Massaging Chinatown spa services

Between the housing lottery and choosing fall classes, stress appears in all kinds of tricky places. Find quick release at Chinatown’s spa spots with a 15-minute massage. Although less well known than its cheap meals and cheap trinket shopping, cheap back rubs are another Chinatown specialty.

A good starting point is the uptown-feeling mani-pedi spot Rich Nails (199 Hester St. near Baxter Street). Its big Mediterranean blue sign is easily spotted from the street and leads into an ocean-inspired space. Walk in, mention the word “massage,” and an Asian lady brusquely pulls out a comfortable padded blue chair. No time is wasted here. No pressure is spared either, especially on the shoulder and neck region, but 15 minutes is ample time to work out any number of Butler-induced knots. Despite some painful finger work, the energetic back-pounding and shaking out of the arms leaves the whole upper body feeling loosey goosey. Consider it $13 well spent.

Dee Yee Herb Center (152-B Mott St. near Broome Street) is the cheapest but dingiest locale, at just $10 for 15 minutes. A small man leading the way down a somber set of grayish stairs may seem questionable, but the downstairs setup offers full massage tables, albeit with paper towel over the face hole. The lay-down setup allows for more thorough all-over pressure. The décor is sparse at best, with plastic waiting chairs. Slower paced than Rich Nails’ hard-hitting approach, Dee Yee is no less deep-tissue. Once again, the momentary pain is worth it for the post-massage feeling of overall release. The experience ends with some good old hand-chopping. Unlike Rich Nails, Dee Yee is massage-based, and offers foot rubs and acupuncture as well.

To take the relaxation full-body, head to Relax Foot Spa (202 Hester St. near Baxter Street). This spa, which focuses solely on foot reflexology, has the nicest and cleanest atmosphere. Its very Asian-inspired décor includes bamboo statues, flower wall hangings with foot-shaped paper petals, and foot maps labeled in Chinese. Soft, relaxing music plays in the background. Cream silk curtains lead into the darkened relaxation room filled with black leather chairs. The reflexologists know how to dexterously handle even the most ticklish feet, and the pressure point release has a total-body effect. At $12 for 15 minutes, the price is right.

For those who will only make the trek downtown for something more substantial than 15 minutes, most locales offer longer time slots by appointment. Dee Yee Herb Center offers hour-long foot and/or back rubs for $45, and Relax Foot Spa’s reflexology sessions work up incrementally to $45 for 90 minutes.