Why choose Rachel?…read more Massage therapy should be a holistic experience that benefits both the mind and body. While massage helps promote relaxation and the release of endorphins, that experience can be diminished if the therapist appears disengaged or unhappy in their work. Whether you prefer conversation or silence, feeling comfortable and cared for is essential. Rachel consistently provides that experience through her warm personality, professionalism, intelligence, and genuine care for her clients. I specifically asked her to address my chronic shoulder pain, and she was able to identify and work on the muscles that were triggering my symptoms. The treatment was targeted, effective, and left me feeling significantly better. As a Doctor of Physical Therapy, I understand the importance of patient experience and quality care. It's easy to see why people appreciate Rachel's work ethic and the positive environment she creates. Good vibes overall. Thank you, Rachel!

Long story short, Rachel is a great massage therapist. She creates a relaxing space just by her way…read moreand aura alone, and is attentive to client details. After a single visit, on coming back a month later, she somehow remembered a lot about me - that I practice brazilian jiujitsu, do regular soft tissue work at home, that I have family and business in Orange County. We chatted for at most 10 total minutes during my first visit. It's exactly this type of continuity that I was looking for in finding a massage therapist to go to more regularly. Berkeley has a few great Thai massage places but therapists rarely speak English and they never seem to honor the specific therapist you book. I was looking for someone who will retain information on what I like and what my muscles need, and Rachel is exactly that kind of massage therapist.

I had a massage with Matt a couple years ago which was very uncomfortable. I waited to give a…read morereview because I didn't think it was worth revisiting but I see others had similar issues so I wanted to add my warning. I went in for a migraine and asked to just have massage on my neck, Jaw and head- so I left my bra on. He commented on my bra strap (which was not a unique strap) and then went on to tell me the kinda of bras his girlfriend likes. I had said I had a migraine and wanted quiet and he talked the whole time and I was very uncomfortable he was describing his girlfriend's bra tastes. It was also weird because the office is so isolated - it felt creepy and vulnerable when he spoke inappropriately. I would never go back.

Matthew is a magician and I highly recommend him. It's amazing to have my pain reduced in such a…read moretangible 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.

I had a wonderful hot stone massage with Susan. I would place it among my top three favorites. She…read moreapplied light-medium pressure and was attentive to how I felt and where my pain was. I was offered tea or water afterwards which was a nice touch. I found this holistic spa on Spa Finder. Some good friends gave me a gift card after having a baby and I was able to use it here. The location is small but very nice inside. They have a lot of beauty products to test out that are available for purchase as well! My only complaint was the parking. I came on a Saturday afternoon and it took me about 20 mins to find a spot. I still had to walk five mins from a neighborhood to the spa. I would advise you to arrive as early as possible (I showed up 15 mins early) if you plan to come on a nice day during the weekend! I definitely want to check out their facial services.

Is it possible to have a bad massage? Probably not. While I enjoyed my massage here, it was not…read moredeep tissue (which is charged $20 more). More like Swedish. The therapist was nice and we had an interesting conversation, but midway through my massage she had to leave for some reason (not sure why).

Before I'd reached the end of my first massage with Jennifer Michels, I knew I needed to book…read moreanother. She is talented and enthusiastic, balancing body knowledge with a soothing touch. She's also really fun to chat with. Jenn has a clear passion for the body and you will definitely feel it in her work on yours. I particularly enjoy her use of heat therapy on me: to release tension in my shoulders and upper back she uses steaming hot towels that seem to make my muscles melt. It's such a relaxing and wonderful experience. Jenn's been performing massage at Moonshadow for 13 years, and I can see why - the little studio in the back of the salon is such a sweet space. It seems perfectly suited to her and is a great place for a getaway (if only a 60 minute one). If you're looking for a spot of self care, book an hour with Jennifer Michels.

