Massage Envy – Gainesville

This place is so amazing. I love it here! Everyone is so talented, professional, and welcoming. Shannon Is phenomenal and I look forward to going here.

Your «one-​hour» massage isn’t really one hour. It’s more like 40 minutes. I guess what they mean by one hour includes: check-​in + waiting room + massage + check-​out. If you have an appointment in the evening — they’ll for sure cut it short. I get that it’s been a long day and the employees want to go home… But then why offer late appointments? If you want your money’s worth, you’re better off searching for Groupon deals at other smaller spas instead of a big corporation.
My parents and I have been here a few times to try different types of massage and different masseuses… And that’s the last of it! Swedish feels like a back rub and scratch and deep tissue is not deep or firm pressure at all! We’ve spent a good amount here and tipped everyone well, but very disappointed! The two stars is for the friendly front desk staff.

Vanessa, Vanessa, Vanessa. I was ready to cancel my membership and then I found Vanessa. She puts the healing touch in massage. I highly recommend Vanessa

I am very spoiled because I usually get Ben when I am scheduling my ¹¹⁄₂ Hr massage. It is very conscience of the temp of the bed do I have enough water and the pressure. I have a bad back and he always remembers to ask me if I have special areas that need work. Ben has been at Massage Envy for a couple of years and I am grateful.

I had my very first professional massage today with Jocyelyn — a prenatal massage. At first I was skeptical (not of her but of getting a massage itself) but she was very friendly, talked just a little (light conversation in the beginning), she made me feel comfortable and safe. The front desk staff was also super friendly, inviting, and listened to any concerns I had. I left feeling relaxed and light on my feet — there’s a chance I may have dozed off for a second during the massage as well.
The facility itself is clean, smells wonderful, the environment is soothing. I really want to go back there and sleep, because it was just so darn relaxing and comfortable.
Highly recommended! I will go back once I have $ 100 to spare for sure.

BEWARE: The massage therapist «Alexa» is extremely unprofessional and a racist. She called me a ni**er on company time on MLK day, then proceeded to call me cheap and uneducated. Unfortunately when I reported her behavior to management, they seemed completely unphased by her actions. I would not recommend receiving services from her — she radiates negative energy. Screen shots of the conversation have been posted. If you do decide to visit this facility, simply consider yourselves warned.

My daughter bought us memberships for Christmas and this was my first visit to a ME. James was my therapist, he seemed awkward and was surprised when I asked for add-​ons to my massage. He talked a lot — about himself, but I could have asked him to stop — I was just too tired to bother. He told me several times about how he was different from the other therapists there — insinuating that he was better. My daughter’s massage was with Lindsay and she enjoyed it. She was good with a first-​timer and making sure my daughter was comfortable with the massage.

I visited this location to purchase a gift card for my co-​worker. The staff was real friendly and they had some really good specials going on. I actually started asking a few questions about membership and prices. They were not pushy with membership which I liked. I felt very welcomed.

Under normal circumstances I would give this Massage Envy location a 5 star review because Jennifer my massage therapist is absolutely fantastic.
However, due to the lack of costumer service skills and inappropriate attitude coming from the staff member that answers the phone I am inclined to give this review 2 stars.
Perhaps next time the staff that answers the phone could demonstrate better customer service skills to their clients.
That being said, I will be finishing up my ME subscription at another location and then canceling it.

This was my favorite location around the area for a long time, started my membership here when they first opened, but I can’t tell you how many appointments I’ve made this year that has been cancelled! That is, IF I can get an appointment in the first place! I work until late so I love that they open until 10pm on weekdays so I can get in after work on the way home. Unfortunately, you’ll have to book a month in advance to get an appointment and be prepared to have the appointment cancelled a day before! The facility itself is very nice, typical Massage Envy décor and service (water, packaged hot tea, tranquility room, nice specious reception are) and the employees are usually very nice. I understand that stuff comes up, but it is ridiculous how many appointments have been cancelled this year, not to mention how hard it is to get an appointment! I bought my mom a membership here and we have the same issues trying to get her an appointment. Sad to say, but I might be canceling my membership once I use up my credit (6 has accumulated from this year after I used a bunch on 2 hour massages). I don’t know many people who can make appointments a month in advance each time, I have a toddler and a job that means I may have to stay late sometimes. So very disappointed when I can finally get an appointment just to have it canceled and no availability for over 2 weeks when we try to reschedule!

