Matthew is a magician and I highly recommend him. It's amazing to have my pain reduced in such a tangible way. It's not going to be a gentle relaxing massage, but this sports massage will be worth the temporary discomfort to have the underlying issues worked through. He's also really good at distracting me while he's doing all the fixing. All of my gratitude for the work he does. Kind, caring, observant, funny, and honest about what's happening with my body, this business lives up to the name Feeling Better. Thank you for everything. read more

WARNING: SEX PEST!!! I made an appointment with this guy based on his many 5-star reviews here on Yelp. It was a massive mistake not to further investigate. I booked an extra long massage because I've been struggling with intense back and hip pain. I took a Xanax shortly before our session to help me relax; I've been under a lot of pressure at work. Unfortunately, I became so relaxed that I pushed aside my awareness that this guy was crossing all kinds of boundaries. It wasn't until after I left and the meds wore off that I acknowledged to myself just how inappropriate this guy was. Here are some examples: 1. In response to my apology for running a few mins late, he said I should NEVER apologize, this experience all about me, and he made some comment about white men getting too much as it is. The remarks just felt like pandering, both over the top and calculated. 2. I asked him how he got into massage. He responded by saying that his ex-wife cheated on him and then he was fired from his job, where he was "making mistakes" but it wasn't his fault because he'd been poorly trained. Possible but also raises questions, including as to why he would share this info with a brand new client. He didn't even answer the question, lol. 3. He said that he was told in massage school that he has "no business being a massage therapist." Those were his words. I wondered what on earth could've prompted a professor or administrator to say that to a student. Well, by the end of our session, and especially after reading the other 1-star reviews (all written by women), I can certainly guess! 4. He pressed along my pelvic bone and bladder without warning. This is a sensitive area in more than one way, and I found the move to be totally inappropriate and unnecessary, 5. He kept resting his head on my calf, over and over again, lifting it from the table and holding it against his cheek. 6. He kept resting his head on my calf, over and over again, lifting it from the table and holding it against his cheek. 7. He kept telling jokes and making reference to sexually charged SNL skits and laughing at them at length. As in, long after I stopped responding. 8. He truly did not stop chattering away. 9. For good measure, he made reference to family members who accuse him of being a deadbeat. Just... why are you sharing this?? After some thought, I asked for a refund, citing his oversharing, inappropriate touching, and the many reviews that call him out for both. He promptly returned my money. Thanks, but it's not going to stop me from warning other women / femme presenting people about this guy. And dudes, don't support this guy. We need you to be our allies. read more

Matthew has done it again!!! I did something over the holidays, not sure if it was putting up or taking down decorations but I did something to my shoulder and after one session I am back to full mobility. Matthew is wonderful, love how he checks in and is making sure I feel comfortable, safe and no pain. He is excellent at his craft and has greatly improved not only my mobility but also my overall health and made me feel great simply by listening as he works on healing me. I highly recommend Matthew to all. read more

Matthew has been here for about 9 years now and he is a very knowledgeable massage therapist who is friendly. It was my first time coming here because I was experiencing some lower back pain with pregnancy and from lifting at my job. He has his own suite which has the massage bed. He massages with clothes on so make sure you wear comfy pants and top. I was scheduled for 1 hr but in 40 minutes Matthew was able to loosen up my lower and upper back and pro-rated my price! He was also able to accommodate that I'm pregnant and made sure I was comfortable. I like his honesty and the fact that if you don't need the full hour he won't just extend the time to be paid. He is really here to help people for their well being and does not try to over charge you. He also gives recommendations on how to help your injury or improve your pain. He is easily reachable through yelp or text. Also if you are looking for more of a relax spa feeling environment, you may want to try somewhere else. He definitely told me this before booking, which again I liked his honesty but I was there more to get the job done for pain relief! I highly recommend Matthew! read more

After just one session with Matt I can now get my arm behind my back again. Before just simple things like putting my cell phone in my back pocket were excruciating and now I can move again. I am still amazed that Matt only works on you until the problem is solved. If that's 15 min you're charged for 15 min. Matt is the person to get you moving again! read more

