I will echo several other reviews here, Ed especially, in saying that Joe Reef is a genuine healer. I feel that term gets applied far too easily in our society that tends to want to give everybody a medal in order not to harm their self esteem.....but in this case I was absolutely floored by the results. His demeanor is open, welcoming and is more like walking in for a meditation session than anything......wait, I don't want that to sound to woo-woo.....let's just say that Joe makes you immediately feel like the entire focus of all of his energy, time and expertise, not just "the next appointment". Joe has this energy and ability which I find hard to describe.....it translates into an incredible healing session....and I say this because Joe is about so much more than a certain technique......it is genuinely a healing session (sorry Ed, that sounds very woo-woo but not sure how else to describe it). Ok, so having blathered on repetitively I will try and finish..... An incredible experience with one of the warmest and most genuine person you will ever meet. read more

I will give you a warning about this man named Joe, the way he conducts business is very questionable not professional and I do NOT recommend dealing with him! I scheduled a massage with him for my father that I was going to pay for. I was planning on giving my Dad the money and he goes to his massage and then pays Joe after for his service right, like normal, correct!? Well, NOT Joe, he was making me pay for the service before my dad came to even get the massage! But what was worse, is here I am extremely busy like completely and utterly so busy and I have tons of family staying in my home for a wedding in a few days and lots going on and he had sent an invoice to my email, Now mind you I am not on my phone or having time to check texts or emails I am busy and who pays for a service prior, duh thats not normal well he had texted me something about paying this invoice and I just didn't have time to even really look at it much cuz my dad was just going to pay the money after and I was very busy!! Well 3 hours prior to the appointment time he texted me and says invoice hasn't been paid and I am canceling the appointment for your Dad Seriously!??? Why!!??? You actually thought someone was going to come to an appointment and not pay and especially me, that is NOT my character or my dad's and the most confusing part and why I say the way Joe conducts business is really odd and not OK because right on the square app when you book pictured below it says: Payment is due at your appointment!!!!! Then has the audacity to totally cancel appointment 3 hrs prior pretty crazy and very violating to me actually like Im some kind of criminal who is not going to pay Unreal, I was soooo shocked he did this like odd behavior So, that's why I say booking with Joe the Body Mechanic just don't bother his energy is way off! Very Very Very unprofessional how he handled that!! read more

Does not respond to email inquiries. ‍ Why bother having an email contact if you're just going to ignore them? read more

I'm visiting relatives in Vancouver and missed my weekly therapeutic massage, so scheduled with Joe, not sure what to expect. He was amazing! I've been getting massages for decades, and his was truly one of the best. He is also very knowledgable about the body, so can give you advice as well as work around any problem areas. read more

I recently had the opportunity to experience my first-ever professional massage. I have one of those medical flex spending accounts from my job, and I had put too much into my account this year and needed to burn up the balance. This turned into a surprisingly-challenging search for me to find a licensed massage therapist here in the Portland area. Those who have read my previous reviews know that I can never be totally brief, so I'll include some details as to why this was a challenge. I had some criteria to help me choose the massage practitioner that I wanted to try: first, I really didn't want to go to a traditional spa like The Pointe or Aveda. Those places are too... "hoity-toity" for my comfort level. I wanted something more like the cool, down-to-earth feeling I get at Working Class Acupuncture, but in a massage environment. Second, I was feeling more inclined to a male masseur just due to body comfort issues of mine. And third, they needed to take credit cards because that's how I have access to my FSA funds. I asked some friends if they had recommendations, but none were able to match what I was looking for, so I just did some research on my own. I found Abundant Healing through the classified ads of Just Out, of all places. After checking out the website, I felt this was a place that I would feel okay trying out. I met Joe Reef, the LMP (I believe the state of Washington uses the term "Licensed Massage Practitioner" in place of Oregon's "Licensed Massage Therapist") and sole proprietor. I was immediately put at ease, both with his friendly, assuring manner and with his very obvious vast knowledge. Joe is not only an expert masseur, but has extensive knowledge of anatomy/physiology, Qi energy balancing, herbal supplements, diet/nutrition, and physical training programs like weight lifting and yoga. His studio is in one of the restored cottages of Officers Row near Fort Vancouver, a thoroughly charming building in a great historic setting. Since I had money to burn in my flex spending account, I started with a full 2-hour massage for $95 (Visa/MC accepted). I will get straight to the point and say that this was a mind-blowing experience, in a good way. :-) Joe starts off with some light touch and "connection" with the body, which felt like he was getting a read on what my body needed. I indicated that I had some general aches and pains from recently getting back in a gym routine, but that I was otherwise healthy and didn't have any problem areas that needed attention. Once the 5-10 minutes of lighter touch had passed, Joe began working in deep, powerful strokes on my calves and back. I would describe his method as borderline deep-tissue, and some aspects of the massage were a bit painful, but in a therapeutic, healing way and not in an "ow you're hurting me" way at all. Joe was able to "find' some problem areas in my body that I had forgotten about... an old back injury, a torn leg muscle from many years ago, and he focused considerable attention on these areas, working both the muscle and the connective tissue until I was jelly. One of the wonderful things about the 2-hour massage is that the last 30 minutes are focused on energy work. Sometimes I can get a little uncomfortable if things feel a little too "woo woo" for me, but this was a Reiki session that was a perfect finish to the massage. The difference in the sensation between the strong massage and the warm, almost-hot touch of the hands during Reiki was striking. I think that Joe is one of those gifted people that I would call a true "healer." He has a powerful ability to identify what you and your body need, not just for superficial relaxation but for actual healing. I was definitely sore for a couple of days after the massage - again, in a very good way. If you are looking for some healing of your own, I can recommend Abundant Healing without reservation. read more