I have had odder experiences in my lifetime but never while a massage so at least I can check «strange massage» off my list. More on that later.
The facility is clean and quiet and the reception staff was kind and friendly. They offered you water, gave you paperwork, asked you specific questions, then sent you to a quiet room to wait for a massage therapist. There were bowls of mints everywhere (including the bathroom) which was nice seeing as we’re going to be face-​to-​face for some time and the last thing either one of use wants to smell is your lunch interacting with the bacteria in your mouth. All of this was within acceptable normal parameters.
After I got to the massage room, the therapist stood in the door and made a noise somewhere between a chortle and the sound you make when something is slightly amusing or surprisingly nice. Slightly disconcerting but whatever, I’m used to strange people. Note to staff: I’m going to be close to naked here so, in the future, let’s try to work together to prevent it from being SUPER awkward.
Massage starts and I look up to see the therapist staring off into the corner of the room with the strangest smile on her face like she’s watching a mind movie of sorts and is incredibly pleased with the plot; this gazing is interspersed with whisper giggles aaaaaand this continues for about an hour (the entire length of the massage). I get it – you’re doing this all day and if you need herbal refreshments to get through it then do what you need to do, sister, no judgements. And if you did not imbibe said refreshments then holy hell I don’t know what was happening.
All that aside, the massage was very helpful. I have a gatrillion knots all over my body due to constant exercise and I felt all kinds of knots release so at least I can attest to absolute competency. I would say that perhaps laying off the heavy cigarettes may lend to a more positive experience for the customer (maybe have an accessible bottle of Febreeze for those individuals who smoke?) but overall it was an all-​around memorable experience. Regardless, I will be back as I have been told I need at least 2 or 3 more of these before I visit a chiropractor so I will be able to give another update some time in the future.

I’ve been a horrible Unilocaler. I’ve known of the treasure held here and have wanted to keep it to myself out of pure selfishness.
So first things first. Always clean and mindful of the tone being set. Fresh warm/​cold water upon arrival and if the staff isn’t busy, they offer it to you and grab your choice.
The staff here has always been super accommodating and pleasant. I have never felt as though their business mind overruled their desire to please the members/​customers. I’ve always gotten a reminder call with ample time to cancel if need be. When I did need to cancel, they gave me the first time slot that fit with my masseuse of choice. This brings me to my final point and most marked characteristic of selfishness…
JOYCELYN!!! She is amazing. She gets acquainted with you JUST enough to let you know she’s not creepy. She remembers anything you’ve spoken about from previous sessions (kids, work, sports, etc) and appears genuinely interested. She then quiets down and lets her hands and perfect understanding of muscles and pressure run the show. I’m put to sleep every time and always leave thinking «I should’ve gotten a 90 min.» She never rushes the clock and is certain to hit the trouble spots you mention to her.
I’ve never mentioned her because she already has a tight schedule and I feared that opening up about her would only decrease her availability even more. Well I’ve repented and hope and pray that if you’re ever thinking if getting a massage in Gainesville or nearby, this location is tops and Joycelyn is the cherry perched high atop this preverbal dish if ice-​cream.

I went to Massage Envy in Gainesville with my husband for the first time last week. Usually we go to La Vida Massage next to Harris Teeter in Haymarket/​Gainesville, but our favorite therapists weren’t working that day and we decided to branch out and take advantage of Massage Envy’s new client rates to try their services.
When we arrived we sat in the lobby and filled out the standard new client forms/​questionnaires. One of the employees from behind the desk then came over to my husband and I and asked us questions pertaining to our preference of type of massage, problem areas, etc. I am used to these questions being asked by the therapist privately just prior to your session once you are in the room, not in a lobby full of people, so that was a little strange.
We then waited in «the quiet room» for our respective therapists, which was a serene room in the back with about eight or so chairs, all of which were full of people waiting for their massages. It was much busier than I’m used to at La Vida Massage. We then went back to our respective rooms with our therapists and had our massages.
Overall, I was not impressed at all. My therapist (I want to say her name was Jen?) had very poor technique, and I felt either she did not have much experience or maybe she just sucks at giving massages. There was no fluidity to her motions, it was all repetitive awkward rubbing over the same spots. And elbows… a lot of elbows. I felt like she was making up for the crappy massage by using a lot of oil because she used so much! Gross! When the massage was over I asked for a wet towel to wipe off with because she used more oil than any therapist I’ve been to, and I’ve probably been to about fifteen different therapists in my life. Also, I noted on the form that I did not want massage on my face and she massaged my face anyway and I had to remind her.
When we left I asked my husband how his was and he was equally disappointed. I believe his exact words were: «Have you ever had a massage with only elbows? Because I just did.» He told me his therapist (sorry, I don’t remember her name) seemed very lazy, and that it was probably the worst massage he ever received. He also referred to Massage Envy as being «the McDonald’s of massage places», which couldn’t be more true. It was so busy in there and honestly the environment itself was the opposite of relaxing. FYI we paid $ 118 for two massages (introductory price), which — albeit cheap for two massages — was a waste considering the quality!

