I've had several sessions with Nicole, who is hands down THE BEST massage therapist I have ever seen. She is incredibly skilled and responsive to what my body needs, specifically--whether it is a shoulder tweak, upper back stress, etc. She used a variety of techniques on an area until it responds/releases. I've had many massages across time, places, and people - and Nicole is clearly the most skilled, gifted and effective. So grateful I found her! Definitely seek her out. Although other professionals at Sports Massage also look wonderful from reviews I've seen, avoid Stefan. I booked a 30 minute "fix" with him, when Nicole wasn't available. He was 15 minutes late, worked for over 60 minutes haphazardly (and sometimes painfully) on areas that were not troubling me, and billed for 60 minutes (not the 30 I'd booked). The Sports Massage folks reached out to apologize and kindly provided a refund (that I did not request). Overall, this is a terrific place with mostly awesome people. Just pay attention to your booking. read more

This place is an absolute dream for those seeking skilled masseuses. I had a very warm and friendly greeting! Then, my masseuse Lein took the time to sit down and go over my needs, and discuss possibilities of why things may be feeling the way they do. She had very confident hands as if she knew my body better than I did. Although I would say for some people if they do not like deep tissue the pressure was strong but for myself I personally love that and got exactly what I asked for! She perfectly focused on exactly what we discussed getting rid of any knots in my body and worked parts of my body that I didn't know how much actually affected other parts that were needing help. Definitely some muscles that I've never experienced before that really allowed my flexibility the next day like deep in my arm pits. I certainly felt the effects both immediately after as well as the following day or two and still from being very decompressed. She was able to target and find points in my chest that ran up to my neck and shoulders that I still feel incredible from days later. I will absolutely rebook with her. I know that you asked for ratings based from 1 to 5 but I would say for Lein seems like she could be the masseuse for a professional sports team or something of that nature because she knows how to create solutions not only for problems you're having but also to avoid injuries by helping my flexibility. She mentioned that she started out in her career as a healer and that is very evident. I get massages regularly and am confident that this was the most helpful massage I've had without even knowing it at the time. Can't wait for my next visit! read more

So thrilled to have found Anthony...he is **excellent**. Very knowledgeable, kind, professional, thoughtful, and great strong hands. The office space is really nice too. I will definitely go back regularly! Major bonus for me that he also plays tennis and knows some specific stretches I should incorporate. I couldn't be happier with the first experience. read more

Anthony is amaaaaazing! So thorough and gives you tips to help you at home. The best!

I went and saw Anthony today and not only was the massage excellent, but knowledgeably targeted to the areas I articulated needed attention. It really is a full consultation because Anthony listens to you thoroughly ahead of time and provides impactful feedback afterward. Warm, friendly service and a good massage would be worthy of 5-Stars, but this is definitely more than that. Furthermore, not only was the massage great, but Sports Massage Marin has demonstrated excellent customer service and integrity to me. It casts serious doubt on the 1-Star reviewers of this business if they for any reason gave you pause about coming here. read more

Anthony is a healer. He is great at what he does - he knows the body and he has good, strong hands. He is also very thoughtful and an easy going person. He keeps me positive and helps me stay focused on the things I can do to get through my pain. I highly recommend his services. read more

I don't like to leave reviews like this, but I've never had an experience like this with a massage. I came in with pretty bad low and mid back pain, and this massage did nothing at all to help. I get that it can take more than one treatment, but the therapist barely touched my back at all, focusing instead on my legs, hips, and glutes. It's all connected, I know. But I have knotted muscles in my back that she barely touched. It also felt like she was digging her nails into my skin half the time instead of applying pressure as masseuses usually do. Bottom line, it didn't help my pain even a little. Just extremely disappointing. read more

I am a big cyclist as well as a world traveler with my job so often back or leg challenges are due to one of these two factors. I've had deep tissue work from Stefan, Anthony and Chase and all are exceptionally capable of finding the root cause of the problem and resolving it. Note: This team does deep tissue massage to resolve most tension/tightness from heavy exercise activities. read more

I have been getting sports massages from Stefan. He is a great listener and a master of his trade. Also, online scheduling is super easy, and the office location is very convenient. Highly recommend! read more

