Sans Stress Massage

A remarkable massage for my remarkably pained back & leg (sciatic pain, back pain, crunched up everywhere). Cat managed to go deep, undo frozen fascia and angry muscle. My pain was lessened for the first time in ages and I intend to keep going to keep improving until, as she said, I can go for a massage because I want to, not because I need to. She is a skilled healer, enthusiastic, and caring. I’ve had lots of massage: this is not fluffy feel-​good (although I’m certain she could provide that if requested!) This was true healing body work.
Also, the space (room, bathroom, waiting area) is all lovely, relaxing and v.v.v. clean.

I was on the hunt for a good orthopedic massage therapist, and came across Cat on Unilocal.After my first visit, I was hooked and I’ve come to think of her as the muscle whisperer in my regular visits.
She is professional, pleasant and incredibly talented. She listens to your verbal direction as well as your physiological language. There is no cookie-​cutter service here. She custom tailors each massage to suit your needs. I typically use her skills to relive muscle spasms and tension due to a chronic condition, but could easily see myself enjoying a more relaxing spa-​inspired treatment as well.
Booking and payment is easy & digitally aided. Her location is clean, peaceful and convenient.
Book her, your muscles will thank you!

THE BEST massage of my life. Cat is remarkably knowledgeable and thoughtful. She brings science to her practice and caters to your needs efficiently and effectively.

This was my first massage in a long time. Cat spent time helping me figure out what would be most helpful and the massage was amazing. She found and released tight spots I didn’t realize I had– left feeling much looser and more relaxed. Highly recommend Cat!

A few years ago, I had a car accident and have suffered shoulder pain ever since. Therapeutic massages with Cat are one of the few things that bring me lasting relief. I don’t currently live near Sans Stress, or I would go more regularly, but I make sure to make an appointment any time I’m in the area. Cat is insanely knowledgeable about the human body, which makes her extremely talented at therapeutic massage, but what is really amazing about her is her intuition. She is able to find trouble spots that other massage therapists completely overlook. I’m also consistently impressed with how many tools are in her toolbox; while other therapists end up relying on one or two kinds of strokes or techniques, Cat seems to have something new every time, and she is constantly changing her approach to whichever technique is best suited to the current problem. Her dedication to continued learning, her empathy and her deep understanding of the human body keep me coming back to her over and over again.

UPDATE: Cat offered a complimentary massage because of the previous mix up. I go there for Sydney. She’s very knowledgeable and gives a great massage. I’m an athlete, and so I get the deep tissue and myofascial release massage (the painful kind) which Sydney excels at.

I originally met Cat when she was working at a different location but she has now started her own business and I am so glad she has!
Although Davis Square is a bit out of the way for me (I live in the North End), Cat’s massages are 100% worth it. I had been seeing Cat for about 6 months or so (once a month) when she started her business in Davis. I dropped off my regular visits for a few months because work took life over but went back again recently and am very glad I did!
If you visit Cat once a month or so your body ends up being a lot more flexible, you rarely have any deep knots, and you are generally far «better kept.» Having not seen her for a few months, I got a 90-​minute therapeutic massage to really get some good work done. Cat not only remembered everything about me (from the fact that I was left-​handed, that I prefer upper-​body work rather than legs, the type of oil I like for my massages, to some of the mundane day-​to-​day facts about my life). Not only that, she reads her clients like an open book! She could see where a lot of my tension was just from looking at me (who knew that your jaw muscles could be tense??) and went straight for the problem areas.
Adding to that — Cat genuinely enjoys what she does. That comes through in her work and her attitude. She makes you feel like you being there isn’t a tedious and tiresome job but an enjoyment to her as well.
I have had a couple other massages since I met Cat and each of them has left me wanting in comparison to her level of care, expertise, strength, and kindness.
Frankly — the only downside is that once you see Cat you probably won’t enjoy most other massages!

I’ve been getting professional massages off and on for about 10 years. I think of myself as a pretty hard judge of massage therapists by now. I found Cat though Google near the end of a rough week and was just looking for someone with availability that weekend. I expected to see her just that once, but the experience was so incredible that I have been seeing her once a month ever since.
Cat listens. I mean, she really listens to what I need and want, rather than just giving me a cookie cutter massage. I like a lot of things that don’t always seem to come standard and not everyone is good at (jaw massage, lower body stretching, head massage, hands, etc.) She gives me what I ask for and does it expertly, but she also seems to be able to figure out what my body needs as she goes. Also, she is equally good at deep pressure and soft pressure and will alter pressure levels according to my preference or her own assessment of any particular body part. I tend to like firmer pressure and I’m a pretty large gal, so not everyone seems able to make that happen for me.
She will incorporate hot stones for a very reasonable upgrade charge (but ask for them in advance so she knows to heat them up). I love the heat and pressure they provide, so it’s nice to be able to add them without having to pay a lot extra. You can also choose your own lubricant. I pick coconut oil because it makes me feel like I’m on vacation.
Cat is also very knowledgeable and gives good advice on body mechanics, stretches, and self-​massage that you can use throughout your day. She has online scheduling, which is really convenient. Her rates are in line with what I normally pay for a massage in a non-​spa setting (spas charge more), but her appointments are 10 minutes longer! Those ten minutes make all the difference.
Cat is also just a really nice person and makes me feel comfortable
I’m on a budget now so that I can save enough money to treat myself to a monthly massage, and it’s well worth it.

Cat is the yardstick by which I measure other massage therapists – and thus far no one else measures up. She is a champion hunter of ‘gremlins’ (angry muscles) and unknotter of knots. She really, really knows her stuff. She’s strong, but knows to check that her pressure isn’t too much. She’ll chat if you’re a talker, but knows when to be quiet (there’s nothing so annoying as an overly chatty massage therapist!).
I love a DEEP deep tissue massage, and Cat’s the only person who’s managed to consistently deliver the level of knot removal I’m looking for.
I can also vouch for her hot stone massage work – amaaaazing. Super relaxing, and really good for those nasty muscles that hurt too much for firm hand pressure.
In sum, Cat may be the smartest, most dedicated, most intuitive massage therapist you’ll ever visit. Don’t hesitate, give her a call.