Since this is my first naked full body massage I can't compare it with any others but I did enjoy it very much. I signed up for the student massage and Marti was like a pro. She spoke softly and made sure all my concern spots were addressed before she starts and she made sure to ask if the pressure was right a few time throughout the session. The hour went by so fast. my body was so tense from all the stressed I endured and after the massage I left feeling 20 lbs lighter on my shoulder. Needless to say, I made another appt. for next week. Thank you !! read more

Arcata Massage Collective - The lobby area where you wait for your masseuse to come greet you. - Massage Therapy Near Me - Arcata, California

Oh. My. God. The masseuse I see there doesn't know it, but we are best friends. Go for the pro massage was $40, it's worth it. read more

FANTASTIC MASSAGE THAT'S EASY ON THE WALLET OMG, how is that it's 2011 and I am the first Yelper for this place? I suspected that it was the best kept secret in town, but it's now been confirmed!!! For $40, you get a full 50-minute body massage by a certified masseuse or for $35 you get one by a student. I've done both, and have been equally satisfied. I mean, maybe in Arcata these prices might not be screamin' good, I'm not sure, but since I'm used to Bay Area prices where you can expect to pay $75 to $100 for 50-minutes, I'm giddy with excitement. Whenever I visit my daughter, we always pamper ourselves with a massage. At worst you get a so-so massage....most of the times, it is a fantastic one. Try to remember who you like and request on your next visit. read more

I had some mixed experiences with student masseuses, but now I spring for the $40 professional price - and have not been disappointed. One of the best deals in town. When you book your appointment, the receptionist can give you detailed reviews of each available masseuse. That's really helpful. The rooms are divided by curtains, but there is a good sense of privacy, and the place has always been quiet and comfortable. The place is nice and warm...which I love. My massages have been excellent. There are little boxes in the reception area for tipping - which is super convenient. Love this place. read more

I just got back from a massage from one of the students. He was as good as most professional massage therapists I've encountered. But it was only $25. The ASM also has low price massages from pros for only $40. My session was a full 60 minutes, and the massage therapist found and worked on several areas I didn't even know had problems. The only downside was a very minor one: the massages are done in a large room that is partitioned into smaller private areas by curtains, and so there was a little bit of noise from other therapists talking to their clients. read more

Booked 2 hour massage with Wesley and it was exceptional! The deep tissue hit all my tense spots and I got relief. This was a great choice for my road trip aches and pains. Glad I found him! read more

Nice place for a good massage. First time here, got a gift certifcate, for a professional massage. Had an appt at 5pm and when i walked in the waiting area was full, and really hot. When you walk in you check in at the desk, and then take off your shoes and place them on the shoe rack. It defintley smelled of dirty feet, but what can you do. The massage its self was great! Very relaxing and peaceful felt great walking out i will be back! read more

I had a two hour massage with Wesley that was excellent. He is exceptionally attuned to providing a massage that meets your specific needs. Definitely recommend! read more

