Gareth is the best. I've been going to him for over 5 years on a weekly basis and whether I'm actively working through an issue (pulled hamstring, carpal tunnel, sprained ankle, plantar fasciitis) to more maintenance for my active lifestyle, he's been there through every step of the journey adapting his treatment for the best care! Book ASAP and make sure you're up for a sport massage experience read more

Gareth is truly amazing and I cannot say enough good things about working with him. He is thorough, partners with you on plan to target any issues, rehabilitates injuries, and works through knots like no one else (if you ask). I have been working with Gareth for 6 years, he has helped me through 2 major surgeries and managing the wear and tear of stress and travel on my body. He takes a holistic approach to care treating the whole body and always takes the time to answer questions that come up along the way. Every time I have a session with Gareth, I know I will leave feeling rejuvenated and feeling better than when I walked in. I truly don't know what I would do without him and recommend him to everyone I know! read more

I have suffered from serious injuries for the last 18 years ranging from knee issues, back problems, to shoulder injuries. I have been in and out of physical therapy for years concerning these problems, and honestly no one has been able to help fix my issues... until Gareth. He is able to find the root of your problems and work through them. And by work through them, I really mean WORK. This is not going to be your typical relaxing massage. This massage is a workout in itself. Its certainly painful while you're there, but afterwards you will feel like you have a new body. Highly recommend going to see Gareth! read more

Sound knowledge of anatomy and body mechanics, hands like divinity rods in the way they seek out adhesions, injuries and sore spots, compassionate, and all-magical in the way my past injuries have just melted away under his care. These are the words to describe Gareth. I found him thru SOL physical therapy when I went there for rehab of my hurt knee. After 3 months with the 3 different physical therapists to no significant improvement, I asked for massage therapy. After the first session with Gareth, I realized I have stumbled upon a gem of a therapist. He is just the BEST therapist i have ever had, and I have seen more than I can remember. Now I see him every 2 wks, for 2 hr massages every time, and its been 6 months. He has healed a hamstring injury that I sustained 15 yrs ago, that used to plaque me every time I run. He maintains my super-painful lower back muscles so I can be a full time mom/salsa dancer/surfer/runner. And he renders my bad knee pain-free every time I over-use it. PAIN-FREE. Yes people, it does take patience, because healing takes time. And you will learn that if you do the homework that Gareth gives you, you will not only heal, you will become stronger. It is due to Gareth that I'm back to dancing and running again, and that I'm in the best shape of my life. He is a keeper. All mine. read more

OMG HURTS SO GOOOOOD... Gareth will beat you into submission people - in the best possible way. This guy is NOT a "masseur" - don't call him that either, he'll quickly correct you that he does "Body Work" which I get now - he has a very deep understanding of body muscle kinetics and also seems to have a great intuition of where you may need help. his work is not just for pleasure, although I like deep tissue massage so for me it was pleasurable. I think he was more thorough and caring than the doctors I had been seeing for my chronic lower back pain issues. Recommended! read more

Gareth is great at what he does! He's helped me through two separate injuries, tendinitis and a minor shoulder/neck strain. He's very knowledgeable with the human body, I highly recommend checking him out if you need chiropractic work done. Thank you Gareth! read more

My main squeeze got me a massage from Gareth for Christmas. As an avid cyclist (CX cross racing, long distance road, alleycats, etc) whose not as great about stretching as long as I should, my bod was in dire need of some body work. And I use the term body work, because a massage with Gareth is SO much more than a massage. More than a deep massage. It's a lesson about your body, your lifestyle and how to make both of them better. Gareth spent the time to ask and LISTEN about my training, routines and any trouble spots I've been having. He addressed them beforehand using diagrams of the human body with easy to understand explanations about why and how muscles and tissues are acting the way they are. During the session, small notes about muscles he was working on was super helpful, as was the post massage explanation about what we did, and stretches to keep those muscles stretched and you feeling good. What solidified it was the fact that my ride the very next day felt like I was flying -- where was all this energy coming from?? Felt GREAT! If you're an athlete of any kind: cycling, running, climbing, yoga, and everything in between: this is your man! read more

