Stephanie is the best massage therapist I've ever had. I hadn't seen her since before Covid, and am glad to be once again receiving care from her! read more

I was about 3 months pregnant when I started coming to Alchemy Wellness. I came here 2-3 times while I was pregnant. It's a cute little spot. Fiona was amazing each and every time. Remembered a lot from our previous sessions which was nice since it didn't take away from the actual massage. I always felt even better and relaxed after I left. read more

Stephanie was so kind and accommodating. I had injured my back earlier in the morning and I called a couple of massage facilities near me and Stephanie was the first one to respond back to me. She re- arranged her schedule to fit me in the same day. She even gave me a Military Discount, which I much appreciated! If you are looking for a personable massage therapist then please contact Stephanie at Alchemy Wellness. After the deep tissue massage my back felt much better. She even gave me really good advice on ways to help prevent re-injuring my back. Please check her business you won't be disappointed! read more

Are you like me, someone who spends the greater part of a day hunched over a laptop? If yes, Stephanie is a great massage therapist to work out the knots and kinks. She has done wonders to alleviate and eliminate the aches that I consistently experienced in my hands, elbows, and shoulders. She can easily adjust pressure to accommodate the pain points and over time, reduce the pain levels at those points. Beyond being a great message therapist, she's a cool person too. It's not just a job for her, its a calling. read more

I had a great massage at Alchemy. Stephanie has a great deal of experience and did my body good! She also had good advice on stretching and other things to do for running recovery. I will plan to see her again in the near future. read more

Started seeing Stephanie after a car accident. Never had a massage prior. I have a hip injury and I felt like physical therapy was not really providing much relief. She listens well and is strong! I never would've imagined I'd feel so good after a massage. She's a master of her craft. I've been seeing her weekly and would definitely recommend her. read more

I highly recommend this place. If your looking for good energy, a sparkling clean facility and a place where you leave feeling relaxed and a feeling of bliss, than book your appointment today. I notice a lot of touch and feeling and the high quality of the rugs when you get off the massage table (that feeling) was the icing on the cake per day. Thank you for making my birthday weekend to myself outstanding! read more

Time for an update! The new location is outstanding. I have enjoyed a few massages there now and I love it. The sitting area is comfortable, inviting and relaxing. Even though Cheryl is my regular therapist, I decided to give Jen a try recently and had a wonderful experience. She found some muscle adhesions I wasn't even aware of and worked them right out. She also did an outstanding job on the usual suspects (shoulders, back and neck). I like pressure and she gave a great balance of deep pressure where needed and worked her way into my trouble areas to ease into it. Too many therapists I've had go for the kill right away on a trouble area, leaving you sore after. She was able to get them gently but effectively and without making me sore. Cheryl and Jen make a great a team. If you need body work, I would highly recommend both of these ladies. Between them, they have some 40+ years' experience. I'm confident that no matter which of these women I see, I'll get expert care and a great experience! read more

Cheryl is a miracle worker. Not only is she a gifted massage therapist, but she is kind and intuitive. Her new location is next door to her former location. One enters a warm and inviting space. The colors, decor and fragrance invite relaxation. Parking is a challenge, so if possible, take public transportation. read more

I have been a client of Jen Bode's since I moved to Portland in 2000. (That's a long time!) Jen provides a wonderful massage experience. She is professional, kind, intuitive, strong and incredibly effective. Her new space with Cheryl is beautiful. Perfect for the two of them and the awesome work they do. Alchemy Wellness is clean, calm, serene... a spa-like experience. The waiting room and treatment rooms are warm, private and beautifully furnished. The massage tables are comfy and cozy. You can have a massage with essential oils which I love. Jen offers all these other sweet touches like a table warmer, hot packs, eye pillows, warm neck wraps.... That wouldn't be enough for me if the massage was so-so, but its not! Jen knows how to work with the body to provide relaxation and work to release areas of tension. I've seen Jen through pregnancy, cancer treatment, recovery, job changes, marathon training injuries....you name it. She's taken very good care of my body. Jen's presence is very calm and grounding. She's an excellent communicator. She has years of experience and training. I feel very safe and nurtured when I'm with her. I have gotten well over 100 massages in my life (some at spas, resorts, on vacation in various locations) and I have to some of the best massages I have ever received have been given by Jen Bode. read more

