Opal Massage & Allied Therapies

Returned to Opal for the first time in about 3 years, after a particularly stressful time in my life. I grabbed an appointment for a 60-​min hot stone massage, with whoever was available, and that massage therapist turned out to be Edie. While I don’t have massage often, I have had professional massage of various types many times with many different therapists and styles of massage. Edie gave one of the best straight-​up de-​stressing massages I’ve ever had. I have had some of the more serious orthopedic injuries in my day, all of which Edie was 100% prepared for. She has a fantastic intuitive, healing touch. She was very sensitive, and when I said I like «medium deep» pressure (so my tissues don’t harden and fight back), she seemed to instantly know just what I meant. Edie is a total pro with years of experience, trained in London (a very hands on training) and NYC (a strong anatomy program). Best of both worlds, I say! I’m about to book a mini-​series with her (which I never have done anywhere), because she’s that excellent. I would just add that, over about 8 years, I’ve seen probably 3 different therapists at Opal, and have always had a terrific experience. I never hesitate to work with any of their staff. All the raves here on Unilocal about Opal are true. They got it goin on.

I LOVE opal massage. It’s nothing fancy, but perfect if you want an effective therapeutic massage. I’ve been going there for almost a year now. I get an appointment right away, sometimes even on the same day. I’ve seen Rebecca, Tina and Olivia. Each of them are very professional and give an effective massage. They also offer packages so you can save, but their regular priced massages are totally affordable. They do have a strict 24 hour cancelling policy. My husband got stuck at work during the major snow storm we had Feb 2016. He still had to pay…

I haven’t had a massage in 4−5months and my body was definitely in need of kneading. Due to recent operation, I wasn’t allowed to walk for a while so I became extremely de-​conditioned. Being unable work out, eventually I just became a walking knot.
With my walking and driving privies back I made the first appt I could. Other Unilocal reviews lead me to Opal. My other massage place was too far for me to venture on this occasion.
The hours here are very customer friendly. I mean who opens 9a-​9p everyday? Nobody ever. So you can definitely have an appt time easily. You do take your CC # as there is a «late cancellation» fee.
It’s located in «No-​Park Slope» so make sure you allow plenty of time for parking. Luckily for me, I snatched a spot right on the same block. The train is very close by so consider using that if you can.
It’s inside of the Brownstone buildings. Quiet and clean facilities.
I like that I was able to have a word with my therapist regarding my expectation from the visit. Being that I was post-​op, I wanted more focus on my injury area vs other body parts. (Actually, this is why I came vs my other massage place. Due to language barrier, I felt this would have been lost in translation at the other place I normally go to for general massage).
My session was 70mins long. The eucalyptus infused towel she placed by my face was heavenly. Other option was lavender.
Ofcourse the minute she started my brain made like a shepherd and got the flock outta there… I was out! night night. I did wake up when she got to working on my injury area. It hurt but it was the kind of tolerable muscle pain you feel when you are stretching/​kneading a very tight area.
Overall I had a pleasant serene experience.

I gave 4 stars only because it was my first visit to Opal. It will likely change to 5 if I get the same or better experience I got the first time when I go back again and I do plan on going back.
I have been running a couple of times once every few days since April but didn’t begin training for this year’s marathon until July. Although my friend suggested for me to get a sports massage before the marathon, time just didn’t allow it. So as a treat, I decided to get one after the marathon. I did some research and decided on trying out Opal. I called less than a week before my marathon to specifically book a sports massage and was really glad they still had evening openings for marathon Monday. Came that Monday, I was still walking pretty tired and therefore walked in a couple of minutes late but it wasn’t a big deal to them. They gave me a short questionnaire to fill out and Tina, my masseuse, introduced herself almost right after I finished filling it out. I gave her the questionnaire and made a quick stop at the bathroom. Once I got into the massage room, Tina asked me a few in depth questions and decided that although she will work on my legs, she will focus on the achy pain I consistently get on my right shoulder blade. Despite the fact that it was quite painful when she was working on those «knots» on and under my blade, I am really glad she made that professional decision. My right shoulder blade hasn’t bothered me for the past two weeks. I had waited to post this review because the next day was still quite painful and I wanted to make sure the pain doesn’t return quickly.

