J Natural SPA

Very serene and relaxing place. And Mandy was awesome! She’s very sweet and made my experience more enjoyable. Go see her!

Recently had a «couple’s massage» at J Natural Spa. Was surprised to find it on the 2^nd floor with no apparent wheelchair access, nor had anyone mentioned that when we booked our appt. Good thing we’re fairly able-​bodied and could get up to the «Spa». Was very surprised to see it was not at all «spa-​like».
Staff were welcoming and though we announced ourselves because we had an appointment scheduled, they asked if we were there for a pedicure and a massage. We said «just a massage», after which they brought us bowls of water and asked us each to insert our feet into the bowl that was placed in front of each of us, while we sat. No one asked us to remove our jackets so there we sat, in our winter jackets soaking our feet in bowls in their «waiting room». We kept looking at one another like we must be on an episode of Just-​for-​Laughs Gags, but we couldn’t find the cameras. After about 10 minutes of soaking, they dried our feet and moved us to the massage room.
At no time did they ask what areas we might want them to focus on or anything, they just put us in the massage room and walked out, closing the door on their way out. There were 2 massage beds in there, so we began undressing, and then, lo and behold, one of the staff opens the door and begins to come in, while we’re standing there half-​naked! Not even a gentle knock?! They leave and tell us they’ll be back in a minute after which we do a mad-​scramble to get undressed and beneath the sheets before they pop in unannounced again. Under the sheets with our hearts beating madly, two people walked in, never having introduced themselves, nor did either ask if there were areas of concern we needed them to work on.
The male began working on my husband; the female began working on me. The woman’s hands were so rough I thought she must be using an exfoliating scrub on me. The massage was neither relaxing nor therapeutic, nor pleasurable. She was applying way too much pressure including on kidneys (yowch!), and I ended up with bruises where my leg meets my torso, that took a full week to disappear. When the man was done massaging my husband, he left without a word. I think that was the queue for the woman to leave, because in the middle of doing something, she stopped, said «thank you», and disappeared out the door.
My husband said his massage was pretty good and he left quite relaxed, but my experience was much less satisfying. I wouldn’t go back.

So, my friend brought me here for my birthday after finding a groupon for a foot soak, pedicure and full body massage.
I’ll start from the beginning; we get to the spa on the second floor of the building and enter a hallway where a lady was waiting and she asked if we had an appointment and had to call her coworker to come. We entered the «spa» and it was very weird to say the least. They gave us fabric sandals to walk in, which didn’t look fully clean. There was a sign that «recommended» $ 10 tip per hour of service on the front desk.
We sat down for our pedicures and were brought bowls with plastic bags in them to soak our feet. Thy offered us Gel nail polish for an extra $ 20 each. Then they scrubbed our feet and trimmed our nails and cuticles. My friend has ingrown toenails and the woman started cutting them and my friend had to tell her to stop. There was also some Exorcist music playing. I chose a colour, which I was told was too light (not sure why they have it if you can’t use it) anyways they finished up our pedicure and took us to a back room where there were two rickety massage beds with strange linens on them that didn’t match.
We were in the same room and they did our massages and all I was thinking was the episode of Friends where Ross gives a massage to an elderly man with spoons and Tonka Trucks. There was no technique invoked in the massage and my friends said hers was done by the «God of Thunder and pain»
We came back out and they finished painting our toes and then put Saran Wrap over them so they wouldn’t chip.
These ladies were super super sweet and hard working, but the environment was not the nicest and the quality of the massage was very poor. We feel bad because they were SO nice and welcoming, but the quality wasn’t there. Maybe it was an off day!
Update: in reply to Tim B. — we understand that the plastic bags are for sanitary reasons, we just wish there was a more aesthetically pleasing way to do that. None of the tools used matched, it was all a mix of things and it looked like the file used on our feet was not new. The towels were all worn and mismatched as well, very unprofessional looking.
The massages were so horrible, she pounded on my spine with her knuckles — a masseuse is NEVER directly supposed to touch the spine. She also pounded on my neck as well, my friend and I were so sore we could hardly move for days and had bruises. If they aren’t registered, they should NOT be touching anyone’s backs.

