BLUF:
Um, wow. Grace's version of a deep tissue massage is a combination of ROLFing and a sports massage. If you're suffering and need muscle fibers loosened up and moving more freely, I recommend her by name. Just don't take my time slot because trust me, I'll be going back to see her in Goleta.
Longer version:
I've been suffering a lot of musculoskeletal issues and they've been getting worse. On the rare occasion that I do go for a massage somewhere, it always helps and I feel much better for it. I've even had multiple doctors tell me that it would be a good thing for me to do regularly. That being said, I'm not Elon Musk so I can't afford it. Recently, though, I've been getting more and more bound up and finally decided that it was better to invest in my health than continue to suffer. Hey, I'm a guy - what kind of logic did you expect? :-)
Little Rainbow has the best Yelp ratings and the best prices so, not being one to be stupid about things other than my health, I called them as soon as they opened this morning. Their schedule was wide open so I scurried over there for an early lunch. It's a very innocuous store front and the inside isn't the most conducive to relaxing so I wasn't sure what I was getting myself into. They have a dozen or so low beds in the front and a couple rooms in the back. Note that front and back aren't far apart and everything is pretty compact since it's a really small place. Again, I was wondering what I was getting myself into. The front and back doors were left open and you could hear planes flying overhead, traffic outside, and with a drape for a door on the massage room you could hear them washing dishes and talking. Did I mention that I was wondering what I was getting myself into? I had been looking at more traditional massage studios but none could fit me in at a moment's notice. I was hoping for a sports massage since that's what I really needed but I was afraid I was going to get a cheap rubdown. Better than nothing but not what I was after. I really was wondering what I was getting myself into.
Then Grace started on me. She's about the smallest woman I've ever met. Wearing a parka with rocks in the pockets she mighhhhht tip the scales at 80 pounds. Not an auspicious start for a deep tissue massage of any variety. She forgot to tell me that her arms were hydraulic presses rated at 40 tons but trust me, I figured that one out for myself. I have no idea the physics behind it but that woman was able to find places on my that I didn't know I had, and she freed up every muscle fiber that had been angry with me this morning. By the time I left, I think I had given up every state secret I knew and made up a few just for good measure.
When I left I made sure to tip well because I appreciated her breaking up so many of the adhesions that had been causing me so much grief. I'm shedding my manly mantle of not taking care of my body and I'm going back to see her again in a week or two. If you're suffering from sports issues and need someone to get in and free things up so they move again, she really does an *AMAZING* job. I'll admit that I had to tap out a few times because I was just too sore for her to work my calves, in particular. That's part of why I'm going back; I want her help in getting things moving freely so I'm in good health again.
Thanks, Grace! read more