Marzena is great and incredibly skilled. I had trouble opening my mouth due to TMJ issues, and after the first session, I had nearly full range of movement - which seemed unbelievable. After the second session, I was experiencing significantly less pain and discomfort. This was such a relief. Marzena also coached me on positive thinking, as I was feeling emotionally overwhelmed by the physical situation. She is kind, knowledgeable, and seems genuinely happy to help and provide any kind of relief from the pain you may be experiencing. I'm very grateful for her care and would highly recommend her. read more

Marzena has been a huge support in my journey around managing my chronic TMJ pain. She is kind, attentive, and will do everything in her power to help manage your pain. She understands chronic pain more than most doctors, and knows the TMJ joint very well. She is a God send!! read more

Marzena is wonderful. My TMJ has significantly decreased from the work she is doing. I have had many massages for this issue and non of them have been this effective read more

It all began with a string of unfortunate events resulting from shoddy orthodontic work, which left me grappling with excruciating TMJ pain and persistent jaw popping. The pain became so bad, I would eat only once in the evening right before bed and avoided social situations that required talking. I saw a few physical therapists, but none provided relief. Desperate for a solution, I turned to Yelp, That's when I stumbled upon Back to Touch massage and Marzena, whom I call The Jaw Whisperer. In our first session, Marzena immediately displayed a profound understanding of my physical and emotional struggles. She let me cry as I explained how and why my jaw and teeth became out of alignment, and she used that information to customize my treatment. To my surprise, the jaw popping subsided after just three sessions - going from multiple times per day to once or twice per week. After five sessions, the jaw popping was completely gone. Marzena also took the time to teach me simple exercises I could practice at home, empowering me to take charge of my own healing journey. Thanks to Marzena's continuing care and support, I am learning to manage my pain and gradually trying to return to a normal life. read more

My experience with Marzena has been miraculous! I came in after trying what felt like everything to reduce my tmj pain and tension. I had gotten a night guard, done two rounds of physical therapy, saw a chiropractor, did dry needling, and got botox. Within my first session, where we mostly discussed the issue and did about 10 minutes of hands on work, I could tell a difference which allowed my jaw to relax a little bit and open wider. It was amazing! I have continued and after 3 hands-on sessions the tension in my neck has disappeared and my jaw tension is relaxing with results lasting a few days. I am excited to continue working with Marzena to have long lasting results! read more

Marzena was amazing! She really took the time to listen to my needs and offered some terrific feedback. She focused on the jaw pain I was experiencing and by the end of the treatment, I felt 100% better with basically one treatment. Would definitely see her again! Thank you for the care you provided! Highly recommend! read more

I have been seeing Marzena twice a month since early 2006. She is professional, well educated and is as intuitive as a close friend. She is genuinely concerned with both my physical and emotional well-being. Through Marzena's openness and commitment to my health and her practice, I have learned how my unexpressed hurt and anger can manifest in my body as physical pain. She has created a safe environment where I can be myself and trust her with what is going on in my life. She uses many different treatments such as aromatherapy, cupping, deep tissue and relaxing massage which have all been beneficial to me over the years. It is a relationship where I trust her input and advice because she has been right everytime. I have even taken ice baths at her suggestion which worked wonders! I am blessed to have a massage therapist that I love and trust in so many ways. read more

Back To Touch Massage Clinic - An ice bath prescribed by Marzena. It really helped! - Massage Therapy Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

