The studio is on the ground floor of a beautifully kept Victorian, tucked behind the stairs to the first floor and secluded from the street so that entering it is like stepping into a peaceful grotto. This does make it hard to find, but only the first time you go, and the isolation is worth it. Past the antechamber, there is a spacious carpeted room and an area curtained off for the massage table. There are wicker baskets and cubbies to store your effects, as well as a mirror and bench. The lighting is good - not too dim or too bright - and it's quiet. You can't hear any street noise.
Rachel is friendly and welcoming. My work is stressful and I spend many hours a day on my computer and doing book research, so we discussed problem areas to focus on. Once I was on the massage table, Rachel put on relaxing music and began.
The full body massage lasted an hour and left me in a meditative mental state. Rachel knows what she's doing - each leg, foot, hand, and shoulder was expertly worked over. Where I wasn't sore or strained, the massage was invigorating and relaxing; where my muscles were tense, Rachel used pressure points to release knots. This felt like a deep fire, spreading heat and leaving me limp; there were sensations in muscles I didn't know I had.
The massage included both back and front sides of my body, so it didn't feel like anything was left out. I especially liked the shoulder and neck work while on my back. Only afterward, when I stood up, did I realize how much my mood had been affected. I was calm, relaxed, and energized, as I would be after yoga or meditation. I could stand a little straighter.
Overall, this was a wonderful and rejuvenating experience. Proper care of tension and muscle strain requires repeated sessions, and these are something to look forward to. I recommend trying it! read more