Gareth is the most talented, educated massage therapist I have ever had the pleasure of working with. I'm an active volleyball player and indoor rock climber. I started seeing him as part of my recovery treatment from shoulder (rotator cuff) surgery. He knows the human body so well. Before starting your massage, he'll genuinely ask you about your body, your habits, your trouble spots, your lifestyle and what you're hoping to achieve through bodywork. But not only does he ask, he listens, remembers and considers the whole picture. And once he gets started, he knows the perfect spots to target to relieve tightness and strain and can tell you each individual muscle or tendon he's working on and why. (He'll even give you simple stretches to do at home that help reinforce his massage work.) He knows how to balance a treatment massage with a relaxing massage. But if straight treatment or straight relaxation is what you're after, he can do that, too. He is sensitive to your needs and always professional. And his studio provides a calming atmosphere while being very centrally located. Gareth played such a huge role in my recovery from surgery and will continue to play a huge role in my overall wellness and mind/body connection. I couldn't recommend him more highly! read more

I was diagnosed with L4-L5 disc herniation a few months ago and have been struggling with immobility and shooting nerve pain down the left leg. After countless sessions to the chiropractor, eastern medicine doctors, and physical therapist with minimal improvements, I was losing hope and began to think that surgery was my only option. After reading a few success stories about patients benefiting from massage therapy, I did a quick search and found A Deeper Touch. I called and left a voice message for Gareth. He returned my call and spent a few minutes to understand my injury, then proceeded with scheduling a one-hour massage session for the same week. A Deeper Touch is located in an alleyway between Howard and Folsom on 8th Street. It's fairly easy to locate using Google Map and there's a clear sign on the door. The room is clean and cool (temperature wise), with soothing music playing. My one-hour session with Gareth typically begins with a conversation about my current condition. He then explains the problem I'm experiencing (with the help of a human body diagram - very technical) and how he plans to treat me during that particular session. I'd describe his style as a combination of physical therapy and deep tissue massage. He usually helps me stretch out my glutes to loosen the muscles and allow blood to flow into the problem areas, then perform manual work on these muscles to break soft tissues. Finally, I go home with some exercises to do--mostly core strengthening, stretching, and power walking. You will never heal if you stay inactive, which is what I did because I was afraid of the pain. I have visited Gareth consistently for more than a month on a weekly basis and have improved significantly. No kidding! Sciatic pain is almost gone and I am able to perform most daily activities with minimal to no pain. Best of all, I can now sleep naturally without painkillers. Feel free to message me if you need help. I'd be happy to share my experiences. read more

Fixed my neck problem with treatment and follow up exercises. Gareth is a genius!

I have been seeing Gareth almost weekly for nearly 4 months as part of an extensive rehab program supervised by my 2 PTs. He has worked expertly to help me recover from foot/ankle reconstruction and bilateral mastectomy reconstruction. He helped me unlock and support a completely torqued neck, open pec/back, strengthen multiple parts of my gait. He also helped me recover from overall weekly muscle soreness from my 2-4 hour per day rehab regime. He works well with my PTs. HE IS ONE OF THE BEST MASSAGE THERAPISTS I HAVE EVER SEEN, and I have seen a lot. He is particularly interested in healing, not in a woowoo/incense and crystals way, and is sensitive, strong and knowledgeable about anatomy. He is very aware of how to sequence massage/body work into the healing process, ie not working on an area until sufficient post-op time and clearance from doctors has occurred. He is straightforward, professional and has a good sense of humor. He has taught me a lot about pitience with my own healing, knowing my body/ skeletal-muscular structure, and has been a very complimentary part of my treatment. I credit him for alleviating pain, helping me understand what I need/express that to my surgeons, and being a positive down-to-earth energy in my healing. I recommend him highly. HIGHLY. read more