A few weeks ago I woke up with horrendous jaw pain on my left side, which I never felt before. By chance, I had a dentist appointment that same day. As soon as I walked in, the Dentist noticed that my jaw was swollen, they could not even perform a teeth cleaning until I took Advil. The Dentist immediately diagnosed me with TMJ and fit me for a night guard (I haven't gotten to pick it up yet). In the days after, the jaw pain got worse. I was unable to chew, had awful headaches every day by 3 pm (to the point where i was nauseous) and was having difficulty staying asleep. I saw reviews for Back to Touch, and immediately booked an appointment for a few days later. Marenza spent a long time understanding my complete medical history and background. She also made it very clear to me that massage should be therapeutic, not torture. She wanted me to trust her, particularly b/c part of the treatment for TMJ includes massage inside the mouth (which went along with what the Dentist said). She is clearly very knowledgeable about her craft, and studies hard to make sure she is an expert on treatment. She let me know I might be sore, which I was slightly for the next two days. The third day after my massage, I was 80% better, with literally no headaches. A week after the massage, I was 85% better. Most of my jaw pain today only happens when I first open my mouth in the morning. She also checked in on me a couple days after the massage which really made me feel like she cares about helping her patients. Finally, Marenza did a lot of work on my back and neck, which also feel better, when going to a chiropractor did not really help. I highly suggest if you suffer from TMJ pain (or any other pain) to try Back to Touch Massage. It is a holistic approach that effectively treats pain. read more

Marzena is a miracle worker! I've suffered from intense facial pain for months due to TMJ/bruxism. After one visit, the pain was reduced to almost zero. I sat in my car and cried from the relief. She listened to what I needed. Between my new dental mouth guard and visits to Marzena, I'm a new person, pain free. Her massage is overall wonderful. She's deeply talented. So lucky I found her. read more

I have never written a service review before because I generally believe that I should give things a whirl and develop my own opinion, but I feel compelled to share my experience with Marzena. I purchased a LifeBooker coupon for a 60-minute chocolate massage on March 2, 2012. I really have no idea what a chocolate massage consists of, but I would imagine there to be some sort of chocolate aspect included. I was massaged with what appeared to be olive oil, at least that is what the bottle next to the pump looked like on the shelf. No big deal, I am sure the chocolate would have made me crazy hungry and in need for a sweet treat following. I had originally scheduled my massage to be at 5:00p that day, but Marzena called me and asked if I could do 4:00p and I said sure. There was a bit of a rain storm that day and she told me she would be 5-10 minutes late. Again, no big deal, I told her to drive safe and I would be waiting when she arrived. Thirty minutes later she shows up. I was not upset at the time, it was a Friday afternoon and I probably would have been stuck in traffic anyway. After filling out some background paperwork I get taken into the massage room to go over some treatment information with Marzena. She talked to me for approximately ten minutes about reactions I can have to massage and that she takes a more therapeutic approach to massage. I was actually kind of excited about this because I work out a lot and thought it would be more beneficial to have this sort of massage instead of being painted with chocolate or whatever the Lifebooker deal was for. She asked me if I was treating anything particular and if I had any pain or whatnot, I told her that aside from a not that I knew I had in my right upper back area that I felt okay, but that I really do not know if anything else is wrong. I was feeling fine. So we talked a bit more and then told me to get undressed and lie on the table while she waited outside. The massage begins and I discover that she is a talker. Now to me, I do not enjoy talking during a massage. I feel it takes away from the relaxation because I have to engage in forced conversation when I would really just prefer to lay face down in silence. We talked about the not that I had and she pointed out a few others which I was happy to have worked on. When I react as she kneaded on my back she would repeatedly say, "I told you you weren't perfect and I would find something" or "Oh Ms. Perfect, I knew there would be something wrong" or another charming comment, "Your skin is so dry, I have to use the most oil!" I would just giggle and let the massage progress. At this point I really just wanted to go home and forfeit my voucher. She makes her way to the lower half of my body and tells me that the way that I work out has made one of my legs shorter than the other because the muscle is very tight and that I should either purchase a massage package from her, hire a personal trainer and a physical therapist to get me to work out with better form or to stop working out all together. Um, okay. I told her that I work out several times a week and she asked, "You aren't from here, are you?" Just sort of strange. My massage was then abruptly ended at 5:20p, even though I did not get into the room until after 4:30p. Apparently my interpretation of 60 minutes differs from others. After I had gotten dressed and came out to the lobby to get my coat she asked me if I would be interested in purchasing a package from her. At the time I had considered it because I thought maybe her insight would be helpful and I could be proactive about any potential injury in the future. Glad I dodged that bullet. She had warned me that I may be sore following the massage because of the kneading and whatnot, so I expected the next few days to be a little rough. TWO WEEKS LATER AND I AM STILL IN PAIN. I have never been in such discomfort for such a long period of time. I have had other massages and have maintained the same work out routine for over a year and have never had such continuous pain. Purchasing that voucher was an enormous mistake and I wish dearly to rescind it. Holy long review, I know, but I had to let other people know my experience because it certainly wasn't a good one. I understand that some people had a positive massage experience at Back to Touch and I envy them. Now I will have to pay additional funds to soothe the pain that I have been experiencing for the past two weeks. Sort of the antithesis of relaxation if you ask me. read more

