Billy is an incredible massage therapist! I have chronic back pain, and I always leave appointments feeling so much better. Billy is a great listener and problem-solver, who thinks through your needs with you before the session starts and follows up throughout, checking in to see how pressure and style are. He's really creative as well, bringing in gentle stretches and subtle shifts that always improve my aches and pains. I've been making regular appointments with Billy at Elements for 3 years and it's been a gamechanger. I couldn't recommend him more highly. read more

I've been to see Dani B many, many times now, and she has been pretty consistently excellent. Responsive massage, pressure and addresses areas causing me problems during each session. Brilliant. read more

Ryan is truly exceptional massage theraist. His technique is spot-on, but what really stands out is how attentive and calming he is. Each session, he listens carefully to what's going on with me and tailors the treatment to exactly what I need. I always walk away feeling better and relaxed-both physically and mentally. He's an outstanding therapist, and I can't recommned him enough! read more

Came for a relaxing medium-pressure Swedish massage and received just that when I booked with Denise! Her massages are incredibly soothing and exactly what I need to unwind and for total body muscle and stress relief. Enjoyed her massages so much that I signed up to become a member and get my monthly-fix of massages with Denise! read more

Danielle is: friendly; caring; personable; knowledgeable. She has a discerning touch. Worthwhile experience.

I recommend Elements San Mateo 100%! I have been having massage treatments at Elements San Mateo for 2+ years and I am completely happy with them. Receptionists are very polite and friendly. They call me if I forget an appointment. Getting a call is very helpful, as I might miss text messages. My massage therapist is Amber. She offers deep tissue massage and it is extremely effective. I have consistently had tightness especially on my right shoulder blade area and it has been bothering me in the past 20+ years. Ever since I started getting massage from Amber, while it's still there (well, it will never goes away, as partially it comes from using mouse everyday), but well, it doesn't bother me at all. It's a huge difference for me. She give me advice on stretching, bed setting to reduce muscle tightness. Thank you Amber and I always look forward seeing you and getting treatment from you. read more

Elements used to be my go-to massage chain, but my last few visits have been increasingly disappointing. I've been to various Elements locations with various massage therapists, with my most recent visit at their San Mateo location. First things first, Elements is pricey. A 1-hour massage runs $139, not including gratuity, putting your total bill upwards of $160 for one hour. For me, what differentiated Elements (and made it worth the price tag) was the personalization and service of the experience, and unfortunately, my most recent visit missed the mark on almost all fronts. My massage therapist rushed me into my room, had an incredibly brief conversation about areas to focus on/avoid, and then left the room. Maybe it was because I booked the last slot of the evening before closing, but I felt like he was over it before our session even started. I explicitly told my massage therapist not to massage my arms due to a recent injury, yet he did anyway. He used way too much pressure on some areas and not enough on others. For most of the session, he used his forearms/elbows, which was ineffective at best and super painful at worst. He spent a lot of time massaging my bones (like my spine, my shoulder blades, etc.) which hurt, and strokes were inconsistent on both sides (i.e., what he did on my right side was not repeated on my left). He also yanked my hair on several occasions. Finally, he didn't wipe away the massage oil (no hot towel or anything), and I had to find and use a towel to wipe myself before redressing. For $170 for one hour, I expected more. read more

Came in for a relaxing massage, got an hour of political propaganda and conspiracy theories peppered with hate speech along with an unrelaxed body. To their credit, the entrance/waiting area is pretty clean and tidy. But don't cross the door to go the massage rooms. read more

The worst massage I had in my entire life. My back still hurts the same after the massage. Masseuse was more interested in talking than giving massage. No pressure at all for a deep tissue massage. The masseuse left at 48 minutes. I have gone to a handful of massage place in the Bay Area, and this one ranks among the lowest. I am never coming back to this place. read more

The therapist was fine and the massage was good but not amazing. However, it's really expensive for a 60 mins massage. I thought it was suppose to be $110 for a prenatal massage but then I got charged $130? I'm confused where the mix up was - I paid it but I wouldn't go back to this place as they did not provide a service that was worth this price. So many other massage places for a more reasonable price. Will not be returning. read more

Each time I've been able to book a massage just at the time I needed it. The staff is always super friendly and accommodating. Both massages I got from David were terrific. He is so knowledgeable about his craft and an evolved spirit! So glad to have such a great place in the hood! read more

