Renewal with Rachel

Our treatment with Rachel Avalon couldn't have been scheduled for a better time. It had been a stressful and chaotic day, and her home studio provided a hospitable respite. Located in historic South Carthay (just east of Beverly Hills), the Spanish-style house features a lovely, comfortably furnished patio, which doubles as a waiting room for clients. Rachel herself emits warmth and calm, making even new clients feel as if they are visiting an old friend as she leads them to the roomy and tranquil treatment space.

Rachel's signature treatment lasts 90 minutes and incorporates both full-body massage and reflexology. After we settled onto the perfectly heated massage table, Rachel began by gently massaging the scalp and cranial pressure points before smoothly and skillfully addressing the rest of the body. This was one of those truly special massages where every stroke and pressure point application induced a deep sense of peace and relaxation - Rachel's touch is extremely healing and achieves just the right balance between soft and effective. After the reflexology portion of the treatment, she shared her observations about what the pressure points on our feet indicated about what was happening in the rest of the body.

Ninety minutes is a long time, but we still weren't ready for our session to end. After recovering full consciousness, we dressed and headed home. Fortunately, the effects of Rachel's bodywork lasted well after the massage ended, and we enjoyed a welcome sense of renewal and relaxation for several days following our treatment.

Review originally published 1/11/2007.