Elements of Bodywork

This review is coming from a life-​long massage patient with lower lumbar issues… I was totally satisfied with my entire experience. Paul was professional and I felt great after my 60-​min treatment. The I’m certainly returning. The rates are reasonable, the environment welcoming, parking was not an issue, and location was easy to find. :)

Great massage for my husband who is diabetic. Paul was knowledgable and was able to handle my husband neuropathy expertly. Will go back.

Discount for health insurance! Great packages. Very nice massage. Unlike Dawn, my 9 pressure was a 9 pressure — I feel bad her experience was not better. But the rooms are not well insulated and you can hear the rustle and bustle from downstairs. I go into a meditative state to disconnect my mind from the work the therapist is doing.
He does ask if you feel uncomfortable with any particular areas touched and you should be upfront as he will massage pectorals and glutes. Its a weird feeling, but if those areas are sore, they will benefit from the massage.
There is a weird vibe to the experience, and as I said the noise can be a factor, and the place itself is not as relaxing an environment as one would expect. But if you can relax and take in the benefit of massage, Paul is very good at what he does and you will feel relief from aches and pains, and the cost is peanuts compared to the service provided.

Best Massage I ever received, Paul’s technique and ability to get you to relax is beyond words. I would recommend him to all who are in need of a professional massage.
This is my second massage by Paul and like the first it was great, he has an excellent massage technique and has the best methods for relaxing you. Not only is he the best I have ever been too but he is also very economical in cost.

I joined Unilocal just so I could review this place. I surprised my boyfriend with a Couples Massage this weekend for Valentine’s Day. Paul (the owner and the one who did my massage… a nice, pretty young woman named Olivia worked on my boyfriend) was running a GREAT special for the month of February for a 60 minute massage for both of us for $ 90. He also takes various insurance providers for discounts as well!
The salon that he rents in is very cute and easy to find. The massage room was warm, nicely decorated, and inviting. The music was relaxing and both Paul and Olivia catered to our individual needs. I opted for the full body massage including the front torso and back torso work (all of this is detailed on his website) while my boyfriend chose to mainly focus on his back, neck, and legs. After 60 minutes of bliss, we were given water and chocolates as a parting gift.
Both Paul and Olivia were professional and friendly. We both had a wonderful experience and can’t wait to go back next month. My boyfriend, who was VERY reluctant to do this-he’s never had a massage before so he didn’t know what he was missing– made a joke that we should include this treatment in our weekly budget. :)
I highly recommend Paul or Olivia and their magic hands!

I was having blockage in my left ear from wax build-​up and fluids (I believe). This was my first ear candleing, and after Paul was done, my ear blockage was 80% better. I also got an awesome hot stone massage. When I was done, I felt like I brand new person! I can’t wait for my appointment in January and my second ear candleing. Paul was so professional and thorough. I was late to my appointment because of traffic, and Paul was gracious and understanding, and did a fantastic job!

Ok, so I went here a while back and never went back again. Nothing awful happened but it wasnt great either.
The location was convenient and close my work and they offered discounts for certain health insurance. The experience itself was just ok. I felt good when Paul was working on my body, but I didnt walk out of there feeling relaxed and de-​stressed. Being a male therapist to a woman client, I would have expected him to be slightly more careful with the drapping. He wasnt being creepy but was just sloppy about it.
As far as I am concerned he lacked the healing touch, so this one didnt do it for me.

I’ve been back four times since my first review and I still think that Paul is great. If anything, the massages have gotten better with time. I was hesitant at first because I’m not usually comfortable with male massage therapists, but he’s a total pro. I look forward to it every month (and with the great price, I sometimes sneak in an extra one).
Contrary to Dawn’s review, the massage bed is heated (might be new since she visited) and I think he does a fine job with draping. I get the thai massage, which involves a lot of stretching, and he’s sensitive enough to know how the blanket/​sheet should be draped for each particular stretch.
In addition to his great rates, he offers a buy-​4-​get-​your-​5^th-​free deal, so my 1-​hour monthly massages turn out to be $ 38.40/each (with my HPHC discount). That’s just $ 1 more than my monthly spa pedicures.
But don’t get me wrong — I’m not just a returning customer because of the price, I go back because I really love his massages.
P. S. He sometimes sneaks in hot stones, which is such a treat!

Elements of Bodywork is a rented space within Shine Salon, which is cleverly disguised as a quaint house near Marlborough Hospital (they have a sign outside, though, and plenty of parking).
Shine Salon, itself, is filled which several charming women who welcome you when you get in the door. The ladies who were having haircuts seemed happy and satisfied, but overall, just a brief interaction was my only experience.
Elements of Bodywork is operated by Paul Whittier who is the primary provider on site (the only one when I went) but he has another person who works part time and who is available for couples massage.
The room which comprises Elements is upstairs at Shine Salon. It is painted a sagey green and has many elements that are warm and inviting.
Understanding in writing this review that I have a preference for deep tissue massage (to the point where any more would hurt, but not hurting, of course). As a new patient you are asked to fill out a small questionnaire indicating your areas which need the most work and there is a strength indicator. I chose 8. There is also a section where you can indicate areas you don’t feel comfortable having massages (buttocks, for example). I did not choose any areas except abodomen.
The massage itself, I thought, was weak. The 8. So I asked at some point to move my 8 to 10 (which was the toughest). I still got 8, which, to me, seemed like a 5.
Here is a final overview.
Pros:
Nice space
Really cushy table (not heated)
Many different options
Will integrate different styles of massage to suit your needs
Accepts insurance discounts
Cons:
Doesn’t really *dig*
No comfortable waiting area
Not so good with the draping (seemed more careless than pervvy, but it could have been pervvy.)
Although I enjoyed the discount, (25% with Tufts), I will not return to Elements of Bodywork. Which is a shame, as he’s the only one in the area to accept the insurance. And I did not tip, which should tell you something. I may not always tip 20%, but I usually tip SOMETHING.
Still, my search for the perfect Metro-​West masseur (for me) is on!