I am writing this update to share more about Marzena's breadth of knowledge and the level of trust I have in her as my massage therapist. I have been seeing Marzena for well over a year and no two massages are alike. She does, as Adam H. noted, really take the time to listen to your needs and she tailors your session to address them. Marzena has a broad array of techniques and tools that she is ready to deploy as needed. I came to her today, on a regularly scheduled monthly appointment, with a different issue. On Tuesday of this week I had a really strange pain radiating from my face through the sides of my neck back to the base of my skull. The discomfort last about ten minutes and then my ears felt stuffed (like I was on a plane) for the rest of the evening. For whatever reason I sensed it related to my muscles and was glad I was seeing Marzena later in the week. We began our 1.5 hour session with her working on my neck and then she told me she was going to treat me as she would a patient with TMJ. She put on rubber gloves and worked my muscles from inside my mouth for a bit. Marzena was grateful for the trust I was giving her, which I was giving without a second thought. She then moved to my back, which was very tight. I refer to it as being like cement. Today, Marzena used cupping to increase the circulation and loosen up my back. I will have some marks for a few days but quite frankly I appreciated the savings. The cupping quite expeditiously got my back to a point where she could really get in and work the muscles. I have had therapists who manually over half a session loosen the back (break the cement?) to where they can really get in to do the actual work. I feel fantastic! Helpful Hint: If you have bad allergies or sinus troubles, wear a Breathe Right nasal strip during your session. I have started doing that which helps immensely if you are laying on your stomach for an hour or so. read more

I am so, so glad I found Marzena. She is a rock star and I highly recommend her for anyone who suffers from TMJ pain like I do. I struggle with jaw pain, and I have done everything - surgeries, mouth guard at night, orthodontics, yoga... -- but even so, the pain flares up every so often. I went to Marzena thinking she, like every other massage therapist, would do a full-body massage with a slight emphasis on the jaw. Instead, she sat me down in her office and asked me questions about my pain, explaining the methodology behind how she approaches massage therapy. She is passionate about understanding and alleviating pain, not just giving people a typical relaxation massage, Now I go back once a month for a face/upper back/jaw massage, and my pain has subsided immensely. When my airline lost my luggage (which included my TMJ mouth guard in it), I was able to survive pain-free until I got my mouth guard back -- something I never thought was possible! Thank you Marzena! read more

Marzena is really great. It's rare that I go back to a place after using a Groupon there, but I've been to Back to Touch twice now and I've already schedule my third appointment for an hour long massage. I've been looking for a decent place to get a massage in Chicago for a while now. Marzena knows what she's doing, and I always feel better the week after I get my massage. I don't have any more neck/shoulder pain. She really listens to the client's needs, and even though her studio is just a little space in the basement of a spa (I think it's a spa anyways) it actually adds to the personal nature of the business - Back to Touch is not some chain with a poorly paid massage therapist who doesn't really care about the client's needs... This place is genuine. Ok, I think I've made my point. Hopefully. Go to Back to Touch - you won't regret it. read more

