Asian Massage Parlors or full body Asian massage is giving the massage profession a big challenge. For the most part, the reference to Asian massage is usually for the purpose of prostitution but there are many very legitimate types of massage from Asia more specifically Japan, China and Thailand.
In many southern and mid-west areas, massage is still referred to as being done in a massage parlor. Massage therapists are still often referred to as masseuse/masseur although that is on it’s way to changing.
Craigslist and The Backpage are notorious for their many listings of Asian massage parlors that are performing illegal massages. How they get away with it is beyond me, but they do because they are popular.
Illegal places will often be listed on websites that are clearly promoting the illegal services. They will have busty looking girls dressed provocatively and licking their lips. Some other signs that you are getting into an illegal establishment are:
- Tinted Windows
- Advertisements that say “Full Body Massage” or “Sensual Massage”
- Usually located in a shady area of town
- The names will be like “Shangrila”, “Happy Foot Massage”
- They are open late or 24/7
Happy Endings are not real massage or part of a legitimate massage session! Happy Endings are acts of prostitution no matter what you want to think! If you approach a legit massage therapist asking for that, you will risk having them call the cops on you!
If you remember the first pilot movie “The Client List” for the series “The Client List”, it was about an illegal massage parlor where there was an actual Client list of local professionals and prominent community members who were caught in illegal acts at this illegal parlor. Their names were published in the local newspaper – hence the name “The Client List”.
Legit Massage Offices/Spas
REAL Massage Therapists are : Responsible, Ethical, Accountable, and Licensed Massage Therapists.
Real Asian Therapies will not call themselves Asian Massage. They will be called by the type of massage that they are actually giving.
Some of the many forms of Real Asian massage are :
- Acupressure
- Amma
- AMMA Therapy®
- Chi Nei Tsang
- Five Element Shiatsu
- Integrative Eclectic Shiatsu
- Japanese Shiatsu
- Jin Shin Do® Bodymind Acupressure®
- Jin Shou Tuina™
- Korean Acupressure
- Macrobiotic Shiatsu
- Medical Qigong
- Shiatsu
- Nuad Bo ‘Rarn (Traditional Thai Bodywork)
- Shiatsu Anma Therapy
- Tuina
- Zen Shiatsu
How do you tell the difference? It is really obvious in most cases. Legit massage will look like a legit massage place! They will use those names in their business name or marketing materials. They will say that they are certified in specific areas such as those named above.
They will have a nice office location that is visible and will have a real name like Houston Massage Clinic and Spa. Their licenses will be displayed somewhere in the office along with their business license. In many states, it is required that massage therapists post their license number along with any marketing material. Most states will also have a registry of licensed massage therapists where you can do a search for legit massage therapists.