The best body worker I have ever found! Matthew is professional and well-educated on all parts of the body and its related pains. He works in new creative ways that no other massage therapist has thought of. I highly recommend him. He is talkative and often will offer great psychological input if you ask. You can also ask not to talk and just listen to his lovely spa music. Highly recommended if you want to work on your pains! read more

Mathew is a an extraordinary therapist. He is attuned to physical and emotional cues from our bodies and has magical hands. Moreover, his work is not palliative. In fact, I've felt the outcomes of our session throughout the the following week. I highly recommend his work. read more

Super comfortable environment, asked me plenty of questions and made me feel understood. Helped me a lot with hip and back pain that I was experiencing from a car accident a few months ago. I will be coming back in the future. read more

Been seeing Matt now for probably 7 Years. Always leave here feeling light, loose and happy. I have had shoulder pain for about 4 years and I never thought that a masseuse would help with that. Yet Matt knows what he's doing with my shoulder and my shoulder always feels better afterwards. Matt provides a great quality massage. Would definitely recommend. read more

Been trying to make time for a revisit. This guy can help you heal! Thanks, Matthew :)

TW sexual harassment/assault Women/femme presenting people -- PLEASE DO NOT BOOK HERE. Read the other one star reviews. He has a pattern of sexually harassing women. (Men -- you appear to be safe, but do you really want to support someone who does this?) Pre-Covid, I had 2 sessions with Matthew Madden-Smith. The first he only made more minor comments/boundary violations so I thought it would be fine to go back. Wrong. In sum -- He commented on my body and clothing. He did an extended, graphically sexually explicit monologue. He discussed having "revenge sex" against an ex-girlfriend. He made sexually explicit comments regarding my family members. Also, he put his face on my leg/inner thigh. This was a traumatic experience which heightened my existing PTSD due to prior sexual assault. Since this experience, I have not been to see any male masseuse. It's not worth it. For other women with similar experiences who would like to file a complaint or police report -- it looks like this is his certificate number with CAMTC Matthew Madden-Smith Certificate # 38965 read more

Matthew is a miracle worker and gem. I'm so grateful I found him and highly recommend him. He gave me the best massages I've ever had. I came to him very stressed, tense and sore. I left feeling so relaxed and rejuvenated physically and mentally. The big knots in my shoulder blades are totally gone. He is also so very kind, compassionate, and shared excellent life advice with me. Thank you, Matthew! You rule!! read more

Matthew's techniques really work! I was feeling pain in my hip flexor, with discomfort and pain traveling up my hip, waist, and lower back. I hadn't experienced this kind of injury before. It had been bothering me for 1+ month, and I thought I could fix it with visits to my chiropractor and self-massage. But nothing was working. I decided to go see Matthew for 60 min - he was very responsive through Yelp and scheduled me in for a few days later. After 50 min of working on my issue (lots of popping, pressing on my psoas, etc), I felt much better. Now it's been 2 weeks since my visit, and I essentially feel no pain and tightness. Well worth the money and time! read more

I didn't write a review for a long time because I really dislike giving negative reviews. But the situation was really troubling. First, there was a misdiagnosis: A frozen shoulder was attributed to a problem I was havingin my life. An X-ray done later showed that it was from an old break. At the end of the second session, I was told that my problems wouldn't go away until I resolved my emotional situation. Matt talked nonstop, Although he said that talking was better for his clients because it was distracting, the pace often seemed anxious and uncentered. As a therapist, it was interesting that it was in the second session, after he momentarily lost his boundaries and told me that the past few months had been very hard for him, he essentially told me he couldn't treat me and acted very distant.Then he said he was "here" for me, and bowed. It seemed like a slick New Age gesture. It also seemed to me that--in addition to a misdiagnosis-he distanced after he lost his boundaries. ' Matt clearly had boundary issues. I hope, for the sake of his other clients, he manages them with more awareness--both in keeping boundaries and in taking responsibility for when he loses them. It was a totally weird, disorienting experience. read more

This guy knows magic Incredible , no surgery for me. Corpal tunnel gone . I trully do feel better . read more

Matthew is a highly skilled and empathetic massage therapist. He continuously strives to be attuned to your needs and will apply techniques he knows will help. Once he understands the problem, he uses his wisdom and skills to address it. You're in good hands here. Highly recommend. read more

Super targeted and effective, would recommend for specific issue. Will return next time I have a pesky pain.

