Dan Michalek, CMT

I was visiting Lodi for a month and found Dan on Unilocal.
He is very professional and is very skilled at massage. I hired him several times during my stay. I have had many massages in my life, typically once a month, and Dan is right up there at the top of the list. Damn good.
Dan is also very kind and, an added bonus, a fitness trainer. He went above and beyond, taking me though stretching exercises after my first massage.
I highly recommend Dan. He is fantastic.

I live in Palo Alto & think of myself as a really lucky guy to have been Dan’s regular massage client for over two years, when he lived & worked here. His expertise, intuition & strength as a CMT are without equal. After he left Palo Alto, I didn’t even bother to search for another massage therapist, bc I knew that they’d be a let down after Dan. Believe me, Palo Alto’s loss is Lodi’s gain. But, at least Daniel & I had been lucky enough to become good friends, long before he left. Thanks Dan, for everything. You helped me man.

I’ve seen an infinite number of massage therapists but Dan was the only one to incorporate form rolling as apart of the massage and to make me laugh hilariously during my massage. He is very knowledgeable and thoroughly explains why he was able to make me laugh so easily (no, it wasn’t his jokes though he’s a fun conversationlist). He was able to get knots out of my shoulders and lower back. He’s awesome!
I’m incredibly sad he is so far away. I visited him on a whim since I was in town for vacation. If he lived in LA, he would be def my massuer. Hopefully, when I’m in town I’ll be able to visit. Otherwise, Dan, move to LA!!!

Just got back from an awesome deep tissue massage with Dan. It was great. With most massage therapists, I find that they don’t always have the strength needed to really work the muscle. Dan had the perfect amount and was very thorough in covering all parts of the body. I definitely will be working in at least one massage from him a month. I highly recommend him!

I began seeing Dan in April of 2011 as I was training for my first half marathon. He identified and focused on the problem areas. It was evident that his training and education have provided him with the skills necessary to be a great massage therapist. Dan even took time after that first massage to provide some stretching and training tips that I still use today.
After running my third half marathon, I was having knee problems and needed to change my workout routine to strengthen my legs. Dan provide some workout routines that were easy on my knee. He truly goes above and beyond.
I continue to see Dan on a regular basis. He is friendly, professional, and a great CMT. I would highly recommend him.

I had never had a massage before I went to see Dan and was super nervous about the whole thing. Dan put me at ease really fast (which mattered to me a lot) and within minutes had found a spot where I had a serious haematoma in my thigh 11years ago playing rugby and I didn’t even know was still there. I now see him fairly regularly to help with the soreness after working out with my trainer and always feel much better and more flexible after the session. He has also given me some incremental foam rolling exercises, which I have worked into my warm ups. As someone who was not keen on the idea of getting sports massage before seeing Dan I am definitely a convert and highly recommend him.

Dan is the best massage therapist I have ever had. This coming from a massage junkie!
His degree in Kinesiology puts him in a completely different category than other massage therapist. He can identify every muscle that requires help. He provides me with exercises on the foam roller as well. I’ve referred him to friends and family members who also think he’s amazing.

Dan is amazing and the does the best massage I’ve ever had. It’s hard for me to go to anyone else!

I occasionally get massages for relaxation, but more often I utilize getting massages to coincide with my workout regimen. You ever go into a massage with a specific problem but find that the therapist really only knows one stock routine, so you really don’t get that problem addressed?
Well you don’t have that problem with Dan. I swear, the first time with him, in the first few minutes of the massage, he knew almost exactly what muscles I had been working out that week– it was crazy!
I began seeing Dan on a regular basis and I always had a superb experience. The guy knows the muscles of the body, how they work, and what exactly YOUR muscles need AT THAT TIME. So many therapist use the same routine. But I found with Dan that there was great dialog and communication, and because of his knowledge as a trainer, he knew exactly where to go and what to do. He was always quick to offer things for me to do beyond the massage– different stretching techniques, ice vs heat, etc. He has really helped complete the circle in my wellness program.
Dan truly is a massage THERAPIST in every sense of the word– highly recommended!!!

I actually joined Unilocal to write a review for Dan because he’s that good.
As a former athlete getting towards 40, I have a good number of old injuries that have been coming back and causing problems. I’ve been looking for that combination of reasonable price + skilled massage therapist for years, and found it in Dan.
I was hoping to find someone strong enough to be able to work with dense muscle tissue, but also intuitive/​skilled enough to be more than a blunt instrument. I have tried about 10 – 12 different therapists in the area, but stopped looking once I found Dan.
Most of the time I ask for the deeper tissue/​sports massages, but one (really tired) day I asked for something lighter, and it was so relaxing I fell asleep. On the sports side, I’m pretty sure I would be in trouble without him — I still lift weights regularly, and Dan’s sessions have me feeling better than I have in many years. Finally, unlike others I’ve tried, Dan’s not a robot that repeats the same session every time — he reads your body, and the techniques and allocation of time to an area change depending on how good or bad your body is.
To sum it up, he’s just great and worth it.