You have two options for the type of masseuse you want: Professional or Student. Both massages are 60 minutes long and are performed in the same room. Professional Massages: $40 You can request special types of massages such as deep tissue or energy. Professional massages can be schedule all hours of the day and night as well as on weekends. I have had 2 professional massages here and both were decent, but not great. I requested deep tissue both times when making the appointment, but neither masseuse was able to accommodate me. The first masseuse did an energy massage with breathing technique, and the second did a relaxation massage. They were last minute appointments so I think I just got whoever was free. Student massages: $25 You can try to request a specific type of massage, but most students are still learning techniques and their knowledge and skill varies greatly. Student massages usually go on for about 3 months and you can tell the difference between the first month and the second and third - They get better! I have received about 12 student massages and counting. I always request deep tissue and 3 of the 5 masseuses have done amazing jobs! When you go in for your student massage, they will introduce you to the instructor on duty who will tell you they might check in on you. This has only happened to me once and it was only for about 3 minutes. What to expect: If it's your first time (which is why you're probably reading this section), arrive 10-15 minutes early. Parking can be tricky because there isn't a dedicated parking lot and you will have paperwork to complete. Check-in on Yelp and then leave your phone in the car (or turn it off). When you walk in, take your shoes off and place them on or near the shoe rack on the right of the room and then check-in with the attendant. Pay for your massage - cash or check only. You will wait in the waiting room until your masseuse comes out to take you back. They will call you up by name. You will go into the massage room which is a giant, dimly lit room playing ambient music. The room is warm, but not hot. The room is sectioned off by thick cotton sheets that make private massage areas. Inside the massage areas are a massage table, wicker basket, stool, clock, and sometimes a table for massage supplies. Sit on the bed and face you masseuse. Your masseuse will always check-in with you and ask about problem areas or injuries. Tell them what you like at this point, because once the massage starts - it's polite not to talk because there are no walls and someone may be only 8 feet away getting a massage. Once you are both comfortable with what's going to happen then they will go wash their hands - which is code for "take your clothes off". Massages, student or professional are best done fully nude - but it's your preference. Once you decide, place your clothes in the basket and then hop onto the table, usually face down, and cover yourself with the sheet and blanket. I get hot easily so I fold the blanket and lay it under the bed and just use the sheet. The masseuse will come back and ask you by name if you're ready. Don't do what I do and mumble, "uh huh..." It's hard for them to hear. Lift your head out of the head rest and clearly say, "Yes! Come on in and get some work done!" From there they work their magic! When your time is up they will make sure you're awake and then leave the room for you to get dressed. They will wait outside of your room for you to ask you about your massage and to walk you out. You can either leave your tip in the room (on the bed or stool) or in the waiting room they have little boxes with the masseuse's names on them. I have heard of people tipping as little as $5, but for how cheap the student massages are and the quality you get, I always tip $10 for trying and $20 for a job well done. read more

I've been coming to ASM for a couple months now, and I love it! You can get a 60 minute massage from a student for only $25, or from a pro for only $40. It is such a deal! I go every month for a little indulgence without the guilt of spending a ton. read more

Stopped here for a massage and loved it! Now every time i come to Arcata i schedule as many 2 hour massages as i can get! One tip when scheduling, describe the type of massage you want, because like any massage place, the massage therapist may or may not be as skilled in a certain massage. Other than that, what are you waiting for??? Schedule!!! read more

It is with mixed emotions that we post our review. Part of us wants to keep this place to ourselves. We would love to give the Arcata School of Massage 11 stars. You do need to call for a reservation, but it is so worth it. For $40.00 a person we had a professional massage, and it was worth every penny and more. We went horseback riding the day before, and after the massage we could both walk again. If we lived in the area, we would sign up for a bi-weekly massage. Should you go, the parking is street side, and there is the usual paperwork. There is one note: because this is a school, the massages are given in a large room with curtains sectioning space so you do have an amount of privacy. read more

A lot of noise. I was cold during my massage and I felt like cattle being herded into the show room. Body draping was also an issue. I won't come here again. I would rather pay a professional for a professional experience. I have found what I need and I will stick with that, but it was not here. The therapist I got was said to do a deep massage, but it was pretty light even though I asked for more pressure. The therapist was nice, but further training and experience would help. read more

I came here on a date and felt let down. I had heard positive things about this place before. I went on a weekend, which is when only the professional staff were on shift so I expected a lot for the price. First off, we arrived early to fill out our paperwork and were called upon to have our massages about 5 minutes past our scheduled appt. time. We were then asked a few questions and then undressed which took about 10 minutes altogether. After three quarters of an hour they were done and we both felt like we deserved a full hour, especially after such a mediocre performance at best. The massage itself was below mediocre actually. I came out feeling like I had expected so much more. I expected a deep tissue massage and they barely touched on the most common areas you'd expect from a massage i.e. - back, shoulders. There was barely any communication about the massage itself while taking place. My masseuse barely touched my lower back. I have had professional massages before in the city for much cheaper and I felt so let down I had to write this review. The staff was very nice and friendly but that's not what I came here for. I spent over $100 for what perhaps the students themselves could do better. I hardly felt any better after I left and I regret to say that I won't be coming back. read more