Had my first massage in about 3 years here with Joel and loved every second. He's great! Definitely would go back to him. He used the right amount of pressure for me and made sure I was comfy and feeling good every so often. He was super respectful and professional, but still warm and friendly. He let me know what he was going to do and found a major problem area in my neck and spent a great deal amount of time on it, which i greatly appreciate. I feel so much better! Would definitely recommend him to anyone looking for a calming massage and looking to get rid of some tension. My back hasn't felt this loose in ages. read more

Alchemy was a peaceful and welcoming oasis after a long week. The facility was lovely and I had a wonderful massage from Fiona. She asked me what specific areas I wanted her to focus on, and also intuitively found those that I didn't even know were an issue. She applied just the right amount of pressure and asked me what I needed throughout. I'd definitely recommend her if you're looking for a massage. read more

i have been coming to great escape for about 4 years now, i get massages regularly for that last 10 years, from 5 star spa's around the nation, and local massage therapist, i have used everyone from students and graduates from east west and other places around town. Here is the thing bottom line if i am going to get a massage in Portland i WILL not go anywhere else. Cheryl is great to work with she knows what she is doing, very friendly and in my opinion the best in town. read more

Cheryl listened to me and my body! I enjoyed a deep massage for muscle I never knew I had! Cheryl is mellow and engaging and very accomplished in her skill. I feel more movement and relaxed each time I leave. I look forward to my appointments! read more

I have been going to Cheryl now for more than 4 years and she is absolutely the BEST! She really knows what she is doing and even from our first meeting she could feel what was going on with my body. Cheryl is amazing at what she does (I swear she has healing/strong hands) and is such a kind and caring person - I recommend her to all of my friends if they don't already have someone they faithfully love and go to! And even if they do, I STILL recommend her! :) Cheryl is thoughtful and definitely tailors your session to what is going on with you and your body. I am an avid Bikram Yoga yogini and going to see Cheryl after doing a 100-day challenge was just what the doctor ordered! :) I just saw her a few weeks ago after starting a new at-home/rigorous workout program and she really helped with all of my tight/sore/achy spots. I make my appointments with Cheryl a priority as it is SO very important to take care of yourself. I can't say enough good things about Cheryl - just make an appointment already and experience her for yourself! read more

The day I moved from PDX was one of the saddest days of my massage life. I am a very active, athletic person and when I lived in PDX Cheryl was my go to massage therapist to put my body balanced and right. I live in San Francisco now and while I have massages, they aren't nearly as good. So it was with great happiness that I got called to PDX on business last week. I scheduled a 2 hour massaganza with Cheryl!. Her undergrad education was in exercise physiology so when I dragged my beatup body into her beautiful, restful studio, she immediately went in and addressed all of my sore spots as well as prescribed a series of exercises and stretches to address my left achilles. Particularly, if you are athletic, you will appreciate Cheryl's approach. She looks at your body as an integrated system. She has a fantastic sense of how much you need but not too much to where you are wincing on the table. It is a tribute to Cheryl that her practice has a number of longtime multiyear clients. They love what she does. I was asking her why she only has 1 review and she told me that yelp has a practice of removing returning client reviews. Totally unfair. Visit cheryl, fix your body, relax like crazy. You won't be sorry. read more

This is the most relaxing place in the world. I got the best massage from Joel and I am so grateful to have found this place! Thank you!

I recently had a massage here from Joel and it was great! I feel like he really listened to me and what i wanted and he checked in with me throughout the massage to make sure i was doing okay and getting what i wanted from it. I feel like he really worked through the issues i was having and helped me to relax. I felt so good the next day! I'm definitely scheduling a follow up massage with him. read more

Lindsay worked miracles, she is Absolutely amazing ,knowledgeable and has the ability to find the sore muscles/knots and work them out. The place was clean and peaceful I couldn't ask for a better experience. read more

I was referred to Alchemy Wellness through my chiropractor Vanderloo Chiropractic West who I am seeing for a MVA. I was progressing with his chiropractic care but massage was prescribed to give me the best treatment possible. I couldn't have asked for a better referral! I have been going to Cheryl for about a month and my aches, pain and overall discomfort with day-to-day activities has gone down significantly. Cheryl is personable, genuine and not the kind of masseuse who believes that it has to hurt to get results. She uses multiple techniques that not only help your muscles but I believe your mind. AW works with your schedule as much as possible which is great especially if you're busy with work, and other medical appointments and well life. This practice is the kind that makes you feel like a good friend rather than a patient. Also the atmosphere of the office is a little oasis from daily life and all the stresses that live outside of their doors. I highly recommend trusting your healing (whether its emotional, physical or both) to Alchemy Wellness. read more

