Korean Foot Massages

Wow. As someone who works in the spa industry here in the US, the techniques used in the massage just seem (I'm choosing my words carefully, here, being sensitive to cultural differences)… odd to me. I've heard that massages in different parts of Asia are more aggressive, but had never really seen evidence of it myself until now.

What's interesting is that I have always been told that too much pressure can cause the client's body to resist and tighten (as a defense mechanism) and so therefore as a practitioner, you aren't really assisting the body to release tension or relax. True, there are some techniques that use light, percussive motions to increase blood flow and stimulate release, but nothing like the techniques I've seen here. Deep Tissue and other methods of massage can also be uncomfortable as well. Some people prefer those methods, but generally a massage therapist will perform a thorough consultation beforehand, taking into account the client's needs and expectations. A lot of times a client will feel they are *so tense* that Deep Tissue is in order, but in actuality another form of massage is indicated.

Different Strokes for Different Folks and When In Rome, I suppose. If you're really looking for a more relaxing form of massage in Korea, perhaps you could check into what's offered at local hotels who cater to an international clientele? Ask for a Swedish massage (this tends to translate into "relaxing, gentle massage" in most any language).

It really is interesting, though, so thank you for the video. If I am ever in Korea, I'd be tempted to try this out just for the experience!