Anthony is not just a run of the mill practitioner he is exceptionally gifted and an intuitive healer. I have had chronic shoulder/neck pain for over a year and a half. I have seen the gamut of Orthopedic surgeons, Physical therapists, acupuncturist, chiropractors, you name it I have tried it. Anthony has been able to relieve a severe and debilitating nerve pain in my neck that had me on the brink of insanity. Thank you Anthony for improving the quality of my life. It's hard and almost impossible to find good care out there and someone who actually takes the time to listen. I feel lucky and privileged to have met Anthony. His well rounded techniques work and he is a unicorn. So happy and I feel honored to be one of his clients. read more

Lynn was incredible. Not only did she ask questions to get to know me and what was tense, but she also worked gently before doing deep tissue. She is naturally a healer - both emotionally and physically - and it shows! She knows her way around the knots in your body and she does her best to get them out. I came in because my hip felt tight and she really worked at it. Felt so much better by the end. I'll be back soon for sure! read more

I can't begin to rave enough about this place. As someone who suffers from chronic neck and back pain, there isn't really anything I haven't tried to help with the pain. I have done chiropractics, acupuncture, physical therapy, occupational therapy, massage therapy and so on. While massage therapy has been the most helpful, this experience was on another level. I have seen over 100 different massage therapists and none have been as great as Anthony. He took the time to understand my challenges with pain and what I wanted to get out of my massage. Within the first 5 minutes of the massage, I could tell I made a good choice in seeing Anthony (based on a personal referral). My whole body was covered in goosebumps. He identified knots I didn't even know I had. This was helpful in identifying underlying issues that were then impacting the core pain point areas of my neck and shoulders. I felt so much relief after my massage and for the next week. This is something I can't say about other massages I've received. Typically I've felt great the rest of the day, but then the pain immediately came back. Not the case during this recent visit. I should note that I had the 90 minute sports massage. It was completely worth the money. I even rented a zipcar to drive from SF to Marin to see him based on the referral I'd received and will continue to do so moving forward. I highly encourage anyone to seek his services. You will not regret it. read more

It's been about one year since I saw Stefan last, so thought that I'd provide an update. Simply put, Stefan is -still- the best massage therapist I know. Between joint and muscle pain from running, and shoulder/neck pain from work and travel, I need more than just relaxing massage. Stefan is a true pro - he expertly isolates tight/tense/problem areas and works them out. I won't be going anywhere else in the Bay Area! read more

The owner and masseur Stefan Smith is a MASTER of his art. He understands how to manipulate muscles and tissue in a way few masseurs I have encounter do. I typically like deep tissue massage, but as soon as he started I knew I shouldn't ask for him to go deeper because he was manipulating my body in a way I have never experienced before. Stefan is also a very interesting man. I highly recommend his services if you are ever in Sausalito. He also gave me a good birthday deal (his time was my birthday present to myself). I am a physical therapist and I fully endorse Stefan and Sports Massage Marin! Please support this fantastic local business man! read more

Stephan did a great job with my mom, whose back gave out just before Christmas. She was in a lot of pain and barely mobile. But he did great putting her at ease and some gentle manipulations that helped to give her some immediate relief. He had a great approach and was very accommodating. Without Stephan's intervention, my mom would not have been able to come over for dinner on Christmas Eve, so that one treatment ended up being a great Christmas present! read more

I'm very active. Between 4-5 days a week of Crossfit and training for a triathlon, I am always knotted and kinked up. I found Stefan through Yelp and emailed him about a neck problem I had been having and went in to see him. Stefan told me he had worked on many athletes' necks and backs before and his worked proved it. He instantly found the knot along with the other tight muscles that were pulling on that spot. I have a lot of muscle on me and it is tough finding somebody who can get in and loosen up specific spots. Stefan was able to utilize a variation of techniques to work on me. As a therapist he is extremely professional and friendly. He also provided me with a great conversation throughout my massage. At the end he threw me a little bonus time to make sure I was able to walk out feeling better than when I had walked in. At the end he also gave me a few tips to stretch and keep loose. Very worth going in to see. read more

Stefan is the best masseuse! I have thoracic outlet syndrome and he is masterful at helping with the pain associated with flareups. You should give him a try. He is personable and caring. read more

I have had many different masseuses over the years and Stefan ranks near the top. If you're looking for "massages-r-us", where they play soothing music and massage your temples for 20 minutes, then he's not your guy. But if you want a real masseuse who can identify your problem areas and weak points, he's the man. Stefan has done a great job alleviating lower back pain I've had from years of running as well as the stress of golf. I've also found him to be both professional and friendly. read more

