It's a common misconception to equate a hard massage with a good one. If you're looking for something that hurts, choose from any of the numerous bodywork joints in chinatown, but beware: some of these ""practitioners"" are woefully inexperienced and can seriously injure your spinal cord. Some of them, of course, are just fine. In this case, it comes down to pure luck. \r
If, on the other hand, you've got a serious kink or chronic back problems, go see Linda at the Grand Meridian. For roughly the same price, she'll give you a massage that's far and beyond what those other shops can offer. I've been getting professional massages for over 15 years - all over the world - and I can say that Linda is truly one of the best. She intuitively understands complex energy and muscular patterns, and somehow manages to work out pesky problems without causing any severe pain. \r
Of course, if it's pain you're into (and I'm not judging), don't go here.\r
Otherwise, I highly recommend the Grand Meridian.
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