Summary of my experience:
First it took 5 days to book a date via email. Was out of town for the holidays so didn’t want to phone. I suggest phoning in its faster. Initially I asked to schedule on a Saturday for me and my girlfriend at the same time in which they could not give me an answer and kept insisting on one after another for a 3 hour session. No thanks. This went on for 5 days where I wouldn’t receive a straight answer. Then I phoned in and booked a date which worked.
First up was the pedi. My gf was attended to more than I, all the lady did was shave off the dead skin on one foot so hard it actually hurt. Then she did not clean my toe nails thoroughly, had some lint in there which remained after the pedi. My gf seemed like she had a better time with this aspect, but had a worse experience in the massage.
The massage for me was fine as I like deep massages but my girlfriend was sore the next day and didn’t enjoy it. She mentioned it was too rough but that didn’t change anything. Not sure if it was at all therapeutic.
After that there was suppose to be a facial that never came, which at this point I didn’t care if I got or not because we had spent 90minutes in there already and just wanted to leave. The session was suppose to be only 90 minutes.
Let’s start with the good:
–The place was clean
–Nice setup
–People were nice and polite
The bad:
–Poor pedi
–Massage hurt my girlfriend, I was fine as I have more muscles and needed a deep massage.
–Often spoke in Chinese around customers having private conversations. Not a big deal to me, but it’s unprofessional.
–Completely left out the facial I paid for in my groupon.
Will not be returning. I don’t like giving low scores but it’s my honest opinion. 2 stars for the politeness of the workers.

I got their socialshopper deal for mani/​pedi with gel. I’ll be short but informative.
The lady who did my nails was nice and she kept asking me to check my nails and make sure it is what I like which I really appreciate it since I’m picky when it comes to my nails.
the deal states that mani/​pedi comes with foot/​hand soak and massage. I did get my feet soaked but as I waited for my massage nothing happened. As for my hands the closest I got to the hand soak was washing my hand at the sink after filing and removing cuticles of my dry hands. However I did get a little bit of hand massage when I asked for some lotion at the end. Also when I got home I found some smudge looking spots on 2 nails.
I think it worth the extra money to go somewhere a little more fancy and with more staff where they don’t make you feel awkward when they start talking in another language and start rushing as the other customers arrive.

This is a horribly run business. We based our Groupon purchase firstly and obviously off the price, like everyone, and then proceeded to have a gander at reviews. All seemed good to go so we made our purchase and were excited about our couples massage.
My boyfriend called J Natural Spa on Friday and scheduled our COUPLES MASSAGE appointment for Sunday. He was told that there was an 11 am spot and a 5 pm spot but that the 11 am people hadn’t confirmed and that they would call him back regarding its availability. So he booked the 5 pm to secure a spot either way. We never heard back from them. So, Sunday morning we called them at 11, when they opened, to see whether or not we could come in earlier or if we needed to stick to our 5 pm reservation. When he called, he was told that because HE never called back they didn’t have our appointment in the books and gave it to someone else. From the get go, you can obviously understand my first sentence. After a lengthy conversation and a call back from them, they were able to secure us the 5 pm spot. So we went about our day and arrived at the «spa» 5 to 5 at which point he received a phone call informing us that they only had one girl available and if it was ok if only one of us got a massage. Obviously, this was NOT OK given we bought a Groupon for a couples massage. obviously we BOTH need to get the service we paid for. She told us the girl went home sick and that she only had one available and that she could reschedule. We told her that this wasn’t an option since we had dinner reservations for after we got our massages. He said well I’m right outside I’m coming up and she insisted that he didn’t. At this point, I walked up the stairs and let this woman know exactly how much of an inconsiderate inconvenience she had caused us. I understand that people go home sick, that’s fine, but if she’s sick she shouldn’t be at work where she’s giving people facials and massages and touching people in such a manner allowing germs to be spread in a much more skin to skin contact. Gross. Secondly, when did she leave? Was it right before we got there? A few hours ago? If you’re offering a service, you need to be staffed accordingly and if something happens where you aren’t staffed accordingly, you need to let your customers know more than 5 min before their appointment. To further the frustration she was reluctant to offer up any consolation for sucking at her job. Her only offer was for us to come back at 7 pm. My response was, «no, thank you, who wants a massage and then go to bed an hour later?!» I was a bit irate that someone could lack such common courtesy. She continued to inform us that there was nothing she could do since she was not the manager and so we asked who was running the business, as in who was in charge, she replied «no one» which then made perfect sense.
I would advise no one to go here as there «spa» is nothing more than an altered cubicle and their customer service standards are all but to par.