I have been going to Sports Massage Marin to see Anthony for coming on a year. During this year, I have been pregnant with my 2nd child. Anthony has been with me the whole journey, messaging, adjusting, aligning and generally getting my body ready for the big day (though I hope the baby is small!). People often comment "you're so flexible and relaxed." And I truly feel it's because of Anthony's experience and knowledge for the changing muscles and bones during my pregnancy. I haven't felt back-pain at all. It's rare to find someone who has experience throughout all stages of body changes, and I will continue to see Anthony after the baby arrives to help me get back aligned. I'm so glad I found Sports Massage Marin, and Anthony. There is no reason to look elsewhere, highly recommend them!! read more

I don't think I had any expectations when I booked. I was just in a load of pain as I had strained my back in the gym and could barley get out of bed. I arrived into the Corte Madera location and met with Liliana Quiroz. When you meet her, it probably takes less than 1min to realize two very important things: 1. she 100% knows what she is talking about 2. she genuinely cares about you / your injury Turns out my QL muscles were all messed up and she got in there and worked it. I walked out in no pain. This injury & subsequent ones (calf/soleus), three things occurred: 1. I was educated on root cause/reason for pain 2. The injury was treated / resolved 3. I left with instructions on new stretches to target key area's Liliana is professional, educated, knowledgable, genuine, relatable, and caring....not much else you can ask for. The massage room is clean, quiet, warm and relaxing read more

Chase is great! I've tried several massage therapists at different places. He is the best! Though he looks very young, he is very experienced and knowledgable. He's able to tell exactly which muscle is giving you trouble and release the tension gently without letting you suffering. read more

Bought a Groupon because I wanted to try out sports massage and booked a session with Anthony. He kept on leaving the room during our session and seriously half-ass massaged most of the time. Then we spent another 10-15 mins talking... I would never go back. read more

I found sports massage Marin when I was at a really low point in dealing with my back pain. I thought I would go in for just one session, and such an amazing experience has led me to continue to come back once a month for the last six months or so. I can only speak for Anthony Piana, who is amazing, but I'm sure all the therapists are of the same caliber. Definitely recommend. read more

If you would have told me this time last year, shortly after my automobile accident, that I would be back in the gym working towards reestablishing my strength and focusing on maintaining a normal balanced life I would've never believed you. I saw neurosurgeon after neurosurgeon and focused strictly on physical therapy treatments to try and treat a disc herniation that was caused by the accident and was ultimately causing numbness in my hands and feet. Stefan saved me. He was able to determine the root cause of my tension in my shoulders / scapular region that was causing all of the pain and tension in my neck and I am forever grateful. read more

I am not an athlete, but I am a Certified Massage Therapist who knows what an effective massage feels like. I was very impressed with Anthony's awareness to the whole body function, not only my neck and shoulder pain. His techniques are calming, effective, and thorough! 24/7 online scheduling through the website is always a breeze. Every time I book an appointment I feel a sense of relief that putting self-care on my calendar can be so easy! read more

I started out with Anthony at the Corte Madera location, but have now converted to the brand new San Rafael location closer to my house. Ecstatic that they are another OUTSTANDING local business to support. Anthony is the EXPERT I've been searching for now, for years! I have degenerative disk disease and in just 3 'short' 90-minute sessions, Anthony has started to BRING ME BACK TO LIFE! I cannot thank Anthony and Stefan (1 of my 1st local friends--moved to Marin from Boston 5 years ago) for having MASTERED their trade! LOVE & ADMIRE you both. read more

I took my daughter there for a 30 minute massage on her neck which was really 25 minutes. I paid $80 + tip (which I regret) and there are 2 reasons I would never go back- price is outrageous for an ok massage from the female therapist we saw. But we were desperate and my daughter was in pain. Second reason the therapist ended up talking to me the whole time not paying attention to my daughter or what she was doing. We were the last client of the day so maybe that's why the massage was mediocre and shortened. In talking about my experience to others I realize there are much better options out there and will do my homework next time. read more

Stephan is a very thorough and skilled massage therapist with lots and lots of experience and it shows! He helped me with some computer related issues I was having with my neck and shoulders. He's funny, truly thinks about what he's doing and he is so knowledgeable about physiology. I highly recommend him! read more

I love Anthony. He's kind, caring, and most importantly, for sake of this review, a VERY talented massage therapist. I originally saw Anthony because I had chronic pain in my left shoulder. It's now gone. I keep coming back because his work is amazing. And I should know, one of my guilty pleasures is booking a massage when I travel, but I can't anymore because I can't justify the price for the end product after seeing Anthony. Whether you need to relax, work through chronic pain, relieve knots and muscle tension, or you just want a massage, I can't recommend Anthony enough. read more