Jennifer is AMAZING. I've only had the pleasure of a massage from her 1x and it's enough for me to…read morepraise her. She really did a number on my back but in a good way! I walked out a bit sore, as expected, but after a few days I could really tell a difference. I am a loyal patron of Moonshadow Salon (where Jen works) and every time I get my hair done, my fiancé gets a massage from Jen. She always eases his tense muscles and knots. Her prices are reasonable - $45 for 30 mins and $70 for 60 mins. If you're looking for a masseuse who truly knows her craft then look no further. We live 30 mins from the salon and it's worth the drive.

Nina was very professional, friendly, and warm throughout the entire session. She quickly…read moreidentified the areas causing my pain and applied the right techniques to provide real relief. Her communication was clear and transparent, which made it easy to trust her from the start. As someone who works in healthcare, I appreciate the value of quality soft tissue work. I also work out 4-5 times a week, lift weights, box, and train Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, so my body takes a lot of wear and tear. Combined with the stress of work, regular massage has become an important part of my recovery, and Nina delivered exactly what I needed. Her pricing is fair, and the quality of care is excellent. If this resonates with you, I highly recommend booking a session with Nina. Take care!

I have been a client of Nina Stavinga for years and she is one of my favorites. The pressure she…read moreuses is just right and based on our brief conversation before she begins. When I leave I feel refreshed and ready to get back to tackling whatever was twisting me into a pretzel. That reminds me, I need to make another appointment to see her very soon.

You're not paying for luxury spa deep relaxation vibes here. Rooms aren't separated other than by…read morethe divider thingy, so you can definitely hear surrounding areas. That's alright though since the Thai massage itself was great. I made an appointment for a 90 minute Thai herbal massage. I've had other Thai massages in the past, so I decided to try the one with the herbal pouch to see how that would be. I filled on the intake paperwork and you can point out areas you want more focus on and areas you want them to avoid. Cayla was my assigned masseuse, and she was really attentive and made sure the pressure and such was alright. She checked to make sure I was okay being stepped on, and I was like oh yes please. I absolutely loved how much more stepping and stretching there was at this place compared to the other places I've tried. I didn't get "beat up" as bad in comparison, but it was still really nice. The herbal portion was a heated herbal pouch and she'd tap that at various areas during a portion of the massage. The heat felt pretty great. There were times where she had to step out to talk to someone or someone needed to talk to her, but the massage itself was excellent. If I had unlimited funds and was closer to Malai Thai Massage, I'd be getting these a lot more often!

This place is awesome! I love traditional Thai massages, I always think the stretching techniques…read morerecalibrate any kinks and stiff areas that won't budge. The massage "rooms" are more so one large room with private sections divided by curtains. You may or may not hear other patrons but it's never bothered me. I'm usually pretty immersed into the service I'm getting and they do play relaxing music. It's clean, quaint and cozy-- although not a "luxury" spa environment I believe the massages absolutely compensate for it. I've also found this place to be a bit more on the affordable side compared to other Thai massage spots in the Bay Area. There are even 30 min services that run on average below $60 which I love. I've came once to just get a 30 min upper body massage because of a stiff shoulder and I swear they helped me so much with it. I've already recommended other people to try this place out and they love it :) I know these ladies go through a bunch of people daily and this is hard work yet I always feel like they really take the effort to become accustomed to your body's needs.

I've been seeing Helena for years. Her unique somatic therapy helped me feel more safe and present…read morein my body. Highly, highly recommend, esp to complement talk therapy (I originally found her through my therapist's referral).

Helena is amazing. We've had one session and my back pain has subsided and my body feels more open…read moreand relaxed. Helena really listens and understands clients complaints and needs.

Julie is amazing. She can do whatever type of massage you're in the mood for (quiet relaxation,…read moretherapeutically targeting a specific problem, general maintenance, etc.). I have the typical deskworker's problems, with a tight neck and shoulders but weak back side, and I leave feeling like new kinds of motion are available to me. It's the same kind of creativity and insight that you find with really great yoga instructors, where it's balanced, intentional, and nothing I would have thought of to do myself. She's the best!

