the right part of my back. I was in bliss as the cups sucked all the stiffness away from my body. Ahhh.
Right after, the therapist gave me a deep tissue massage, further massaging the “nodules” (lamig) away. There were still alot of sore spots, and I was pleased that she know that she was doing. Her strength was just alright – not rough, but firm and strong. I loved every moment of it!
After 1 1/2 hours of Ventosa Cupping Treatment + Shiatsu Massage ( it is one treatment altogether ), it only cost me around P 450.00. At the end of the treatment, I was very pleased. No fancy schmancy interiors and amenities, but I knew my body was going to be fine. I’m definitely going back.
Ascend is a really simple massage place that doesn’t have cozy or fancy interiors – they do not even have a bed that you lie down on a mattress, and if you’re in the second floor, you might even hear the flushing of the toilet. Nothing fancy, really. But if you’re looking for a no-nonsense massage place that will give you relief from your body aches, and want something really economical, then I can vouch that Ascend has therapists that are very friendly, and communicate really well with their clients, and more than that, they really know what they’re doing, and can deliver.
I will definitely be back next week for my massage again, as I think my shoulder needs more work!
Details :
Ascend Chi-Thai Therapy
115 D. Tuazon Cor. Maria Clara St. Quezon City.
Tel. No.: 6646585
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Hi. Would it be possible to know which spa it was that you went to that was in a hotel/luxury suite? I bought coupons myself and I’m weary that it might be at that same spa. Was it the one in Sommerset Makati by any chance? Thanks.
Hi Nina, the reason of my not disclosing is that it just might be the assigned therapist to me. We also have our individual tastes in terms of massage – some like it light, while I am just really, really demanding – I like it forceful as I am always stressed.
In this case – my entire left shoulder was very stiff already to start with and needed some “hilot” intervention. 
Soph, have you tried Bali? That’s our favorite and we’ve been going there since it opened. Balinese massage is much more relaxing then Swedish. Sarap!
ooh i frequent d. tuazon for the spas. Ive tried ascend once but I didnt quite like it because I ended up with bruises. as you’ve mentioned in your previous comment, we do have different tastes in terms of massage. and unfortunately the therapist assigned to me gave me an extremely hard massage (despite me telling that i prefer it light). Have you tried Bali palace and nuat thai? they’re also good and affordable.
not sure though if they have ventosa. hehe
TonTon kami haha
xoxo
MrsM
Thanks girls for all your suggestions! Looks like I need a more serious intervention as I am checking out accupuncture now. Haha! Bali seems to be a nice place, and I think the D Tuazon place is really, really packed with massage-lovers. Good thing there are lots of variety to choose from!
I try many spas all over Metro Manila. I find that when you have a big nodule or frozen shoulder, it takes more than just one session. Also, It would help to ask for a strong therapist when you want to have any stiffness, nodule or frozen muscle released. Make sure you also make use of the heating rooms to relax the muscles.
I tried Toccare Spa, The establishment is very tasteful, ambience is elegant. The staff courteous and very personal. I had a half day Toccare Spa package. The therapist I had was very professional and loved my whole experience.
Maybe the therapist you had was not for you. Anyway, I’d go back again. The price is higher than other day spa but I would say the pricing is very reasonable. It’s like going to other 5-star hotel spa but paying only a fraction of what I would be normally charged.
Overall great for me!