Update review: I had previously gone to j natural spa and had a bad experience. After writing a Unilocal review the manager contacted me and offered a complimentary service.
So here is the update! My nail tech, shayla, This time around definitely was a professional that really took time on making my nails look and feel good. She also gave me a bunch of helpful tips on lotions and cuticle oils etc. to take care of my dry hands and feet. I had the shellac mani pedi done and both look great and she even put a little sparkle on my ring Finger! Which adds the perfect touch!
J natural spa hired the right nail tech, she did such an awesome job and is definitely an asset to j spa. I will be recommending her to my friends in the area!
The manager who contacted me really cares about his clients, so on that note I would recommend the business as a whole ! Thanks again.

Granted, we came here with a coupon so I was expecting just a sample of what they offer. I was put on a bed that had a heat pad on it. It was okay at first, but was pretty hot when we finished. My girlfriend and I came together but we had separate rooms. I was expecting a body massage but had only my back done. I have been in the waiting room for a while now and my girlfriend is still in her treatment room. My treatment was mediocre at best.
My girlfriend had a completely different experience however, and completely gushed over her treatment.

I had purchased a groupon deal for a 45 min massage and foot soak for two. It was the most disappointing experience. It took forever for me to book an appointment, because as soon as I mentioned it was a groupon deal the lady on the phone started to sound uninterested and pretended not to speak english. When I managed to finally book an appointment, it had taken two weeks and they demanded a mandatory tip of 20% even though the massage was not great. The lady would pick up phone calls during the massage and the foot soak was nothing special either. I will not be returning. Service and quality was extremely poor.

Had a facial + massage combo at J Natural spa. There was a 15 min delay for my service cause they were running late. Note: this spa use ORGANIC products! So I had my feet soaked to start, then I was led to the room at the back of the spa where I would be served. I asked to start with massage and requested FIRM pressure. The massage was below average comparing to other spas, I didn’t feel any muscle tensions being released. But she did go through the whole body, but I hardly felt anything. Next came the facial which began with the cleanser, I really liked the scent of the products used. Though I mentioned I had some makeup on, no makeup remover was ever used. I just had to wish their cleanser was a strong one… An exfoliation was also performed with some kind of scrub and she really exfoliated HARD on my face. I have never pressed so hard with the scrub on my face before, I feared she could have damaged my skin. Then a mask was put on. Throughout the entire process, I was NEVER informed of the products used or the ingredients or what was next… When mask was finished, she simply put some moisturizer on my face, PERIOD. Where was the TONER? Suncreen? All the spas I have been to, would at least put on 2 or 3 different products after the mask. Honestly, TONER + MOISTURIZER are the BASIC 2 things you MUST have. As soon as I was paid to leave, the girl who was helping me was already PACKED & ready to go. Obviously she couldn’t wait to leave to enjoy her evening. Then after I walked out, I realized my 90 min treatment cut to ONLY 60 mins. WHAT THE!!! I only give it a 3 star for the organic products and the smooth skin after the facial. But the whole experience just seemed very unprofessional.