I've been to MANY different places for a massage and not one of them has ever provided all the benefit of my 60 minute session this morning. If you want relaxing quiet and peaceful massage, try this out instead. I got way more than a peaceful 60 minutes with lasting looseness and mobility, which is what I wanted most. I'll be back for sure! read more

Met briefly while at a SDCC 2023 and he was able to make my shoulder feel better with only a quick 1 minute adjustment. I immediately wanted a card and to know if he was local because I was going to pay him a visit! Sadly he lives in NorCal and I'm in SoCal, but if he was closer I'd be going to see him for sure! read more

TW I was hesitant to write this review until I saw another woman who had a VERY similar experience with Mathew. I've thought about it for years and every time I pass by the area I'm reminded of it. I haven't forgotten how deeply uncomfortable Mathew made me. For starters, he talked the entire time, which isn't necessarily bad but when you're looking to relax and turn your mind off a little it's not ideal. But then he started making comments about my body and how I had a "nice body". I tried to laugh that off, thinking it wasn't anything beyond a comment. He started talking about his previous relationship and the sexual intimacy between he and his partner. I didn't know what to say or do at that point. I don't know what got him talking about the detail of his sexual life but in no way was I interested in having that conversation. The final straw was when he wrapped both of his arms around my waist and physically moved me up the massage table in a weird kind of hug. I have never before or since had a massage therapist move me like that rather than just ask me to move. It felt horribly intimate and I distinctly remember the feeling is his sweat on my skin. For months after i was disgusted by my own sweat on my skin as a result. The only saving grace of the situation was the I had been fully clothed. At the time it didn't feel like a "serious enough" occurrence so I just tried to forget about it. But today after I saw another woman had the same experience, I sincerely hope whoever reads these reviews thinks twice about coming to him. read more

Best experiences for resolving body pain and tightness of all kinds, all over the body. Matt is by far the best therapist I've ever seen and has a very unique style that is unlike any other I've experienced. The results are incredible. Aside from that, in my experience Matt has been a very sensitive and caring person, and has also been someone I feel I can trust with personal engagements. He has a comprehensive outlook on the body and the mind and it has really opened me up to health in a way I didn't appreciate before. I recommend you come into the experience with an open mind. This is not a typical massage experience and in my opinion, if you roll with it, you will find that the benefits are incredible - especially after a few sessions. Having said that, if you only want a very basic, traditional massage and know you are unlikely to be open to something different, this is probably not the experience for you. Experience from male, late twenties read more

I was too afraid to write this review many years ago, but was recently reminded of my experience here, went back to this page, and found that a number of women had uncomfortable or disturbing experiences like I did. Like others, I felt strange about the constant talking. But what really freaked me out was when Matthew asked me multiple times to put my hand around his throat as some kind of way of flexing or testing my grip (supposedly), even taking my hand and putting it there. He also wrapped his arms around me at one point in a way that did not feel necessary to the massage. With the hand around his throat request, I immediately felt very uncomfortable but I was alone in a strange man's apartment, and I felt afraid of what might happen if I tried to leave. So I stayed and braced myself for something worse throughout the massage. I'm grateful nothing else happened but regret that I didn't post a review then to warn others about this person who is clearly quite selective about who he is professional with and who he is extremely unprofessional with. read more

Definitely feeling better! I run a lot, and never really had any issues until a month ago when my calf suddenly started to hurt, and I ran 9 more miles on it. After that I tried rest, and ice and ibuprophen, but every time I tried to run it hurt. It was a deep sort of pain and after a week and a half it still wasn't going away. I booked a session with Matthew and in an hour he was able to work the entire thing out. After that session my calf has been great. I will definitely go back any time I have any other issues. :) read more

