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Acupressure Qi Gong Massage Therapy
Categories: Health and Medical Acupuncture Beauty and Spas Massage Acupuncture, Massage [Edit]
10548 San Pablo AveEl Cerrito, CA 94530
(510) 558-8116
- Price Range:
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$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- By Appointment Only:
- No
Molly K. said: "Zeke raised me from the dead again last week. I walk in there a zombie, except I feel pain (!) and walk out: ALIVE! If I can keep having the best job in the world for me for another decade (being a dog walker hiking in the Oakland…" read more »
18 reviews for Acupressure Qi Gong Massage Therapy
18 reviews in English
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Review from Deborah V.
Emeryville, CA
Updated - 2/21/2012 11 Check-ins Here
For the past year, my husband and I continue to see Erin and Eva and we are amazed by their talent each and every time.
Qi Gong is very professional and very clean.
We have recommended them to many people and everyone loves this massage establishment.
It is $45 per hour but we highly recommend that you tip them an additional $20 or above.
Thank you Erin, Eva, Lucy, MiMi, Kathy, etc. (too many to mention).
Love,
Gale and Deb -
Review from Blythe A.
Oakland, CA
2/11/2012
I have been coming here for about 4 years -
Mimi I find is the best with the nooks and crannies - great finger work for specific injuries etc. Erin is awesome for strength and feeling ironed out. Do not use Erin if you are a delicate creature...
I generally call about 15 - 30 minutes beforehand and always seem to be able to get Mimi or Erin.
I have had hundreds of western massages; none have even come close to my experience here.
Great establishment.
Once a week is what I try for. -
Review from Keith S.
Oakland, CA
3/19/2012
Very good work, the best of its kind that I've had on the West Coast. Never a wait, the staff is polite and professional, but best of all the seem as if they actually CARE about the health and well-being of their clients. They work to find out what's going on in your body and then address it, and do not just try to "go through the motions" with a set routine.
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Review from Hanson Q.
Berkeley, CA
7/23/2008
Boy, I am really torn about this one. Imagine having an incredible meal at a restaurant, pleasure in each bite, but then somehow getting a mouthful of cigarette ash before you walk out the door. This is how I felt after my second visit here.
To their credit, the masseuses are professional and very skilled at giving some killer massages. The first visit, I got Jenny for a 1/2 hour upper body massage, and she worked me to a pulp. I was very pleased in my soreness. $25 and a $5 tip fixed me up really well.
The second visit, I got Erin, and this time for a 1-hour full body massage. She was also great. Not too much of a conversationalist, as she did not speak English very well. Fine, no problem, let me just lie there. She knew where the tough spots were without too much feedback from me, and did a few slick Qi Gong moves on my scalp as well to fix me up. After the massage and getting dressed, I met Erin at the front desk to pay her. The 1 hour rate is very reasonable at $45. I paid her cash with a $10 tip, and her first reaction was to separate the $10 bill and look at me quizzically.
"That's for you," I said.
"Ten dollars?!?!"
"Are you saying you want more tip?"
"You feel better, don't you?"
I took back $15 and gave her another $20 to make the tip $15. $60 overall was still not bad, but I had that lingering cigarette ash feeling about this for the next three days, which unfortunately dominated any other feelings of relaxation. I could not believe the attitude she gave me. If you use the 20% rule, $10 is fine. If you give $15 on a $45 massage, that's 33%. If you use neither rule, it's still a steal for $60, but for someone to nearly demand more gratuity is borderline offensive.
I would still return here if I was sure to get someone else. -
Review from Desiree B.
San Pablo, CA
7/15/2011
I love these adorable little strong women! I always feel like a billion dollars when I leave. They have magic powers and get rid of all the bad ju ju
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Review from G T.
Berkeley, CA
6/4/2009
My wife and I have been going to this place for three years, including during her pregnancy. Sure, it's not as fancy as a day spa. But if you need a good, hard massage, this is the place to go. The people are friendly. They're experts at what they do. My only hesitancy in giving Qi Gong five stars is helping make it too popular. But this place deserves the business.
UPDATE: Okay, I finally got this Erin everyone's talking about. And like another reviewer said, she does ask for more of a tip at the end. In the end, it's not a huge deal. Even if I gave $15 to make it $60 for the hour, it's better than any other $60 massage out there by far. I just hate that we had to haggle over a tip at the end.
By the way, Erin is not the best there. Jenny is. -
Review from Andrew B.
Richmond, CA
10/17/2007
Qi Gong rules! My favorite masseuse is Mimi, she really hits the pressure points and busts up the knots.Erin is my next favorite, she is stronger and does all these cool stretches on you, that seems to enhance the whole massage experience. You can walk in, but I always call first so I get a masseuse I like. If you like it hard, this is the place to go. They have hand rails on the ceiling and walk on you.
Usually when I get a 1 hour massage (from somewhere else), I feel like I am just starting to relax when I am finished. This is the only place I have ever been totally satisfied with a 1 hour massage.
Update- I have now tried 1, 1 1/2, and 2 hour massages. I think 1 1/2 is perfect. 2 hours almost seems too long, if it is possible for a massage to be too long. -
Review from Roxanne G.
Pinole, CA
1/21/2012
My husband and I come every 1st week of the month. We don't care who we end up with because we always walk out feeling super relaxed. I go in with knots I never knew I had and come out like a new person. LOL, I even heard my husband snooring in the next room because he was so relaxed. I love this place and I'll be there like clock work for the rest of my life.
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Review from Patrick-Gillian L.
