Bodyworks DW Advanced Massage Therapy – Midtown West — Local services in New York

My experience was not any where near the ones described in the other reviews. This is probably because of my name and race , but initially I called and wanted to make an appt for a massage at the Fidi location. Receptionist informed me that unfortunately the fidi location was booked but they had a 6pm open for the midtown location. I gladly took that, provided all info including credit card info and headed to the location. I arrived a bit early(5:10) and was told by the man that greeted me that I was super early and I could wait for “as long as I wanted “ to in the waiting area. I thought that was weird from the start but just figured the strange wording meant like I could wait and it didn’t matter that I was early. (Now I know EXACTLY what they meant by this ). I read a book while waiting, at about 5:50 I was expecting to be called to start the initial introduction(I have never been to this location, wasn’t provided any form to fill out or even asked any health questions or even why i was there ?!) so I figured okay maybe they would possibly go over this verbally with me before my 6 pm appt. So now it’s 6 and nobody has called me , a gentle man walks in and right away is greeted and brought to the back to get started. Still I’m here waiting ….. five min more past and I decide that I will be leaving since it’s now PAST my appt time, I have not been given a formal initiation or even been taken to the room. so the only thing I can assume is that either my appt would be cut short due starting late or that I would be there much later then I had anticipated even after me arriving more than 40 min early ! This is horrible service to provide to any client ! I waited patiently for a service that I was going to be paying for ! I came from work as well , am very tired and made it all the way to midtown to wait to more then 30min to be treated like trash and in the end not get any massage. I called the original location to speak to a manger to complain and was told that someone would reach out to me. I have never been treated this way in any establishment let along in general . If you don’t want to see people of color then you can specify that On your website or when clients are calling to make an appt . It’s so sad that this is even happening in NYC in mid 2022?!?! Insane and...

As someone with extensive experience in bodywork—most of my training is in Boulder, Colorado, a hub for some of the best sports medicine and bodywork professionals in the country—I approach new practitioners with high standards, but also an open mind. I was optimistic going into Advanced Bodyworks based on the promising profiles of their staff.

My first session, while not particularly thorough, was decent. I left feeling modestly better, though my specific problem areas weren’t really addressed. It wasn’t enough to discourage me outright, but it also didn’t inspire confidence.

The real reason I won’t return comes from my second visit, this time to the Midtown location. The session felt more performative than professional. The therapist asked me, almost obsessively if the pressure was too much. Rather than reassuring, it suggested a lack of confidence or skill. His style included a lot of aggressive, non-passive stretching, which I found uncomfortable and misdirected.

What really crossed the line was his use of my clavicle as leverage during a shoulder stretch—an extremely painful move that showed a poor understanding of anatomy and safe technique. Then came the countdowns before stretches—completely unnecessary—and finally, the ultimate red flag: the Thera-gun.

A skilled practitioner should be able to address muscular issues with their hands. The decision to resort to a Thera-gun at the end of the session felt like a shortcut and a substitute for real technique. Worse still, he asked me—twice—not to tell anyone he used it. That, to me, was needless to say a touch odd.

He also used what seemed to be a stone as a Graston tool, but his technique was completely off which that felt more like clawing than therapeutic work.

I left feeling not just disappointed, but genuinely concerned that I’d put myself in the hands of someone improvising rather than practicing trained, professional bodywork. I hope this review spares someone else from a similarly frustrating experience. .

All said, they are a very welcoming bunch with a really well...

I arrived with excruciating back pain, sciatica and general discomfort which had been aggravated but had lingered for at least three years. I could barely move. The doctor had systematically prescribed MRIs and painkillers which temporarily relieved the pain but had also severe side effects.

After a careful assessment Michael B. started working on my tangled muscles progressively alleviating the tensions and pain. I particularly liked the customized experience, targeted massage and dialogue on my body. While it may hurt, while he's working on you, I feel the immediate results as of the next day of each therapy. After three sessions, I am feeling incredibly better, renewed, energetic and have dropped all muscle and pain drugs.

David B. is an exceptional therapist. He is not only very knowledgeable but also kind and patient. I particularly liked the honest approach to the root causes of pain and Body Works approach to healing and well being as opposed to the conventional, overprescribed conventional medicine with chemical painkillers.

I cannot recommend Michael B...