Bodywork &
Therapeutic Massage
About Us
Our Mission
Since 1997 our mission has aways been to be an industry leader who provides the highest level of therapeutic bodywork services possible. Our therapists are fully committed and passionate about bringing relief to the individuals they serve. Unlike most others we offer a variety of complementary bodywork services in addition to massage to meet almost any need. We prefer to understand the source of (or reason for) a person’s pain so that we can help bring about the change necessary for the eventual
absence of their pain.
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To be successful sometimes requires a multi-prong approach, such as deep tissue massage + acupuncture + structural integration. (With more than 20 Services to choose from our suggestion for you may possibly include CranioSacral or TheraCupping depending upon your needs.) We will monitor your progress and provide helpful suggestions in the form of stretches and/or postural changes at the end of each session. Eventually you will feel empowered with your new knowledge of your body, and pain will no longer be an issue which controls your life.
But in order to help first we must understand a few things about you. For instance, we need to know what you expect your body to do for you throughout the week. Also, what, if any, prior injuries (even those you may think aren’t possibly related) that you can recall. The fact is that our bodies remember every time we’ve done something which threatens our structural integrity. That results in unnecessary muscle tension; something we don’t need more of.
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A student for example, usually sits a lot while working from their laptop; also may cycle to and from class; maybe do rock climbing twice a week and/or workout 5 times a week at a gym.
Someone else who works from home may not have as active a social life but has had chronic back pain since a sports injury in college.
Someone else practices yoga but has been struggling with hip pain for several months with no relief in sight. The professor who had been in the habit for many years of standing throughout their entire 2-hour lectures which resulted in debilitating low back muscle pain.
A long-distance runner who competed world-wide until their pain couldn’t be ignored any longer received temporary relief from our deep tissue massage protocol but was unwilling to accept our advice to “take some time off.”
All of these individuals were/are actual clients and had sought the help of our therapists. One person combined massage and acupuncture and within 2 months turned their life around.
Another required deep tissue massage combined with TheraCupping. The third found the most relief by beginning with Integrative bodywork and eventually switching to Structural Integration to retrain some of their movements.
With skilled, licensed and specialty-certified therapists on our team you will always get the best treatment. An advantage for our clients is that everyone has access to all of our specialists regarding their specific needs.
Below are 3 categories for you to select from: Acupuncture & Wellness, Massage, and Injury. Each contains a list of several services for you to choose from. Doing so will give you an overview of what kind of modalities are available. Our suggestion for you is to begin with either a 60 or 90-minute Massage. Then if you enjoyed working with that therapist rebook your next appointment within 2 weeks. After 3 or 4 treatments you should see/feel a significant improvement which will confirm that this particular approach is working.
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Often while working in one area an experienced professional will notice other muscles requiring attention. Our trained hands will feel neighboring tissue which is tight or restrictive or even possibly “locked down.” It may be related to your current issue or it may be something you hadn’t realized. Your therapist will take note of it and share the new information either at the end of that session or at the beginning of your next treatment.
Our History
When we opened the doors to Massage Therapy Works Inc in 1997, we wanted to make different pain-relief techniques readily available. Around this time, only a Swedish-style massage was available everywhere else. So, within two years, we added Acupuncture and Integrative Bodywork to our services.
Today, we offer more than twenty different modalities to have something helpful for everyone searching for pain relief, stress reduction, and healing. With skilled, licensed, and specialty-certified therapists on our team, you can rest assured you will get the best treatment. An advantage to our clients is that you have access to all specialists regarding your specific needs.
Meet Our Staff
Rochele Jones, Executive Director, LMT, CIMI
Rochele is not taking new clients at this time.
Rochele graduated from the Galen Institute of Massage Therapy in 2002. She feels strongly that her treatments should leave her clients feeling balanced and ready to face the day. Using solid and steady lengthening techniques to reduce tension allows her clients to feel relaxed even when receiving deep pressure. When doing Integrative Bodywork/Massage, she can incorporate craniosacral therapy, reiki, myofascial, or deep tissue into your treatment. From 2005-2008, Rochele worked on many professional athletes, which helped broaden her knowledge of sports massage and injury recovery.
