Monday, May 20, 2013

Massage in Buenos Aires

If you’re on vacation or living in Buenos Aires and feeling the stress of city life, it may be the perfect time to treat yourself to a massage. There are a number of well-trained expatriate masseuses who have set up shop in Buenos Aires, although they tend to charge a bit more than local practitioners. Getting a massage in Spanish is low-pressure way to great way to get a little practice and the lack of the ability to communicate can be a bonus — who wants to gab during a massage?

There is no official licensing requirement for massage in Buenos Aires or anywhere else in Argentina. This means that anyone can call themselves a ‘massage therapist,’ whether they have training or not. When making an appointment for a massage feel free to ask the provider where they studied, for how long and any other questions that might give you an idea of their level of training, or better yet go to someone who comes recommended.

Keep in mind that as in many places of the world, ‘massage’ can be used as a ‘code word’ to indicate sexual services (especially on Craigslist ads). Now that the government has banned so-called ‘Rubro 59′ ads, the sexual service ads that appear in the back section of newspapers and magazines, it is becoming harder to suss out who is a massage therapist and who just pretending to be one. Stories abound in Buenos Aires of expats who scheduled a massage only to find out that they unintentionally booked an appointment with a prostitute. Similarly, massage therapist recount stories of clients who book an appointment but make it clear when they arrive that they are looking for much more than a therapeutic massage.

Centro/Monserrat

Jorge Gassetti is a massage therapist specializing in deep tissue, Do-In, Shiatsu and Tui-Na for dancers and athletes. In his 30-year career he has worked as the official masseuse for the Municipal General San Martín ballet, the London Contemporary Dance Theater, Stuttgart Ballet in Germany, the Birget Culberg Ballet of Sweden, the Argentine Volleyball team at the 1998 Pan American Games and for Argentina female hockey team at the 2003 Olympics in Sydney. His special price for Wander Argentina clients is AR$180 per session at his office in microcentro. He speaks Spanish and German, and has flexible hours.

Jorge Gassetti
Esmeralda 570
Floor 11, #39
Tel: 4325-4608
Cell: 15-6277-1435

• To make an appointment with Jorge in English call Cristina: 15 4493 9729

 

Rosy Ramirez is a shiatsu masseuse and yoga instructor who knows her stuff. She works out of her Monserrat home with a studio, near downtown Buenos Aires. The earthy Brazilian gives an oil-free full-body floor massage that is more focused on the meridians than muscle groups. Those who are modest will be happy that this type of massage does not require removal of clothes, but it’s recommended to go in comfortable, loose clothes. Maybe because of her 20 years of experience, Rosy is one of those healers who seems to be able to pick up on the subtleties of whatever may be out of whack in the body, while working she may make comments such as ‘you have yearly sinus infections’ or ‘you need to cut-down your caffeine intake.’ Her intuitive powers are sought out by those suffering from conditions such as diabetes, sleep difficulties and chronic pain. She also specializes in working with pregnant women. In-house sessions cost AR$ 200 per hour (approximately $US50 per hour) Reserve your appointment with 72 hours advanced notice please.

Remaining AR$ 180 due at the appointment.

Reserve Online
Date & Time -72 hrs in advance

Rosy Ramirez
Adolfo de Alsina 960 / 3C
Capital Federal, Buenos Aires

• Hours: Tue 8:30 a.m.—12:30 p.m. & 2:30-4:00 p.m.
Wed 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Fri 2:30 pm.-4:00 p.m.
Sat & Sun 8:30 a.m.-9:00 p.m.

San Telmo

Susana Ines De Abreu runs Baires Massage in San Telmo. She doesn’t speak English but since she receives a lot of foreign clients, including many from the South American Explorers Club, she is accustomed to dealing with clients who speak caveman Spanish. She studied at Buenos Aires’ Atrica Institute and offer a variety of style of massage including acupressure, shiatsu, Thai Massage, reflexology and lymphatic massage, a gentle massage that is quite popular in Buenos Aires for those suffering from Edema, looking to kick-start the immune system or to lose weight and treat cellulite.

Book through Wander Argentina and your session costs AR$140 per hour after the reservation fee. Reserve your appointment with 72 hours advanced notice please.

Remaining AR$ 120 due at the appointment.

Baires Massage
632 Carlos Calvo, 5B
San Telmo
• Hours: Mon-Sat 9:00 a.m.—5:00 p.m.

Reserve Online
Date & Time -72 hrs in advance

San Cristobal/At Your Home or Hotel


He doesn’t speak English but Sergio Steingold works on a lot of foreign clients. This is because he got a lot of experience setting up shop every Sunday in the heart of the San Telmo Fair, doing fifteen minute massages in an ergonomic chair. He calls his technique Chi-do, a fusion of a few different oriental styles including shiatsu and acupressure. The goal is to eradicate tension or blockages in the body caused by emotional stress. If you don’t speak Spanish don’t sweat it, Sergio is able to tune-in to problem areas without any help.

Sergio has since moved to Carlos Paz, Cordoba. Please get in touch through the contact form if you would like to make an appointment with him.

Sergio Steingold
Carlos Paz, Cordoba
• Hours: Mon-Sat. 9:00 a.m.—10:00 p.m.

 

Why Book Online

• Safety — give peace of mind to yourself and the masseuse with the understanding you are booking a legitimate therapeutic massage

Savings —book through Wander-Argentina and receive your massage at a special discounted price of at least AR$20 off for our readers

Knowledge — All the massage therapists listed here are trained and certified

• Booking — We will set up your appointment for you if you don’t speak Spanish. Make sure to indicate the date and time when you pay the deposit

Terms of online booking

• We will be in touch once we receive your deposit
• If you need to change your appointment, please do so 48 hours in advance
• Deposit is non-refundable if you miss your appointment without rescheduling
• After paying your AR$20 deposit, the remainder of the special published price is due at your session
• For additional questions, please contact us!


Join our safe online booking program

Are you a Buenos Aires-based trained and certified massage therapist who would be willing to give a discounted price to our readers for the security of online booking? For this and other inquiries get in touch via our contact form!

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