I decided I needed healing in my life in the form of massage therapy, and the past three months have been life changing. When I write 5-star reviews like this it makes me wonder if the other 5-star reviews I've written in the past really deserved such a high rating. Joe is superbly knowledgable about the body and as a massage practitioner. I found him through Yelp and decided to get in touch with him based on all the reviews. I was interested, but hesitant as I have had no experience with massages and had no idea what to expect. Joe is personable and open-minded and listens to whatever you have to bring to the table. I came in with a birth injury to my shoulder and arm that resulted in nerve damage and problems with range of motion and strength. After trying a lot of things that didn't work throughout the years (yoga, traditional physical therapy, acupuncture, western herbal medicine, self-medicating and plain ignoring the problem in hopes it would go away) I finally reached rock bottom. I am really glad to have found Joe as his practice of myofacial release and other healing modalities like reiki and proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation are exactly what I was looking for (even though I didn't know what it was called when I first walked in the door). I have had three sessions so far and am already living a higher quality of life. Joe constantly reminds me that I am the one doing the healing, but I am grateful that he is there to encourage and bring his knowledge into my healing experience. Parking can be a little strange for newbies, but you will notice there is parking in the back of the Officer's Row buildings. If you drive down Officer's Row there is a small road where you can make a left turn after Grant House (maybe another house or two after, not sure) and it takes you to the parking alley behind the buildings. Take another left and head back towards the first house on the row where you will usually find a spot just outside the entrance to Abundant-Healing. read more

Wonderful massage experience at Abundant Healing today! My friends gave me a 90 minute massage certificate with Joe for a graduation gift.. I'm not sure how they heard about him, but I am grateful they made the connection. The massage was deep, and much more comprehensive than just repetitive muscle prodding. Joe gave good advice on problem areas, and was incredibly professional and good-natured. I particularly enjoyed the arnica lotion used for the massage- it smelled delicious. It is his personal recipe and I intend to purchase a bottle for home use. read more

Ive have had a lot of professional massages and Joe is the best! Ive been going to see Joe for over a year now. He knows the muscles and tendons very well. Always has good advice also for stretching, exercise and diet. I drive for a living and he is able to find the spots that are deep in my back and neck. I love that he massages the face and scalp. Ya hate him for hurting ya but love him later for getting out those kinks! You also get reiki at the end of the session. Joe has a warm spirit and a pleasure to talk to and all around good person! I recommend him to all my friends and family. My sister actually recommended him to me first and I have been going to him ever since. read more

Great massage. I am a regular and leave every time feeling better and relaxed. Joe does a great job at finding your tense spots and focusing on them. I highly recommend him if you are looking for massage. read more

Wow, Joe is a fantastic therapist! Over the course of many years I've searched for a massage therapist who has the skills to deliver a truly deep massage. I've finally found that person, Joe is that guy. Highly knowledgeable in his craft, he has been very successful in knocking my persistent kinks and muscle aches. Friendly and easy going, Joe always has an open ear when I tell him about what's going on w/my body. He uses this feedback to formulate an appropriate treatment plan and as a result I get results! Nice office space, location and a good massage value for the money. Oh, and you've got to check out his crystal Chakra bowl, incredible. Keep up the good work Joe. =) read more

This is the only true deep tissue massage I have found in Vancouver, WA.

