Sometimes noticing a new business in the neighborhood occurs because of something as simple as being stuck at a red light. That’s how I finally laid eyes on Iyara Thai Massage last week, located at 4328 Geary between 7th and 8th Avenue.
They opened a few months ago, but I just stumbled on them last week. I love all things massage and we don’t have many options in the neighborhood, beyond a myriad of neon-lit foot massage salons. So I was excited to try out Iyara and see what they had to offer.
I wasn’t disappointed, starting with an easy website that includes instant online booking. It was a breeze to choose my treatment and book an appointment in a couple of minutes.
Iyara specializes in traditional Thai massage, which focuses on massaging and placing pressure on key energy points in the body to “break energy blockage, stimulate the circulation and restore general well-being.”
Unlike Swedish, traditional Thai massages are more “interactive”. Rather than being on a high table, you’re lying down on a padded mat and the therapist incorporates a variety of yoga stretches to improve range of motion, along with deep-pressure massage. You’re also fully-clothed; they provide you with a loose fitting top and pants before your massage.
In addition to traditional Thai massages (1 hour / $60, 1.5 hours / $90, 2 hours / $120), Iyara also offers Thai heat herbal compress massage. After a full body Thai massage, a hot herbal compress is pressed over the entire body in order to soothe muscle and stimulate the vital organs and senses.
If you’re more into Swedish massage but want to incorporate some Thai into your routine, try Iyara’s Thai Aroma Massage, combining Thai-style deep massage and yoga stretching with western-style Swedish massage. For this one you are unclothed but covered, lying on a high table. Prices range from $70 for 1 hour to $100 for 1.5 hours.
And if you’re looking for a lower cost pick-me-up, stop in for the 30 minute Thai Foot reflexology ($35, they also recommend adding this treatment onto a regular Thai massage). In reflexology, the belief is that specific points on the soles of the feet correspond to particular organs in the body. Massaging the foot “helps stimulate activities of the inner organs and improves blood and lymph circulation”, according to Iyara’s website.
I had a traditional Thai massage and was very pleased with the experience, and my therapist. He adjusted well to my feedback and provided a strong massage that left me feeling rejuvenated. The setting at Iyara is warm, comfortable and clean, and the staff is very friendly.
Iyara is open every day of the week from 10am until 9pm (great for an after work stop!), and offers quick, online bookings via their website. Walk-ins are also welcome. And check their Facebook page for occasional specials, like the one they’re running now – $45 for a 1 hour traditional Thai massage, valid weekdays before 4pm through June.
So the next time you want to treat yourself, stop by Iyara. I left a limp noodle, but managed to not get lost or walk into any walls on my way home, despite my foggy state (and the fog overhanging the neighborhood). 😉
Sarah B.
A traditional Thai massage room at Iyara