this place exceeded my expectations and really came through. I will be returning

Matthew is a skilled, effective, and genuinely kind practitioner. I walked into his practice expecting temporary pain relief, and I walked out realizing that some of my longstanding health concerns could actually be improved rather than just stabilized. I have suffered from chronic pain for years: two shoulder surgeries, years of neck pain, and widespread chronic joint pain - plus the general aches and pains that come after you leave your teenage years behind. Session by session, Matthew has made more and more progress I thought possible. Over the years, I have spent thousands on physical therapists, massage therapists, chiropractors, and acupuncturists hoping for some relief. In just a handful of sessions, Matthew made more progress than some of my other therapists did in several months. He is great at "working himself out of a job," and he is also working my other practitioners out of a job. Since seeing Matthew, I see my other practitioners about half as often. I expect that percentage to continue to go down until I only have appointments for "maintenance." A few weeks ago, I did something I didn't think possible - a trip to Europe. I walked miles a day, I carried my luggage around, and I enjoyed every minute. Previously, I would have barely been able to do the trip, and I would have limped home anxious to undo all the damage that travel caused. Not anymore. I felt healthy - and I knew that I was actually healing. I cannot recommend Matthew enough, and I am so thankful that I wandered into his practice just a short time ago. I am very grateful for his help, and I'm so excited to return to a more active lifestyle with far less pain. If you're looking for an outstanding massage therapist who is also a genuinely awesome human being, I hope you'll give him a try. read more

I don't write that many reviews but I felt this urge to inform other people since I had a bad/traumatizing experience here. Especially if you're a young girl, please take the 1 star reviews for this place seriously! I'm an active person and used to get regular deep tissue massages before pandemic and wanted to try deep tissue here based on the good reviews. I can imagine why this might work for some people and appreciate some facts, which are having his mask on and setting some communication rules at the beginning. But PLEASE take these notes seriously. I saw warnings in another review and regret not taking them seriously. - the time coordination was through text. After submitting an online appointment request, he texted me at 11:30 pm to confirm the time. - just at the start, he felt my neck and asked (exact words): "how are you doing with your depression?". I'm not experiencing depression but this was shocking to me. - The massage location is in the living room of his place. He waits out of the apartment gate and walks you in. - He kept repeating that he's at my service and has to do his job well because I'm paying him. He kept repeating that at least every 5-10 minutes to help me relax and kept saying that he has to do well and I have to relax, otherwise I'm throwing out my money. - during the massage he kept talking to me, and insisting on letting him know if I'm uncomfortable. He kept telling me that he strongly preferred it if I communicate with him rather than writing a bad review. after some time it got worse. I totally get the point for the first 2 times and appreciated that but then he kept repeating it every 2 minutes. At a point he told me that he doesn't want me to see him as (exact words) "a moving p*** (male genital organ) who's massaging me" and want me to see him without considering his gender. - the massage that I communicated with him was supposed to be deep tissue but he told me he has a better recommendation. He gave me a sports massage and I'm so grateful now that I didn't have to take off my clothes. I kept telling him about my previous injury but he kept insisting on massaging/fixing it. I communicated with him that I'm experiencing pain but he continued doing it and now I'm experiencing a lot of pain at my injury point. read more

When I met Matthew he said, "I aim to be the best massage you've even had." I found that a little bold but lo and behold, it was! Seriously, I've struggled with chronic pain in my left shoulder and neck since 2006. Matthew does talk a lot but I get he uses it as a source of distraction. That said, nothing Matthew did ever hurt. (Quite unlike the many deep tissue massages I've had over the years, which have never had the impact Matthew's did) I could feel my shoulder and neck slip back into place as he was moving them around. I am awed. He also seemed to have fixed my sway back, that I've had since early childhood! The guy is a little unorthodox but I always felt safe and he truly worked miracles on my body. It's the next day and still holding. Awed and grateful! read more

Really awesome work - he helped with a couple of chronic joint issues, and I walked away feeling better, just as the name of the business says. I highly recommend to anyone with lower back or shoulder/neck issues. read more

Matthew is a master in his craft. My shoulder bothered me and soon as he worked in it is was functioning again. Such a holistic healer he alleviated tension with every suggestion Would recommend I'm the future read more

I'm lowering my review from 2 stars to 1, to account for the fact that Matthew is not licensed (nor are his name, certifications, or bio listed anywhere on his company's website). He is obviously not trained in ethics (or else he wouldn't have gone out of his way to comment on how I'm in "good shape," while staring at my naked body under a towel, when my massage had nothing to do with my physical "fitness"). He also offered, on my way out, a substantial "discount" for future massages if I left him a 5-star review on Yelp. This may be one reason why he has multiple 5-star reviews. read more

Matt is a miracle worker. He has developed a unique style of massage that is designed to provide maximally effective relief for breaking up scar tissue and releasing tight muscles. As a violinist, I am no stranger to scar tissue or tight muscles, and have had a lot of massage therapy work done. Matt is one of the best I have worked with, he gets great results and I would highly recommend him. read more

I woke up with bad shoulder pain and headache which also gave me nausea. I was desperate for relief and that's when I found Matthew. He was able to squeeze me in and I am so grateful. I have never had a massage therapist find that many knots and worked them out in such a short amount of time. In 10 minutes my left shoulder tension was gone and my nausea subsided. He also did a weird throat massage which left me with what feels like wider airways. He uses a technique I've never experienced before. It was less of a massage and more like physical therapy. It was a bit uncomfortable but I have endured much much worse with other therapists. He was very aware of my comfort level and encouraged me to let him know if it was too much. My only feedback is that a talk through of the motions he was going to do and what sensations to expect would have been helpful especially during the throat massage. He is very perceptive on a holistic level. He picked up on my emotional state of mind and also validated my thoughts on buying a new bra that provided more support. He is very knowledgeable and passionate about his work. I have jumped around from therapist to therapist but I think it's safe to say Matthew is a keeper. I look forward to my next appointment with him. read more

Matthew is by far the most effective massage therapist I've seen, which is based on many sessions with him over the past 7+ years to address a variety of neck, back, hip and foot issues. Some incidents were so bad I could hardly walk but each time Matthew figured out how to help the injured area heal and restore full range of motion. Matthew's style is multi-modal and his primary approach with me has been sports medicine and myofascial release with motion. Matthew is a kind, honest professional who has a high degree of integrity. I have referred a number of friends and family members to Matthew over the years - all of whom have had positive experiences and left feeling better. read more

Matt is a miracle worker. The only person who can reliably get my shoulder back to a stable state when it acts up (I have a recurrent stress injury from a childhood fall). Additionally he is clearly in it for his patient's holistic health. He is dedicated to his patients actually "feeling better" long term as opposed to simply taking your money for short-term repetitive massages if he thinks the results won't last or the root of the problem lies elsewhere. I am sad to see so many condemning reviews, seemingly over a short period of time. What I will say is that Matt has a somewhat peculiar personality. His bedside manner, like anything subjective, may not be for everybody. That being said, as a femme presenting person, I have never felt that he had malicious intent, if only awkward ways of interacting at times. I have seen him multiple times over the past two years and it has always been great. read more

