I rarely write reviews, but after my horrific experience at The Bodywise Massage Inc. (1435 4th Street Suite F, San Rafael, CA), owned by Tobi Lessem, I feel compelled to warn others. If you're seeking a place for relaxation, healing, or even basic professionalism, steer clear of this establishment. Tobi's incompetence, condescension, and outright dismissal of customer needs turned what should have been a restorative birthday treat into an emotional disaster. I'll detail exactly what happened so you can see why no one should ever trust her or her business with their well-being. In February, I texted Tobi to book a 2-hour massage for my birthday, which I treat myself to annually as a form of self-care. This year was particularly tough; I'd lost two incredibly close women in my life, leaving me in deep mourning, emotionally heavy, and profoundly vulnerable. I was counting on this session to help process that grief through therapeutic touch. Tobi confirmed the 2-hour booking via text, so I arrived excited for some much needed relief. The masseuse was a bit late, but she got me settled quickly, and we began. About an hour in, while I was face down, fully immersed in the massage, feeling those pent-up emotions finally starting to release, there was a sudden knock at the door. The masseuse stepped out, spoke briefly with Tobi, and returned to inform me that my session was over because the next client had arrived. Stunned, I reminded her of my 2-hour booking and offered to show proof from my texts. She stepped out again to relay this to Tobi, only to come back insisting it was just a 1-hour slot and I had to leave immediately. I was furious. Being yanked out of that vulnerable, healing state mid-session felt like a violent interruption to my emotional process. I got dressed and confronted Tobi in the lobby. I explained the booking error and showed her our text exchange proving the 2-hour booking. Even the other client, a gentleman who'd been double-booked over my time, overheard our conversation and graciously offered to reschedule, saying, "I'm sorry, it's your birthday, I don't want to interrupt that." But it was too late; Tobi had already forced me off the table and out of the room. Tobi acknowledged her mistake in booking me for only 1 hour instead of 2, but her response was shockingly condescending. She dismissed my concerns, saying she "had to make the call" and would prioritize the other client, essentially telling me to she didn't care. When I expressed how deeply disappointed and hurt I was, especially given my personal circumstances, she had the audacity to retort, "If this is the worst thing that's ever happened to you, you're lucky." Appalling doesn't begin to describe it. Here I was, raw and exposed, and she minimized my pain with a flippant remark that showed zero empathy. Later, Tobi sent a follow-up email that only compounded the insult. I've attached a copy here so you can see her mindset in her own words. Read that again: "We are not interested in good customer service." She openly admits her business prioritizes some vague "community" notion over basic respect for paying clients. She assumed the other client's "medical massage" needs trumped mine without knowing anything about my own emotional and physical state, as if grief and vulnerability aren't valid reasons for care. I paid for the full hour I received, but the damage was done: my birthday self-care ritual was ruined, and I left feeling more broken than when I arrived. This isn't just a simple scheduling mix-up; it's a glaring display of arrogance, poor management, and a complete lack of accountability. Tobi's actions show she values her own judgment over evidence (like text proof) and client feelings. In a field like massage therapy, where trust and sensitivity are paramount, this level of disregard is dangerous. Psychologically, interrupting a session mid-flow can exacerbate emotional distress, turning a healing space into a traumatic one. If she treats vulnerable clients this way, imagine how she'd handle yours. Do not give Tobi Lessem or The Bodywise Massage Inc. your time, money, or trust. There are plenty of compassionate, competent massage therapists in San Rafael who actually care about their clients. Save yourself the heartbreak, avoid this place entirely. 1 star, and that's generous. read more

Bodywise Massage - Massage Near Me - San Rafael, California

Had the best massage w/Ariana - she is amazing! The space is quaint and professional and the Owner is so nice as well. I highly recommend Bodywise! read more

I had my first experience at Bodywise Massage yesterday! It was wonderful! I walked with aches and pain in my body, low energy and after my massage with Stephanie I have so much less pain and great energy! This is a little gem of a place! The price is great, wonderful vibe, great art and the chocolate that I bought was sooo good! I highly recommend this spot! read more

Wonderful massage; just what I needed. Cindy, my masseuse, performed magic on my neck. A clean, professional and friendly place.

