Big Feet is tough to review because it’s not your traditional fancy schmancy massage with all the bells whistles. It was a kooky experience and a life changing massage… (This review is ONLY for the Hastings St. location.)
I was referred to Big Feet from a friend, she warned me “they don’t speak English well.” I didn’t make an appointment, I walked in and followed my friends instructions. I asked for a 60 minute back massage and a 30 minute foot massage. Their English wasn’t too bad, and I was asked to wait 10 minutes. During those 10 minutes I heard some funny sounds, lots of slapping, clapping and running water. I’m sensitive to smell and I anticipated there might be an odour, but there wasn’t and the reception area was very clean. Off of the reception area was a lounge for foot massage, and a hall that lead to massage rooms.
I was referred to Big Feet from a friend, she warned me “they don’t speak English well.” I didn’t make an appointment, I walked in and followed my friends instructions. I asked for a 60 minute back massage and a 30 minute foot massage. Their English wasn’t too bad, and I was asked to wait 10 minutes. During those 10 minutes I heard some funny sounds, lots of slapping, clapping and running water. I’m sensitive to smell and I anticipated there might be an odour, but there wasn’t and the reception area was very clean. Off of the reception area was a lounge for foot massage, and a hall that lead to massage rooms.
Alas, massage time! The room is teeny barely 4′ wide. There’s a bed, a sink, a hook for clothing and the walls are curtains. Next door to me I can hear someone having a massage. The sounds of clapping, slapping and a toilet flushing echo in the distance.
I’m undressed, undies on, face down with a towel over me when James knocks on the door. James is tall and I wonder how he’s going to navigate this tiny space. He speaks no words and gets to works.
The first half of massage is done over the towel with lots of pressure, there were moments where I thought James was going to snap me like a twig.
The second half of the massage is done with oil, only the parts of your body being massaged are exposed. This experience was wonderfully painful, like a good “hurt” but also ticklish. This was the first time I heard James speak “you ok?” – I was A Ok!
What I loved most was how he stretched muscle groups as he massaged and it alleviated so much tension.
Lastly, the foot massage – oh wow, just oh wow.
The whole 90 minute shebang with 20% tip came to roughly $65
I’ve experienced MANY massages, from Swedish Spas to painful RMT tissue repair. This massage goes into top 3 best massages I’ve ever had! I felt like I was walking on a cloud afterwards. James hit each area of tension and injury with precision.
The draw back at Big Feet is it’s challenging to book over the phone due to the language barrier, it’s a challenge to book with the same person twice as their schedules are kooky. Although clean, the facility isn’t amazing, you could easily hear people chatting, the odd toilet flushing, and your neighbour is really close – but this isn’t a place to get a “relaxing” massage, it’s reflexology.