Nate Torra, CMT

I will describe my experience best I can in the review below, skip to the bottom labeled «in short» for the 100ft. view.
Why should you read my review?
I don’t tend to write reviews unless compelled to spread the word about something exceptional. I also don’t buy into spiritual nuances of message, as I am a skeptic and scientific thinking at heart, the physics of the massage must stand on their own. I have been going to Nate for the past 6 months. Also, I have been to over a half dozen massage therapists over the years, often with a great references or a great Unilocal rating, and enjoyed their massages. However, Nate raised the bar on what a great massage is and the best of my past massages from others I must now give, at most, a ⁴⁄₅. Nate’s massages are different than a traditional massage.
What makes Nate’s massages different?
Nate focuses on actual therapy, therapy that is tailored to my body. As a computer programmer I spent many hours static in a chair, and this does major damage to my body. A standard massage can feel good, but does not address the specific needs of my muscles and tendons, and does not evolve as my body responds to previous treatments. I can whole heatedly call Nate’s treatments therapy, rather than massage.
So what is tailored, why is Nate’s approach worthy of being called therapy?
With other massage therapists, while they will address your specific needs upon request, I have not had the sense they knew exactly what to do to provide long lasting recovery. Instead, I am given a standard, one-​size-​fits-​all, routine. And some routines are better than others.
In drastic contrast, after my first message with Nate, he started to feel what we needed to be address with my body, and started to make an actual plan to progress through. Through two-​way communication and Nate having me work with him (move my arms, flex my muscles, rotate my joints) Nate was able to address my specific needs the first visit. Upon the second visit, Nate explored more and progressed through his plan, focusing outwards to my back and other support structures involved with my neck pain in particular. By the third visit Nate was working on several support structures I knew nothing about, and was able to explain what each piece of therapy was addressing.
I was skeptical, but after the third visit I felt progress and less pain than I have in 6 years. And I left with a better education of the causes of my pain, and what Nate as well as myself could continue to do to alleviate and prevent future problems going forward.
In short (TL;DR):
Nate has a unique talent of feeling individual muscles and tendons, problem solving how to treat them, and treating linked muscle groups that may also need treatment as a result of their interactions. These linked muscle groups may be the true culprit, in pain as a side effect of other groups, or in my case a little of both. After 3 treatments Nate was able to dial in the culprits of my neck pain, all the way to the side of my torso, and back his findings with muscle diagrams, and the pain relief that I felt as a result.
The proof is in the puddling and for me, actual long term relief, through knowledgeable targeted treatment of linked muscle groups, made me a believer. Nate is very knowledgeable, coupled with a great talent and sense of feel, makes him an actual therapist for change, rather than just a feel good touch.
Nate is also very spiritual, if you’re into that. But I never found this to be a concern for me, someone who is not spiritual. I have been going to Nate for the past 6 months and will continue to do so.

You know what is better than a good massage? , a Great massage. Today, I was lucky enough to get a fantastic massage from Nate. The studio is pretty straight fwd., no fluff kinda of a place, you have the table, simple décor, chimes and bells for music. Then you have the massage, Nate has a gentle touch but firm and strong at the same time — the yin and yang of it all… cheers for Great massages and to wonderful massage practitioners. Book a massage, you owe it to yourself …

An incredibly competent and skilled massage therapist with out the bells and whistles of going to a day spa. The atmosphere was very pleasant, high ceilings with a sky light, but was with out cheesy music and a receptionist. Neither of things I look forward to when going in for a massage. For the level of work the price is unbeatable.
I went to Nate about severe upper back and neck stress. Bad enough that he said this was the worse that he has seen in years of work, thanks Nate. But i didn’t doubt it I knew I was a mess going in. I work in high stress physical environments and that is where my body lets it build up.
Nate pays attention to the body and the specific muscles is outstanding. He knew how to be strongly delicate with each individual muscle fiber, being firm and working the muscle without over doing it and never ‘fell off’ of the muscle that he was working on.
I would imagine that he would be amazing for injuries, muscle trauma, along with just unwinding stress.
Then In between sessions I got a check in by Nate to see how I was doing, and was accompanied by advice on how to continue the work that was done. Seriously, this guy gives top notch treatment.

I have had three amazing massages from Nate. I found Nate through a Groupon and now I am hooked. He is friendly and asks specific questions about where on your body you carry your stress. He is professional and is always there on time. I would highly recommend him!

I went to Nate using a Groupon I had purchased and I’m so glad I did. Nate’s studio is in a building dedicated to health and well-​being, the Piedmont Yoga Studio. Right away you get an idea of the spirit of Nate’s practice. Nate is technical with his method but you also feel the care that he provides. He got me to relax so much I fell asleep briefly. When the massage was over, what was my stiff shoulders felt like it had been lubricated, kinda like melted butter. I especially liked how he worked on both sides of my neck. I don’t remember any other therapist doing the same. Nate offers discounts when purchasing a number of sessions in advance. I am forever looking for value. Even with the regular price, the quality of the massage is much more than what you pay for.