After reading some of these reviews I was surprised and delighted to have a wonderful relaxing experience. I was quickly welcomed and comfortably settled with my foot soak. The spa rooms are bright, welcoming and as spacious as any I have visited before. Julie gave me a wonderful facial, tension relieving neck and foot massage. I look forward to my next visit.

I love visiting J-​Spa. Whether I am in for a facial or just a quick sauna session, I am always welcomed into such a beautiful, comfortable and relaxing environment. They certainly keep me wanting more. J-​Spa is a wonderful spa in Kits, definitely worth the repeat visits.

J Spa has been my go-​to for regular facials for the last two years. I am an Eminence product devotee, and they use a fantastic assortment in their very thorough treatments. Their location is convenient, clean, and welcoming. I have never had anything but a lovely experience!

I read about J-​Spa on Vancouver Daily Secret and what a secret it is! I have had facials across Europe, North America, Asia and the Middle is and this is by far the best facial I have had. You are greeted with organic teas or ice cold alkaline water and a warm foot soak. The beds are heated and I felt relaxed with the music. I was excited about all the organic products used and even bought a few to take home. Not only do you have a facial, but you also get a neck, shoulder and foot massage. After the couple of hours being in J-​Spa, I left relaxed, refreshed and glowing. I would recommend J-​Spa to anyone living in Vancouver or tourists in town. I will be back again!

I originally went when J-​spa had a promotion. I was so impressed! They really go the extra mile and make you feel so comfortable. I felt like a new person once I left. I’ve been back several times since and each session is a lovely getaway.

A friend and I went last night for the extended January special for $ 89 and it was worth way more. Had the sauna for the first time and it was amazing! Also got a massage and body butter rub. Left feeling like a limp noodle, perfect! And now my friend is a convert too! And even took home some of their special water!

Julia knows her product and provides great service. The service started with a lovely foot soak and herbal heating pad around my neck to start the relaxation. I had Kangen Water and Pure-​Coco (coconut water) which I absolutely loved. The facial consisted of all organic ingredients that left my skin glowing. She’s awesome at removing blackheads too. I bought the J Spa face food. I love it! It’s a little pricey, but I think you get what you pay for and Julia tells me it will last for 6 months. After a a couple of days use, my skin already feels younger. The massage was also very good. The amount of pressure she used really released the tension I had been carrying for quite a long time. Thanks J Spa for your great hospitality and friendly down to earth personality.

Julia at J-​Spa is an absolute giver. You can tell by the way she talks about the ingredients in her products and how they work to explaining techniques that she really has a passion for this industry. Before going to Julia, I would go to a spa for a massage and it would be nice, but it didn’t really «work». Most massage therapists at spa’s (I find) are too light, and I’d leave with the same tension. Julia has a knack of mixing a relaxation technique along with enough strength to get into those sore places. She knows exactly what she’s doing when she’s working with those muscles.
What I like about J-​spa is that it’s different. If you’re looking for that Fairmont experience, then this may not be the place for you. Instead of going for high-​tea, this is more of a boutique coffee shop. You have very knowledgeable and friendly staff, a non-​pretentious environment, and a great location. When I’m on vacation I love going to the spa at the resorts because of the amenities… but even without the rows of showers and Jacuzzi pools, the service here makes that less important. Plus, there is something extremely soothing (when you’re in the treatment rooms with windows) about the skylights and nature friendly décor.

If you are looking for a true spa experience, this is not the place. It’s a small few rooms up above a store in Kits. No extras like steam rooms, jacuzzis or changing rooms if you want to shower after. The girl I had was very nice, however the music was so loud I had to ask her to turn it down twice (and not relaxing ocean sounds or the like… full blasting world music!) They also do that annoying thing of trying to sell you every product they are using throughout the process so you don’t get any time to nod off. Most places I go to have stopped that hard sell tactic.
Anyhow, I gave it a try using Living Social deal and now I know. I shall be sticking with my favourite spa at the Fairmont.
Cheers