Though I would agree with other reviews that Amanda Snow and her Relax and Be Free Massage & Spa Services business was an excellent 1 1/2 hour session, I cannot and do NOT recommend her for prospective clients seeking the best massage AND treatment. Both aspects are important especially when there are so many trained and competent massage body workers available to choose between today. I will try to be brief and to the point.
I came to Amanda through Yelp and had only one massage with her on February 28, 2016. Her "spiritual" approach as expressed in reviews and her website drew me in. However, in retrospect now 5 weeks later, I'm sorry to say that she showed an extreme lack of communication, which in turn was disrespectful and a deterrent to me, a new prospective client.
From the first visit, I noticed what I would call an "unnatural" inflection and expression in her voice. It reminded me of past days around spiritual communities where members were trying to adopt an air of spirituality, rather than just being themselves. Specifically, Amanda started off by saying something like, "Firm believer in warming up beforehand..." (referring to getting the body warm before starting massage). However, it was the unnaturalness of her voice and communication that was immediately noticeable. She didn't just say, like a normal person would talk, "I'm a firm believer in warming up beforehand, etc."
I personally started on a spiritual path at age 17 with a meditation practice, so I've had a lot of experience and growing understanding and compassion for others. I don't particularly derive happiness from this review but feel it's important to be truthful in the hope that others will be forewarned. And that perhaps Amanda will reflect on her communications and how they affect others.
While on the massage table, I made some conversation at different times. That I especially loved the music in the room, She did not respond at all. I asked her if she knew her address (155) was a "holy" number. She said she did not, but didn't inquire why I said that. She gave a feeling of not being responsive. I also mentioned that her "voice" sounded like a woman I met who gives "Satsang" (spiritually oriented meetings) named Pamela Wilson. I suggested Amanda listen to Pamela's voice on YouTube to hear the resemblance.
After the massage, she said I could pay with credit card but I wanted to pay in cash. I know that professionals appreciate receiving cash. I included a 20% gratuity. I asked Amanda about purchasing "packets" (a group of massages that her website indicated she offered at a discount rate). She responded that I could email her later, to just be with the effects of the massage.
I felt that Amanda wanted to send me off and wasn't really available to talk for a few minutes. So I left and reminded her to listen to Pamela Wilson.
After I arrived home, I texted Amanda and thanked her for her gift of massage. NO response (then or ever). The next day I emailed her and asked about her packages. NO response. I waited a couple days and emailed her again, indicating that I realize that she must be very busy.
Finally she wrote me back and said that she may be going back east to help a family member post operation and recovery. She was assessing her schedule. However, she wrote that she didn't want to offer a package deal at that time (in so many words). Now that did not make any sense to me. A package of massages is used over many weeks or months and the fact that Amanda was planning on going back east temporarily would not affect that. Plus I remembered that she did not respond to me asking about packages while I was at her home office after my massage. It didn't add up. It wasn't logical.
I wrote back commending Amanda on going back east to help a family member. I asked when she might return. Again no response.
In a few days she finally replied that one of her family members was to have a heart operation and that she didn't know when she was going back east. She wrote that she "sensed" that she should "pause" on appointments and would "circle back" to me when she was ready to resume massage with clients, etc. I sensed something was "off".
I wrote Amanda back and expressed that my dad had two heart operations (bypass surgery and a stint for the arteries). I wrote that my experience was the operations were immediately successful and that there really wasn't a period of post op recovery needed. I was trying to convey to Amanda a sense of relief, that in today's world those operations are common and with excellent doctors, recovery is quick. I mentioned that one thing we can do for someone is attempt to council them on diet and exercise, routines that may have contributed to the cause in the first place. No response from Amanda.
A few weeks elapsed and I sent Amanda an email hoping all was well. No response! I cannot recommend her lack of harmonious communication I experienced. Choose a masseuse who cares genuinely. read more
