Envious No More at Massage Envy

A Visit to Massage Envy on Miracle Mile Leaves Us Limp

As I lay on the warmed massage bed, my left leg thrown across the right and the capable hands of my massage therapist pushing down to stretch my lower back, I remember thinking only one thing: I’ve been waiting my whole life for someone to do this to me. As someone with virtually constant back and neck pain, I’ve been frequenting massage spas for years — but never has anyone done for me what Massage Envy did.

The Miracle Mile mainstay has been nestled on the quiet 200 block for over 10 years now, drawing in over 3,000 members despite operating in a fairly small space. Open late (until 9 pm on Sundays and 10 pm every other day), the spa does accept walk-ins on a first-come, first-served basis, but you’re more likely to get an appointment by scheduling in advance.

Most popular are the memberships, which cost $75 per month and come with one 60-minute treatment (facial, massage, or body stretch) as well as discounts on add-ons or extra services.

“A lot of people can relate to pampering yourself, getting a massage, but we put a flip on it,” district manager JC Rosario says. “[You come here] to decompress, have your moment, take care of yourself. This is post-recovery. You have to take care of your body, and that’s where we come in.”

One of Massage Envy’s specialties is the total body stretch, a 30 or 60-minute session that promotes flexibility, mobility, and performance. In the session, you feel a bit like a professional athlete getting physical therapy, and the results are similar — afterwards, I felt refreshed despite having taken an intense 40-minute HIIT class that morning, which usually leaves me sore and worn out. During the session, the therapist uses pressure combined with equipment like yoga blocks to help stretch out your “problem areas,” which you’ll tell them beforehand to make sure the service is customized to you. Follow that up with a massage, and you’re basically in heaven.

The idea is that every time you come to Massage Envy, you can get a slightly different version of a treatment to address whatever concerns you have at the time. “That’s why we don’t have a menu,” Rosario, who manages six South Florida franchised locations, explains. “You tell [the therapist] what you need based on the pressure, the style you’re looking for, and your particular day.” So, you can get a deep tissue massage on one day, a trigger point massage on another, and a customized facial on another.

To start, we highly recommend trying the body stretch, especially if you work out consistently, though a 60 or 90-minute massage is also highly therapeutic, and simply feels great. Add-ons like hot stones, aromatherapy, and rapid tension relief using a massage gun are also available, as are enhancements for facials like exfoliating treatments and microderm infusions. Whatever you decide, hopefully you’ll leave feeling like I did – drunk on relaxation and more than ready for the week ahead. For a full list of services, visit their website.

Massage Envy

256 Miracle Mile
305.648.7149
massageenvy.com