I'm shocked mine will be the first review on Yelp for Journey's Massage Studio! The short version:…read moreOne of the best massages I've ever had, and I've had many. Let me elaborate...
Katrina, the owner and the massage therapist, has received the Thumbtack's "Best of 2016 Award" for two years in a row, based on customer service reviews. I feel blessed to have found out about her through Groupon, but she is definitely well worth paying full fare, and I'm happy to "put her on the map" for the discerning Yelp community.
A good therapeutic massage can allay stress, ease sore muscles, relieve tension, help heal injuries of the body, heart, and soul, can help you through the grieving process, and sometimes, do all that AND leave you feeling like an almost-new person. And that's how good Katrina is.
She's warm and caring and made me feel comfortable right away. Her intake form is just one page that covers all the important issues, unlike many that make you feel like you're being prepped for major surgery, and take longer than the massage will! Before she begins, she asks about problem areas and massage preferences, and I could tell during the massage that she listened and took it all into account.
I especially liked that she said at the outset that she doesn't usually talk with her clients during their massage, and that it was not personal...just that she knows we are there to relax and de-stress, and that conversation can interfere with that.
Aside from the fact that she is very skilled at therapeutic massage, and adjusts pressure expertly, the very best part is the way she incorporates the use of hot stones and heated damp towels. I wasn't expecting either, and the sensation and results are almost magical. I left feeling well taken care of and infinitely more relaxed.
Hopefully the pitfalls I encountered trying to find the office will benefit you, because if you appreciate a great massage, this is a place you'll definitely WANT to find! It's in a small office complex on the west side of Mur-Len Road about halfway between 127th and 135th Streets. As soon as you pull in the parking lot, turn left, head to the south side of the buildings, then turn right and go west toward Suite 6, just a few doors down. The company name is on the outer door, but the office is shared by a counseling service, and inside there is a (shared) reception window and one other unlabeled door, so if there is no one at the window, you might think you're in the wrong place. The unlabeled door leads back to the other offices, so you can knock on it if there isn't anyone at the desk.
The icy cold bottled water you leave with to help detoxify was the perfect tonic on a scorching-hot Kansas City afternoon, and helped ease the shock from the waves of heat that blasted from my car when I opened the door. But even that couldn't destroy the cocoon of comfort Katrina had given me.