This was the best massage I've ever had! Marzena is incredible! I had a TMJ massage. I've had TMJ for 3 years now and I went to a doctor specializing in TMJ who showed me some self massaging techniques, and how to massage inside my mouth. Marzena's TMJ massage includes inside the mouth massage. Her inner mouth techniques were the same as what I learned from the TMJ specialist and were what I've found to be most helpful in my experience. She definitely knows what she's doing! She obviously cares about her customer's experience and does not want you to be in discomfort. She took the time to talk to me before the massage about my history and her techniques, and this talk removed any hesitation I might have had about speaking up during the massage about discomfort or asking questions. However, the massage was so relaxing that I ended up getting too sleepy to say much. read more

I've been seeing Marzena for about nine months now. I had previously tried the students at Pacific College of Oriental Medicine and a couple other independent massage therapists for help with leg pain following a sports injury. One of the things I truly enjoy about Marzena is that she takes the time to explain what's going on with your muscles and how her therapies are making them feel better. And if on some rare occasion her magic fingers fail to cure your aches in one session, she bounces right back with different approaches until she finds the one that works best for your body. I also suffer from jaw pain caused by bruxism (jaw clenching). I've received treatment from my dentist and used a night guard for a few years now, but if I'm stressed out and clenching my teeth every night, my jaw muscles get very sore. Marzena is the only therapist I've ever met who can completely eliminate the jaw pain when I'm having a flare-up. I can't recommend Marzena enough! Deliver your aches and pains into her hands! You won't be disappointed! read more

Marzena is wonderful. She is warm, personable and extremely professional. She spends a few minutes every session asking you how you're feeling and if there's a problem area she should focus on. She will respect your preferences on whether you want to talk or just relax, music or no music, etc. She can tell what's going on in my life without me having to say a word. She'll notice if I've been running more, wearing stylish yet uncomfortable shoes, or experiencing a lot of stress. She's the best. I've recommended her to many people. read more

I was a semi-regular client of Marzena's for a few months. She is amazing. I have been going to various masseuses for years, and she is by far the best provider I have ever had. I can't recommend her highly enough! She cares about her clients and learns about their lives so as to provide them better service. She is incredibly knowledgeable about general well being and can give lots of tips of exercises or things I can do in between massages to ease the pain and stress in my neck and back. Furthermore, the actual massage is incredible. She greatly reduced the amount of tension in my troubled areas. There are not enough wonderful things to say about this woman and her fantastic practice! Fantastic all around! read more

Marzena is a true professional. You can tell through her demeanor and style that she is dedicated to helping you feel better. She seems very experienced and makes you feel comfortable. I would recommend her to anyone who enjoys massage or is looking to try it for the first time. I was referred to her by a friend and have referred her to others. I will definitely see her again! read more

I visited Back to Touch after experiencing stress-induced TMJ pain for 2-3 months. My jaw was extremely stiff and ached when I ate, talked, and even when I tried to sleep... The discomfort was constant. During my first hour-long appointment, Marzena was very straightforward about the expected results. She assessed the problems with my jaw, asked me what my goals were, and planned out an approach that could be adjusted based on how my body responded to the treatment. She did not promise any miracles but clearly had a lot of experience to build the treatment on. Following the massage, I felt immediate relief, though I was still stiff and sore as Marzena had warned. A few days after my appointment, my pain had disappeared entirely. Everyone's bodies respond differently, and this may not be a miracle cure after a single appointment for all, but it was for me and I am so grateful for the relief that it has provided. Marzena works in very honest and transparent way which made me very comfortable, and she is clearly very skilled and passionate about what she does which is reflected in the relief that her patients experience. I will be coming back for maintenance appointments to prevent flare ups and recommending her to anyone I know who is experiencing the same. Thank you, Marzena!! read more

I've been seeing Marzena for 2 years and after 20 years of massage, she is the most intuitive and responsive to what my body needs. When COVID shut things down, we shifted to a virtual format to address my TMJ and resulting headaches. I thought that virtual massage might be ridiculous, but each session she has had different approaches for different pain, and gotten me significant relief. For in-person work, she is uniquely educated and experienced when it comes to chronic pain, and her light approach has had a greater effect on my pain level than all of the painful deep tissue work before. I can't recommend her enough. read more

