I was visiting Siesta Key and started looking up massage therapists. I found plenty with great reviews, but Elevate Massage caught my eye because every review was 5 stars--there just weren't many reviews yet (around 15 on google and none on yelp). Normally I'd lean toward someone with a larger number of reviews, but then I checked out Stephanie's website and it completely changed my mind. Her background is phenomenal and goes far beyond "just" being a certified massage therapist. You can tell she truly cares about the whole body--how everything connects, including stress and emotions--and she comes across as someone genuinely dedicated to total wellness.
I decided to take a chance and book a 90-minute massage (my first 90 instead of 60). Stephanie explained that the body often just starts to fully relax around the 60-minute mark, so 90 minutes allows for much deeper work--and she was right. The price was also very reasonable: $125 for 90 minutes.
From the moment I arrived, she set the tone perfectly--calming music, a peaceful environment, and she gently coached my breathing to help me settle in. She also made it clear that my comfort was the priority and encouraged me to speak up about anything--pressure, the table, temperature, music--anything at all. That kind of care makes a huge difference.
The massage itself was excellent. I'm used to very "rough and tumble" deep-tissue work, and this was different in the best way. Stephanie worked intelligently--listening to the body, finding the areas that needed attention, and then going deeper with purpose when needed. She used pressure points, varied the pressure beautifully, and moved between deep work and softer release at exactly the right times. She's a true professional.
She even offered helpful suggestions afterward and showed me a product that could help with my feet. Stephanie was outstanding, and I'm so glad I booked with her. Since she's in both Siesta Key and Winthrop, Maine, I'll absolutely be back the next time I'm in Sarasota/Siesta Key or when I'm up in Maine.
See you soon, Steph! read more