Simply awesome. Joe is very skilled in deep tissue massage. He is able to read my body language and knows when to go deep or reduce pressure during the massage. Joe was recommended by a friend and I owe my buddy a world of thanks for pointing me in Joe's direction. After the massage I feel relaxed yet rejuvenated. I get the best nights sleep that night after the massage. Joe is truly gifted read more

Joe is amazing! He performs what I called ""deep internal yoga" on my muscles, tendons and joints. This is truly massage therapy! He is very knowledgeable about the body and has helped me along the way to recovering from some nerve issues suffered from playing hockey. BTW - I do not like the Yelp 5 star review system, so let me say on a 10 scale I would rate him 9.99. I am deducting the .01 because I do not live in the Portland / Vancouver area and sadly cannot continue to go to Joe, and now I gotta find someone comparable - #@&&$# ! On the personal side he is very welcoming and friendly and has a great sense of humor. Each session ends with a great bear hug! Thanks Joe! read more

I started going to Joe a little over 2 years ago, at the suggestion of a friend. He has been the best therapist I have had the pleasure of receiving a massage from. This year I had shoulder issues that the doctor could only recommend shots for, which I didn't want to do. A few months of therapy with, Joe, and there is no longer any pain, and I have complete mobility, and am able to go back to the regular workout schedule. I highly recommend, Joe, for a great, therapeutic massage. Gary S read more

Read all the reviews about Joe and couldn't NOT try out his massage therapy skills. I went last night and had a 120 min massage that truly lived up to all the hype. I am sore today knowing that he really worked out a lot of my muscle problems. There is no comparison in the professional massage world. read more

Good massage everytime. He's a talented masseur with truly strong hands. After each massage, I feel the positive effects for longer than just a few hours. Nice quiet studio too. read more

great massage and a really relaxing location. He listens to what you need and adapts your massage for that visit. Not to much chatter after the greeting which I do appreciate. He really puts work into making the entire experience a good one. read more

Like everyone else's review on Joe, he is VERY GOOD! Very professional and focused in healing the body.

You pay for a 2 hour massage but only get 1-1/2 hour massage and he expects a tip.I have been going to Abundant-Healing Massage in Vancouver, WA for about 7 years. I've always enjoyed going because he has had good rates and he gives a good deep tissue massage. He only gives 1-1/2 to 2 hour massages. I always liked the 2 hour. I would come out of my appointment a little sore but drank lots of water to get the toxins flushed out. Completely normal. He likes to visit at the beginning of the appt about how the family is doing and how things are going in my life and sharing his home purchase and remodeling. We were friends on facebook. Over the last couple of years I noticed the 2 hour massage isn't 2 hours. It's a 1-1/2 hour massage. It's 2 hours of his time. At my last 3 appointments I asked him to ease up on my calves and feet because it was too painful. He didn't. At my last appt in February I asked him once again to ease up on my calves and feet. He didn't. In fact, he seemed to increase the pressure on my left foot which ended up being painful to walk on when I left my appt. Upon scheduling my next appointment he informed me his rate was going up to $120 for a 2 hour massage. I'm ok with that if it's a 2 hour massage; but remember, it's 2 hours of his time and a 1-1/2 hour massage. Aside from that, the following evening I was still in extreme pain in my foot and texted him asking what he did differently. The bottom of my foot was so swollen the arch was gone. The inside of my ankle and the top of my foot were also extremely sensitive to the touch - so much so that when my feet touched in my sleep the pain woke me up. The response I got from my inquiry was to do some stretches and it would be fine. A week later it still was not fine and it was still swollen. My doctor said he bruised the nerve. It took 3 weeks to heal. I was very disappointed that he didn't own up to hurting me and causing an unintentional injury. I sent him an email canceling my next appointment and terminating our professional relationship. The next day I discovered he not only unfriended me on facebook but also blocked me. That tells me I was no more than a dollar sign to him. read more