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| - I have heard a lot of great things about Korean body scrubs for awhile, so based on Yelp reviews, I decided to try Imperial.
Following the instructions I was given when I made my reservation, I arrived about 30 minutes early. I was handed a couple of towels a t-shirt, and shorts, but even after telling them that this was my first visit, I was not given much direction as to what I should do while waiting for the appointment with my masseuse. I would recommend that they give us newbies a quick tour of the facilities and some basic instructions. As is, I wandered around, wondering how to utilize many of the facilities (Clay Ball Sauna? WTF is that?).
It is certainly true that you have to be comfortable with nudity to hang out here. Two things I would definitely recommend bringing with you: shower shoes and a swimsuit. This place is lousy with mirrors, and I don't particularly care to look at naked middle-aged women, including myself. There are no changing rooms, and the showers aren't curtained off. However, they do have a big mirror under every shower head.
As I sat in the "warm" tub (they have 3 whirlpools, hot, warm, and cold), I saw a rather chunky. middle-aged Asian lady changing from street clothes into a lacy black bra and panties. Moments later, I heard her call, "Stacey? Stacey?" and I realized that she was my masseuse and the "sexy" bra and panties was apparently her uniform. Marketing note to owners: Putting the mom-shaped masseuse into lingerie does not enhance the experience for most of us ladies.
I had prepared myself for the "torture" that I had heard was involved in the body scrub, and it actually wasn't bad. The masseuse donned a couple of mitts that looked like those Scotch-brite pads one uses to clean pots, and scrubbed everywhere. It was a little rough, but not really painful. And effective, I might add. I opened my eyes at one point and saw what appeared to be hundreds of gray lint balls on the massage table, and then realized "Eeeww! That's my skin!"
Afterwords, I had a "Swedish" massage with oil, and I have to say, my skin has not been this soft and smooth in years. It was definitely worth the price, and I intend to return.
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