Richmond, CA
12/8/2010
Helen Baldwin is the proprietor here and is a lovely and gracious person. I love this place, find
I have been a regular customer for almost 6 years. I usually use Erin and have been totally satisfied with her. Sure, she is a bit pushy on her tips but I feel like a tip based on market prices is the correct thing to do. The fact that these women get a portion of the basic cost (the house gets the rest, of course) that they need a market rate tip.
Maybe get the tip thing straight up front so when you do come in and use the same masseuse there won't be any problems. They all have a little different take on the tip thing.
Others there, in particular, Eva, are also good. -
Review from Yum E.
1/28/2007
This massage parlor is very good quality. For those of you who are wondering, this is a therapeutic massage parlor, not a sensual massage place where you usually see on craigslist.
The masseuses are all very professional and competent. They always offer snacks to their guests upon arrival and departure, a very nice touch.
I try to go at least once a month since it feels so good after they are done! Their prices are reasonable too, $45/hr compared with $50 for 20 minutes at a hotel resort spa. -
Review from mamie c.
Oakland, CA
12/30/2010
$45 for a 60-minute massage in a clean environment, playing Chinese musac...that's a great deal. i liked that i could say, "please focus on my arms and wrists" and "no cracking!" and they'd listen.
i didn't like the quick hand strokes near my hoo-hoo when she was massaging my hamstrings. i'm a female-bodied femme and quite sure she was not trying to give me a happy ending -- but next time i'm going to say "no touching near where my underwear would be!"
i'd recommend this place (and definitely in comparison to some of the other massage salons that are much dirtier, darker and don't listen to your needs.) -
Review from Eva Leona Lerriqs S.
Berkeley, CA
12/29/2008
I've been going here for four years and think it's the best place for a massage. My favorite masseuse is Lucy. When my arms are suffering from too much computer usage, she gets the kinks out. I always come away feeling so much better. Another handy thing is I can make an appointment within an hour or two of my arrival. On the minus side, a couple of times I have felt frustrated when I've made an appointment in advance to see her, only to arrive and discover the staff has given me someone else instead and not informed me till that moment. Now when I go I make sure that she is the one I will see. The price is a bargain at $45 /hour.
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Review from Juliet H.
El Sobrante, CA
3/15/2010
I don't know who Erin is, but I see Eva and she is terrific! She's give a strong and thorough body work. I can't stress enough how good it is- best massage I've ever had every time. She's never been unappreciative when I tip her $15 or $20. The place has gotten a makeover and looks pretty nice to me.
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Review from Norman C.
Oakley, CA
12/31/2010
Fixed my lower back, my shoulders, and neck or at least loosen it pretty good. I asked for heavy pressure and got it. They don't play around here, they have the rails on the ceiling so they can give you that deep and heavy massage. It was more accupressure than massage which is what I asked for and I could feel the areas where I was all knotted up. I got Eva, she did a good job and she was nice. Not sure about the bad service post here but she overly polite if anything. I recommend this place. I don't know about the lite massage experience. $45 for the hour and $20 tip. $65 is fair, the lady worked pretty hard. Not the nicest place, it's not your zen-like day spa, but good price for the service and they delivered.
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Review from Thilde W.
El Cerrito, CA
12/11/2009
Hi everyone. Well, thanks to previous yelpers, I went in prepared. I went and saw Erin, had a one hour $45 massage, and tipped her a $20. Erin was polite, professional, and petite (I was expecting big and mean, somehow). Yes, the place is no frills, dirty, and noisy. They use baby powder scented oil and play Chinese Musak. If you can get past all that, it is a very high quality deep body work experience. If you go, focus on your body and nothing else. This is no Piedmont Ave. My only 2 complaints are that it was very hard to communicate (I scheduled an hour and a half and got one) and that the face rest attachment on the table was very flimsy and the cushion kept detaching from the metal (very uncomfortable). Otherwise, I'd go again (rather than say Albany Tubs) because it's cheap, good, and convenient.
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Review from Wendy N.
4/28/2010
I haven't even had a massage from this place but wanted to review it anyway. My friend raved about the massages here, especially the price. For $45 for an hour, it's the best deal in town. I went on Yelp and was surprised that most of the reviews mentioned that the expectation was a $20 tip on a $45 massage. Yes, still a good deal but it bugs me when that expectation is out there, blatently. Anyhow, I called to schedule an appointment at 9:30 p.m. tonight (a bonus is the late appointments). I arrive at 9:20 p.m. and the receptionist tells me my massage therapist is with another customer who arrived late. Says it will be half an hour. I decide to wait. At 9:40 pm, Erin comes in my room and says it won't be until 10:10 p.m. 40 minutes late? What's the point of making an appointment? Might as well be walk in. And I am certain that the expectation of a 50% tip would still be in effect. So I left. I think in this case, you get what you pay for in customer service. Erin may be good, but I'd rather pay regular massage rates and have my appointment and time respected.
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Review from C C.
Pinole, CA
12/6/2009
I searched high and low for a place to get a massage. Finally I found reviews on yelp for this place. My body was so sore and tired. I did as the reviewers said and asked for Erin. Let me tell you,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, She is the best I have ever had. I like it deep and strong, she worked me like a pro. When I left I was in heaven. I will continue to see Erin at least twice a month. And yes I gave her a 20.00 tip because the massage is worth 100.00........ So 65.00 is cheap..
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Review from yukio w.
San Francisco, CA
5/18/2010
i had really bad back aches and shoulder problems and was referred to this place to look for erin. i left feeling like jello! i had a 2hr massage and tipped 20... no complaints, she even gave me an orange. erin was incredible and i havent stopped raving about this place!... i live near ocean beach in the city and will drive all the way out there just to get an awesome massage! and the prices are great too!
