Cariño Massage: The Secret Ingredient is Love

In Spanish the word cariño means many things - attention, affection, love, tenderness - and the name couldn't be more fitting for Johnny Ray's style of massage. The seasoned massage therapist recently fulfilled a long-held dream of opening his own massage studio, and his meticulous attention to detail and affection for the art of bodywork is evident in everything from the Beverly Hills studio's décor to the cozy treatment spaces to the cup of fresh fruit served "Latin American style" with lime and salt after your session.

And then there's the bodywork itself. In writing this review, we struggled with how to do justice to our experience with Johnny, as it was truly one of the finest massages we've ever had. Before our treatment began, Johnny took some time to explain how to get the most out of the massage by focusing on our breath and allowing our body to "let go" so that he could work his magic. He began by brushing our hair, a unique and lovely touch. During our treatment, it was clear that Johnny was putting everything he had into the massage – his strength and grace brought to mind the moves of a dancer. We took his advice to heart, breathing deeply and steadily throughout the one-hour session, and it made a world of difference. By the time he was finished, we felt the way we do after a particularly rejuvenating yoga class, or an especially deep meditation. Our body felt lighter than usual and completely free of tension. Thank you, Johnny - we feel the love.

Review originally published 1/10/2008.