A Professional Evaluation of Spa Scrub Do’s and Don’ts in a Luxury Establishemnt

This is professional evaluation of the 15-minute 20 pound (that’s $27 US at the time of service in 2025) Radiance Scrub add-on service that was offered with my 60 minute massage at the YĀTRĀ Urban Spa at Montcalm Royal London House. This is merely a professional opinion of a one-time experience at this establishment.

The massage therapist was assigned to perform both add-ons I had prepaid for with my massage therapy appointment.  There was some serious disorganization at the spa because apparently no one was aware that I had added and prepaid for these services the day before (DON’T).  After I added my massage appointment and appointment time to schedule on this establishment’s website, I was then given the option to schedule some add-ons with it (DO’s). There were around 5 different add-ons to choose from(DO’s), and there was not much to any description of what the service would be.  All of the add-ons were 15 minutes and 20 pound each (DO’s), and you were able to add more than one as well (DO’s). It is great business for both the spa and customers to offer add-ons (DO’s).

I chose the Radiance Scrub as an add-on which I assumed was a full body scrub given its 15-minute advertised application.  I had to guess what it would be, because there was no description of the service on their website (DON’T)and no contact information on the spa’s website pages (DON’T).  I believe a 15-minute scrub application wouldn’t be appropriate for the back or decollete because both areas would be raw after 15 minutes. While 15 minutes for a full body scrub is quick, it is perfectly doable. They do advertise a 15-minute foot scrub because if it was only an arms or legs scrub, then it would say arms or legs seeing they defined the foot scrub.  I tried to ask the practitioner twice if the scrub I paid for was a full body service, and she appeared puzzled and seemed to say yes, but I wasn’t really sure of what I would be receiving.

I had two prepaid add-ons with my massage (DO’s), and she chose to prioritize the scrub add-on over the facial add-on.

When the therapist asked me to return to the same room we had just left for the massage, she asked me to disrobe and lie face up on the massage table (DON’T).  I asked her if she wanted me to do that right now because she was standing far from the door and gave no indication that she would leave, and she responded, yes now.  So I took off my robe in front of her which left me naked, and then crawled naked in front of her onto the massage table into supinated position.  She placed a bath towel to cover my private areas, then began the scrub on my anterior legs.

The scrub application itself was poor.  The massage therapist used slow strokes with fairly firm pressure and it was fairly dry (DON’T).  To improve this body scrub application, a therapist could use slightly more scrub product, add a little bit of water to give the product better glide over the skin, and quicken her strokes with very little pressure. Scrubs in almost any area should be applied with quick light strokes to lift the outer layers of the epidermis in an attempt to remove dead skin and exfoliate the body.  

After the therapist finished with my legs, which she was able to complete on both anterior and posterior sides with flexing my knee on the table and reaching under for the posterior leg as well (DO’s), she moved onto my arms.

The scrub application to my arms was equal to my legs.  She was able to complete scrub the 360 degree surface of my arms while in supine position (DO’s); however, she used similar slow firm massage strokes with the scrub which was not enjoyable.  Here's an example of providing a full body scrub with steam to enhance the experience. This video visually demonstrates an appropriate application speed of light scrub strokes:

Then the therapist asked that I roll over onto my stomach in pronated position.  This was slightly unpleasant with the scrub application on the anterior side of my body.  We would recommend that if a practitioner can scrub 360 degrees around the arms and legs, then to have the client sit up on the table and swing their legs over the side so that the back can be scrubbed in a 15-minute full body application. Clients should be provided a towel or sheet to cover their anterior body while sitting, leaving their back exposed. This massage therapist chose to apply the body scrub similar to a massage appointment instead (DON’T), and started scrubbing my posterior legs once I turned over into pronated position.

My calves were scrubbed with the same slow firm strokes as her massage (DON’T); however, this therapist seemed to become more alert when scrubbing my hamstrings.  My upper posterior thigh scrub had quicker strokes and the pressure lightened (DO’s), so I was happy to feel like the therapist was remembering that scrubbing is supposed to be light and quick, and hoped she would continue that type of appropriate application to my back.  She did not.  After finishing with the legs, she undraped my back and continued the same slow firm strokes on my back with the scrub product, similar to how she applied it on my anterior body (DON’T).

Because this scrub was only 15-minutes and left on my body so that I could shower it off (DO’s), I would recommend the spa to provide waterproof slippers.  For my several hundred dollar spa treatment that included a massage with two add-ons, they provided me an ill-fitting robe and cloth slippers which are not appropriate with hydrotherapy services (DON’T).  We would consider a 15-minute scrub a partial hydrotherapy service because the client is going to have to shower it off, hence using water to complete the appointment by showering off the scrub (DO’s).

It is also appropriate with water soluble scrub such as salt or sugar, for the therapist to wet the scrub until it’s dissolves and then wipe the residue from the client’s body instead of requesting that they shower it off.  Regardless of the type of scrub application, the scrub must be removed to provide an appropriate and effective spa service (DO’s).

After she finished with my full body scrub, the practitioner moved on to provide my facial add-on.  This is ill-advised because she left me on the table slightly wet with the tacky feeling of the scrub on my body while performing the facial (DON’T). When providing a spa scrub that must be showered off in combination with a facial, the facial should be performed first and the scrub second.  For the 15-minute scrub, we would recommend scrubbing anterior and posterior arms and legs while in the supinated position, and then have the client sit-up and swing their legs over the side of the table to finish the scrub on the back, and then leave the treatment room so that the client can put a robe on or shower in privacy, if the shower being used is in the treatment room.

Images of the spa and staff are purposely not named or pictured in this evaluated due to the constructive analysis, and to protect their privacy. The pictures on this article are stock photos from other establishments. This was a poor experience at this spa and we are not trying to amplify the fact here beyond providing this information as  a teaching example of do’s and don’ts. This evaluation here is purely written from an educational standpoint of what to do or not do during a massage therapy appointment.  This is a personal opinion and experience to as learning and teaching opportunities to improve overall massage therapy industry practice and spa operations. This is an extremely fair and accurate description of what was experienced .  To claim it was better would be a false representation.