Best massage in Portland by far! Highly recommend for the overall experience as well as the quality and care of the massage - Cheryl has intuitive and phenomenal hands that bring therapeutic relief! read more

Ive never been treated so horribly in my life. I bought in a yelp deal and due to miscommunication (or whatever) I was charged again. No big deal. I emailed the owner and let her know. She was fair in saying that she could refund the money or I could use it as a credit towards my next visit. I decided to keep the credit, as it would give me an excuse to get another massage in the near future. I decided to go to their website and book an appointment online for the next afternoon. The website clearly states that it is an appointment request, and that until someone confirms, it is not an actual appointment. So the next day, they call to confirm and my phone is not working. I send them an email stating that I would like to reschedule, as I no longer can make it in. The owner writes back that she is keeping my money due to their 24-hour cancellation policy. I understand, however there was not even 24 hours between the time I set up the appointment request and the appointment (so this would not have been possible) plus, the appointment was never properly confirmed. Why I have to explain all of this just to reschedule an appointment (in a service industry nonetheless) is mind boggling to me. I contacted yelp in an attempt to get my money back, and they agreed. The next day I received an email from Cheryl insulting me, stating that my anger, ego and sense of self entitlement has guided me to steal. She called me a thief and said that I redeemed the yelp deal, got my massage and then tried to get my money back. THIS IS NOT TRUE. So now I've paid $160 for one massage, been insulted, she even threatened to sue me if I write a negative review.She also wrote in her email that I may want to reevaluate the way I behave in this world that I am about to bring a child into....UNBELIEVABLE! ALL OF THIS OVER WHAT? A RESCHEDULE and $80? I feel that the public has a right to know about this. It's up to you what decision you make. It just wouldn't be right to allow her to treat me or any other client this way. I understand the need for policies to prevent people from taking advantage of you and your time, however this is not the proper approach in relationship building, nor does anyone to deserve this type of treatment. I don't care if you set 5 appointments and cancel them all, does that leave us open to personal attack, a law suit and an email full of insults? I have never been treated so poorly over rescheduling an 'unconfirmed' appointment in my life. Just for the record, she's the one being a thief. If I wasn't charged twice, she wouldn't have the liberty of taking my money in the first place. So if you're looking for 'a great escape' you may not find it here. All I found was a bunch of negativity and bs. UPDATE: Notice Cheryl's response in that she won't even apologize for taking it to the level she did? I was willing to work with her until she sent me a nasty email insulting me on all levels. I STILL have not seen any $ from her, not even the $40 she said she would refund...so I contacted yelp, thus looking for help considering Cheryl did not even refund the $40 nor did she try to work with me at all. Terrible client relations. read more

Jennifer Bode is the most amazing massage therapist regardless of whether you have a specific health issue or you're maintaining good health! I have been to many other therapists but found Jenn to be most intuitive and effective of all. Highly recommended! read more

Jen is a "neck whisperer". I have a herniated disc in my neck with nerve impingement and disc degeneration. My head hasn't felt this good in years. Jen got into muscle groups that I didn't realize needed attention and found all the hidden spots. She has a kind and attentive demeanor and kept conversation when I felt like it and allowed me to tune out when I wanted to. She was confident and responsive. The new space is lovely, welcoming and relaxing. I'll be back!! read more

Her deep tissue massages are intense and heavenly. Being a worker in the service industry, it makes me so happy there is people like Cheryl and make people feel wonderful inside and out. She is worth the hard earned $ and always has amazing essential oils and warm towels to melt into. If you want a relaxing massage and drool on a pillow, it's purrrrfect! Thanks a billion Cheryl!!! read more

Cheryl is AMAZING! She is the only massage therapist that is able to get the tightness out of my shoulders, forearms, hands so that they don't go numb from my work (I am a hair stylist). Cheryl's studio is relaxing and inviting. I have known Cheryl over 5 years and her skills have only improved! A wonderful massage! read more

I have suffered from scoliosis and seen countless therapist since I was 13yrs old. I really enjoyed Cheryl's use of sound and essential oils combined with her strong hands and intuitive touch. At our second treatment she used an oil technique that was AMAZING! The many layers of oil began to heat up and relax deep into my muscles. The stimulating oil continued to work on my back and invigorate my body for hours after our session was over. It felt like my spine had been adjusted. It was relaxed and my whole nervous system revitalized. I highly recommend Cheryl, she has so much knowledge and experience to apply to each individual. Thank you! read more

