Not Your Typical Kneads

A wonderful experience! Alyson is everything anyone could want in a massage therapist. I got a great massage and she is a wealth of information on other community resources. Highly recommended!

So… I had been on the hunt for a good massage therapist… not your typical cookbook therapist… but someone with anatomy and physiology knowledge who will be caring and sensitive to my needs. Aly was all that and more. Not only did she take the time to get appropriate history up front, but then sat with me afterwards to give me sort of an analysis of my session. No doubt about it… I will be back. Gotta run to schedule my next appointment right now!
AWESOME!!!

Aly– you are a wonderful massage therapist! Went to see Aly a few months ago with a Living Social Deal I had purchased. I am hooked! This was the first massage I had received that really addressed the issues I have (lower back pain, posture issues). It was really what I needed.
Booking online was easy, but she is popular so book early! It is located inside 4025 Yoga Studio, but her space feels very inviting and she seems very interested in helping her customers.
Aly also gave me some exercises I could do throughout the day at my desk job to help my posture. That was great. I am trying to sit up straight as I type this review. Hope to see Aly again soon!

Not Your Typical Kneads has been upgraded to the top of my gift suggestions for every holiday and birthday! I just had my second massage with Aly today. The word that comes to mind to describe her approach: conscientious.
She really takes her time with you both before, during, and after your massage, without going over your allotted time or encroaching on your personal space. I’ve had many massages with different (10?) therapists over the years. She is the only therapist I’ve had who seems to be able to pinpoint trouble areas as she’s working and finesse the muscle into relaxation. The first time I visited her, I thought I knew exactly what I wanted (e.g.-very deep pressure, certain focus areas). Aly listened, took my suggestions under consideration, and also offered her own take on what my body might need. Surprise, surprise – the professional was right! She adjusted pressure in certain areas where I needed it and my body thanked her not only during the massage, but hours later. My tension headaches, shoulder pain, and tight hamstrings felt both immediate and sustained relief.
Her dedication to massage as a form of physical therapy is evident not only in this way, but also in the way that different anatomy posters and devices (canes, myo-​therapy balls, etc.) adorn her office space. Like many others have noted, Aly gave me pointers on how to massage certain muscles on my own to help in recovery.
Richmond has noticed how magical she is; I waited two months for an appointment that fit with my work schedule and her availability. Go. Schedule. Now.

When getting a massage I pretty much always get a deep tissue massage but no matter how much people assured me they can really get down and in there I couldn’t find what I wanted in RVA until I found Aly.
She has a tiny stature, and at first glance you wouldn’t think her hands are as powerful as they are. But man can she make it hurt so good.
This last visit I asked for a more relaxing full body massage instead of my deep tissue, and she graciously obliged.
Here is my conundrum with giving her a great review– she deserves every bit of praise everyone gives her, but I don’t want her getting any busier… :(…selfish, I know!
Call he and make an appointment, just not the one I was about to make.

I have been going to Alyson for almost a year and couldn’t be more impressed with her professionalism and friendliness! I initially found her base on great Unilocal reviews when I was looking for a masseuse for a day of pampering. Alyson was so great that I bought a six-​session pass after my first visit!
She really takes the time to ask questions about what is bothering you and how much pressure you want before each session. She is so friendly and makes you instantly feel at home. The best part is she doesn’t talk during your massage which lets you totally relax and unwind. I have had massages before where you feel like you are at a job interview with all the questions being thrown at you all for the sake of «making conversation».
Moral of the story: if you are looking for a great massage — you’ve found the right place!

I’ve been going to Not Your Typical Kneads for over a year and Aly is the best massage therapist I’ve ever had. She takes plenty of time before the massage to discuss what issues you are having with your body. She’s always willing to adjust pressure during the massage in case what you «thought» you wanted is not really what you wanted. After the massage she always provides helpful stretches based on what tight muscles she encounters during the massage.

I have never in my life received a better massage than the one Aly provided. She sought details regarding my history and current physical situation to tailor the massage to my needs. She is very observant during the massage to ensure her clients remain comfortable and varies her techniques throughout. I had never received a deep tissue massage before, and I can’t wait to go back. I do a significant amount of weight lifting and muscle strengthening as part of my training, so I came in today with severe muscle tension and tightness. I left Not Your Typical Kneads relaxed – but more importantly – loose. My muscles have never felt so loose and knot-​free in my life.
The extra step that I really appreciated though was how much Aly treats her clients with care and consideration. It’s obvious she loves her job and loves helping her clients. She made sure that I not only enjoyed my experience but that I also left with tips for preventing muscle tension in the future.
I cannot wait to schedule my next massage with Aly! Thank you!

This was a truly outstanding massage experience. I briefly had dated a massage therapist that was very good, but after our split, I was, of course, reluctant to return to him just out of the awkwardness of the situation. Since then, I have had several massages at different locations but none had lived up to my expectations until Not Your Typical Kneads. Aly spends additional time on problem areas so that the massage is not just relaxing, but truly therapeutic. She may be small but she is strong! She makes suggestions for stretches to relieve your problem areas and treats her patients comprehensively to manage overall systemic health and well-​being.

I have had the pleasure of seeing Aly for a few times. I have received massages for the last 15 years on a regular basis and was in the market for someone who had the ability to do deep tissue massage in relation to a difficult spot on my right upper back. Immediately Aly made an effort to understand what was bothering me and never rushed me. She gave an incredible massage and I even fell asleep during part of it. The pressure was hard when needed and she varied the technique throughout. When she finished she spent extra time suggesting stretches and ways to improve my overall muscle health. The next day I received an email with a recommendation of a device I could use at home to work the problem areas on my own. Aly is an exceptional CMT and she cares about her clients. She is a little on the upper scale of pricing, but you won’t regret it.

With a long history of back pain due to car accidents and sports injuries, massage has been a critical part of managing my pain. Prior to seeing Aly, the most effective massage treatment for my pain had been an Chinese technique called tui na massage which while very helpful was quite expensive. Over the years I have seen other massage therapists seeking deep tissue massage that would compare to the tui na massages I found so effective. None came close, until I went to Aly. Aly was able to identify the points in my glutes, lower back and shoulders that were causing me tension and pain and truly work the muscles. The massage was painful but I could tell it was actually working the areas that were causing me pain. I woke up the next morning actually sore from the massage but could feel that the tension was releasing. I highly recommend Aly particularly if you are looking for an intense massage. The location is easy to get to right near the corner of Libbie and Grove with plenty of parking and prices are extremely reasonable.