This is the *only* place in NYC that I will go to for massage therapy.
1) They are not a bougie spa intent on just relaxing you — they cater the massage to what is really ailing you,
2) They do BODY work and work out bubbles and blights and everything out of sight,
3) I once had a crick in my neck for 5 days, literally could not turn left. I came to Opal and the therapist did something where I felt a huge burst/​release in my lower back and it quickly jetted up to my head… she released the evil demon in my neck,
Let it be known that for the 2 – 3 times a year that my body screams «YOU NEED A MASSAGE, NOW!», I go to Opal.

Omgggggg best massage ever! And super affordable. My neck feels a million times better and omg the STONES! I like how they tailor the massage to you and you still pay the same price regardless. It’s a bit on the small side, but what does that matter when your eyes are closed? I’ll be back!

I came into this place barely able to walk (it took me 20 minutes to hobble the four blocks there) and desperate for some sort of relief from chronic back issues that had flared up, and was blessed to receive therapy from Kat. She was incredibly attentive to the issues I was having, and did a meticulous examination of all the troubled areas of my lower back. It felt like a rock hitting a piece of glass and shattering it — she would touch one knot, and it would radiate into other knots, and she explained why things had become so inflamed. After the massage, she also showed my some stretches and hip opening exercises to do during the time between sessions, which I made sure to do, and I noticed even more dramatic improvements 1 – 2 days after each massage. After three sessions with her, the inflammation is gone, and I’m back to normal! She is so kind, and incredibly knowledgeable and intuitive — a true healer. Thank you Kat!

I had a pretty disappointing massage here today. Not once did the therapist ask if I was comfortable, needed more/​less pressure, what style of massage I’d prefer, etc. At check out I thought I’d have a chance to give feedback, but the receptionist did not ask how everything was — just took my payment and that was that. I left feeling no better than when I went in and am now on the search for another massage elsewhere.

Just had a very skillful massage from Ira. She is intuitive, thorough, and attentive. Takes her time and very good energy. Thank you!

Best Massage I have ever had! This place is great and the massage is amazingly relaxing!

I have loved every massage I have every had here. I have had a variety of therapists, each one was brilliant. I really have a hard time going anywhere else.

I haven’t had a lot of massages, but I’ve had a lifetime of back issues. So after weeks of higher than normal pain I went to Opal. Thomas was fantastic, and my back feels like it’s on it’s way to better than ever.

Had one massage there so far with a gift certificate, and it won’t be my last! Phenomenal experience, probably the best I’ve had out of over a dozen places I’ve tried.
Simone was my massage therapist and she took personal interest in not just making me feel better, but making me healthier. She was almost offended with the sheer amount of knots and tightness in my back and shoulders and conducted a targeted and interactive session. Why can’t all massage therapists be so professional and attentive as Simone?
Overall the location is secluded, quiet, and clean. One thing that threw me off was that you had to knock on the door like a speakeasy, to be let into the office. In my experience the staff overall were quiet but polite, and no-​nonsense. The paperwork was very quick to fill out and unlike most other places I’ve been, a 60 minute massage is a 60 minute massage – no starting 5 minutes late and ending 5 minutes early.
You definitely get your money’s worth at Opal and I will be coming back for sure.
5 Stars, well-​deserved.

I really loved this place its nice and clean and the people are really professional.
I got a great massage and i sure needed it. I spend 18 hours a day on computer and these people really made me feel great after the massage. After 70 minutes i felt brand new… I will be coming back :-)
5 Stars for «Opal»

My wife gave me a gift certificate to Opal for my birthday, and it definitely put all other professional massages I’ve had to shame. The level of attention and interaction was awesome (including breathing techniques during the massage that were almost meditative), and they had a perfect music playlist (featuring a lot chillout songs from the «Slow Music for Yoga» compilation).
Their rooms are pretty acoustically isolated, which makes you feel like you’re in your own little world. This place just radiates good vibes, and I hope to go back the next time I’m in NYC!