Brandin has always been a professional and she is amazing at what she does. She gave me my first massage and I just remember saying," Wow, I didn't even know that I had those mussles!" She has a great energy and touch and I highly recommend her! read more

Cheryl clearly is a seasoned pro. I have been an LMT for 5+ years. Her ability to explain the science, as well as her nurturing and supportive nature to guide one through the more subtle, emotional aspects of bodywork, should you be so inclined, is deeply transformative. I highly recommend Cheryl. She is strong, but sensitive. And her space is lovely. read more

I've been seeing Cheryl for several weeks now for a neck injury related to a motor vehicle accident. My experience has been amazing! Cheryl is targeting areas in my upper back and neck that need major work to address my recent injury and problematic areas perpetuated by poor posture. Cheryl helps me through the tough spots with relaxing conversation. We've also tried new techniques that I've responded well to such K-taping, cupping, and muscle scraping. I leave my appointment with improved mobility and mental clarity. Over the weeks my neck injury and related upper back problems have improved. I am very happy to have Cheryl as my therapist. read more

Cheryl was/is Amazing!!! My collarbones are actually where there supposed to be and not creeping up to my ears:). Such a relaxing space and experience! Cheryl is intuitive in her technique and encourages self awareness of needs-what more can a gal ask for!? read more

Jennifer Bode is a fantastic massage therapist!! Wow. In addition, she does the best Cranio Sacral therapy that I have ever had. The only problem is that it's hard to choose between her massage sndd her Cranio Sacral when I schedule an appointment! read more

I am so happy to hear that Joel has a space at Alchemy Wellness! I have had several massages from him over the past few years and each one has left me feeling relaxed, refreshed, and calm. I am a runner and my legs and feet always need extra attention. Joel listens to all of my concerns before the massage and always follows through with techniques that address my poor tired muscles. Be kind to yourself and get into Alchemy for a massage from Joel! read more

Jen was referred to me by 2 people who are long time patients of hers. From the moment I walked in, I knew that I was someplace special. The surroundings are peaceful and so welcoming. Jen is gifted at her knowledge of the body and how is all works together. Very intuitive and communicative with how much/how little pressure I would like. I felt that my neck/shoulders (what I went in for) were opened and the release I felt in my muscles was instantaneous! She offered her observations of my body, and gave me some great tools to walk away with. Will definitely be back. I have had many therapeutic AND relaxing massages in my life...and this was at the TOP!! read more

WOW! So excited that this place has the incredible Brandin Bowen massage therapist! I've had the privilege of having Brandin as a therapist before and let me tell you... you are in for a special experience! She's got skills for days! She is in tune and on point... she's got a healing and calming energy and I've literally had the best massages of my life by her!! Thank you Brandin and Great Escape!! read more

I really, I mean really needed a massage to help relieve my neck and lower back muscles. Cheryl was fantastic. I went home took a two hour nap and feel so much better. Love her! read more

Cheryl is a most reliable and well rounded therapist. I know I can count on her regardless of what issue I have to make me feel better and set back in a good direction if I am feeling unbalanced. Not only is she a highly skilled and experienced therapist, she ads all sorts of touches to the massage from hot towels and aromatherapy to soothing music and environment that make the experience thoroughly healing, relaxing and affective. I highly recommend her. Know that your mind and body are safe in the nurturing hands and wisdom of Cheryl. read more

This was my first visit to Alchemy and Cheryl was amazing. I've never been more at ease while getting massage therapy. The whole environment was perfection for all of the senses. Sight, sound, and energy were relaxing all around and seemed to be suited to exactly what I needed. Cheryl was able to break up tension that I had carried for years. I've never felt more relaxed and refreshed after a massage. I wouldn't want to go anywhere else. read more

"Intuitive Massage" really captures the experience in a phrase. Sometimes I'm not even sure what I need and am too stressed out to express it. Not a problem with Cheryl. On these days she takes a couple of minutes to check out what is going on with my muscles (and energy I suppose?) and figures out for me what I need! Of course when I have a particular request she listens and takes care of business too. From the oil she chooses for the headrest and the massage, to the intensity and style of the massage, I've never had someone so in tuned to what I need in a massage. Its really impressive and makes for a massage superior to any other I've ever had. read more

LOVE massages with Cheryl. She has a gift for finding trouble areas and making them feel great! Always a treat to spend an hour at The Great Escape read more