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 Fantastic! I'm so grateful to her for her amazing massage, which fixed my vertigo…read moreissue. She was incredibly attentive and spent extra time listening to my explanation of symptoms, asked insightful questions, and focused in on the source of my pain (as it turned out, an interaction of points with more complexity involved. In addition, she showed me new movements to help proactively with my posture and body mechanics. I'm so relieved. Jenn is not only remarkable, but a gem too! I highly recommend her.

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.

I reached out to Eli to treat myself to a birthday massage, and I was far from disappointed. Eli is…read morewarm, intuitive, and a skilled practitioner. He took care to make me comfortable and was very attentive when I shared about how my body is doing. The massage was all around wonderful... I cannot wait to book my next one!

I guess there is little on this Earth better than a satisfying massage. I've had my second massage…read morewith Eli and am more awestruck than I was the first time. From the moment you sit down to talk to him about what is going on with your body, his full attention is fixed on you. Its hard to explain but you will become aware that you are being completely heard, and that all of your concerns are being noted and affirmed. I am very adamant about having deep tissue massage, and recently had one elsewhere that got down to the grizzle, but didn't feel loving. Eli combines a great sensitivity with his strong pressure. He encourages you to sigh and breathe when he hits a rough spot (and oh man did I have some bad knots in my shoulders...). He has incredible touch. I literally felt like I was floating afterwards and sort of rested for a good 10 minutes before I got up. Again, the benefit of this not being a salon but at his home is that you are not being ushered out in a hurry. I felt so cared for and relaxed. You have no idea what you are missing until you experience an Eli massage. Either you'll believe me or you wont, but know that you'll only benefit inexplicably from one of the two options.

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 made the commitment to regular body work when an imbalance of stress and life challenges were…read moretaking a toll on my health. When my massage therapist moved, I didn't know if I would be able to find someone who was both as skilled and as good a personality fit. Luckily, I did. Helena is a warm light as she greets you for a massage treatment. She is a kind and giving soul, which is reflected in her work. She takes the time to listen to your needs and understands how human emotion and experiences effect the body. I not only feel terrific when I leave, I also gain new perspectives on how to participate in my body's recovery and relaxation. Massage with Helena has been essential for me in managing chronic back, shoulder, and neck pain as well as the stresses of life that play out in the rest of my muscles and bones. Helena is a very professional, highly-skilled massage therapist. I recommend her for anyone searching for a massage experience that leaves you feeling relaxed, restored, and rebalanced.

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).

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.

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.

I have been receiving bodywork from Erik/Purple for the past 5 years with great results. As a body…read moreworker myself I have received a lot of body work and various healing modalities and nothing quite compares to to the unique work of Erik. His combination of "Empowered bodywork", deep stretching, and gift of full presence are a transformative experience that invite you to into a state of deep surrender. Many of us struggle with high stress lives that trap is us in our heads and disconnect us from our bodies. The experience Erik offers creates a safe space that allows you to let go of whatever hectic thoughts may be looping through your mind and fully occupy your body. He will expand your ideas of what bodywork can be- twisting you in knots you didn't know your body you go and and shaking out tension from places you didn't even know it was held! As a dancer I am often pushing my body to its limits and then wanting to do the same the next day. Thank to Erik this is often possible. Not only has he been a wonderful bodywork but I have also learned a great deal about healthy eating, micro-nutrients, and other aspects of holistic health and healthy living.