The Pain Stop

No, this is not where you can choose your favorite style of pain.  Rather, this is the Chinese massage therapy location I stopped by today to help alleviate the incredible pain in my lower back. Alas, I believe the pain initiated from a 2 hour Yoga class I took with a friend on Saturday, which was fantastic, but it did a number on me.  Same happened when I tried Pilates when I was 18.  I ended up half immobilized from lower back pain.  One would think I would learn!

Instead, I suffered through 3 days of increasing back pain to finally make the decision I was going to pop over to this awesomely reviewed massage therapy center down the street from my house in Wicker Park.  The Pain Stop.  Rightfully named, it's intention is to bring the best of Eastern knowledge and massage therapy, including cupping, to the Western world.  Or well, the western part of Chicago also known as Wicker Park.  It's an unassuming place, cash only, located right off Milwaukee Ave.  It's white walls and barren interior almost make you wonder if it's legitimate.  I'm used to spas and heavenly sanctuaries where there are waterfalls, water pitchers, and fine seating for those entering the building.  This was just ... there.  You are there to correct pain.  They are there to help.  They don't feel the need to court you beforehand, and after my massage was over I didn't feel the need for it either.  BECAUSE IT WAS AMAZING!!! 

Lee was my therapist, and I asked he do a "medium" tissue massage.  I was in so much pain I feared a "deep" tissue massage might break me. He threw on his 60 minute timer and went to work.  Now, I've had loads of massages, and he was top-notch. And for $65 for an hour, there isn't even a hit for room for complaining.  I would go back in a heartbeat!  Within minutes I wanted water, and by the time I was done I could barely move.  I was in more pain than when I arrived, to which I was assured some good solid stretching and water would make me right as rain my tomorrow.  The lady behind the counter even suggested if I wanted to make it back to hot yoga that might not be a bad idea as I could sweat out the free-roaming toxins and do some stretching.  Just, as she said, take it slow. 

Again, for those of you who know good massage, you know that when you enter with severe pain, you'll leave with more, because that's what happens.  They break up and move the pain around so that it can leave the body.  They don't suck it out.  They don't wave a wand and make it disappear, and they don't remove it by sugar coating and lightly rubbing your back.  They work it out, and that is exactly what they did.  Thank you, The Pain Stop, for being exactly what I needed.  I cannot wait for tomorrow, nor for the next 64 ounces of water I still need to drink to rehydrate and detoxify those free radicals now roaming around my body.  I promise, I will be back.