Massage Therapy of Oak Park

A very rewarding and uplifting experience!
My husband and I have both recently tried MTOP and have been very pleased.
My husband saw the female therapist. He had been suffering from a lot of back pain/​sciatic nerve issues. He came home relaxed, relieved and actually talking about stretches and exercises that he would continue to maintain the improvements. This was an over and above response for him… I would have expected him to say, «It was fine.» or at most «It was good.»
When I pulled up for my massage, I didn’t realize that I would be in someone’s home. Rick had said, «come around the back,» but I didn’t put two and two together. Before entering I actually called my husband to see if I was in the right place! He had had such a good experience that he failed to mention that he was in a home!
I felt like Rick made an effort to understand why I was there, what I needed and then was very communicative throughout the massage. I actually just changed my rating from a 4 to a 5 after remembering all of this.
This is definitely not a massage mill… you won’t get a community robe or the chance to catch up on US Weekly in a room full of others wearing community robes… but if you want a great massage, if you have areas that need special attention or specific needs, I feel like this is your place.

Wow, the receptionists were absolutely horrible. They had no idea what massages were offered or the services that the massages entailed. They then read some cheesy description about the types of massages. After being hung up on once and dealing with inept people I hung up 13 minutes later. Very slow very inept. I can only assume that the massage therapist is just as bad or at least has horrible judgment to hire such horrible help.

MTOP is a hidden gem.
If it weren’t for the fact that I’m a horrendous procrastinator and it can be tough to get an appointment here when you wait until pretty much the last possible second to try to book, I’d probably be giving them 5 stars. (Hmmm…that omnipresent dilemma inherent anytime we judge someone else… What’s me, and what’s them? But I digress…)
Let’s be honest: If I hadn’t had a personal recommendation from a friend, I’d never have given this place a try. Out of context, yeah, the idea of going around to the back door of a house to get a massage sounds, well, a bit creepy. Illicit at best, dangerous at worst.
In reality it doesn’t feel that way at all. (Well, duh… otherwise I’m thinking they’d be long out of business by now.) The location on the residential block means parking is (a) free and (b) a complete snap, which is especially nice if you’re squeezing a massage into an otherwise stressful busy day.
To enter, you walk around to the back of the house, past the back yard of this family home, which in the warmer months boasts a thriving, lovely garden and some funky outdoor sculptures & found art kinds of things. In the winter there’s sometimes been a skating rink that the owner must build for his kid (s?). Obviously a family lives there, but they never seem to be home when I’ve been there for treatments, or at least you never see them. (The studio entrance is separate from the rest of the house.)
Unlike a previous reviewer, I was actually kinda impressed by the appearance of the cozy studio space. Granted, I’m kind of a slob and probably kinda easy to impress, but still. Of a total of maybe a half dozen visits over the past maybe 10 or 12 years (I’m too cheap to get massages as often as I probably should) I haven’t once glimpsed the laundry area… at least not that I can recall. In fact, on my 1^st couple of visits I remember being struck by an urge to go home and redo my own basement. Entry area and restroom are small, but nicely appointed, clean and tidy. The treatment room itself is inviting and relaxing. Nice light filters in from the windows if you’re there during daylight hours.
Now the important part — the massages. Micky is amazing. Great technique, personality that’s easy to be around. If you feel like chatting, she’ll make pleasant conversation. If you’re in the mood for total quiet, she’s cool with that, too. On a lark I once tried the hot stone thing, which was actually pretty amazing. Much better than it sounds.
Prices are pretty standard, probably better than average since you aren’t paying for a big fancy lobby, full-​time receptionist, etc. Since the quality is high, this always feels like a really good value. I was about to say that I’ve paid 4x as much for a massage that wasn’t any better than Mickey’s, but that’s not exactly true. (A few years back, I had the good fortune to fall into a gig as a mystery shopper at a crazy fancy spa in a downtown hotel. So I got to enjoy a couple of $ 150 or $ 200 massages without actually paying for them… anyway, they weren’t any better than this, one might not even have been as good as Mickey’s.) Just don’t be shy about telling her if you’d like her to use more pressure… though I guess this is good advice anytime one tries a new massage therapist anyway.
I believe there’s at least one other woman working there now too, haven’t tried her yet but I hear good things.
My MIL is something of a massage connoisseur & we often give her MTOP gift certificates over the years. She’s usually (maybe even always?) gone to the one male therapist they have there, who’s also the owner, and always says it’s heavenly. (BTW, she’s not remotely the hippie type herself, which leads me to think one can be a Rick fan even if one isn’t new age god’s-eye girl.) I fully intend to give him a try myself sometimes… just as soon as I get over my admittedly weird hangups about going to a man for a massage.
Oh, that reminds me — my one real gripe about this place would be that I wish they would consistently offer one-​year expirations on their gift certificates. I can’t remember for sure, but I think they’ve sometimes been shorter exp. periods (maybe 6 months), which for some reason really bugs me. If I were a new customer, I think it would make me question whether they’re planning to sell me the GC, then up and leave town with my money. Or something.

My husband received a gift cet for Father’s Day for a massage at what he described as a comfortable establishment. He found his therapist, Maddie, to be exceptional. Her ability to transfer healing energy to the areas that needed it on him was intuitive and powerful. He’ll be back for his pre-​lalapalooza massage!

I have had massages at an office in a house before but I did not feel that this establishment was very professional. The office is in the basement and there is laundry hanging around and the area is not well kept. I ended up not having my massage because I didn’t feel comfortable. Maybe I’m missing out but for the money, I would prefer a more relaxing and professional atmosphere.

I’ve been a regular client of MTOP for about six years now. I always see the owner, Rick, for my massages; there is also a female therapist if you don’t feel comfortable with a man.
Your well-​being is Rick’s #1 concern — the first thing he’ll ask is, «What’s going on with you today? How can I help?» Rick is also certified in pregnancy massage, so I saw him throughout both of my pregnancies and had no back pain whatsoever. And it’s a great way to get a little «me» time. I have referred two acquaintances as well. Both reported great experiences and became regular clients.

Had a massage with Rick, the owner, last week. He has a new-​agey style that will gel with you if you like a god’s eyes, hippie cool, running a business out of someone’s basement experience. Not your guy for sports massage. He does not listen well.