Rochele’s passion lies with pre/postnatal massage, helping moms-to-be and new moms with the changes their bodies (and lives) undergo. With over 15 years of experience working with prenatal clients and being a mom of two children herself, she understands fully the benefits massage can have within the family unit. Rochele implements and teaches our Infant Massage Instruction series. She has been teaching infant massage to new parents since becoming certified by the International Association of Infant Massage in 2008. As a massage therapist, she enjoys nothing more than working with a client throughout her pregnancy and then teaching her the gift of massage, which greatly enhances the bond with her new baby.
Jan Larivee
Jan has practiced massage for more than 25 years. Through extensive training in numerous bodywork modalities, she is adept at addressing her clients’ individual needs and concerns. Jan enjoys dealing with pain syndromes, headaches, and back and neck injuries. She has recently become certified in Matrix Energetics with a focus on shifting into a state of comfort and wellness with ease. She is also certified in Neuromuscular Therapy and Zen Trigger Point Therapy. She combines these very physical methods with energy work incorporating many years as a Reiki Master, Holographic Healing practitioner, and Craniosacral practitioner. She is also trained in Manual Lymph Drainage.
Orion Nemeth
Orion finds value and enjoys helping people who need relief. For example, having experienced firsthand how much a back injury or neck pain can interfere with one’s quality of life, he pays particular attention to what’s going on in your body. He finds the best way to bring you relief.
Orion received his certification in massage therapy at the Cortiva Institute in Watertown and has advanced training in Swedish, Deep Tissue, Sports Massage, and Myofascial Release. Having had the unique opportunity of growing up within a household of holistically-minded parents, including a mother and father who are skilled bodyworkers & massage therapists, Orion experienced firsthand the healing benefits. This early exposure left a lasting impression on him, which has led to continual exploration of how the body heals through massage, yoga, and meditation.
Orion is also a certified Yoga teacher and a lifelong practitioner of martial arts. He enjoys the outdoors, running, watching a movie, or a quiet meditation in his free time.
David Fischer
David was first exposed to Chinese medicine in 1999. Soon after that, he began to study Qi Gong, a Chinese form of movement and meditation classically practiced to cultivate healing energy.
David is a licensed acupuncturist and herbalist with a Master’s degree from the New England School of Acupuncture. He has a BA in East Asian Studies from Brown University and an MBA from Babson College. David is also an avid martial artist, and he is a Contra Mestre of Capoeira Angola with over 20 years of experience. In addition, he has studied traditional medicine in West Africa and meditative traditions from around the world.
David’s acupuncture practice is built on the insight developed over years of physical and mental training, firsthand experience with healing, an affinity for ancient texts, and the practicality of his business education.
Jessenia Ortiz
Jessenia specializes in helping clients reduce the effects of anxiety and enjoy the benefits of bodywork to relieve daily stress. As a graduate of the Cortiva Institute in Watertown, she has been trained in Swedish-style stress reduction, Therapeutic Massage, Sports Massage, Trigger-Point Therapy, and Myofascial Release. And as a former artist, her unique insight and interpretation allow her to reshape tensions in tailored ways for her clients.
Jessenia’s passion for exploring and encouraging human connection guides her in teaching her clients to observe and incorporate aspects of these relaxation techniques within their daily lives. As both an artist and a therapist, Jessenia brings a grounded approach to healing, using her hands to create balance for the needs her clients express.
Matt Jenkins
Matt graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Therapeutic Massage in 2006. He is trained in both Orthopedic Massage and Craniosacral Therapy and integrates techniques from both modalities into his work. Matt values the unique way in which massage therapy guides the body to a state of relaxation that can help ease tension, decrease pain, and benefit overall health and well-being. He is sensitive to the client’s individual experiences and demonstrates an innate ability to observe and skillfully respond to the body.
Matt has been studying and practicing Craniosacral Therapy (CST) for the past few years and loves how this modality can calm the nervous system and help the body find balance.
He recently completed training that utilizes CST to treat concussion symptoms. There are few options available for those who have sustained concussions, and the uniquely light-but-focused touch of CST makes it an ideal treatment. CST is also an excellent option for those experiencing jaw tension and TMJ dysfunction.
Book an integrative session and combine CST with massage for a deeply relaxing and therapeutic experience.
Matt also enjoys helping clients identify ways to improve posture and movement patterns to continue the healing process on their own time.
He is an avid trail runner and hiker in the Fells and Blue Hills and tries to be out in nature as much as possible. He also plays the guitar and is slowly but surely, trying to learn the piano.
