Healthy Magic

After being unable to reserve a spa appointment for my severe back pain, I decided my last resort was to go find a communal acupressure place in the Mall, Unilocal brought me to Healthy Magic. Unlike what the previous Unilocaler mentioned, the Healthy Magic store is now located near the Costco. So if you’re going to park, park near the Costco entrance and come into the mall, make a right, and find Panera Bread. It is right across from it.
It was a Wednesday night and only one other customer was there. He was getting his back massage, and seemed to be quite pleased because the masseuse was stepping/​kneeling on his back. I opted for the 30 minute acupressure for $ 30 (they also had 1 hr for $ 55) and the lady wasn’t really putting as much pressure as I would have liked even though I had requested more.
Considering I really wanted to just relax, it was very hard to when they were having full-​blown conversations in Chinese among all the masseuses joking with each other about things from love, other customers, life. I spoke to my masseuse in Chinese, so I’m sure she knew I could understand and hear what was going on since she was right over my ear. I was glad they seemed to be having a good time, but it wasn’t the zen-​like experience I was looking for. Her technique was good, especially around the leg area, but not so much the back.
I would suggest this place if you have nowhere else to go and you need a quick and affordable rub-​down with clothes on, but don’t be surprised if you hear your masseuses chatting among themselves while you are getting your massage.

This is one great massage place! The noise is some children laughing or carrying on, makes me feel like a child again! I often fall into a restful sleep, snoring and dreaming. It is advisable to pay attention to the differences in the styles of the massagers. It’s not really one size fits all.

The massage therapist named «Peter» tried to give me some sort of chiropractic maneuver on my neck and back. He ended up crippling me for a week. I had to go to the ER and was in a neck brace for 5 days on heavy medication. He completely strained my trapezeus muscle and damaged my rotator cuff. These people are unlicensed. DO NOT LET THEM CRACK YOU! you will regret it.
Be careful and remember that you are only paying $ 30 for a reason. These people have no training or professional background.
You are putting your health in their hands. It is NOT worth it.

Quite possibly the best deep tissue massage I’ve ever had anywhere! I get a massage fairly often to work out knots and back pain and this place is my new favorite! Will definitely be back again soon!
Easiest place to park is in the free garage by JC Penny on the upper level. It’s on the right hand side as you go in the door marked mall entrance.

We have been going to Healthy Magic at the Wheaton Mall for several years now. We have never been disappointed! The massage therapists are professional, and do an awesome job on deep tissue. Their English is not the best, but it is really not needed. I have had a tremendous knot in my shoulder and after 30 minutes there today, it’s gone! As an added bonus, they are on now Belly Points, and you can earn freebies!
We love them, and try to go a couple times a month.

Really good massage from an Asian man. He totally got all of the kinks put of my shoulders.
Massage is done fully clothed in a big room with other massage tables, clients and therapists.
I still managed to fall asleep when he got to the reflexology foot massage.
Would definitely go back. It was $ 55 and well worth it. I wish I hadn’t wasted $ 90 getting a not very good massage while I was on vacation.
This is a different type of massage than most western people are uses to. I think it’s shiatsu or pressure point. But it was one of the best, with the best results.
Funny the therapist kept telling me he was using his least pressure. But it felt like a LOT of pressure. Worked though, and I needed it.
11/​23/​2013 Note: The guy’s name was Joe and he was great, the best they had. He has sadly transfered to Pentagon City Mall and I am going to stalk/​find him there. I had a «free sample» from a new guy but it wasn’t the same.

No part of me wanted to go to this place. I’ve only had one «not from my girlfriend/​wife» massage in my life and it was at an expensive place downtown where I found religion. But I really, really needed a massage, and I’m currently in between money bins right now. I saw a sign that said $ 10 for 10 minutes. What’s the worst that could happen?
Paralysis, apparently, cannot be achieved solely by massaging a person’s spinal cord via the small space between vertebrae. Even when the masseuse is a hefty middle aged fellow using his elbow and full body weight, the human body seems very adept at resisting complete loss of sensation and mobility in the lower body.
(Excerpt from my new book entitled «My Spinal Cord and Me»)
There are at least twenty tables in there and a decent amount of space between them. No curtains are necessary, because you only take off your shoes. The massage began with a gentle back rub that made me think I’d wasted my money and escalated rather quickly to the «Bane-​Batman» massage.
There were no feelings of relaxation or pleasure. I really felt like I was being beat up. I was SO thankful when the timer went off. I jumped up and thought, «WELL THERE’S TEN DOLLARS WAST… Wait a minute. I can move my neck. My shoulders are loose. My back doesn’t hurt anymore.»
I can’t explain it. I don’t know how he did it. I wasn’t relaxed at all and didn’t leave with the same state of euphoria that I normally get after a massage, but my back didn’t hurt anymore so I’d say it was worth the ten bucks.

I have been a customer of Health Magic for years. This is their 3^rd location in the mall that I know of. Yeah it is a little noisy outside, but once you are on the table you quickly forget about it. The massages are not your traditional spa massage with light touching strokes, they use accupressure. I love this place. If you have time, go for a full hour. Parking is a total wreck at this mall right now but the best hint is to park in the second floor of the deck near JCP. No appointments are necessary and I have never had to wait.

CliffsNotes: Healthy Magic is one of those therapeutic massage centers located inside the mall. A $ 30 massage for 30 minutes? Sure, why not. I’ve been walking all day and sore as heck. Anytime that I fall asleep despite application of painful pressure points means that the therapist is getting the job done. My only complaint about Healthy Magic is that it’s located in a heavy traffic area so it’s quite loud outside. I much prefer the secluded feel of Massage Express in Tysons Corner where there’s less foot traffic. [Original Visit: Sunday, August 8, 2010]