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"[Aurora Foot Spa](http://aurorafootspa.com/)  \\nMassage, $30 for 60 minutes  \\n8324 Wilshire Blvd.  \\n310-866-1048  \\n\\nReflexology so sublime, even celebrities have been known to kick back here.  \\n\\n[Being in LA](http://www.beinginla.com/)  \\nJade Stone Therapy Massage, $135 for 60 minutes  \\n2016 Hillhurst Ave.  \\n323-665-9355  \\n\\nWe complain when the mercury goes below 50 or above 80. So the idea of being massaged with both ice-cold and scalding-hot stones made us a bit wary. After coating our skin with a silky lotion, our masseur ran the 130-degree stones over our limbs, eventually nestling a few under our hands, feet, and rib cage. While the warmth of those rocks radiated outward, he pressed some icy ones into other areas. The contrasting sensations left us energized and our muscles loose. It turns out that we can take the heat\u2014and the cold.  \\n\\n[Body by Kate at Kate Somerville](http://www.katesomerville.com/)  \\n__MARY ASCENSION SAULNIER__  \\nMassage, $180 and up  \\n8428 Melrose Pl.  \\n323-655-7546  \\n\\nNo one goes to Saulnier for a garden-variety massage. Known widely around town as \\\"the fat whisperer,\\\" she has a reputation among the Hollywood elite for shooing away stress\u2014and sag. But we were still taken by surprise when she handed us a paper thong and ordered us to strip. She then slathered on a cinnamon-and-cayenne-pepper mud mask and wound Ace bandages around our thighs before zipping us into a compression sack. The heated cocoon held us in a long, tight hug and kneaded every muscle. When we emerged, she vigorously rubbed our lower half, paying close attention to our tight calves and hamstrings. By the end, our legs were two sizes smaller\u2014and haven't filled out an inch in days.  \\n\\n__BROOKE WESCOTT__  \\n60 minutes, $95  \\nHouse calls only  \\n818-530-3535  \\n\\nWe told Wescott we enjoy the benefits of deep-tissue but can't endure intense prodding. She began untangling our knots in the most humane way possible, seeking out sore areas and rubbing them to gauge how much pressure we could take. The best part? When she handed us the bill, we didn't even flinch.  \\n\\n__CATHERINE PARKS__  \\nMassage, $80 per 60 minutes  \\n323-850-5489  \\n\\nMany a tense jet-setter has called Parks from the air to schedule a deep-tissue massage for right after landing at LAX. Parks spent her first seven years working on patients in a physical-therapy clinic, so she's no stranger to bad backs. \\\"I give a meat-and-potatoes massage,\\\" she says humbly of her home visits\u2014and it's one that many athletes and showbiz people are hungry for.  \\n\\n[El Le\u00F3n Day Spa &amp; Healing Center](http://elleonspa.com/)  \\n__PIYUNUCH WONGTHONGDEE__  \\nRock Star Massage, $185  \\n8217 Beverly Blvd.  \\n323-782-9582  \\n\\nOur shoulders instinctively tensed when Wongthongdee handed us a T-shirt and karate pants\u2014in our mind, a massage shouldn't involve workout gear or any effort more strenuous than flipping from stomach to back. But a soothing hand-and-foot bath calmed our nerves and prepared us for what came next: an hour of intense twisting and bending. Next came some serious pampering with a blissful head-and-neck rub, which shooed away stress and put us in a limpid stupor, without our breaking a sweat.  \\n\\n__EVE NIPAKAKOIN__  \\nMassage, $80 for 60 minutes  \\nHouse calls only  \\n818-744-3976  \\n\\nWhen a Hollywood insider told us about an affordable in-home Thai massage, we got out our pen. Perhaps we should have asked more questions, because the smooth stroking we'd expected was actually an hour of stretching and pulling, trying to breath through the pain of having our calves pummeled with someone's heels. It's not that Nipakakoin isn't good at her job\u2014it's just that this authentic style of Thai massage can be vigorous and is definitely not for the faint of heart. Next time, we'll speak up and ask her to handle us with care.  \\n\\nExhale  \\nExhale Four-Handed Massage, $230 for 60 minutes  \\n1422 2nd St., Santa Monica  \\n310-899-6222  \\n\\nIt's hard enough to find one massage therapist who really listens to us, let alone two who pass muster. And yet, during this two-on-one session, both therapists managed to give us exactly what we desired. At times it was nearly impossible to discern one set of hands from the other, so perfectly synchronized were they in speed and pressure. And at every moment, at least one set of hands was massaging our head or feet. One caveat: Double the pleasure comes with a doubly steep price tag.  \\n\\n[Exhale Spa](http://www.exhalespa.com/)  \\n__EMILIE CROSS__  \\nFusion Massage, $130  \\nFairmont Hotel, 101 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica  \\n310-319-3193  \\n\\nA stress-inducing week at the office had our shoulders creeping up to our ears. So we slouched over to Cross, who uses a combination of Swedish and deep-tissue to neutralize tension. She drizzled aromatherapy oil along our back and burrowed her hands into our knots, kneading and stroking us from head to toe before stretching and rotating our limbs. We left an hour later with straight posture and a sense of calm that lasted well into the workweek.  \\n\\n[Fred Segal Beauty](http://www.fredsegalbeauty.com/spa/)  \\n__KRISTEN LEE RAWSON__  \\nMassage, $110 for 60 minutes in the spa, $150 for house calls  \\n420 Broadway  \\n310-451-5155  \\n\\nStrong enough for a man (Michael Douglas) but gentle enough for a woman (Lili Taylor), Rawson uses what she calls \\\"good old-fashioned elbow grease.\\\" We call it scented Carita lotion and a buffet of massage styles. Starting with craniosacral therapy at the base of the skull, she used Swedish strokes on our arms, sports massage on our legs, and reflexology on our feet. When she finished with our right side, it felt inches longer than our left, which was still crabbed and tense. \\\"The muscle tissue speaks to me,\\\" she says. \\\"And I speak to it.\\\" New Agey, but ours got the message.  \\n\\nGigi Snyder  \\nMassage, $120 and up  \\nBy appointment only  \\n310-393-9497  \\n\\nWhen a trusted friend gave us the number of her \\\"intuitive masseuse\\\" who makes house calls, we dialed faster than we could say \\\"Shiatsu.\\\" A long run had aggravated our sciatic nerve, and we wanted to test Snyder's claim that she can sense a client's sore spots as early as the night before a session. To our surprise, she zeroed in on our lower back\u2014without a word from us. \\\"When you get the Chi flowing in the trigger area, you'll experience relief in related areas,\\\" she explained as she stimulated a pressure point in our hip to release tension from our neck and shoulders. Interesting philosophy, but it was Snyder's firm hands and Swedish, Shiatsu, and reflexology techniques that convinced us. When the hour was up, we could almost feel the Chi flowing.  \\n\\nHahm Rejuvenation Center  \\n__SUK W. HAHM__  \\nMassage, $95 for 55 minutes  \\n8474 W. 3rd St.  \\n323-966-4141  \\n\\nWhile the mini-mall location doesn't make for the most glamorous spa experience, that hasn't stopped actresses Julia Roberts and Pen\u00E9lope Cruz from seeking Hahm's healing touch. \\\"People come before big auditions to improve their energy,\\\" he says. Blind since the age of 12, Hahm has practiced the art of Shiatsu for 26 years. Though we consider ourselves jaded veterans of massage, his combination of Shiatsu and reflexology relieved our overwrought muscles and relaxed our stressed psyche. We left with renewed energy\u2014and a second massage appointment.  \\n\\n[Hotel Bel-Air Spa by La Prairie](http://www.dorchestercollection.com/en/los-angeles/hotel-bel-air)  \\n__CAROL ARMENDARIZ__  \\nDeep-tissue massage, $190 for 60 minutes  \\n701 Stone Canyon Rd.  \\n310-909-1681  \\n\\n__The feel:__ One of the most beautiful hotels in L.A. has a lavish spa to match.  \\n__The method:__ Armendariz believes in vigorous massage to realign muscles and restore equilibrium, using unscented massage oils (scented ones cost $20 extra).  \\n__Don't miss:__ It sounds silly, but the showers are amazing\\u00ad and full of La Prairie products.  \\n__Bottom line:__ Armendariz's hands are impressive and relieved every trace of pain. However, we're going to subtract a star for the unappealing up-sell of extras ($20 for a scalp massage?).  \\n\\n[The Humble Abode Spa](http://www.thehumbleabode.com/)  \\n__LEIA POWLES__  \\nSwedish Massage, $75 and up  \\n519 N. La Cienega Blvd.  \\n310-360-9300  \\n\\nWe'd passed by this nondescript spa countless times\u2014until we heard that Powles's talents should not be overlooked. We slid onto her heated massage bed and explained that we like our rubdowns gentle enough to lull us to sleep. She gave us a pitch-perfect Swedish massage, caressing and babying our weary muscles. By the time she began using light, tingling strokes on our head and feet, we were already on cloud nine.  \\n\\nIntegrated Therapy  \\n__ALISON MCLEA__  \\nMassage, $125 for 75 minutes  \\n310-968-0234  \\n\\nSo we expected a little L.A. attitude to accompany our massage. Our soft-spoken masseuse, McLea, welcomed us warmly and asked about problem areas, particularly those that crop up when we're stressed. She combined deep-tissue work and stretching that left us nothing short of enraptured. In a Zenlike haze, we stumbled happily to the dressing room to rinse off the herb-scented oils. And the only attitude we noticed was ours: tremendously improved.  \\n\\n[Kinara Skin Care Clinic &amp; Spa](http://www.kinaraspa.com/)  \\nMassage, $150 and up  \\n656 N. Robertson Blvd.  \\n310-657-9188  \\n\\n__The clout:__ Ask anyone in the beauty or fashion business\\u0014these are among the best massages in L.A.  \\n__The scoop:__ The heavenly blend of hot stone, deep tissue, and stretching eliminates every tight spot.  \\n\\n__LAMA AMIN__  \\nMassage, $200 for 60 minutes  \\nHouse calls  \\n818-321-3539  \\n\\n__The feel:__ Amin, who counts Beyonc\u00E9 and Jay Z as clients, is friendly\u2014and very chatty.  \\n__The method:__ She zeroes in on tight spots, asks questions, and then speculates on emotional causes. She was surprisingly accurate about the issues causing our upper-back discomfort.  \\n__Don't miss:__ Her desk-side appointments. Amin works out your kinks while you sit at your computer.  \\n__Bottom line:__ We can't believe we divulged so much about our personal life, but we felt like a weight had been lifted from our shoulders\u2014and our mind.  \\n\\n[Larchmont Sanctuary Spa](http://www.larchmontsanctuary.com/)  \\n25 Minute Massage, $65  \\n331 N. Larchmont Blvd.  \\n323-466-1028  \\n\\nIf we're on the massage table for too long, we get antsy; too little, and we feel cheated. But our massage therapist offered a perfect balance with his magical 25-minute rubdown. When we bemoaned our stiff neck, he replied, \\\"I'll take care of that\\\"\u2014and boy, did he ever. He dug into our tight shoulders and coaxed tension from the base of our skull. He then moved south, dislodging every kink in our back and limbs before applying acupressure to our feet. Clearly, time doesn't heal all\u2014a 25-minute massage does.  \\n\\n[LeSpa at Sofitel](http://www.sofitel.com/gb/hotel-0937-sofitel-los-angeles/spa.shtml)  \\nSo Relaxing Massage, $125  \\n8555 Beverly Blvd.  \\n310-228-6777  \\n\\nTo our delight, the point of the So Relaxing massage at Le Spa wasn't to align our chakras or mess with our dosha\u2014just to help us unwind. Our therapist coated her palms with an unscented lotion and proceeded to give us the longest, deepest rubdown we've ever had without wincing. She moved her hands from head and shoulders to quads and feet almost seamlessly, knowing exactly where to exert pressure and where to hold off. We'll take loose and limber muscles over bells and whistles any day.  \\n\\n[LeSpa at Sofitel](http://www.lespala.com/)  \\n__ELLIE MADRINAN__  \\nMassage, $150 and up  \\n8555 Beverly Blvd.  \\n310-228-6777  \\n\\nHer deep-tissue massage feels like a major indulgence\u2014not a minor beating.  \\n\\n__MARCIA SOMMERVILLE__  \\n60 minutes, $120  \\nHouse calls only  \\n310-422-6878  \\n\\nWe'll go to any length for a great massage, but in this case, all it took was a mere walk to our front door. Sommerville showed up at our house with table and coconut oil in tow. Her fluid strokes never faltered, despite our dog barking in the background. Our living room may not offer the same respite as a peaceful spa, but our treatment certainly went the distance\u2014even if we didn't.  \\n\\n[Massage Envy](http://www.massageenvy.com/)  \\n__ANDREW BARBOZA__  \\nSixty-minute massage, $49 for first-time nonmembers  \\n246 S. Robertson Blvd.  \\n310-854-3689  \\n\\nWe scheduled a last-minute appointment at this no-frills massage chain and considered ourselves lucky to get Barboza\u2014not everyone we've seen here has been so good. His deep pressure was pitch-perfect, and he tacked on ten extra minutes to our appointment (free of charge) to work out our kinks. Our strained back felt better for a week, and the easy stretch he recommended has made our neck feel looser ever since.  \\n\\n[The Massage Garage](http://www.themassagegarage.com/)  \\n__JOYCE GERBER__  \\n*BEAUTY BARGAIN*  \\nSwedish massage, $45  \\n3812 Main St.  \\n310-202-0082  \\n\\nWe were sorely in need of fine-tuning, so we headed over to the Massage Garage for a thorough rubdown. Our masseuse kneaded. She probed. She stretched. At one point, she even climbed onto the table to apply more pressure to our most obstinate knots. But in terms of luxury, our service was more like a Buick than a Benz. We could hear hallway racket all through our session and weren't shown any place to freshen up our oil-slicked face by the end of it. Our muscles were in prime condition\u2014 but we left feeling as greasy as an old carburetor.  \\n\\n[Natura Spa](http://natura-spa.com/)  \\nScrub and massage, $80  \\n3240 Wilshire Blvd.  \\n213-381-2288  \\n\\nHollywood's elite have traded ritzy Beverly Hills spas for this Koreatown bathhouse, which features a eucalyptus steam room; jade, clay, and salt saunas; resurfacing body scrubs; and iron-hard massages that will obliterate any tension.  \\n\\nO Wellness  \\n__OLEG BOUIMER__  \\n$250 for 90 minutes  \\nHouse Calls Only  \\n310-592-6144  \\n\\nWith our wedding just one week away, Bouimer had his work cut our for him. He began by releasing the massive tension in our neck and shoulders with a series of fuild strokes that varied in speed and pressure, then homed in on our legs, arms, and jaw. His kneading was effective but not so painful that we'd be limping down the aisle. And by the time he was done, we were in pre-wedded bliss.  \\n\\n__OLEG BOUIMER__  \\nMassage, $160 and up  \\nHouse calls only  \\n310-592-6144  \\n\\nHis rubdowns dislodge kinks and reduce stress long after the session is over.  \\n\\n[Olympic Spa](http://www.olympicspala.com/)  \\nPure Bliss (Aromatherapy Massage and Body Scrub), $100  \\n3915 W. Olympic Blvd.  \\n323-857-0666  \\n\\nRegulars extol this bare-bones Korean spa's rigorous rubs and scrubs.  \\n\\n[Pho Siam Thai Spa](http://www.phosiam.com/)  \\nCustom Thai massage, $50  \\n1525 Pizarro St.  \\n213-484-8484  \\n\\nKarate pants are for karate class, not a relaxing rubdown. That's what we told friends who urged us to try the authentic Thai massage at this hidden Echo Park spot. But we couldn't dismiss the chronic stiffness in our lower back, either. So we booked a session, braced for a workout, and boy, did we get one. Our therapist gripped an overhead ribbon and stepped purposefully across our back, digging her nimble feet right into our tightest knots. She then guided us through a series of yoga stretches that tested our flexibility and balance. By the end, we felt invigorated, exhausted, and loose as jelly. And our back pain? Kicked to the curb.  \\n\\n[Pho Siam Thai Spa](http://www.phosiam.com/)  \\nPho Siam Signature massage, $50 for 60 minutes  \\n1525 Pizarro St.  \\n213-484-8484  \\n\\n__The feel:__ Like a yoga class, except you're wearing karate pants (and a towel over your top half). The massage room is partitioned by curtains.  \\n__The method:__ In Thai massage, therapists lift, stretch, and pull your limbs in every direction.  \\n__Don't miss:__ The 90-minute massage, which seems worth the $25 more than the 60-minute one.  \\n__Bottom line:__ With massage, we prefer privacy\u2014and complete physical torpor. But even with all the activity, we drifted into a restful, half-awake state and left a Thai-massage convert.  \\n\\n[The Raven Spa](http://theravenspa.com/)  \\n__NIKOM__  \\nMassage, $70 for 60 minutes  \\n2910 Rowena Ave.  \\nHouse calls only  \\n323-644-0240  \\n\\nNikom, a former Buddhist monk, is so gentle and soft-spoken, we doubted his Thai massage would be forceful enough to combat our tension. But he quickly restored our faith by guiding us through a series of stretching exercises that tested our flexibility\u2014 and our balance. At one point, he even lay flat on the ground and used his feet to lift us above him. The acrobatics were tricky, but Nikom's soothing voice, plus a warm breeze, put us in a state of nirvana.  \\n\\n[The Spa at the Four Seasons Hotel](http://www.fourseasons.com/spa/)  \\n__BETHANY GOODFELLOW__  \\nMassage, $110 and up  \\n300 S. Doheny Dr.  \\n310-786-2229  \\n\\nWe like the benefits of deep-tissue work but prefer massages that don't make us cringe. Goodfellow said she knew just what to do, then proved it by running her forearms along our back in rhythmic strokes. As she pressed her knuckles into our rigid shoulder knots, we braced ourselves for the worst, but didn't flinch. Soon enough, our chronically sore upper back was pain-free, a blissful feeling that lasted a full week.  \\n\\n[Spa at the Peninsula Beverly Hills](http://www.peninsula.com/Beverly_Hills/en/Wellness/default.aspx)  \\nSignature Custom Massage, $160 for 60 minutes  \\n9882 S. Santa Monica Blvd.  \\nBeverly Hills, CA  \\n310-975-2854  \\n\\nThe Signature Custom Massage is a hypnotic blend of deep-tissue, Swedish, and sports massage that eliminates stress and every tight spot, says Jouer founder Christina Zilber.  \\n\\n[Spa Luce at the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel](http://www.spaluce.com/)  \\n__NISSIM MALUL__  \\nHot Stone Massage, $135 and up  \\n1755 N. Highland Ave.  \\n323-491-1376  \\n\\nA hot-stone massage sounded like a cozy treat\u2014and just the thing to melt away our stress. Malul slid stones from our shoulders down to our hips and burrowed his hands into our neck and shoulders for five-minute intervals. The stones certainly helped dissolve our aches, but the way Malul's hands manipulated our muscles was truly transcendent.  \\n\\n[Splash Destination CitySpa](http://www.thesportsclubla.com/site/club/splash-destination-cityspa)  \\n__CAROLYN GARZA__  \\nThai Yoga Massage, $110  \\n1835 Sepulveda Blvd.  \\n310-477-8327  \\n\\nThis swanky club's Thai Yoga Massage is a hell of a workout. Garza began by stretching our limbs into poses like the modified bow (\\\"grasp my wrists,\\\" she ordered). Her nimble hands provided traction even through our clothes as she kneaded our quadriceps, flexed our hamstrings, and \\\"cleaned our scapula\\\" by seeking out the knots in our shoulders and then acupressuring them away. We felt so limber, we didn't need to crash a yoga class\u2014just the whirlpool.  \\n\\nTonya Davis  \\nMassage, $75 and up for 60 minutes  \\nHouse calls and by appointment  \\n310-770-4938  \\n\\nUnless you live in a five-star hotel, at-home massages don't offer much in the way of luxury. Or so we thought. Davis wheeled a cart into our living room stocked with plush linens, lavender oil, a gloriously toasty massage table, and, improbably, hot towels. After a thorough consultation, she asked us to lie flat and got to work eliminating every last drop of stress, running the base of her palms along our back. Her rhythmic kneading left us so delirious, we didn't even realize she had prolonged our session by an extra 30 minutes\u2014for free. That's our idea of an upgrade.  \\n\\n[Touch Massage Boutique](http://www.touchmassageboutique.com/)  \\nOne-hour massage, $57  \\n317 S. Robertson Blvd.  \\n310-659-8559  \\n\\nInexpensive spa services are like blind dates: It's best to keep expectations low. But in this case, we need not have been so skeptical. The treatment room had a cozy heated bed that smelled of freshly laundered sheets, and our masseuse told us we could choose any type of massage for the same price. We picked the classic Swedish, and, starting with our neck and shoulders, she smoothly worked her way down, using perfect pressure. At $52, this was one cheap date.  \\n\\n[Trilogy Spa](http://www.trilogyspa.com/)  \\n__ERICA CLARK__  \\nMassage, $95 for 50 minutes  \\n451 Manhattan Beach Blvd.  \\n310-760-0044  \\n\\nJust because we're in our third trimester doesn't mean we want to be treated as gingerly as an infant\u2014especially when we have the mother of all knots assaulting our lower back. Clark gave us a giant pillow to cradle while she slicked her hands with almond oil. She stroked us form head to toe, pressing and leaning forward with just the right amount of force. Less than an hour later, the swelling had drained from our feet, and we couldn't wait to go home and slip into our favorite pair of grown-up heels.  \\n"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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