I was in severe jaw pain for over two weeks, and because all massage clinics in Chicago were closed due to pandemic, I couldn't book any massage. That's when I called Marzena. She had a conversation with me over the phone, asked many questions about my condition, and offered a virtual massage session for pain management. I have to admit I wasn't sure what to expect, but I was desperate. We met over ZOOM. Marzena was patient when she guided me through the self-massage. She explained how to choose the area that I should massage, how to apply effective pressure, and how to keep my body relaxed while working on myself. It wasn't an instant improvement, but the next day I felt much better, so I decided to buy the 4-week virtual program for TMJ disorder, and I'm glad I did. We've completed 3 sessions and I already feel much better. Marzena's program is informative (she's explained how pain works. WOW!), empowering, and very effective. read more

Mazena was amazing. I am a hairstylist and have shoulder and back issues. Before my massage she had gave me a in depth consultation. I felt as if she really knows the body and really is passionate about her work. During the massage she explained what was going on with my back and made me feel relaxed and at ease. I would recomend anyone who need massage work to experience her healing hands. I plan on making another appointment in the next few weeks. read more

I've been seeing Marzena for a few months now to help with my back aches that I get from a job that requires sitting in a chair and typing all day (okay, and poor posture). Every time I had gotten a massage for back pain relief before, the massage was a deep tissue or myofascial release type of massage, and usually contained at least some level of pain from working out the muscles - I described it as "hurt so good". When I went to see Marzena the first time, I requested this kind of massage, and she told me pain should not be part of the equation with massages, even when working through significant trouble spots. I have to be honest that I was skeptical that a pain-free massage would give me the outcome I was looking for, but I have to say she was right. Marzena has her own special technique that really is pain-free. There may be a bit of pressure or tenderness, but she is good at asking if anything hurts, and backing off if it does. The end result is the same (or better) than the painful massages - relaxed back muscles and greatly reduced pain (over the course of a few sessions, we were able to eliminate the pain altogether). And to be honest, though my ultimate goal is muscular pain relief, not relaxation, I often am so relaxed during one of her massages that I fall asleep within 15 minutes. Beyond a fantastic massage, I love Marzena's personality. Not only is she very kind and empathetic, but I love her sense of humor. If you are the type that likes to have a conversation during your massage, she has some fantastic stories to tell! read more

I have a lot of neck and jaw pain. I am a computer programmer and spend lots of time hunched over on the computer. this place Helps undo the damage I do at work. really struggle in pain. I have been to many places that make me worse but the talent at this place us wonderfully. It is really worth the money to feel better. read more

I've been getting massages from Marzena for over 10 years. She has that deep, healing and magical touch that inspires every cell in my body. There's no one like her at all! read more

I went to see Marzena because I had tendinitis on my ankle. I had already seen a doctor who gave me a brace for my ankle and told me I just needed to rest it and time would heal it. I went for months in pain. After a few massages with Marzena, I no longer have pain. Thank you Marzena !!! read more

I found Marzena and Back to Touch Massage here on yelp several years ago and am glad I did. I regularly visited her over the past 3 years to get therapy for back/shoulder pain and stress/anxiety associated with working long hours at my last job in Chicago. Marzena is great at reading what is going on with one's body and takes time to check in before every session so she understands how to approach each session. She is great at using different techniques to treat different conditions. I would highly recommend Marzena as a massage therapist and would still be visiting her if I lived in the Chicago area. read more

Thank you for the wonderful massages, Marzena! I work at a computer much of the day, so my shoulders are usually tight, as are my neck and back. Through weekly massages with Marzena I've had less headaches and more mobility. It literally allows me to do more work, whether that's good or not is to be seen :) She's thorough, friendly and takes the time to focus on my trouble spots. Highly recommended! read more

