Unwinding This Holiday Season with Zeel Massage on Demand

Has December been a whirlwind for everyone else too? I feel like this month has been flying by, and in just a few days, I’ll be flying to the east coast for holiday vacation with my family!

Luckily last week, I had a chance to stop and unwind a bit with one of my favorite means of de-stressing: a massage.

It’s no secret that I love a good massage…. and I’ve gotten a number of massages this year since part of my calf & foot injury rehab/maintenance plan has been getting massages every 4-6 weeks. Being such an active person, getting a massage makes a big difference in smoothing out those knots in my injury spots. While the deep tissue rubdowns on my calf and other tight spots are usually more painful than relaxing, it’s a good kind of pain knowing that I’ll feel better in the long run!

I was about due for a massage when Zeel Massage on Demand reached out to see if I’d be interested in trying out their services. It was a perfect fit for both working out my tight muscles and de-stressing before my holiday travels!

Zeel is a massage on demand company delivering spa-quality massages to your home, hotel, or workplace in many major U.S. cities – 7 days a week, 365 days a year. I loved the idea of getting a massage in the comfort of my own home, which is something I’ve never done before.

Users can request massages on the Zeel app. Once I downloaded it on my iPhone, I specified when I wanted my massage, what type of massage I wanted, if I had a gender preference (female), and added in the location that I wanted my massage done (my home).

It was a pretty straightforward process, except I did experience some difficulty verifying my identify. Zeel requires either a passport or license scan, or the last 4 digits of your social security number. I had trouble getting my ID recognized and my SS number wasn’t being verified, so this step wasn’t as easy as I would have preferred, but it worked eventually.

Once the process was complete, I got my massage booked within minutes and Zeel sent me a confirmation text. They also texted & emailed me appointment reminders and a much appreciated “what to expect” email leading up to the massage.

The Zeel masseuse brought a massage table, lotion and music, and all I had to provide was sheets and a pillow. We set up the table in my living room, which had an especially relaxing ambiance going on because it was a rainy, dark day and I had lit my Christmas tree and fireplace lights, and also had a lavender candle lit.

The one thing I was wondering about was how my energetic dog would be during the at-home massage. Not surprisingly, Harley was very interested in what a stranger was doing setting up camp in the living room. She was her usual nosey self as the masseuse set up the table, and alternated between being good & laying down, and getting out all of her toys out of her basket and licking my lotioned arms and legs throughout the massage. I wouldn’t expect any less from her!

Here are my overall thoughts on my Zeel massage:

Pros:

• It’s very convenient being able to order a massage on-demand to your home!
• It’s relaxing getting a massage in your own living room. I hopped out of the shower 5 minutes before my masseuse arrived. I could also see this as being an awesome app to have handy when I travel – especially when I’ve had long work days or am feeling sore from an adventurous vacation workout.
• The masseuse was on-time and courteous.
• The massage was a much-welcomed, relaxing hour of my day in the midst of a busy holiday season.
• Even with the convenience of having a masseuse come to your home, the massage cost is a pretty standard rate: $99 for a 60-minute massage + a built-in 18% tip.
• All payment is done via the app (or website, if booking there), so users never have to worry about tipping or getting a credit card out post-massage.

Cons:

• While I enjoyed my massage, the masseuse didn’t pay any particular attention to the two areas I had asked her to focus on more. This happens a lot in my experience, and in general it’d be beneficial if masseuses really listened and addressed their clients’ wishes more.
• It was a bit problematic to get the identification verification on the app to work. While I’m assuming you only need to do this the first time you book a massage & it wasn’t a deal breaker, it was a bit of a hassle.

Overall, my first at-home massage experience with Zeel was a pleasant one! Booking appointments through a smart phone app in general is the future of scheduling. Whether you’re on-the-go sitting on the subway or watching TV at home, the Zeel app is a convenient way to schedule a massage.

If you’re still looking for the perfect gift for a loved one, a gift card to Zeel might be just what you’re looking for…. I know I would be happy if I got a massage gift certificate for the holidays! Learn more about Zeel’s gift options here.

Disclaimer: While Zeel provided me with a complimentary massage, as always, all opinions expressed are genuinely my own.