July 2007 Boston Magazine, pg. 11

If you’re not interested in a spa atmosphere, toss out the incense and look for the no-nonsense of the Boston Bodyworker, the place to get you back on your feet and into the game through massage therapy. This unique business goes beyond the typical rubdown and delves into the beneficial orthopedic massage, an exciting new approach to the treatment of numerous pain and injury conditions previously treated only with conventional methods. Providing a comprehensive system of treatment that incorporates a wide variety of massage-treatment techniques, orthopedic massage enables the practitioner to choose the most effective treatment for whatever ails your muscles and mind.

Therapists at the Boston Bodyworker are currently certified by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodyworker (NCBTMB) and are professional members of the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA).

In addition to orthopedic massage, they offer deep tissue, sports massage, myofascial release, zero balancing, neuro-muscular therapy, acupuncture and pre/post pregnancy massage. It also has just recently expanded to offer private yoga instruction and Kinesio Taping (of Lance Armstrong fame), the newest modality to hit the Pro circuit that involves taping over and around the muscles to assist and give support or to prevent over contraction.

So relaxing, but got to the "problems" and worked through them, while allowing me to breathe!

The discount for the team (soooo great!), no tipping makes it feel more like a "medical" thing that is a "must have" than an aesthetic or "just for fun" massage. LOVE that they ask you about your problems, light or hard effort, it's really about YOU the person, not a general massage they give everyone!

I started going in when I was training for the Boston marathon (recommended to me by many TE teammates) and though it was painful during the actual massage, I felt like I was walking on a cloud after it!

I like the personal touch. Drew takes the time to actually get to know you and what kinds of activities you do. It is a very comfortable environment.

In the fall, I was training for a 1/2 marathon and halfway through the training I fell and bruised my knee pretty badly. Stubborn as I am, I did not want to miss my race, but was worried my knee might incur permanent damage if I were to race. My first thought was to schedule an appointment with Drew to not only have the deep tissue massage but to get some reassurance that my knee was OK (or to get his advice if he felt it was not safe to run). So I really rely on their expertise and advice!

I've been visiting your practice for years for many reasons but most recently for pain related to TMJ and extreme neck pain. After a few session with Anna, both those issues have disappeared. Anna not only taught me ways to stretch, she took the time to talk to me about why I might be having these problems and what I can do in my everyday life, to help correct it. Her kind words, extreme thoughtfulness, and of corse, massage therapy helped me to ride in the PMC (Pan Mass Challenge) and complete the rigorous 190 mile bicycle ride. She is the BEST !

Lisa Kessel

I have been a practitioner of massage therapy for over 20 years. I have been exclusively with Boston Bodyworker for the last 6 years. My desire is not to spend my hard earned money on a glorified “backrub and a nap”. Drew Freedman and his staff treat you and your body like it is a valuable instrument that needs as much care and maintenance as you can give it. They have treated me through the good, treating potential hot spots before they become debilitating to my weekend warrior lifestyle, and have treated me through the bad, pre and post cervical surgery. Also, their online scheduling makes juggling my hectic schedule and their availability hassle free.

As a nationally certified personal trainer and competitive athlete, I have high expectations from my health care providers. So it is no small matter that I am taking a few moments to express my happiness with your practice.

For the past six months the care I have received at your office has been outstanding. Not only do I see a noticeable improvement in my day-to-day training regimen, but what I thought to be permanent limitations from old injuries are fading away.

I understand the advantages of preventative medicine, and have made various massage therapies part of my ongoing healthcare. But I must tell you the quality of care provided at your office far exceeds any others I have visited.

Thank you!
Scott Lenzi

Anna Scire is a highly-skilled massage therapist I've been using for 3 years. I especially appreciate (1) her holistic perspective, (2) her eclecticism (she uses a variety of modalities), (3) her openness to new approaches, and (4) her understanding of anatomy. I would recommend her services to anyone!

Also, I find the Boston Bodyworker exceptionally easy to reach by car (from Storrow Drive or the Mass Pike) and I always find on-street parking on Boylston Street.