Anthony Piana, at Sports Massage Marin, is a knowledgable and capable masseur. I have a persistent thigh muscle problem which he has helped a lot, and continues to work on. I have seen several other people over the years and I recommend Anthony as among the best. read more

I recently saw Anthony a couple of times both in the San Rafael and Corte Madera locations for some back issues. He was really knowledgeable and was able to blend multiple styles (traditional massage, ART, Ice, Theragun, etc.) to create an exceptional experience that provided me with a lot of pain relief. I will be seeing him again and highly recommend him and Sports Massage Marin. read more

I spent a month in the area and was recovering from rotator cuff surgery. I found Anthony on the Yelp site and I am so grateful! He was so capable, responsive to my needs and a lovely person too. He helped me progress in my shoulder recovery, but also miraculously relieved severe pain in my leg that developed from a lot of walking/hiking during the time I was visiting in Marin. I highly recommend him. Thanks for all your help Anthony! read more

I can't say enough about Anthony at Sports Massage Marin. He's a skilled and intuitive massage therapist who knows how to read your body and is able to tailor his technique to your particular needs. He thinks holistically about ways to address your body. Anthony's worked with me through various ailments, and I can definitely tell the difference after leaving his table. Plus, he's a generous, welcoming, and hilarious soul. He's a fantastic massage therapist and I can't recommend him enough. read more

I don't think I should be called rude by the owner in his response to my review, when I waited for 30 mins for my massage therapist to not show up. His solution to my being stood up was to come back the next day or to check with nearby establishment like Massage Envy. It was 5:40 p.m. Friday night. and I had dinner plans. Who plans to have a massage therapist not show up and have extra time to run to another place on a Friday or Saturday? I was not stepping out of line or "in his business" when I asked him to text her or contact her to find out if she was still coming, or if there was an emergency. That's common communication when someone doesn't show up. If he had offered me a future discount(your other therapist standing there hearing the situation offered me a 50% discount for the day, and she was not even at fault here), a no show fee, or a sincere apology with no joke attached, I think I would have been less irritated. read more

I first ran across Stefan Smith during rehab for shoulder surgery. As someone who is a massage junkie I have to say he is probably the most knowledgable therapist I have worked with. You tell him what is bothering you and he has a game plan that deals with it. His is far removed from an indifferent "resort massage." You got aches, pains, stiffness or whatever and want a solid professional who knows how to get at your discomfort, then Stefan is your man. read more

Stefan is a smuck, on my first visit(I bought two Groupon massages) The fist one was very good. No complaints but when I called to make my second appt. I called him 3 times with no responce, finially after 9 days I got a message on my machine telling me he was just too busy to get back to me. Excuse me, I am the client, I gave him a very generous tip because of the groupon coupon($25) and he is just too busy to get back to me. I wrote to groupon and told them what happened, and they gave me my money back. He is a good therapist but has a bad attitude and expects YOU to chase him. NOT MY KIND OF THERIPIST!!!!! Sheri San Rafael read more

I've been seeing Anthony now for almost a year and can't be happier. He's helped me get through a hip injury, lower back pain and overly tight IT bands. He is very knowledgeable about the body and I always walk out feeling so much better! It's really helped me be able to stay active doing all the things I love to do! read more

In November, I was experiencing significant shoulder issues (from being a terrible golfer) and decided that massage might be beneficial. I also took advantage of the Groupon that Stefan was offering. My shoulder issues are now resolved; however, I was so impressed with the care and therapy that Stefan provided that my husband and I are now regulars! Very knowledgeable, effective and just an all around positive experience! I highly recommend Stefan as someone who can give you an effective massage experience that goes way beyond a relaxation spa massage! read more

I bought a groupon for a massage from Sports Massage Marin and had my massage a few days ago. My back and neck have been hurting for a couple months so I've been needing this for a while. I chose a place that I thought I might like to go back to regularly paying full price and I am very happy with the massage I got today from Stefan. My back and neck feel significantly more comfortable and much less tight. I went for a run after and it felt so much easier than it has in months. I've scheduled another appointment already!! read more

Anthony and Stephan are versatile in various techniques. They are both highly ,qualified massage therapist. I am a massage therapist myself and very picky who works on me. I can highly recommend their services. read more