The Luxury That’s A Health Necessity

The pull is in the name. Your friends will envy you the sheer luxury of an hour spent here, and you can rest safe in the knowledge that this is actually good for you – self-indulgent, sure, but good for you. As Tim Cremins, General Manager at Massage Envy South Lake, says, “Massage is something that’s viewed as a luxury, but it’s really more of a necessity.”

And has he ever met anybody who doesn’t like the idea of a massage?

“No, not very often, in fact, not at all,” he laughs.

Located steps from the South Lake shopping district, just behind Macy’s right next to Trader Joe’s. Massage Envy really does feel like an oasis within the city. As soon as you enter through the smoked glass doors, you’re surrounded by a relaxing, tingly calm. It almost feels like you’re in a secluded resort hotel, albeit smack-bang in the center of town.

Tim Cremins says that the company’s mission statement is simple: “We’re trying to create an environment where massage therapy can be included in everybody’s normal wellness routine at an affordable price and in a convenient manner.” Beyond massages, the center also offers world-renowned dermatologist Dr. Murad facials.

But really, what is the difference between massage therapy and just plain old massage?

“Research has shown that massage offers tremendous health benefits in a variety of different ways, including stress reduction, improving circulation, posture as well as lowering blood pressure – all those things play into it, and like anything else, if it’s something that you can do consistently, you’ll see better results,” says Tim.

And the whole point is that it can be done at reasonable prices.

“Our introductory offer for someone to come and visit us and try us out for the first time is $49 for a one-hour massage,” Tim says. “It’s $74 for 90 minutes and then we also offer wellness packages, which include membership – you can come and get a massage once a month, or more than that, if you like, at member pricing.”

“A big focus at Massage Envy is that we want people to receive massage therapy on a continual basis,” he adds.

And what if you know nothing about massage therapy? Techniques offered at Massage Envy range from Trigger Point and Deep Tissue to Swedish, Geriatric and Prenatal, based on the client’s individual needs.

“There are a lot of different techniques – what they call modalities,” Tim explains. “What we offer is a customized massage. So if you need some Deep Tissue work in, you know, maybe the neck, but you’d like something a little more relaxing, in the lower back or legs, that’s something a therapist can do for you. They’re going to customize it for you.”

“We have a large therapist staff, and we can find a therapist to match your needs,” he says. “On your way in, the front desk has a conversation with you, figuring out where you would like the focus to be placed as far as your massage is concerned, and any areas that need to be avoided. Every session, your therapist is going to go over a short consultation with you about what you want to accomplish with the session.”

Of course, the perception is that this kind of thing is mainly for women. But don’t worry, guys! According to Tim, that’s a myth that needs to be busted.

“I think that the perception is that it’s primarily women,” he says. “But that’s not the case – it’s probably 50-50.”

Massage Envy, 345 South Lake Avenue,  #205  Pasadena. Call  (626) 240-1060 or visit www.massageenvy.com