John O'Leary

I have been a client at Boston Body Worker for several years now. It is so easy to schedule an appointment on-line, the location is very convenient and the new space is allows for privacy as well as enough room for treatment. I am a runner and usually come in with some type of related injury. I have seen both Drew and Jim Memory and have had great results. They provide guidance, education in terms of self management and stretching as well as massage therapy. They are not afraid to address the painful areas! I work as a physical therapist and have referred my own clients to them for treatment. They are always satisfied with the results!

Jean Sarno

I trained for 4 months for a marathon this October with essentially no issues. With 3 weeks to go I got a knot in my right calf towards the end of my last 20 mile training run. I backed off on training but the knot wouldn't go away. Kate worked the knot out in a couple of sessions and it was gone by race day. Unfortunately I had a knee problem act up at mile 6 and I ran through the pain until 18 before having to drop out. While I didn't make it to the finish line this time, I never would have made it to the starting line without Kate's great work. I'm signing up for another shot next year and am glad to have Boston Bodyworker on my side. Thanks for the great work and great advice.

-Jon Finegold
Boston, MA
founder, www.ontri.com

I can only speak of my experience with Anna since she is the only one I've seen. I probably wouldn't go to anyone else because she is amazing and have been an integral part in helping to release my shoulder/neck tension. She is very in tuned with the client's needs and it is obvious that she is passionate about what she does.

I only wish I didn't live so far away now!

-Stephanie Javaheri

I was referred to the Boston Bodyworker from my physical therapist because of knee and leg pain while training for my first marathon last year. I had been to an orthopedic surgeon & physical therapist and what made the difference was Bostonbody Worker. After months of running through the pain and trying stretches, ice, hot packs, creams, etc. I was finally able to run pain free. I noticed a considerable difference even after the first visit. In addition to helping with my knee and leg pain, I learned a great deal about running a marathon for the fist time, the advice and expertise that I was given was priceless. Thank you!

Rachael Comunale

I am no stranger to therapeutic body work--having gone to many a massage therapist for the past 10 years. But there is something extraordinary about the quality of treatment and the caliber of treaters found at The Boston Body Worker. To begin with, their availability and flexible hours are unparalleled with any other massage clinic I have yet encountered. To illustrate this, I was one day having lunch with a friend who seemed unusually stressed. So I recommended that she go for a massage at the Body Worker. Right then and there, I called to set up an appointment for her, and within a few hours, she was seen. Not too long ago, I too was experiencing an incredible amount of stress with acute somatic symptoms; although it was late in the day, and I hadn't called earlier for an appointment, my massage therapist (the one I usually see) most graciously and compassionately made some time for me. Above and beyond their availability, graciousness, and compassion towards clients, though, is the incredible knowledge and amazing practice skills that these massage therapists command with reference to the body, mind, and spirit connection. In a world so fragmented today by internal and external stressors, the Boston Body Worker is, for me and many others, at least one very effective way "to keep it [our deepest, wholest self] together."

I never really considered myself a candidate for massage therapy. That is, until I woke up one day in so much pain I could barely walk. Thankfully Drew was able to slot me in on that day. The instant relief of pain was miraculous. And the follow up stretching exercises at home had everything back to normal in about a week without a doctor or painkiller in sight. Thanks again Drew. I'll be calling again soon to schedule a tune-up.

Best,
Mike Connell

I saw Jim about two weeks before I sat for the Massachusetts bar exam.

I had been studying in a library every day, and all the hours in hard chairs had begun to wreck havoc with my neck. I had gotten to the point where you could see a knot in the back of my neck. Jim was able to work on my neck, back and shoulders so that I felt looser and I was better able to sit at a desk and concentrate when I needed to the most. I think that my massage at BBW was one of the best things I did to help me pass the Massachusetts bar exam.

Cara Bradley

I've had a great experience with both Drew and Jim. They are very professional, friendly and knowledgeable. I've seen Drew and Jim for sports massages to help me recover from an ankle and knee injury. Both have been very helpful and my condition has greatly improved! You can tell that they love what they do! They do an excellent job. I've got sports massages from many therapist and was not 100% happy with the results until I came here! Thank you guys ...you really do a great job!

Katrina Baker has an effervescence that she infuses through her therapy so that her clients leave the session not only relaxed but happy. She is a complete professional, caring and thorough. She also is assisted by a great sense of humor blended with compassion for the aches and pains that we bring in the door. She's worth every penny and then some.