I came to Elements Message with a pretty acute lower back pain and results exceeded all my expectations. I was recommended Ian who does level 2-3 message (trigger points) and he was absolutely amazing! Super friendly and attentive, he listened to all my complaints and I'm not going to sugar coat this - I was in pain after the first session but I felt a huge relief the next day and started feeling much better. He also gave me great recommendations in terms improving my posture and explained how my poor sitting habits could lead to lower back issues. Ian has a calm demeanor and knows how to make you comfortable during the session. read more

I'm updating my review because I just had Shiv for the first time today and he was AMAZING!!!! I've been a member here for 2 years and I've tried other locations, but San Mateo's is hands down the best IMO. If you're down for deep tissue/medium-firm pressure, shiv is your dude (I also have had Ryan here and he's still amazing too). Im a heavy lifter at the gym and I appreciated that he was intentional with my massage and focused on the areas I had talked to him about prior to starting. Legit, he's amazing!!! read more

I had a massage with Billy at Elements Massage in San Mateo. The massage was amazing -- just the right pressure. Billy was great about listening to my concerns ahead of time. (I was recovering from a dislocated shoulder) and being gentle yet super effective while working through some of my sore spots. He was great about communicating with me both before and after the massage. read more

Ryan was incredible!!! I've worked with him 3 times and each time only gets better! I go I for deep tissue as I have a lot of sports injury issues and soreness and he helps get every knot out and doesn't miss a thing! He's also kind with wonderful energy and very professional! Highly recommend!!! This spa in general is always a pleasure, I have also tried Shiv and he was awesome! Def use this place, clean, relaxing and wonderful people! read more

Tommy is the best! I've been coming to Elements Massage for a few years now. I love it so much I became a member right away. I recommend the 90 minute massage, with Tommy of course. Also, this location is clean, the staff is always friendly and I never have a problem with scheduling. read more

Elements Massage - Waiting area - Massage Near Me - San Mateo, California

While I love Shiv, I am not happy with the management. I had an appointment scheduled with him today, and he's out sick. No one bothered to call me so I wasted my time and gas driving down and blew $5 on parking to turn around and come home. What I found incredibly annoying is the woman who was working the desk just kept saying 'we left you a message' when no one had called me. I kept repeating that no on had called me and she just kept saying 'well, the computer says we called you.' She then proceeded to lecture me that if I hadn't had text messaging off, they could have texted me. Not sure I will return. read more

Working as a first responder can be taxing on the body. Tightness in the lower back , and my shoulders have been my personal battles. I get 90-minute sessions as often as possible. My go-to person is always Tommy. Tommy is a unique individual: he is kind, sincere, and shares his wisdom on better self care. Rare traits in today's world. Tommy deserves a raise and promotion. He's been willing to pick up last minute windows with me, and even adjusting dates, due to my hectic and unpredictable schedules at times. Elements massage is a great investment for self-care. read more

Became a member here a few months ago, every time I visit or call the front desk, the staff are extremely friendly and professional. The massage itself is top notch, Cris is the therapist that I work with, from the first to the most recent massage his effort and delivery of great massage has remained consistent. Would highly recommend him and the business. read more

I believe that everyone needs a masseuse in their life. Elements Massage has a variety of fantastic certified masseuses to choose from! The office is clean and calm. They take every precaution during this uncertain time to keep everyone safe and deliver great service. Staff and clients are wearing masks. They take your body temperature at the door and disinfect everything you touch, including the pen you use. Another great advantage is a spacious lobby, where a few clients could be distanced easily. Receptionists take care of clients promptly, so there is never more than a few people in the lobby. The reminder service is excellent: They call you a few days ahead in case you need to reschedule. After the massage, you get a water bottle and a chocolate. This is sweet and cute at the same time. I love this place! read more

I've been feeling incredibly tight particularly around my neck, shoulders and back so was thankful I found Elements. Based on all the reviews, I chose Ryan as my massage therapist and he did not disappoint! As the other reviews shared, Ryan is incredible and helped me work through a lot of knots I had in my inner shoulder blades in particular (I like the targeted work he can do since I requested that). The pressure was perfect and felt like it was a sigh of relief for my body. I also had very sore legs from the week before due to some workouts and to my surprise it did not hurt when he massaged them due to his technique and how he applied pressure. Oftentimes the day after a massage I might feel pain/soreness but with Ryan my upper body and body overall was loose and relaxed. Definitely going back on a regular basis! read more