I found a diamond masseuse. She definitely knows how to address the muscles and fascia to address…read moreyour stiff muscles. Very strong hands and love the hot stones and other techniques she does to stretch out the muscles.

READY TO BE TURNED INTO A PUDDLE OF BLISS?…read more Erik Perp-Heal does not only massage you with hands and knees and legs and arms in a combination of what looks like thai massage and shiatsu (if I have my massage styles straight), he also uses power tools to literally "erase" the knots out of your body in a way that no human hand can possibly accomplish -- and years of handling such tools means that he can feel your skin and muscles and bones precisely and perfectly as to give you the perfect deep tissue massage every time. What can I say. I'm sold. I walked in with a back rigid as a board and in pain, and I walked out a puddle of bliss. His combination of skill, technique and tool (besides being funny and awesome), along with a free pair of colorful dance tights (necessary for the "buffing") did a superb job, and I write these words today with a deeper sense of myself and my body. Which is to say: I love it and I'll be back for more.

Purple, and his massaging technique are in some ways unorthodox, and each facet deserves…read moreconsideration. ==Purple Himself== If you're like me when you first meet someone you'll stick out your hand for a shake. Purple will subvert the notion and deliver you a signature hug, in which he starts massaging you with the back of his wrist as portent of things to come. It's worth noting that Purple, will be wearing purple, and will be amidst his many purple accessories. As one might expect he is soft and down to earth, comfortable, and energetic. ==Purple's Technique== Purple's technique I heard described as a combination of Thai and Shiatsu massage. Yet that his not entirely telling, because the treatment also involves Power Tools. Two electric deck sanders - noncircular oscillation I believe he described it - are converted with rubber pads (purple) in place of sandpaper. This can seem very jarring at first, but are wielded to great ends. I imagine it similar to electric drumming, when drummers would think that using a electronic drums and drum machines was 'cheating'; but it's clear now that the idea of 'cheating' in arts is absurd, and it's about what you can achieve with your medium. The massage is very much a combination and waves of techniques. First you'll be kneaded, then "buffed out" using the Ryobi electric sanders, and lastly follow into passive stretching. During this point you can allow yourself limp and let Purple stretch your in acrobatic ways. He'll become sweaty and as he sips on his purple water bottle, you'll feel like you've done Yoga, it's just that he did all the effortful parts. ==Partner Massage== It's worth noting that Purple offers Partner Massage. I'd never heard of such a thing, but I went with my girlfriend to experience it. I thought that at some point I'd be called upon to massage her with Purple, or her me, but in fact is quit the opposite. Purple is undaunted by the prospect of massing two people at once. The way the Purple massages you both at the same time takes many forms; treating the mass of two as one massageable object, utilizing one person to massage another, and switching between the two. At first my partner as I laid side-by-side and Purple kneaded us as if we were a conjoined twin. Later the partner aspects grew more integrated, when he would use Person A's hands, arms, legs and joints, to massage with and through to Person B. Then in a lesson of contorted Psychics Person A was used as a stretching lever to Person B. Othertimes Person B will be laying horizontally ontop of A, and the Ryobi deck sanders will vibrate A using B as an intermediary. All of this is difficult to conceptualize, but was remarkably pleasant. It's actually something you can do with your partner, and enhanced because of it. Purple is very open, and my girlfriend and I kissed at times owing to the relaxed atmosphere that was being projected. Don't take partner massage as a weird joke, it's a logical generalization of the tradition that massage is between one masseur and one receiver. ==The Space== If you elect not to have Purple come to you, but go his home studio, you can enter his world of Purpleness. The furnishings are a shrine to the Color, which add to the ambiance. Likewise a solid rotation of chill psy-trance-esque massage music will abound, which for all intents sounds like Purple at that point. ==Conclusion== Clearly, Purple's style is unusual in some points, it's not standard massage. That is a good thing, because experimentation can lead to improvements and further the art.