Rachel Brailove
Rachel offers Therapeutic Massage, Manual Lymph Drainage, and Integrative sessions combining the two.
She grounds her Therapeutic Massage in Swedish massage for overall mind and body relaxation, and integrates a variety of techniques to address specific areas of pain or restricted movement. While Rachel will lean into muscles where that feels good to clients, she believes massage doesn’t have to be painful to be effective, and favors moderate pressure to encourage muscles to release while calming the nervous system.
Rachel is certified in the Vodder technique of Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD). This is a gentle approach to stimulating the lymphatic system, which is vital to immune function and to maintaining fluid balance in the body. MLD is particularly useful for chronic pain and inflammatory conditions, as well as for edema.
She is also certified in orthopedic massage and as a yoga teacher, and will be glad to suggest a simple home exercise to help reinforce the benefits of your massage.
Luz Ortiz
Certified in Therapeutic Cupping and Reiki (Level 2) Luz has been a licensed massage therapist since 2014. Initially trained in Swedish, Sports Massage, Reflexology, Deep Tissue, Trigger Point, and Myofascial Therapy she is very skilled at working out those areas of tension common to everyone.
In fact, Luz likes to incorporate some stretching into her treatments because she knows it will help with posture and muscle performance & flexibility.
It will be obvious from the start how passionate Luz is about helping others get free of their pain while providing them with a calm and peaceful environment where they can feel safe and comfortable.
She also understands the importance of self-care, and encourages her clients to find a daily self-care routine that works for them.
Luz is bilingual and is fluent in Spanish and English.
Serge Merisme
Serge is available for the following session types:
Therapeutic
Deep tissue
Couples
Sue St. George
With over ten years of experience in a number of modalities, my goal is to work with you to meet your body’s needs. Massage is a tool to help heal. Whether it’s stress, chronic pain or simply to pamper yourself the benefits of massage can be life changing. I would be honored to take that journey with you.
Sue is available for the following treatment types:
Therapeutic
Deep tissue
Integrative
Sports
Prenatal
Couples
John Jay
My name is Jay Pielmeier LMT. I am an alum of Cortiva Institute in MA. I believe each body has the capability to heal itself and I know that every body is different. I like to incorporate positive energy into all my sessions because I believe it is beneficial and will assist in the body’s natural healing process. I specialize in and enjoy deep tissue, therapeutic and myofascial
release therapies the most, I feel those are the most effective therapies to help resolve any pain or discomfort you’re feeling. I can also incorporate Neuromuscular/trigger point therapy, sports massage, and Swedish massage where needed.
I started my career in 2016 and have since worked for a chiropractor doing specific injury work and spent many years working at a myofascial release center. Throughout my career as an LMT, I’ve come to realize how important self-care is in pain management. I really enjoy sharing self-care techniques with my clients after their massage.
Outside of my professional career, I love going on bike rides both for fun and for commuting. I deliver fish right off the boat via bicycle to residents of Boston, Cambridge, and Somerville. I love the outdoors whether it is on a dock next to a river or hanging in a greenspace somewhere.
Best in Health
John Jay is available for the following services:
Therapeutic
Deep tissue
Integrative
Sports
Couples
Jenna Francis
Jenna is a licensed massage therapist, certified yoga instructor, retreat facilitator, and wellness coach specializing in whole-body health. Her work balances calming Swedish techniques to settle the central nervous system and deep tissue techniques to address those more stubborn pain points. Jenna is certified in positional release as well as prenatal massage.
Jenna’s approach to massage focuses on the physical as a path to nurture and healing for the stresses of life. She has been described as a “touch savant” and a “massage prodigy” — testaments to the intuition and intentionality she brings to each massage, and the connection she builds with each client. She views body work as a sacred opportunity not only for her clients but for herself. Jenna is a mother of two, who has also fostered 12 children. She enjoys snuggling with the one of her two cats who will snuggle, cooking eggs from her backyard chickens, and organizing community-building events such as concert series, interfaith dialogues, and yoga brunches.
Jenna is available for the following treatment types:
Therapeutic
Deep Tissue
Integrative
Sports
Prenatal
To schedule an appointment with one of our therapy specialists, please contact us or call us at 617-684-4000 today!
Massage Therapy Works Inc
61 Massachusetts Ave
Arlington MA 02474
Contact Us
617-684-4000
help@massagetherapyworks.com
Hours:
Monday - Friday: 9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday: 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM