A culture of calm
Two Pasadena authors demystify LA’s burgeoning ethnic spa scene
By Sara Cardine 01/27/2012
For weary, wizened denizens of Greater Los Angeles, there are many pathways to beauty. Some involve plucking, zapping and filling unwanted lines and wrinkles, while others promise rejuvenation through a relaxing, almost meditative experience in the form of massage, reflexology and other spa treatments.
When seeking massages, Americans tend toward Swedish, Shiatsu and other deep tissue varieties — regular fare at most spas. But thanks to the depth and diversity of Los Angeles’ many communities, there are a surprising number of cultural spa experiences just waiting to be had and often for far less than you might pay at a traditional American spa.
Pasadena and the city of San Gabriel, for instance, are home to a number of Thai, Korean and Chinese day spas and parlors, where customers can enjoy a full spectrum of services from Thai and Swedish massages to acupuncture and facials for a relatively low price.
It can be intimidating to walk into a spa where English is not the primary language spoken and the likelihood of misunderstanding even basic instructions is high, but that’s no excuse for missing out on all ethnic spas have to offer, according to Pasadena friends Brenda Goldstein and Gail Herndon, authors of “The Spa Less Traveled: Discovering Ethnic Los Angeles, One Massage at a Time.”
The pair turned their mutual love for visiting new and exciting cultural spas throughout Los Angeles into research for the benefit of intrepid spa lovers, who yearn for something new but may be wary of where they drop their towels. The result is a book that includes detailed notes on some 200 locations, broken into five main cultural traditions — Thai, Korean, Russian, Japanese and Chinese — with another section for Indian, Mayan, Hawaiian and men-only services in the area.
“I think we are both personally attracted to different and unusual things, and having all these ethnic enclaves in our backyard, we knew there would be plenty of unfamiliar yet intriguing experiences to share,” Herndon says.
Each listing is the result of Goldstein and Herndon’s own personal experience, including their discovery of a Korean sauna that puts out a bowl of eggs in the sauna for patrons to cook and enjoy as they self-poach. Readers learn not only details of pricing and hours of operation, but notes on what to expect, services offered, parking and what they liked about each facility. “The Spa Less Traveled,” available at Vroman’s Bookstore, also includes key phrases in different languages, a glossary on culturally specific terms, spa etiquette tips and recipes readers can follow to recreate their spa experiences at home.
When it comes to ethnic massages, the San Gabriel Valley is teeming with options, thanks to a thriving Chinese community. Spa patrons can and should take advantage of the ubiquity of these businesses, says Herndon.
“Valley Boulevard in Rosemead and San Gabriel has close to 50 Chinese massage places, all within a few miles of each other,” she adds. “Guess what that does to the price? You’ll find some incredible massage prices along this strip.”
“Right!” Goldstein agrees. “In every shopping center, there is at least one foot massage or reflexology place. Just be sure to leave yourself some time to enjoy a meal and browse the retail shops.”
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