Wish I could recommend this place as some of the therapists are good and price is reasonable. However, I have had two poor experiences because of the location. With paper thin walls, you can hear everything as a talk-session was in the room next to me. With an attempt to apologize I was given a credit. Now, I arrived for a 1pm appointment.. no room was available for the appointment and at 1:10 the therapist was considering cleaning out a storage room which I saw and it was a complete mess. At this point I asked for a refund and won't be back. Too bad as I do like supporting small businesses. read more

The most gifted array of massage therapists ever! Tobi has retuned my body and helped me recover from a stressful time and chronic illness. Samantha makes you feel like a purring cat and is a true healer. Lowell's expertise with Tuina massage has helped halt my tremor. Cindy is a gentle intuitive who intuits what your body needs. Indeed they are all body wise and I can't say enough to praise them! Don't just book an hour. Treat yourself to 90 minutes of bliss if you can. Your life will be rearranged read more

We booked (3) massages with the fabulous Lowell ! Unfortunately, our vacation rental lost power and heat in the storm and we couldn't get all 3 in! Lowell and Tobi, the Bodywise owner, were graciously accommodating switching us to the studio and making everything smooth in a difficult situation! Will definitely use Bodywise in future! read more

Cindy gave me a great massage. I felt totally relaxed for the rest of the day. We talked about pressure and she told me I was getting medium pressure. So she can adjust it to your preference. I will be going back! read more

Joe was very patient and helpful! I enjoyed a relaxing massage for my injury and got some good strategies. I'll be returning regularly. The bios were very useful. read more

Had a chair massage 25 mins which was ok but I had other concerns: the 2 very sweet massage therapists I interacted with didn't seem informed about the text I received regarding Venmo for payments which came to before the appointment. The chair was being unfolded in the front of the clinic in public view instead of a private room which I had to request, and eventually the tiny room was rearranged to accommodate the chair. It felt cramped. The face cradle was not protected by a fresh cover so I requested kleenex be placed over it. The atmosphere was rather gloomy. My therapist didn't know my name so apparently had not checked the booking system which was all done via text from what seemed to be an AI bot, not very personal. The owner Tobi is reputedly always booked up but I was not impressed by the sense of welcome, hygiene or general atmosphere to return. The ladies were very nice but not well informed. read more

After dealing with upper back pain for a few months I made an appointment at Bodywise Massage for some deep tissue work. Samantha did an amazing job loosening up the knots in my shoulders and lats. After the first visit I felt a huge improvement. I continued to go back every week or two for four visits and am happy to report that my back is now on the mends. I highly recommend Samantha. read more

Bodywise salon is amazing. They have a wonderfully calming space, fabulous practitioners and are reasonably priced. I highly recommend.

I was delighted with my session with Joe. He is highly skilled, present, and professional. I explained my areas of tension and came out feeling uplifted, relieved, and happy body and mind. Thanks Bodywise and Thanks Joe - you have found your purpose! read more

Words cannot fully describe how amazing Bodywise is. From the moment I called Tobi was committed to understanding my needs and making sure they were fulfilled. I have been suffering from neck pain and was looking for a deep tissue therapeutic massage. Tobi recommended Cindy Hall. Cindy is a massage angel. Cindy is highly skilled, intuitive and one of the kindest souls on the planet, I had been in pain for two weeks. I left Bodywise with zero pain. Additionally Cindy gave mean a self treatment plan to further expedite my physical recovery. My experience with Bodywise far exceeded my expectations and I look forward to returning! read more

I had a this odd spasm on my torso that no bodyworker could quite get to, and Kyle was the first person to be able to stretch it out. His knowledge and skill set is vast. As a bodyworker myself, I find this studio to the best in town and refer my clients here exclusively. Great place and highly recommend! read more

This was one of the worst massages I've ever had, from entering the place where I wasn't greeted and treated gruffly, to the fact that I asked for a deep tissue massage and was just kind of poked at (although my quads were never touched, even though I said I'm a runner). Save your money and go somewhere else read more