Have been going to Opal since 2010, I don’t think I can ever leave Brooklyn I’m too in love with this place. On principle I refuse to get massages elsewhere in New York City!
Erica is my favorite, I swear she can read my mind/​body. She always asks if you have any areas that you need work on, or if you need water, if the room is a good temperature, if you would like more work done in the area that you have pain in, etc. She is amazing — go see Erica! The facilities are always clean and smell so lovely.
I highly recommend Opal — great business, great massage therapists (I’ve had a few over the years, Sheri (the owner I believe) and Sarah are also fantastic), and the pricing is pretty great too.

I love this place. No frills. Homey, warm, relaxing and completely focused on care. Part of massage is intuitive and relates to how well the LMT can listen to and get to know the client’s body and it’s ailments. I have seen Kristen for a few years, moved away from that side of Brooklyn and the extra time to go back is so worth it. I took my bf as an early Valentine’s gift and we got the 90 minute, his with Edie, and he was really impressed, too. This is no spa massage; it’s the real deal. And the price is pretty damn reasonable.

Best place in NYC for a massage. Go to Erica; she’s fantastic. A great listener, never fails to give me choices of particular oil scents and music. She may be petite in stature, but don’t let that fool you – she’s incredibly strong. I suffer from scoliosis and from the get go she’s been very attentive to that area of my back and gives me tips on stretches/​things to do to alleviate the stress to my back between visits.
I always walk away floating on a cloud and feel incredible for days. And that’s the whole point, right?

This is the only place I’ll get a massage within the 5 boroughs. I moved to NY from CA where I had my go-​to place, and was so frustrated that I couldn’t find a place where the masseurs were as good.
Finally stumbled upon Opal and now I can’t have a massage anywhere else. Jessica is so professional, and knows exactly what shes doing to detangle all my knots. I always leave that place feeling like I’ve been reborn lol.
I wish I could afford to go multiple times a month, but at $ 110 (they just raised their prices) I have to subdue myself to once a month (if even that).

Nice employees, clean place with a relaxing atmosphere, and a masseuse who pays attention to detail. I will be back.

This is an affordable massage place in the Park Slope area. My wife got me a gift certificate for my birthday — it’s good for a year — and I really enjoyed my 70 minute massage.
Located in a small garden space in the North Slope, I couldn’t have asked for a better massage. I wish they had a sauna to help losen up the mussels, but my massage therapist used lots of heat — hot towels, hot stones — to help losen up my back and legs.
It’s no frills, but if you’re just looking for a nice massage at a reasonable price, this place is great.
I’ll def. come back the next time I want/​need a massage.

I really hate to write this review, as it feels so passive aggressive bc I could not express myself after the massage was over about how dissatisfied I felt. I will leave the massage therapist’s name out of this review as I thought maybe she was somewhat depressed and unable to listen to what I wanted from her. I asked for a deep tissue massage bc of specific pain, and what I got was shaking and rubbing. At one point she was holding my head with both her hands — not rubbing it — just holding it for what felt like 2 minutes, I opened my eye to see if all was ok, and she looked down at me to say «it’s not all about rubbing and pulling»… but if I’m paying for the darn thing, why shouldn’t it at least MOSTLY about rubbing (not pulling, and not holding my head for 2 mins!!). Furthermore, she had long nails which dug into my back a couple of time.
I’m not into writing bad reviews. But next time I’m just going to pay a lot less for a massage, that way if I feel dissatisfied, at least I won’t feel like it was such of waste of time and money. If you decide to go to this place ask for a specific massage therapist that has been recommended or one of the ones other reviewers recommend here.

I went back here again recently and it was still great. It has encouraged me to get on a somewhat regular schedule with them (as time/​money/​hubris allows). I’ll probably go back to Shakti, who I had the first time I came. I feel she took more care in discussing my reasons for coming, concerns she could help me with, down to music choices. The person I had this time was still very skilled but not as careful and empathic.
They’re open long hours and the scheduling /​reception system ensures that the whole place is quiet and serene as soon as you walk in the door. It is the best.