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    Healing Body Works

    4.0 (5 reviews)
    Closed 9:00 am - 10:00 pm

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    Response time

    10 minutes

    Response rate

    100%

    Services - Healing Body Works

    Therapeutic massage

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    Recommended Reviews - Healing Body Works

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    2 years ago

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    6 months ago

    Angela is terrific. She goes deep & gentle as needed. I see her regularly & always leave deeply relaxed.

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    1 year ago

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    Ling Y.

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    4 years ago

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    Ask the Community - Healing Body Works

    Bodywise Massage - Having practiced as a massage therapist at Bodywise for 4.5 years, making the transition to owner felt natural and I am excited to continue.

    Bodywise Massage

    4.7(166 reviews)
    3.3 mi
    $$

    We booked (3) massages with the fabulous Lowell ! Unfortunately, our vacation rental lost power and…read moreheat 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!

    I rarely write reviews, but after my horrific experience at The Bodywise Massage Inc. (1435 4th…read moreStreet 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.

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    Bodywise Massage - Retail Store offers Massage Products, Therapeutic Body Tools, Aromatherapy,  and more...

    Retail Store offers Massage Products, Therapeutic Body Tools, Aromatherapy, and more...

    Bodywise Massage - BUSINESS PARTNER discount for purchasing $50 or more. EVERY TIME YOU SHOP! Linens, Bolster, Creme, Table Warmer, Eye Pillow, DVD

    BUSINESS PARTNER discount for purchasing $50 or more. EVERY TIME YOU SHOP! Linens, Bolster, Creme, Table Warmer, Eye Pillow, DVD

    Bodywise Massage - Friendyly Front Desk Staff to help you choose between our Discount Massage Packages or our Rewards Program for Product & Massage

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    Friendyly Front Desk Staff to help you choose between our Discount Massage Packages or our Rewards Program for Product & Massage

    Sunflower Spa - there is a skate shop next to them and a comic book store on the other side of them now. Lilys is no longer there

    Sunflower Spa

    3.7(12 reviews)
    3.4 mi
    $

    This place is great! Parking is available right out front (metered parking or pay for the lot…read moreacross the street). There is also a convenient bodega across the street (corner market store). Its nice because I get some refreshments for the long ride home for me. Oh, also 4th street has many restaurants you can drop in for to-go food also. Anyways back to Sunflower: their location is very easy and discreet. You walk down a hallway thats covered away from the street so nobody can see you. Oh, by the way the do require you to call ahead. Their doors are locked when they get busy nobody can answer the door, just FYI in case you wanted to just drop in. Its kind of pot luck so its better to call. And so I booked for an hour. And I got Sophia and she was recommended to me by a friend who go's there a lot. Man, this place is nice and clean as you walk in. Unlike a lot of other cheaper massage places this is an upgrade. I paid 80 up front for the hour. Sophia led me to a private room, it was nice and big and clean once again. The walls go all the way up so there is privacy in there. After I disrobed she came back and escorted me to the private shower down the hall. Wow, its nice and clean and had all the shower stuff in there like shampoo's and liquid soaps! Nice! The hot water was calming and I stayed there for a bit and then headed back to the room. I told Sophia that I preferred oil rather than lotion for the massage and she complied. The only thing I have to mention is that I thought the hour was shortened because she had another customer that rolled in. Oh well, I will call ahead next time and I did tip her another 60 because the overall experience was nice. Be nice, and oh yeah she offered me a bottled water and some candy treats at the door on my way out. Thanks Sunflower!!!

    I paid for an hour. I got 30 mins. 15 mins in I am getting hit up for $120 for a hand job…read more I only wanted a massage. She started telling me she didn't make any money today. Nobody wanted. She tried to end my massage there. I said I paid for an hour. She gave me 15 mins more. worst experience

    Photos
    Sunflower Spa
    Sunflower Spa
    Sunflower Spa - Front gate and a hallway leads down to their front door

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    Front gate and a hallway leads down to their front door

    Healing Body Works - massage_therapy - Updated May 2026

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