True professional, wonderful massage. She has her own approach and may come across as a bit quirky, but definitely one of the best massage therapists I've worked with. If I hadn't moved out to the burbs with the hubby, we'd still be visiting! read more

I can't say enough about Marzena. She is the most well informed and thorough massage therapist I have ever been to. She really knows her stuff and wants to get at the root of any problem you my be having. I would go every week if I could afford it! Pricey but so worth the money. I think I paid $85 plus tip for 1 hour. read more

Marzena has greatly reduced the amount of pain I used to have due to tennis elbow & carpal tunnel syndrome. She has also helped reduce soreness due to running many miles as I prepare for a half marathon in November. I'm so glad I found her and would highly recommend her as a massage therapist. read more

Marzena is the BEST massage therapist I've ever had!! I've had massive back & shoulder pain for years. Marzena listened to my issues and has been working with me to address each and every one of them. She knows exactly what's she's doing and does it so well!!! I finally feel like I'm getting my pain under control and feeling like I can move again. I'm planning on sticking with her as long as she'll have me! :) Thank you, Marzena, you are an angel!!! read more

I have been seeing Marzena monthly for the past five or six years. I tried other massage therapists, but bounced around for quite some time until my brother recommended that I see her. SHE HAS HEALING HANDS!!! She is incredibly intuitive. I have experienced massage therapy and cupping, both of which I highly recommend! read more

This was the best massage I've ever had! Not only did I feel relaxed afterward, but I felt genuinely stretched out and relieved. Marzena was amazing! She's so kind, thorough, and genuinely funny! This was the first massage I've ever had where I felt like the masseuse explained everything to me, asked where I was holding stress, provided tips that I can do at home, and then specifically addressed the stressful areas in the massage. It was a fantastic experience. This is more than just a "relaxing" massage, it is truly bodywork. And while it's deep tissue - it doesn't hurt at all! It's just relieving. Honestly - go book Marzena right now - you won't regret it! read more

Marzena really takes the time to listen to your needs. Most massage therapists just do their same routine regardless of what you say. Marzena is only focused on helping you feel better and if spending 60 minutes on one small area is what you need than that is what she does. If your back hurts and you want to feel better...this is the place to go! read more

i have been going to Marzena for a couple years - went to the other best places in chicago Urban Oasis, East Bank Club, the Palmer House - but Marzena is the best - she definitely has the best hands in Chicago and I would highly recommend her to everyone read more

My husband, about 5 friends of mine and myself have been seeing Marzen a for about 5 years. I will never go to anyone else! I can't even think about going to someone else while traveling and have the opportunity to go to a spa- NO ONE is a fabulous as Marzena! I have had 1 hour massages, hot rock massages, facial rejuvenation massage- you name it! I see a chiropractor from time-to-time, but Marzena is my first stop and usually fixes my aches and pains. No "fluff" here, unless you ask of course. But, her personality is all "fluff"! Love her! read more

my first massage here was ah-maze-ing. just to be sure, i didn't write a review until i went back at least a couple more times. still pretty ah-maze-ing. marzena spent some time getting to know me, my lifestyle, my goals in our visit(s). she does such a great job. after one of my visits, instead of going home, i went back to work. my co-workers were wondering why i was so "high". LOL. she's got the magic touch. can't wait for my next appointment. read more

I just visited Marzena for the first time and she is wonderful. As the other reviewers mentioned, she takes time to talk and truly listens to you before starting your massage and then uses the information you give her to target all of the stress and tension in your body. Her expertise is evident in the way she moves your body. This is not a passive massage - Marzena encourages you to communicate with her throughout the session and you feel like you are a part of the process. I felt like a new person after just one massage with Marzena and I hope to visit her regularly in the future. read more

This was my first time visiting Back to Touch Massage Clinic, and Marzena was great. She took the time to discuss my expectations for the massage and explain her technique and philosophies on massage. Her "pain free" method makes for a relaxing, yet therapeutic experience. She really listened to me and focused on my trouble spots. I highly recommend Marzena and will be going back! read more