I will be eagerly running back to La Vida Massage for my future massages. Between my husband and I, we have probably tried 6 different therapists there and agreed that even the «worst» massage we got at La Vida was miles better than the one we got at Massage Envy. I have gotten so many great massages at La Vida, by multiple different therapists, and after trying Massage Envy I will not roll the dice and take a chance on anywhere else again.

I received a gift card for my birthday for Massage Envy. I had a nice relaxing 1 hour massage, the environment was very relaxing and clean. Everyone I encountered was very nice and made me feel welcome. I didn’t care for the fact that I was given a sales pitch for the membership before and after my massage. There has to be a better way to promote this without bugging you about it during your visit. I would have been fine with just a pamplet and a card so that I could call with questions. Massage and feeling like you are at a timeshare appointment don’t mix well.

My Mom and I went there for a massage on a Friday and couldn’t get up the next day! We went there to use a gift card I got for my birthday. Not sure how the massage therapists were trained but it looks like each one of them have their own technique and they don’t have a standard method for massage. We went there pain free and what we got is pain! I had to go through months of chiropractic and physical theraphy sessions after I went to Massage Envy! Long story short, I won’t go back and don’t recommend Massage Envy!

This is, by far, the best place to go for a massage! Not only am I always treated with a great massage, but the staff there is fantastic, helpful and friendly. You can’t get this kind of treatment for the price anywhere else, and believe me… I’ve tried!

The girl at the front desk really needs to wake up and realize its 2012, shes in a place of business and she needs to not wear all that glitter eye makeup to her eyebrows… I also found out she is dyslexic and she is the one who ALWAYS messes up …
She booked me WHEN I WAS IN FRONT OF HER at the desk for a massage and facial back to back at 9am. I came in the day of my appointment and she said i wasn’t in the system and come to find out that the facial lady isn’t even there til 2pm… REALLY???
I am all about equal opportunities for everyone to have a job and work and not be on welfare. but if you are DYSLEXIC how can you book appointments for people??? Makes no sense to me…
I will NEVER go back to ME Gainesville because all the front desk girls do is gossip and take their sweet time checking me out as well as the glitter girl messing up my appointments…
Go to manassas!!!

This was my first visit and I thought it was OK. Not the best place I have had a massage. The front desk was nice but as soon as I started to fill out the paperwork they started talking about getting me to join and get a membership. I was there to get a massage because I had been given a gift certificate for my birthday. Then they told me we could discuss that after my massage. So I immediately start dreading the sales talk that will come after the massage instead of relaxing.
The facility was nice and the people were nice.
The massage was not the best I have had. I actually had to tell the lady she was hurting me which made me tense up rather than relax. I had asked for a Swedish massage to relax and not the deep tissue punishment treatment. I had some knots in my back that did not bother me until she got fixated on them. She spent so much time on my back and these knots that she had to rush through the rest of the massage to make it a full body massage.
I woke up in the middle of the night feeling as if I had been in a car accident. My shoulders and neck feel bruised. So much so I had my husband look to see if I had black and blue marks. This is not the did not drink enough water after the massage funk, this is actual hurt.
After my massage I was put into the uncomfortable high pressure «buy this now for a great deal» situation. This kind of thing rubs me the wrong way. But they were very polite about it and when I told them I would take the info with me and talk to my husband they gave me the info and dropped the subject.
So I will not go back to the same person but might go back again.

Location: Convenient and clean. I love they have a quiet area to relax and get into massage-​mode while waiting. Only one thing I would add: hammocks.
Front desk: When I first started going here, the front desk seemed to be the place for the younger employees to gossip and well, be young. I’ve started scheduling my massages earlier in the day and since, the customer service has been professional and helpful.
Massage: I recommend Colby. He is absolutely amazing, professional, and has a very calming energy. I cannot lie: after my massages, the walk down the long hallway feels like a walk of shame. Yes, he’s THAT good. He’s very knowledgeable in sports related techniques and always listens to my needs and concerns.
Check it out to treat yourself to some much needed pampering. Yes, you deserve it.

I am still a member of ME and really like the benefits of membership. Since I injured my back, I have been coming here at least once a month. I opted for fewer chiropractic visits and more ME visits since a chiropractic visit was a $ 30 copay for about 20 minutes vs a 1hr ME visit for $ 50+gratuity.
I typically opt for the 1.5 hour massage and pay the additional $$. For anyone considering massage therapy, I definitely recommend trying this location.
People should realize that not every therapist working is exactly the same, they are not robots. All therapists that I have tried have all been very skilled and knowledgeable in massage therapy. If you need help choosing a therapist, simply ask the receptionists what you are looking for.
You might want to try several therapists on successive visits to find your go to therapist.