I went to Bodywise last night for the first time because I needed help getting some knots out of my shoulders and I was able to book 30 minutes with Lowell at the very last minute, and I'm so glad that I did! He did a great job getting the knots out and relieving the tension I was having in my neck and back. I'll definitely be going back to Bodywise in the future; their prices are incredibly reasonable, too. Probably the best value for a massage in Marin. read more

I had a massage at Bodywise and the massage itself was good but the practitioner was not at all warm and welcoming. From the minute I walked in, she never once smiled and during the massage, never asked how I was doing, finished the 1 1/2 hr massage 20 minutes early and then asked me if there was any specific areas that I wanted more work done. I would have preferred she use her knowledge to decide that. I've had many massages and this has never happened. She seemed to not want to be at work. I am used to and want a much more nurturing and caring attitude and I will have to look elsewhere. read more

Best massage I have had in many many moons if not ever. Kyle is so knowledgeable, attentive, and adept. I have a few injuries, and besides a great massage, I learned an immense amount and felt the experience was helpful beyond anything I could have expected. I am already booked to return. Thank you very much. read more

The staff at Bodywise are a wonderful group. Tobi is always a positive force leading the way. Stacy makes my body feel much better every time I get a massage. She is also a very positive and nice person. read more

My massage with Moneeka, and the place was lovely. A star off bc I left TWO phone messages and got no response prior to my booking.

The therapists are great, both Tobi and others she has recommended but I'm writing about how Tobi does business. It's clear she cares about your well being, in a conversation about a tool she was very generous with her time, not only demonstrating it but also offered to show me stretches any time. It's clear to me she just cares. In my opinion this is the kind of business we want to support, and I think they really need it given the last couple of years. In the end we're supporting our own well being anyway, please do not think you are helpless when help is obviously available. read more

I had a session with Sasha who worked on some shoulder stiffness issues I've been having. He was quite skilled and knowledgeable and relieved some of the tension around my rotator cuff and deltoids. It's been an on-going issue that I've been working on with a licensed physical therapist. I've been receiving various types of massage for 30 years and Sasha is up there with being one of the best! read more

Bodywise is an awesome place for a massage. Sasha is so soothing. Tobi is amazing with Lomi Lomi massage. They are busy all the time because the therapists are good. It's easier to get a hold of them by text: 707-652-4165. Enjoy!!! read more

Bodywise is amazing! Tobi was super helpful when I was on maternity in finding a great match for my needs as well as giving me different stretches to try at home as my back was messed up from delivery. Bee is an amazing therapist, she is always able to make me feel so much better after I visit. Both of them clearly care about their clients and I would highly recommend Bodywise to anyone! read more

I found this little gem of a massage place accidentally last week, made an appointment and had a very wonderful massage with Lowell yesterday. I really did feel brand new when I walked out of their door! Lowell listened carefully to what I felt I needed and checked in on me throughout to make sure his pressure was right for me in different areas of my body. I found Bodywise to be very friendly and convenient and I will return soon. read more

I had a forty five minute massage last night with Ben. When he asked me if I had any tension in my body, I told him my neck and back, but really, my entire body was tense. He rubbed (more like pinched) my neck and shoulders, dug his elbow in to my arm and both hips, then ran his hands down the blanket, squeezed my feet (with the blanket covering) and said "thank you" then walked out. FORTY FIVE minutes, and $56.00 later, I left there feeling like I had been poked with a stick and a two year old gave me a neck and shoulder massage. Very, very disappointed. If I ever go back, I'll be sure to ask for Bea; she can give a thorough massage, in a half an hour, so, for forty five minutes and a few dollars more, I will only ask for her. When I left after a massage with her, I felt like a noodle. This time I walked away feeling like a stiff board that had a nail or two driven in to it. :( read more

I had a great experience at Bodywise. Sasha is a skillful practitioner who used just the right amount of pressure in the right spots to help me release tension and relax. I'm a massage therapist myself with 16 years experience, so finding a really good therapist is always a treat. Thanks Sasha! read more

