It’s true- the gift-giving holidays are over.  No more presents to exchange or large groups of family in tiny tiny spaces to endure.  You can breathe.

Of course, if family tension has put a permanent crick in your neck, or if you overindulged in Christmas cookies (and pie, and stuffing, and say, a wheel of Brie that you ate all by yourself yesterday), breathing may feel a little more difficult today.  And if you’re a little burnt out from social obligations, some alone time may be just what you need. So if any of this sounds familiar, get thee to the one place where you can sweat, be alone, and even get a great massage (for as little as $30!)- HotHouse Spa and Sauna.

HotHouse Spa and Sauna is a women’s-only oasis for the weak, weary and sore.  For just $15, you can spend as much time as you want wandering through their catacomb of spas, jacuzzis, steam rooms, saunas, plunge pools and showers.  Bring a book and your birthday suit and curl up in a corner while you sweat away the toxins (both emotional and physical).  (If you aren’t a fan of the naked, you can wear a bathing suit.  But take to opportunity to learn to love yourself a bit, why don’t you?)

In addition to spa facilities, they have some of the best prices on massage around.  Prices range from $30 (for 15 minutes) to $105 (for 1.5 hours), so you can get a massage at a price you can afford.

Trust me, it’s exactly what your body is asking for.  Right now.

Short Story: If you don’t mind sacrificing a bit in the way of atmosphere, you can get an hour long foot massage for less than $30.

For some people, massage is all about the experience: the comforting sound of Enya, the soothing aroma of lavender wafting, and the gentle smile of your friendly masseuse.  But all that multi-sensory delight comes at a pretty steep price.  When you’re low on cash and need a rubdown, head to Chinatown.

I first discovered the joys of cheap foot massage in LA, where population density and price wars drive the cost down to $10 in some locations during certain times of the day.  But while Seattle may not have as many, we do have options, like Imperial Foot Massage, located on Jackson Street in the International District.  For a mere $29, you get a full 60 minutes of foot-rubbing bliss (with a nice nod to your neck and back as well).  Don’t get me wrong- for this price, you shouldn’t come in expecting a 4 star treatment.  Instead, you’ll be sharing a room with a dozen other clients (dont’ worry- everybody is fully clothed) and your masseuse will more than likely have a small language barrier to overcome.

But when it’s over, you’ll feel like a million bucks and be able to use the money you saved on a new, more comfortable pair of shoes.  Score!