Was extremely happy with my first visit to Elements Massage in San Mateo. Strict COVID-19 precautions in place from the moment you step in, but was greeted warmly by staff. Felt safe, but welcome. I decided to give Elements a visit because I had knots in my shoulders and the proximity / and the price - but my masseuse, Ryan was awesome!!! He went way beyond my expectations. I typically request a female masseuse, but Ryan was beyond professional and gave me the type of massage and treatment that I would expect he would give an Olympic athlete (and I am far, far from that). I feel like a new person after my visit today, so thank you to Elements Massage and Ryan! read more

I just had my first massage, at Elements San Mateo, in the 8+ months since the pandemic shutdown started. Despite it being the most paperwork I've filled out since buying my last house (lol), I gotta say it was such a pleasant overall experience, & such a welcome taste of desperately-needed "normalcy" that I got kinda emotional after, heh. Elements goes the extra mile to keep clients Covid-safe, with a pre-screening table prior to full entry, temperature checks, sanitizing of customers' hands with alcohol spray, socially distanced seating, immediate disinfecting of all public spaces, requests to wash hands again in the bathroom prior to entering your individual therapy room, of course masks (which they also provided, though I had my own), & the aforementioned mountain of paperwork to confirm clients are symptom-free & low-risk. The result of all this work was total confidence that my time there was "safe", relatively speaking, allowing me to relax (which is honestly the point of going to get a massage, right?) My therapist, Ryan was an absolute rock-star & genius with his hands! I have a slew of chronic issues (degenerative discs, spinal stenosis, spinal arthritis, etc etc), I've had literally thousands of massages in my life (before the quarantine, I would get 2-4 massages per month, on average), & I've seen therapists from all over the world. I say this not to brag (though it sure sounds like it, heh) but to establish the fact that I KNOW good massages, & Ryan is up there with the best. Ryan has great bedside manner & "energy". He's quiet & hardworking, humble, extremely focused & diligent in covering every square inch needing attention, and he's strong & skilled in his approach & technique. This was my first massage in years where I literally would not change a thing. In our 90 minute session (I always do 90 mins or 2 hours, as my back/ body is A LOT of work), Ryan managed to do my requested deep tissue massage without the often normal "cheats" that can cause more harm than good (looking at you, skinny masseuse elbows...). He's got EXTREMELY strong hands, & you can tell that he's very experienced in applying that strength in a totally effective manner. Ryan would check in occasionally to make sure pressure & range of motion/ movement were ok, but he didn't succumb to the "nervous small talk" that some therapists fall back on (which can ruin & distract from a good massage). He wasn't bashful about getting into spots that needed attention- glutes, quads, hips, etc (if you are, well...you're missing out, but I would mention this up front). In addition to the requested deep tissue work, Ryan incorporated some thai elements, giving my wound-tight body some welcome & much needed stretching. & he even worked in some cranial-sacral techniques (if you like getting your hair washed at the salon...this is better). I always look at the clock after every massage, & 9 times out of 10, I'm disappointed to see 5-10 minutes of treatment time remaining. Not with Rockstar Ryan! He actually went 2 minutes OVER (& I'm pretty sure we started slightly early as well), This despite the fact that 1) working on my made-out-of-concrete, jacked-up body is exhausting for even the strongest therapist & 2) I was Ryan's last client of the night, just before closing (6:15-7:45pm session time...they close at 8pm on Sundays). What a champ! I immediately booked a follow-up with Ryan for this Thursday (last night, Sunday, was my first session with him), & though I'm loathe to "share" him, selfishly (lol), I'll be singing his praises here on Yelp, Google & elsewhere. Great work deserves recognition, & as far as I'm concerned, Ryan is an elite essential worker who is providing therapeutic relief to folks in need like myself, both physically AND mentally. Ryan, if ya read this, you're one of the great ones. Thank you, keep up the awesome work, & PLEASE, for the love of all that is holy, do NOT leave or move...finding a good massage therapist is a royal pain in the ass, haha read more

I've recently completed 2 - 90min sessions with Billy. I think he does a good job paying attention to detail and communicating with his clients. I look forward to my upcoming third session! All staff I've encountered have been friendly, professional, and helpful. The waiting area, halls, bathroom, and massage rooms are nice and clean :) I recommend signing up for the program if you plan on getting more than one massage. Gives you a discount and your not bound to a contract or commitment. Hope this was helpful! read more