**WARNING: Watch out Matthew from this business if you are a young woman & advise people NOT to go. I was sexually harassed by the owner/massage therapist Matthew Madden-Smith at Feeling Better. While he was working on my hip, he opened my leg out wide and brushed his cheek on my upper thigh/groin. It took several months for me to write this as writing it makes me relive the moment, cause anger and stress. Since the session, I've been extremely stressed out with very bad anxiety on a daily basis. This incident happened on my very first appt with Matthew. I made an appointment based on good yelp reviews. I never imagined that this would be an unsafe place based on the reviews. I've seen other male massage therapists before (referred by friends) and never felt unsafe or uncomfortable with them. Matthew wasn't professional from the beginning. My main issue was tight hips and sciatica. I was wearing a long one piece that comes down my shin. He said that it will be a sports massage therapy so I can keep my one piece on. However, he will need to drape my legs later as he needs to open them wide and make big circles to relax tight muscles and imagine not draping my lower body. I said that makes sense. Then he added further, "I hope you are wearing underwear. If not, I will be in big trouble and I really like my job". It sounded very odd (why would I not be wearing underwear and even if I weren't, I will be draped and it isn't his business). I felt very uncomfortable but didn't want to feel stressed and make the session awkward. I just ignored his comment and tried not to think about it. At first, he started working on my shoulders and from the start, he was using his phone in his left hand and using only his right had to give me a massage. He was using his phone in one hand the whole time except when working on my hips. Since it is not an aromatherapy massage, I thought it may not be necessary to use two hands. I tried to be understanding although it was very unprofessional. Toward the end of the session, when he was working on my hips, my lower body was draped (I learned later that drape should cover 3"-4" below groin & massage therapist should never touch very upper thigh). My drape covered underwear line, so barely 1". I was facing up and he sat next to my left waist. He opened my left leg out wide to the left and made big circles several times. I was trying to keep my eyes closed to relax. Out of sudden, I feel his scratchy face brushing my bare skin on the groin. It came as such a big shock and I thought something really bad is going to happen to me. I abruptly lifted my upper body but he wasn't looking at me. He bent over and kept brushing his left cheek on my left upper thigh/groin, acted as if nothing is wrong. I don't think I ever experienced a freeze reaction before. I froze and my survival instinct was trying to stay calm and not escalate it. He didn't do anything crazier after that which I feel lucky in a way as it could have been worse. However, unwanted touch is a sexual battery and what he did is absolutely inappropriate. When I was grabbing my purse to leave, he asked if there is anything else he can do to make the service better which sounded strange as the session had been over already. I was in disbelief, in the beginning, to keep myself calm but realized all these later after I took some time to process it. I felt that he had been pushing the limit to see how far he can go from the beginning. He would also ask how my shoulders and feet felt while working on them. When I said that they feel better, he seemed to be unhappy and said that feeling better is different than the pain is gone. He was asking how I feel pretty much every time and I almost felt demanded to say that all the pain is gone. I also later saw a negative yelp review written by another woman on 4/22/17 which I had missed. She wrote that she had a very uncomfortable session with him. If I saw it before, I wouldn't have made an appt and likely to have avoided all these. Note: -His full name is not listed on the website. -He is not a registered massage therapist by California Massage Therapy Council. Therefore, CAMTC doesn't have any jurisdiction over him ( I contacted CAMTC several times to report but they can't do anything about it) -On his website, it states that he had worked for many big spas but none of the business names are listed so you can't check the reference. -This is a privately owned business with no other employees. You will be in a dark room with him alone. No one to report to if you have any concerns. I really wish that this never happened to me. It has been such a traumatic experience and has been affecting me a lot more than I thought it would. It isn't easy for me to write this in details but I feel compelled to share to warn others. If you experience or have experienced similar incidents, please make sure to file a Police report ASAP with his full name. Being silent may embolden this predator. read more

I have had jaw, neck, and back pain for over ten years. I've been to countless doctors -- with some even suggesting major jaw surgery. I was living in pain and was habituated to it. I felt fossilized. Then I went to Matt. I am happy to say that after ten years of pain, countless doctor appointments and fees, I am finally starting to feel better. Matt is the real deal. He is changing my life with his expertise. I can even breathe and speak more easily! Not only that, he explains very well, is patient, and, in general, very friendly. If you are in pain and desperate, don't lose hope: go to Matt. 11 out of 10 read more

This wonderful human made my body not hurt in under 60 minutes! I will definitely be going back and recommend you do as well.

I don't know why Feeling Better hadn't popped up on my radar before now but I'm so glad it did. I had a headache I couldn't shift and needed some help. After meeting Matt standing outside in the rain to make sure I found the place, I enjoyed not only a fantastic full-clothed massage that got straight into the pain points but got to enjoy an hour of Matt's company and he is so funny! As an introvert, who enjoys the opportunity of shutting out the world during a massage to enjoy the bliss, it was a very unusual experience to laugh my way through it instead. Matt's a genuinely great person with a real knack for massage and incredible wit. He's as good for your soul as he is your muscles. read more

If you want to in fact "Feel Better", this is the place for you. If you were hoping to relax, this is NOT the place for you. Matthew popped my throat, my hips/pelvis/legs, and did something that felt like we were digging into my shoulder blade. All of it absolutely worked and I was thrilled. Very unorthodox methods, I felt like it was more chiropractic than massage, but I got results and I felt great afterwards. read more

I finally found relief! I came in to Mathew's practice with neck tension and lower back pains, likely from sitting in a chair 8 hrs a day due to COVID. I was uncomfortable and in pain. It wasn't a typical massage that I'm used to. Mathew actually listened to my issues and was almost able to pinpoint exact the spots on my neck/shoulders and lower back and I left feeling amazing! Since my first appointment, I have seen him a second time and he continues to do magic! I will absolutely be coming back and I am SO grateful to have found his practice. read more