Reviews

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"The benefits I have experienced from working with Lily are very tangible:

I had my best road cycling season ever this year. I can ride longer, faster and more comfortably than ever before (and I am nearly 50 years old). IT band tightness is no longer a problem. Low back pain on long rides is gone along with neck and shoulder tightness. The regular massage has allowed me to stretch out more on the bike and to ride in the drops for long periods of time without any discomfort. Adding massage to my irregular stretching routine has made a big difference.

Less tangible but very important benefit has been stress management. I have a fast-paced life with career and raising two children and I tend to become mentally disconnected from my body and this results in all kinds of chronic problems with my neck and lower back. When I get my regular massage those issues are drastically reduced. When I don't--they flare up again. It also literally drains (if only for 90 minutes) the pent up stress that I collect on a daily basis, gives me some space for myself, and helps me reconnect my brain to my body.

What originally brought me to Lily was my ongoing search for a massage therapist that I would want to work with on a consistent basis. Before moving to Davis and over the past 3-5 years I probably worked with 10-12 therapists but none of them had the combination of intelligence, skill, insight and overall value that would warrant the investment of my time and money.

Some therapists just throw some oil on the person and go through the routine they learned by rote. Lily has never given me the same massage twice. She adjusts the fundamental therapy she delivers based on what is actually going on with the client. I would maybe call this intelligent massage? Lily also combines a dedication to the basics of healing and massage therapy with an open minded attitude towards approaches that may not be so mainstream. So if there is spectrum between far-out kooky and mundane/accepted practice--Lily's approach sits on the reasonable side of the spectrum. Also, while Lily clearly is building a business she is doing so without compromising on her very intense commitment to making people's lives better.

What keeps me committed to getting regular massage with Lily is the value." Charles W., Davis, CA.

"I have been getting professional massages for many, many years and most of them have been great, but when I went to Lily the first time (a few years ago) I was so impressed. She really knows what she is doing. She can do massages to get rid of migraine headaches, she can relieve and help prevent sciatica, she can just give you a total feel-good, relaxing massage if that is what you need. Her space is beautiful and calming, and you can tell you are in good hands that know what they are doing." D. A., Davis CA, Certified Nurse Midwife

"I received massage by Mereb, who I would recommend to anyone. He is an intuitive healer who was able to pinpoint areas of pain and tension that I wasn't yet aware of. He provided an atmosphere that helped to heal both my body and spirit." T.C., San Francisco, CA

"Lily has a truly intuitive sense of the relaxation and relief that my body craves. She is the first and only massage therapist that I feel has provided me with a calming experience by attentively showing care and interest for my body’s unique needs. I left my first massage with Lily making the commitment to treat my body with the care it deserves by regularly scheduling relaxation massages with her. Lily Starling has most definitely made my college experience more enjoyable and stress-free!" - Toni M., Davis CA, UCD student

"Getting a massage from Mereb totally changes my week and my life. I don't have any real overt condition or anything, just the kind of back and neck tension that I think comes with living in this society. I am pretty cheap and used to think that getting a massage was extravagant and unnecessary, but it's not. Getting a massage from Mereb I got into a totally different space than I inhabit in my everyday life and return to the world more in my body and centered. I don't necessarily even notice the soreness and tension in my body until after I get a massage from him and realize what it feels like when they are not there. I think that his massages are pretty specific to you and what you want and need too. I don't like too extreme of pressure, and he finds a way to push hard enough and in the right ways that I come to have an intense awareness of my muscles but without the discomfort that has come other times I have gotten massages." Oliver J., San Francisco, CA

"I love a good massage, but in reality good massages are hard to find. I went through a number of other therapists before finding Lily and I haven't seen anyone else since. I enjoy doing physical things that beat up my body and thus tend to really like deep massages that work out tight knots and deep spasms and break up scar tissue. Lily is not afraid to put the pressure on high when it is required, but at the same time she strikes a nice balance between that perfect deep tissue massage and providing an extremely relaxing and calming overall experience. I always leave feeling relaxed, refreshed and 10 times better than when I walked in." -Steve S., Davis CA, UCD grad student  

"To be honest, I have not had many massages in my life and I did not know what to expect when I made an appointment with Mereb.  My shoulder and lower back had been bothering me and so I decided to give massage therapy a chance.  Mereb instantly made me feel comfortable with a combination of professionalism and genuine interest for my health.  The session was planned well to cater to my problem areas and was very thorough and surprisingly gentle.  I was very relaxed and although I did not walk away completely healed, I think that I am definitely going back and feel inspired to continue until my body is back to normal again." -Naosuke N., San Francisco, CA

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