As a health and fitness professional, I have been receiving massages for many years, and find Nate to be one of the best with an effective approach to working with the body and problem areas in unique ways. He is a great combo of a massage therapist and a physical therapist! The reason I get a massage is for «body work» and so he really does just that. He asks, meets you where you are, and this makes it a mutual approach to a healing session. As a physically active person, and also active in my job, my body gets a lot of use! I tend to over-​do things forgetting I am not 20 anymore :) and end up needing the muscles and tension worked out. Nate is knowledgeable, professional, and it is important to me that he shares the commonality of philosophy in my belief in holistic approach to health and healing-​mind, body and belief.
I highly recommend Nate!

I don’t really take the time out to write Unilocal reviews, but I feel So strongly about how great of a job Nate did, that I just have to let you guys know.
I get really bad stress migraines all of the time-Nate’s body work on my neck, head, and face has given me a respite from that terrible, persistent headache. He found the spot on my neck that was causing the pain in my head, and he massaged it so thoroughly that I woke up feeling like a new person today, without the headache.
I keep my stress in my shoulders-​last night as I sat in class, it was impossible for me to tense my shoulders and stress, because Nate had relaxed the hell out of them.
I usually run very cold, but the massage increased my general blood flow and I’m actually feeling as warm as a normal human being.
I will be going back to Nate regularly. When I walked in, I told him I was trying to find ways to cope with my high stress lifestyle, and his massage is DEFINITELY one of the best ways.

I have never gotten a massage before because I’m a very active 24 year old who always taking care of my body. I was kind of nervous at first because I didn’t know what to expect but Nate made it very comfortable as soon I stepped in his room. Most importantly, he focused the area i needed most. I was very satisfied of the outcome and amazingly felt better after the first visit! Nate was also very informative about my body and taught me many techniques of properly stretching. Thank you Nate!

Nate did an exceptional job helping me with nerve issues I was experiencing. After several trips to physical therapy I had little relief, but Nate made significant progress in one visit.
He listened to my concerns and asked lots of questions in order to better pinpoint what needed to be focused on. I also felt it was very affordable for the time spent.
I would highly recommend Nate to anyone in need of working out an injury or simply just in need of a massage.

I stumbled on Nate a few weeks ago when I desperately needed some body work after the holidays. I had a painful spot right next to my shoulder blade and was feeling rather desperate for relief. I picked Nate out of the many choices and I am glad I did. I told him that I specifically needed work on the soar spot on my back and general upper back/​neck work. I am a massage therapist myself and I have tried various therapists over the years and many times left feeling like my concerns were not properly addressed. Maybe I was not giving specific enough instructions… But Nate was very professional and his body work was on the technical level that a good bodyworker is trained to address. His work is specific and thorough. He works directly on the issue. I have seen him twice now and plan to continue an every other week or so visit. I have many «rocks» and adhesions stuck in my upper back and can’t really afford to ignore it anymore. I leave Nate with a feeling that real therapy has been accomplished, not just fluff.
He said that the upper back, neck and shoulders was not even his specialty, but that lower back and psoas issues are what he feels most confident in.
Nate’s work is slow, thorough and intense. I feel he will go far in this field, with much success and deep healing to accomplish!

I feel lucky to have found Nate just as he was starting his business. First of all, he is very customer service oriented and very professional. He is attentive, good follow up and genuinely wants to know where you need work. I went to him before a 60 mile walk last year. I have some chronic shoulder pain and my quick solution was to see Nate. He did an amazing job on my shoulder, back and legs. All of the areas that are tight and cause me pain on the walks. I did the 60 mile walk a few days later and felt really good. I would highly recommend Nate for massage! I even bought a session for a friend because I knew he would really like him.

Over the years, I have accumulated a variety of aches and pains from injuries. Like most people, I live with them until they get too much to handle and seek some treatment for relief. Acupuncture, physical therapy, deep tissue, Swedish and sports massages offered only temporary relief. Now I have found a wonderful therapist who is uniquely qualified to treat my problematic areas.
Nate Torra, is an amazing, attentive and very knowledgeable therapist! Since Nate is an accomplished athlete and instructor in Judo, he is more in tune with the causes of the muscular pain and tension. During your session, Nate does more than remove the layers of knots and soreness, he finds the root points of tension that are attributing to your pain. He then takes the time to teach you additional stretching exercises to alleviate the recurrence of your pain. I highly recommend Nate to anyone who is in search of a therapeutic and healing massage!

Nate is a dependable and sincere person who thoroughly involves himself in everything that he does. I have no doubts that Nate will provide you with one of the best massages you’ve ever had.
Give him a try and see for yourself! You won’t regret it.