Massage that caused hell for me and my family. I came for a simple massage of my tense shoulder blade, instead the massage therapist insisted on vigorously and painfully pushing, pulling and squeezing on something near my armpit and breast. Shortly afterwards I developed grossly enlarged lymph nodes in that area, had to cancel all of my summer plans and go through tons of doctors, radioactive scans and biopsies testing me for breast cancer and lymphoma. Lymph nodes should never be squeezed, pulled or crushed!!! And clearly this place hires people who don't know basic anatomy. I don't want anybody else to suffer through the same hell! I had pain in the area for weeks and still months later suffer with pain in exact same place that was crushed during that massage from hell. The massage caused extremely serious health consequences for me. I was 100% healthy before and I don't have any issues anywhere else in my body except where my lymph nodes got damaged. read more

I came here at 35 weeks for a prenatal massage and left feeling defeated and almost in tears. The lady was very nice as was all of the staff but the massage itself was very disappointing. Not once did she touch my feet, she spent the whole time on my back and what was weird is she never touch the under side of my arms or legs. She only rubbed the top parts of my arms and legs and it wasn't exactly a massage, more of applying oil and it was a quick run over and moved on. She also seemed to keep using her knuckles in my back even after telling her it hurt, pregnancy hurts a lot on its own and I have had a hard one so I was really looking forward to this. I even froze for the first half, she said the bed was warm but she either forgot to turn it on or not high enough so I made a comment about being cold and she said she fixed but never really seemed like it. Also I am used to getting some type of scalp rub during my massages and that didn't happen so maybe it's not a prenatal thing? Massages are hard for me, I already feel off about being touched by a stranger and being somewhat exposed (worse now that I'm pregnant) so it takes a lot of talking me into and mental prep to get one and after this I feel kind of a set back and down. It took me 35 weeks to go for this and not sure I will go again as I'm almost out of time and not sure if I have it in me. read more

Elements is my go-to massage clinic and I cant believe I haven't written a review yet. The front desk staff and management are incredibly kind and will go to great lengths to ensure their clients are given the best care. Massage therapists are actually selected to fit YOUR NEEDS. The sessions are reasonably priced and the memberships are definitely worth it. Even without the membership, you still get chocolate after your session, which is lovely!! You're encouraged to 'shop around' and try different styles...but I've been seeing Tommy for quite some time. USUALLY I would never chose a Male therapist, but Tommy is as respectful as he is nurturing. You can tell that he became a massage therapist to HELP PEOPLE, above all else. Getting a massage can be scary for people who aren't used to it, but at elements, you feel like you're entering a cozy blanket as soon as you walk in. THEY ARE HANDLING COVID WELL AND ARE UP TO CODE. Go now!! You dont have to be in pain anymore. read more

Had a wonderful massage today with Liza. She took the time to find out exactly what I needed and everything was just right. Fantastic and place to unwind, too! read more

I have been getting a 90 minute monthly massage here for a few years. They do an excellent job every time. The price is reasonable given the quality. They are friendly and professional. Highly recommend. read more

Ryan is hands down the best. I feel so relaxed and mushy after my 90min massage (for the first time in 7 months). Definitely book hwre! The prices are great! read more

I took one star off b/c the membership policy is distasteful. It's possible that if you wait too long to use your massages from your membership monthly fee, then they expire. I'm sorry, but if I give a company $100 that money better not evaporate b/c I couldn't find time for a massage for a few months. I didn't realize this was the case when I signed up, who reads all the fine print, right? Anyway, I won't be getting a membership ever again. Aside from that, I love the place. Great COVID safety precautions Professional and friendly staff. Water and tiny treats. Specifically Shiv is fantastic for deep tissue massage. I asked him to use a lot of pressure and get me some results I feel a week later. He absolutely crushed all my sore spots and I couldn't be happier with the massage. He was professional, friendly, knew his stuff, and a great communicator. Looking forward to the next time I can make it over for another massage! read more

Very clean, covid-friendly, I appreciate the screening and precautions to keep the client flow to a minimum. I have been twice so far, and each time I felt very safe during my visit. Ryan was great. I have a lot of chronic back pain and upper back tension (and knots) and I felt a significant amount of relief after my first visit with him. His style is quick-movements, which was different than what I was used to, but his technique is very effective and I can't wait to return for more sessions. He is professional and does a great job, and took the time afterwards to discuss with me what we worked on and the areas he suggests we continue to work on. You can tell he really takes care of his clients. Thanks! read more