A friend knew I was looking for a therapist who could help my sciatica pain. He recommended Gareth. He has a very professional studio that made me comfortable from the first time I visited him. I am blown away at the results I have got! He is a very deep tissue massage therapist and gets the critical muscle points to loosen up. It's amazing how it helps me with my overall fitness program. Don't go to Gareth for a cushy soft massage, he is deep tissue. I have been seeing Gareth regularly for a couple of months now and will continue with bi monthly visits. I highly recommend Gareth, he is a pro. read more

Gareth's bodywork is phenomenal. I was in town for the SF Marathon and scheduled my appt. prior to departing my east coast home state. Scheduling my appt. was a smooth transaction by email and text. I came to his studio a day after the marathon and his approach to my 2hr sports and deep tissue session exceeded my expectations. As a Massage Therapist/Bodyworker I learned some things. He has unique and specific techniques that I haven't experienced in previous sports massage sessions and I get ALOT of bodywork; on average I receive weekly 90min sessions. He addressed each of my concern areas and applied the deep tissue pressure that my muscles needed. I wish my time in SF would have allowed two appointments with him. He's highly recommended for athletes or for anyone that uses their body more than the average person. read more

Gareth is a lovely person with a true a gift for healing. He knows the mechanics of the body and knows how to go in deep to straighten things out so the muscles work properly again. The inside of his studio is beautiful and serene, and he has a fantastic selection of music. In my case I came in with chronic tight shoulders (like cement blocks) and two frozen shoulders such that I could not lift my arms fully over my head. I tried many things over the years, but only really got results from Gareth's massage therapy. It is not like a pampering massage. Actually it was very intense and sometimes a bit painful. But he knows exactly what he is doing and teaches you to understand how your body responds to stress and then coaches you to breathe through it, relax muscles that are reflexively tightening in response, and he also knows when to back off when need be. He is very kind and compassionate. I ended up coming for weekly sessions and magical result is that I have full range of motion again and can move like I used to when I was younger. I did stop my sessions for about 6-weeks and lost some of my range of motion and got my shoulders "encased with cement" again. But after a couple of more sessions with Gareth, I am feeling good again. I plan to continue these maintenance sessions; it makes a huge difference in my quality of life. Thanks, Gareth! read more

Gareth is a natural. He just seems to intuitively know where your most troubling "knots" are and how to work to release them. He is strong, always applying appropriate pressure (but never more or less than you want). He is conscientious in his efforts to understand what's going on with your aches and pains so that he can best address these issues in his treatment. Since I have ongoing chronic back pain, I've been to many massage therapists over the years; Gareth is absolutely among the very best. I highly recommend him! read more

I traveled to San Francisco recently and received a massage from Gareth and I have to say it was one of the best Massages I've ever had. I don't know all of the technical terms for massages but all I can say is that I had extreme tension in my shoulders and neck and his firm but not hurtful technique was just what the doctor order. The place was very tranquil and soothing. This guy is just GOOD!! He is going to be my go to guy when I travel to San Francisco! Too bad he is not in L.A. read more

Magical! I was having knee and lower back pains/aches, and Gareth knew exactly how to apply body work to release the tension perfectly. The body work is different than a regular massage, which is very therapeutic. However, I haven't been on medications or knew creams for over a week. Thank you for his expertise and knowledge. A deeper touch is a must for a monthly 'tune up. read more

I've been to other massage studios in and out of the bay area, and, while getting a feel good "spa" massage can be great and relaxing, there's certainly no denying when your therapist is knowledgeable about physiology and anatomy and how muscles respond and work together, you'll have a significantly more rewarding and valuable experience. Gareth is that massage therapist. He is so very attentive and will take the time to sit down with you to talk about what may be bothering you and what you're looking for. He'll customize the session to give special attention to those problem areas, whether you've identified them or he's discovered them. I began working with Gareth nearly a year ago due to a bulging cervical disk that was impinging on a nerve, causing moderate to severe nerve pain and numbness down my arm. After several months, no more arm pain and no more neck stiffness! I'm back to my usual activities including climbing and running. Now on the other end of the spectrum, I see Gareth to keep things loose and make sure I stay injury free. Finding Gareth has improved my quality of life significantly! read more