"Wise" is the right word choice. I just finished my first massage with Tobi and 5 minutes in it felt that she had known my body for years. She was not following a sequence, but rather feeling what my body needed. I'm a preschool teacher and bending over at work takes a tole on my back. I also had ACL surgery 2 years ago. Tobi really took the time to work these areas and it feels! While walking to my car I noticed how much more aligned I felt. I'm walking straighter, both in my hips and my posture. HIGHLY RECOMMEND, worth every penny! read more

Tobi and the Bodywise team are amazing- really intuitive and healing. Very relaxing but also good at working out specific pain points throughout the body. I go here regularly and highly recommend. read more

I have been having pain in my shoulder and numbness in my thumb, and Sasha knew exactly where to work on to relieve the tension. Even found tense areas in my arm I didn't know where there. Next day I have much more movement range in my neck and shoulder. Sasha was personable, knowledgeable and considerate. Looking forward to going back. read more

I love this place! It's not a fancy spa, but a heated massage table, expert practicioners to choose from and a price that I can afford. I now have my favorite guy, after trying several different masseuses, all were very good! Check it out! read more

Samantha was amazing! Best massage I have received. I was so relaxed, almost felt like I left my body, can't wait to go again!

This review is long overdue - I've been coming to Bodywise for two years now and have left after every massage feeling amazing. Tobi was able to get me in at the last minute when I had a severe back spasm last year. Generally, I have some musculoskeletal issues that cause chronic pain and massage therapy is one of the modalities that helps me manage that pain. I've had so many massages over the years, of varying quality and effectiveness, and I'm happy to say that at Bodywise it's been consistently very high due to the skill of the massage therapists. I usually get incredible pain relief in addition to feeling so relaxed. read more

I found Tobi on yelp and it was by far one of the best finds. I came to her with hip problems from all the running that I do and she knew exactly what to do. What was even bette is that she talked through everything she was doing and what was the root problem of my injury. After that first time I saw her once a month for routine maintenance and more often I'd something was starting to bother me. She also helped with getting my body ready for long races and with the post recovery. Unfortunately I had to move and believe me finding a replacement and knowledgeable and awesome has been difficult. read more

I LOVE this place! AMAZING customer service - they figured out a way to get me in last minute and I received a wonderful massage by Bee! Definitely going back here - easy parking and fabulous experience! read more

Tobi, Sasha and everyone else I've encountered at Bodywise have been amazing and from the second you walk in, make you feel relaxed. They are so knowledgeable about massage and how the body works. I always leave with much less pain than before I walked in. I just had a wonderful outdoor massage in the spacious courtyard that felt very private and relaxing as there was a nice breeze. Tobi has done a great job with the remodel and is taking all COVID-19 precautions. I'll be back in a couple of weeks! read more

Massage at Bodywise is far superior to massage I've had anywhere else. It is true body work, combining gentle adjustment with therapeutic relaxation. Unlike the masseuses at fancy spas and resorts, the practitioners at Bodywise are extremely intuitive as to my individual situation and needs. read more

I've been reluctant to go get a massage for years now because of a bad experience, but a recent fall while skateboarding got my back in a bad knot. A friend recommended Bodywise and I'm embarrassed a haven't been doing this sooner! I will definitely be going back. read more

I do a lot of silly things, most of which have the tendency to destroy my shoulders and neck, so it's always reassuring to know that Tobi and her team have my back-- literally! Unlike other massage therapists who will poke at your back and call it a day, the team at Bodywise all actually have a deep understanding of just how the human body is put together and how the muscles are all interlinked to get down to the actual root of the problem instead of just addressing things at a surface level. One time my neck completely locked up and I couldn't turn my head without getting an incredibly sharp pain-- Tobi was able to work her way down every connecting muscle (naming every one along the way) and found the source of the muscle spasm on my pectorals, of all places! Seriously, if you're in pain at all, if there's tension or tightness or knots that just don't go away, go check out Bodywise read more