Soothe & Bodyworks was my place of choice today for a little treat-yourself moment, and I have to say I was thoroughly pleased. I'm not sure how long this place has been in Eastern Market, but we love a spot that isn't too far away.
First off, the place itself is really cute and welcoming. They have tea and what looked like a Keurig setup where you can make yourself something, plus water available when you're finished. More importantly, everything was CLEAN. The rooms smelled clean, the materials and linens looked clean, and the surrounding spaces were well kept. That's important to me, especially when you're getting a service like a massage.
I mainly came in to alleviate some gym soreness and, of course, the general tension of adulthood. Li was my massage therapist, and I didn't know what to expect, but there was a lot about her technique that stood out.
First, the work she did around my ankles. I get massages pretty regularly and genuinely don't remember anyone successfully focusing on that area the way she did. I didn't even realize how much tension I had there until she started working it out.
Second, the glutes! The attention, pressure, and techniques she used on my glute muscles were everything. I've never had someone spend that much intentional time working those muscles and releasing that much tension. That alone had me feeling noticeably better afterward.
Third was the stretching. I mentioned having a lot of tightness in my hips, and Li understood the assignment. Hip stretches, arms, neck, back, all of it. She pushed me in a good way and had me feeling much more limber by the end. She also found the knots around my scapula and gave my lower back the attention it needed. As someone who gets massages often enough to compare techniques, I could tell there was experience and knowledge behind what she was doing.
I booked the 90 minute massage and added magnesium, which was a perfect addition. Those 90 minutes FLEW by. I also loved that the stretching wasn't just a quick add on. It was really incorporated into the massage, which makes the "Bodyworks" part of the name make perfect sense.
I like firm pressure, and Li kept that pressure consistent throughout the entire massage. That matters!
The only thing I would've added was more attention to the fingers and toes, especially pressure point work, stretching, and gently pulling each digit. Those areas can hold more tension than you realize-I love pressure point work and stretching in those areas, so having each finger and toe worked, stretched, or gently pulled would have been the icing on the cake. I actually found myself wanting to crack and stretch them afterward.
Aside from that, this massage did exactly what I came for. I wanted to leave feeling stretched out, less tense, and more mobile, and mission accomplished.
They're also looking to get more exposure right now, so check online or call the shop and ask about their current promotions because there are definitely deals to be found.
Parking wasn't too crazy either. I went on a Wednesday afternoon and found parking without much trouble. Eastern Market can vary depending on the day and time, but it was pretty easy for me.
I definitely recommend Soothe & Bodyworks, and Li, you did your thing. I will absolutely be back. A bonus that it's black owned and woman owned yes! read more
