New Balance

The facility formerly known as Strike a Balance in Santa Monica has undergone some changes and now goes by the newer, simpler moniker Balance. No need to worry: Despite their expanded facilities, Balance's prices are still refreshingly affordable (especially considering the massage center's posh address on Montana Ave.). Balance's offerings include standard treatments like Swedish, shiatsu, deep tissue, hot stone, Thai and reflexology massage, as well as energy therapies such as Reiki and myofascial release. Prices start at $62 for 60 minutes. Feng Shui informs Balance's new interior design, and each of the treatment rooms is modeled after the five elements: fire, earth, metal, water and wood. Balance has also partnered with Aura Medical Spa, which occupies a suite on the same floor and offers facials and more intensive cosmetic treatments like Botox and microdermabrasion.

We took 15 minutes or so to warm up in the infrared sauna before our Swedish massage with David in the metal-themed treatment room. David is very serious about his craft and extremely tuned in to his clients' needs. We were feeling unusually tense and fatigued on the day we visited, so we gave him a lot to work with. He worked as deeply as he could given our sensitivity, and afterward took some time to explain what he picked up from our energy during the treatment. It came as no surprise to hear that we needed to find more time to relax.

Note: For those spa-goers with little ones to look after, Balance offers child care during treatment sessions for a reasonable charge.

Review originally published 8/31/2006.