I've been getting massages for years, anywhere from top of the line exclusive spas to tiny hole-in-the-wall Asian reflexology places and spent anywhere from 20-300 on sessions. I went in expecting more than your average strip mall joint, but nothing too fancy, I was shocked at how amazing my experience was. For 40$ (now 50$) an hour, it was fairly standard; there was a small peaceful waiting room, curtains separating the massage areas, soft music playing, and a standard oil used. What made this place so different from the rest is the attention each masseuse gives you. They asked about everything, what areas are sore, what type of massage you like, how much pressure you prefer, and they make you very comfortable with letting them know how you feel or if you'd like them to change anything. For 40$ I didn't go in and get a "deep tissue" or "sweetish" or "sports therapy", I got a massage that was specially customized to my needs. It was like they took the aspects I needed from each style and combined them into one perfect massage. I found myself smiling multiple times from how relieving it felt. I went in with a sore neck/ upper back from stress and they relieved my pain every time I went in. Communication is key in massage, as every body is different and has different needs, Arcata School of Massage definitely understands this and trains their students well. Keep up the good work! read more

I had a refreshing experience here. I received a professional massage from Libby, and it was relaxing. I have a very sore back and her magical hands helped to loosen the tension and make me feel so comfortable. It is a very professional place with a very peaceful vibe. I highly recommend this place to anyone who feels like getting a great massage at a great price. read more

I love this place! I've gotten many great massages for a reasonable price, often scheduled at the last minute. Such a jewel!

Just went to the ASM for the last time. I have been going there for several years and have bought gift certificates and given them as gifts. But no more. I have found that over the years the massages are hit or miss, and I get the professional massages. Most of the professional therapists are building a client base and usually do not stay very long once they have built up a client base. Of course the manager Christina, made me realize today that there are issues with the management of the business which I guess was the last straw.It appears that since they have a high turnover of therapists and customers, they probably don't care about keeping customers for very long. Christina agreed that it would probably not be worth it to contact Tobin with my issues so I don't think I will waste my time. So beware you may get a good massage or you may get a mediocre massage at the ASM. read more

The two massages I had were amazing!! I got the "pro" massage, which was $40/hr + tip. Usually I like male massages because of strength but I got Sherry and she was STRONG!! One of the best massages I've had in awhile. Rob is equally as good. I highly recommend this place. read more

I just got a massage from Joaquin today and he is the best massage therapist I have been to in a long time. He is a gem to ASM

I received a "professional" massage, but I've gotten better massages from my boyfriend (who is NOT a masseuse). The massage didn't hurt and I never felt uncomfortable, which is why I'm giving it a two star rating. But it barely deserves that. First of all, the massage only lasted 45 minutes since they didn't take me back on time and spent ten minutes asking about past injuries. This would have been ok, but the areas I told her about were not focused on in the massage. For instance, I told her my right ankle had been hurt recently and she worked on my left. During the massage I felt like the pressure was too light and she was pulling my skin more than working my muscles. I told her she could go deeper and she said ok, but never did. It seemed like as soon as she touched on an area that felt good she moved off it right away. Overall, it seemed like she had no knowledge of anatomy and was completely oblivious of my problem areas. I've had plenty of professional massages and during each one I've always caught myself groaning and sometimes even drooling! During this massage I was bored the entire time. This massage was a complete waste of time. If i ever do go back to the Arcata School of Massage, it will only be because a specific masseuse is recommended. Otherwise I'd rather gamble the $40 plus tip at a casino instead of on a massage. read more

I got a massage from Sheri.. and it rocked! She was conscientious about pressure and asked me if I preferred more or less (she warned me she is notorious for deeper massages so if you like a lot more pressure she's your gal). Her friendly demeanor made it easy to communicate my aches and pain. I definitely will be seeing her again. This was my first massage there, you want to get there 10 minutes early... i was a little late because i live on the south end of eureka so be mindful. The rooms are separated by curtains but that didn't bother me, it's warm and they had relaxing music on. All around awesome experience. read more