At Boston Massage Associates we believe
we can make the world a better place
…one muscle at a time.
WELCOME TO BOSTON MASSAGE ASSOCIATES
Nestled four floors above Boylston Street in Boston’s historic Back Bay, Boston Massage Associates rises above the hustle and bustle of the busy city streets below. We are conveniently located near the Arlington T stop at 437 Boylston Street, between Life Alive Organic Cafe on the 4th floor.
First visit to BMA
Getting Started.
Please arrive 10 minutes early for your first massage to fill out a brief intake form.
Your therapist will take their time and sit with you to discuss your goals and concerns for that visit as well
as answering any questions that you may have. Your history of injuries, surgeries, past massage
experiences (what does and doesn’t work for you), acute or chronic pains are all very helpful in creating
a treatment especially for you.
Although massage is most effective when working directly on the skin, we understand that everyone is different and not everyone is comfortable getting undressed. Typically, after consulting with your therapist they will leave you alone in the treatment room to undress down to your underwear and lay between the sheets. Some people only want upper body work and leave their pants on, others only want lower body and leave their shirts on. Massage is always about making you comfortable first and you will never be asked to undress more than you are comfortable with. During the session only the body part that is being worked will be uncovered and you can expect a tight modest draping at all times.
During the massage your therapist will check in with you often to see if we are using enough or too much pressure and about general comfort such as temperature and the face cradle (they are adjustable so if it’s too low or too high, no problem!). You should always feel comfortable asking questions or giving feedback during your massage, real-time feedback is important and very much appreciated, always feel free to speak up. Some people relax to the point of falling asleep while others remain alert and like to chat with their therapist.
Directly after a massage some people feel increased energy, but most people feel relaxed, sleepy, sometimes even a little dizzy so take your time getting off the table. People sometimes feel soreness for a day maybe two, this is to be expected. Drinking water and staying hydrated after your massage is important to maximize the benefit. Do not feel obligated to tip your therapist, it is never expected but always appreciated. Your therapist will send you a follow up email within a few days to see how you felt after your massage.
About BMA
Our goal is to partner with you on your journey to health and well-being. The massage therapists at Boston Massage Associates are nationally certified, fully insured and licensed in the state of Massachusetts and maintain the highest professional standards in our practice. We will listen to your concerns and work with you to diminish stress and pain at the same time improving energy and flexibility.
Every treatment is customized specifically for you and how you feel that day. Before beginning each session the practitioner will ask you what your goals for the session are. Together you will identify areas the practitioner needs to address or avoid and go over any questions you may have. Whether you are training for your next big athletic event, recovering from an orthopedic surgery, managing an acute or chronic pain or just need relief from the stress and tension of everyday life, our practitioners will design a treatment just for you. We also educate our clients on what they can do between sessions to maximize the benefits of the work that we are doing together.
BMA uses fragrance free, hypoallergenic products and offers massages ranging from 30 minutes up to 2 hours in duration. Scheduling your appointment is easy and convenient using our online scheduler Schedulicity.
Meet Eric Derrico LMT, NCBTMB
It was as early as high school that Eric knew bodywork would be in his future. His mother always had massage and anatomy books laying around the house, it was there that his interest in body mechanics was sparked. He began to practice massage techniques on family and friends when he was only 14 years old, his mother raised the massage therapist she always wanted to have in the house. At the age of 19, in his third year of plumbing his boss (Joe the plumber) asked him if he loved his job. Although he laughed and answered emphatically “NO” this was a turning point that convinced him he COULD love what he did for a living. In 2004 he attended the prestigious Massage Institute of New England and knew by the feedback he received there that he had a gift for the work. After practicing for 4 years at Athena Aveda Salon and Spa and then at Boston Bodyworker he decided to launch his own practice. Boston Massage Associates was born in November of 2009, here he would have the opportunity to create the optimal healing environment that he envisioned.
By integrating a very unique blend of Deep Tissue, Thai Bodywork, Classic Swedish and SI techniques Eric’s work alleviates tension, reduces pain, increases energy and promotes the body’s natural ability to heal itself. Eric combines his use of his intuition with his extensive knowledge of bodywork to bring about a sense of health and well-being for his clients.
In addition to his passion for bodywork Eric enjoys surfing, rescuing dogs, hiking, philanthropy, and Crossfit. Eric is often sought out by private groups to provide pre and post massages at events such as PMC and Boston Marathon and loves being out in the action connecting with athletes on race day. Eric often volunteers his time and talents and has even organized his own massage fundraisers for organizations such as the American Cancer Society, Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Doctors Without Borders, and Boston Marathon runners for Children’s Hospital just to name a few.
Massage Services.
Our work is a unique blend of massage techniques inspired by a number of modalities including but not limited to Deep Tissue, Thai Bodywork and Structural Integration. This exclusive fusion of work utilizes the deep, specific work that defines Deep Tissue, an assortment of Traditional Thai Bodywork movements such as stretching and jostling as well as an educated, holistic approach to therapeutic bodywork influenced by Structural Integration.