I had hit a desperate state: my rheumatoid arthritis was flaring to the point where I couldn't sleep, I'd hurt my back pushing something heavy and my wrists were killing me from report writing when I could get to work. A friend suggested Gareth as a skilled masseuse who might be able to relieve some of my pain. Lucky for me, I called Monday and Gareth was able to see me over lunch Tuesday! His intake session was thorough with pictures and numbers and a whole to-do. It felt a little too much, but I'm glad he got a complete picture of all my ailments because in one short hour, he was able to address them ALL. He used his lymphatic technique to stimulate circulation and relieve my rheumatoid arthritis, soothed my wrists and back and just made it easier for me to be in my skin. I went back to work feeling like a new person and had a good night's sleep later that evening. read more

Gareth has a sound knowledge of anatomy and he provides not just a comforting massage, but one that actually fixes the issues I was facing structurally. He is kind, committed, and treated deep injuries with care and expertise I had never experienced before. I highly recommend Gareth for dealing with recovery from injury or surgery. Not many massage therapists have the depth of knowledge to help you in this way and he does. read more

I've been seeing Gareth for a couple of years now and feel better after every session. I've come a long way from my first sessions where I would almost need a ball gag to hold back elation (HA!). Over the last two years I've had less shoulder/neck issues due to him loosening me up and providing helpful tips on stretches I can do at home. Recently I had a pretty strong pain develop just outside my knee after a long bicycle ride. The pain was pretty bad and I had trouble walking. He made time to see me and in about a day I was able to pay him a visit. After our usual catch up chat he had me sit up on the table and began to stretch out my leg, hips and calf. After about 15 min I took some steps and I could already feel the progress. Gareth has a deep understanding of how the body is connected and uses his knowledge to pin point whatever issues you may be having to work his magic. read more

Gareth is an excellent massage therapist who takes time to identify the issues you are having and address them. I'm a cyclist and went to him for back pain, neck pain and hamstring issues and he took the time to talk through these areas with diagrams and visuals to better explain to me what was going on before working on me. Two of my cyclist teammates go to him as well. Great massage! We all recommend him highly. read more

Gareth is truly the best. Since i have moved to Miami, I haven't had a masseuse that is comparable yet. I have received massages from a few others in other places around the state of Florida and even from some claiming to do myofascial release, but they were never as good as Gareth. As a very active person, keeping my body balanced and well is important to me. I just wish I could find someone as good as him here in Miami! You are very lucky to have him San Francisco! read more

I was referred to Gareth by an existing client of his and mutual friend, and it has been one of the best introductions someone has ever made. I've been staying active all my life and over that time period have used many message therapists, physical therapists, fitness trainers, and by far, Gareth has had the biggest impact. He is knowledgeable, skilled, professional and super talented. Additionally, he has a very welcoming message space. I highly recommend him to anyone looking for someone who can really treat their problem areas as well as just recover from a great workout. read more

Finally! Western SOMA gets a professional masseuse! I first went to Gareth when I was six months pregnant and suffering from very serious back pain. Gareth really took the time to figure out the source of the pain, and when he was through - I was a new woman! I'm not sure I would have made it through my third trimester without him. His flexible hours are a great bonus for the working gal. All around, just a wonderful experience! read more

I have had massages all over the world, and this massage by Gareth was one of the best ever. Gareth is so knowledgeable and his massages are relaxing and therapeutic. Highly recommend!! read more

I was in town for a conference and lucked upon Gareth. I make it a priority to receive regular weekly massage to maintain a healthy mind, body and spirit, so I definitely recognize an exemplary therapist when I visit one. Gareth found trigger points on my body that I was not aware were causing me trouble at the time. His in depth knowledge of anatomy and biomechanics and keen attention made for a truly worthy session. He mixed several modalities including deep tissue and lymphatic drainage to customize for what my body needed. I would absolutely recommend him to anyone visiting or living in the Bay Area. read more