I’ve seen the “couples massage” on the addictive, yet horrible reality tv show, The Bachelor. Yes I watch it, yes I feel badly for m
ost of the rejects, and yes I always shed a tear at the most shocking proposal ceremony ever AND two months later over the most shocking magazine cover proclaiming the break up of this dream couple who most definitely had a connection. ahhhh.....Breathe. Ok.All that aside and back to the couples massage...so, I’ve only ever seen it on TV and it is most intriguing. Lovey little chatter and holding hands while being rubbed down under a gauzy tent on the beach, a slight breeze and maybe a RumRunner with a really long straw... my God! who wouldn’t want that?! Jason and I made an appointment... in hopes of finding out that we had a connection. Figuring no one could do it better than Richard Joseph SalonSpa in Mountain Brook, that is exactly where we headed.
So, yeah I’m going to have to burst that pretty TV bubble. *Pop!* (Sorry- take a tissue.) A couple’s massage at Richard Joseph is nothing like a TV couples massage...it’s BETTER!!! Fireworks, cheering, whistles. Yes. It is so very wonderful.
They start you off with a wonderful complimentary nutritious lunch in their cafe (you must arrive before 2:30 for this treat - lunch at Richard Joseph ends at 3pm). From there, we headed upstairs to the spa area, which was really quite dreamy. At the entrance was the largest bouquet of pink lillies I’d ever seen. I had to take a picture of it. Jason whispered “they’ve got to be fake” in my ear - my cue to approach and caress them. Yes, real. The receptionist didn’t necessarily say, “hands off, crazy lady”, but she did show us to the cozy relaxation/waiting area. There we nibbled on some fruit and cheese and chocolates, and when I say “WE” here, I mean “I” because Jason would have no part in pre-massage noshing. He simply stated it wasn’t good for his digestion - I think he read an article or something. I believe he is right about that, you really shouldn't eat immediately before a massage, but I couldn't resist. I am only human (Jason is super-human).
While enjoying treats destined for doomed digestion in my tummy, we were greeting warmly
by two massage therapists, Kay and Sally. They led us back to a room with two single massage beds. There was no gossamer drapery, no Rum Runners, no camera crew! I wan’t sure what we had gotten ourselves into, I mean... no camera crew? There’s always a camera crew. Decor was classy, music was soft, lights were warm and dim. Kay informed us that she would be my therapist and Sally would be Jason’s. I was to take the bed on the left (which was a cushy water-type bed) and Jason had a traditional massage bed (no water cushion). There was a bit of questioning on Jason’ s part, wondering where his water was, but we all were able to calm him down enough to proceed. Kay and Sally left us so we could “get naked” - they informed us we could leave our underwear on or go without, whatever made us comfortable. Oh? You’re wondering which we chose? The massages started and I asked if we were supposed to talk to each other or hold hands or something. Kay said we could do what we liked. Shew! We did none of that. Jason enjoyed his massage and I enjoyed my massage - together.
This brings me to the real reason getting a couples massage is SO much better than getting one by yourself... no - it’s not that you might get to see your partner almost naked for a split second. It’s before, when you can anticipate this wonderful experience together, it’s during when you know your partner (or sister, or mother, or best friend) is getting what they deserve - much needed pampering and a feeling of well being - and you’re there to share that. And it’s especially afterward, when you get to talk about how amazing you feel and how you wished the massage would’ve lasted another four hours or that you could somehow lure your massage therapist home to live with you forever (they won’t, and don’t try too hard or they will take legal action and never massage you again).
Notice how no one is enthusiastic or even really cares to listen to you describe your last massage? If you take them WITH you, you can talk about it for days - they're just as excited as you. Jason and I still bring it up. And sometimes, when I catch him looking off into the distance with a glaze, I know what he’s thinking about. Wait... that’s not what he’s thinking about? Really?
Well, anyway, as a couple, Jason and I HIGHLY endorse the couple’s massage at Richard Joseph. (They actually call it Quing Massage). Kay has been a massage therapist for 22 years and really knows what she’s doing. I’d been having some lower back and wrist issues and she knew to work those areas without me even telling her (well, not verbally, I guess the huge knots did the talking). Sally has been practicing for 11 years and from what Jason tells me, she has some wonderfully strong and intuitive hands as well.
A Quing Massage would make a great gift for the holidays or for Valentines Day or a “just because” or especially an “I’m sorry.” Send your partner a link to this review with a “hint hint” in the subject line!