It took way too long to book an appointment. The massage was mediocre, and the value was poor. On the positive side, parking was easy, the person at the desk was friendly, and they have a nice lounge area. Obviously, they have good marketing. They seem to get the small things right. I called around 11a and asked for an appointment that afternoon and was told I would receive a text. The texts were few and far between. The person texting me offered me a spot at 4:15p and I started moving things around to clear an hour. When I texted back to accept the appointment ten minutes after they offered it, it was gone already - they did not even put a hold on it so that I could respond. It was not until I said I would go elsewhere unless I could speak to someone live that I finally received a callback. Then they offered me a spot for 7:15p which was inconvenient, particularly after moving things around to clear a spot at 4:15. But an hour later they called back to offer me a spot starting almost immediately at 4:30p. The whole thing felt like amateur hour. The massage itself was just ok. I told the therapist that I could barely turn my neck after cleaning out the garage that weekend and to focus only on my upper back and neck. Halfway through he asked if he could also work my glutes. Then he went to my feet and legs. Then he asked if there were any areas I wanted to spend more time on before the end, and I said yes, my upper back and neck - the original areas we discussed. He said, well ok but we have less than 5 minutes left. So he wasted a lot of time on things I didn't care about, and I wasted a lot of money on a massage. On top of this, the pressure was inconsistent and generally below what I asked for. The price of the massage in no way reflected the value. This was maybe a $70 massage (based on quality) charged at a $30 markup, which they claimed was a first-timer *discount*. Definitely a disappointment. read more

Personalized service, prompt, clean, reasonably priced. Parking can be a bit of a challenge, so give yourself additional time.

Just finished my first massage with Ryan and he was great! Pressure was just right and I could tell he really knew his techniques. I have a lot of muscle knots in my shoulders and he knew just how to work that area well. Will definitely be coming back for more! read more

I've been here for about a year and I can now write a decent review. When I first started coming here, I used Anthony and he was AWESOME. Best deep tissue massage ever. I loved the massage so much that I joined the membership. However, my subsequent appointments with Anthony were either 1.) rescheduled 2.) cancelled at last minute 3.) did only 60 minutes instead of the 90 minutes. As great as his massages were, I had to switch on a more reliable therapist. I started getting massages with Daisy, and she was great! However, it was really hard to get appointments with her, so I moved on to Lauren. LAUREN IS AWESOME. Even better than Anthony! First time I felt all my knots were gone!!! I highly recommend her! However, she only does the morning and I unfortunately don't have the time to see her. Now that I switched jobs, I won't be able to frequent this place as often, but if you're around the area, definitely try Lauren for deep tissue. She's is GREAT! read more

My most recent appointment was with Heidi. She is very attentive to your preferences. She has a very smooth approach and can use more pressure if you want her to. My massage was very relaxing and I liked that I could ask for specific areas and specific pressure without her getting offended. The atmosphere is friendly and professional. It's a relaxing environment and seems very clean and smells nice. Bathrooms are well stocked, clean and thoughtful of clients' needs. Therapists have all been good at massages. I like Shiv, Mer and Heidi and Cici. They have a lot of therapists but you have to book early. Luckily, I was able to get an appointment on the same day which is unheard of. read more

I don't get massages very often because I feel like it's such a luxurious splurge. My roommate had told me that she gets her massages here from Ryan and that he does a great job each time. So I decided it give it a shot. I am sold! Ryan was AMAZING! He made sure to ask me a few times throughout the session how the pressure was and he adjusted accordingly. I will be going to Ryan TWICE a month! I went from zero massages, to now two massages a month. Ryan is a miracle worker. read more

Clean, friendly staff but my entire body is hurting so much today, I couldn't get out of bed for few hours after I woke up. I'm assuming the masseuse put too much pressure in the wrong spots of my body. She also ran out of time after I turned around so only did few rubs on my legs and arms. Update: after 30 hours, still hurting and wasted my Sunday in bed. Something was definitely wrong with the massage... read more

My masseuse was great but I will never go here again because they DO NOT HONOR GIFTCARDS!!! I received a gift card that did not have an expiration date and I had to pay the difference in price even though the massage was not for a specific dollar amount. I made an appointment for a 1 hour massage and the gift card that I had was for a 1 hour massage. A friend of mine was in this same situation and her gift card was honored but mine was not. Very poor business etiquette. read more