Read below for more information on all the different modalities that have shaped this particular type of massage. Feel free to contact us directly with any questions that you may have.
For our current rates, click here.
Deep Tissue techniques are best for giving attention to specific areas of tension throughout your body. The practitioner will use slow, deliberate strokes that focuses pressure on the different layers of connective tissue (muscles, tendons, ligaments and all the fascia surrounding them). Although less rhythmic than other types of massage, Deep Tissue can be extra beneficial in relieving chronic patterns of tension, healing strains and increasing rehabilitation time for both injuries and workouts.
During a Thai Massage the practitioner will move the client into a variety of stretches with the intention to increase range of motion and circulation throughout the body. This all encompassing holistic approach to therapeutic bodywork combines compressing, jostling and stretching of muscles, joint mobilization, tapotement and acupressure. All this culminates in a more energizing massage often clients report walking out feeling taller after Thai Bodywork.
Structural Integration (SI) is a process-based approach to somatic education that explores the possibility of change in how you use and experience your body. Through education, awareness, and therapeutic touch you can release painful, stressful patterns of tension throughout the body. SI takes into account the effect of gravity in our everyday lives and aims at reversing the resulting dysfunctions (ie: forward rotation in the shoulders, pelvic misalignment, knee or ankle collapsing, etc.). **Eric is not a SI therapist but his monthly continuing education with a SI practitioner heavily influences how he approaches dysfunction in the body.
Prenatal massage is both therapeutic and relaxing. It focuses on the special needs of the mother-to-be as her body goes through the dramatic changes of pregnancy. You will lay on your side fully supported by plush comfortable pillows. Afterwards you can expect greater ease of function in muscles and joints, improved circulation, and relief of mental and physical fatigue. The gentle, non-invasive approach of prenatal massage can ease discomfort associated with pregnancy and help give the mother-to-be nurturing emotional support.
A form of soft tissue therapy used to treat somatic dysfunction, pain, and restriction of motion. By applying gentle sustained pressure into the myofascial connective tissue restrictions it relaxes contracted muscles and eliminates pain.
Trigger points are discrete, focal, hyper irritable spots located in a taut band of muscle. They produce pain locally and in a referred pattern and often accompany chronic musculoskeletal disorders. Acute trauma or repetitive micro-trauma may lead to the development of stress on muscle fibers and the formation of trigger points. People with trigger points may have regional, persistent pain resulting in a decreased range of motion in the affected muscles. These include muscles used to maintain body posture, such as those in the neck, shoulders, and pelvic girdle. Trigger points may also manifest as tension headache, tinnitus, temporomandibular joint pain, decreased range of motion in the legs and low back pain.
This style of bodywork is geared towards those focused on athletic performance, training, and injury rehabilitation. It is used to help prevent injuries, prepare the body for athletic activity and maintain it in optimal condition. Sports Massage helps athletes recover from workouts and injuries and compete at peak performance with pre-event massage, post-event massage and maintenance massage.
Rates
| Massage | |
|---|---|
| Book now with the Schedule Now button at the top of the page | |
|
30 Minutes |
$75 |
|
45 Minutes |
$105 |
|
60 Minutes |
$135 |
|
75 Minutes |
$160 |
|
90 Minutes |
$180 |
|
120 Minutes |
$260 |
|
60 Minutes Prenatal Massage |
$135 |
Referral Discount.
Refer a friend and save $20 off your next session!
Refer 5 Friends and get a free 60min session!
* Must be redeemed with the same practitioner
10% Discount for Veterans and Seniors upon request
24hr Cancellation Policy
Appointments must be canceled with 24hrs notice otherwise you will be responsible for 50% of the full cost of the session. No call, No show / last minute cancellations will be subject to the full cost of the session. If you are honestly sick and need to cancel on the day of your appointment, be sure to call a few hours in advance and you will not be charged.
What our clients are saying
Contact us
We know you have many practitioners to choose from in the Boston area and we greatly appreciate your interest in Boston Massage Associates. If you have any questions about our services or if you would like to speak with us directly, please call or contact us via the online form below.
Located in Boston’s distinguished Back Bay, between Copley Square and the Public Gardens, we share a community with some of the best restaurants, shops, businesses, and sights that the city has to offer. You will find us near the corner of Boylston Street and Berkeley Street in between Life Alive and Starbucks.
Boston Massage Associates
437 Boylston Street, Suite 402, 4th Floor
Boston, MA 02116
Tel: 617-391-0537
If you are using public transportation.
We are less than a block from the Arlington T-Stop on the Green Line and only four blocks from the Back Bay Station on the Orange Line (as well as the commuter rail and Amtrak lines).
If you are driving.
There is often street parking available on Boylston Street. If you can’t find parking the two nearby parking garages we recommend are 10 St. James Street (closest) and Boston Common Garage. If it is a nice day, we recommend parking at the Boston Common and enjoying a short walk through the Public Gardens.
