Sunflower Massage Studio

Tl;dr — difficult to make appointments, appointments changed/​shortened without notice, massage therapist crossed boundary without consent, unpleasant customer service experiences.
My first experience at Sunflower, with Candice, was so spectacular I quickly bought a membership. The online appointment booking system wasn’t working at the time and I had a frustrating experience playing phone tag (every time I’ve called I’ve had to leave a voice mail rather than my call actually being answered), but I was able to book a second appointment. My second appointment was dramatically different. I always leave my panties on, and in many years and dozens of massage therapists I’ve never had someone disrespect that boundary, though I’m 100% comfortable with someone tucking the sheet into the waistband, massaging my glutes through my drawers, no worries. But I was shocked and upset when Candice, without asking, massaged my butt thoroughly and entirely under my underwear, with me the entire time feeling tense and anxious that she might transgress further. My butt is a private area, and I just froze in fear. Rather than feeling relaxed and safe I spent the rest of the massage uncomfortable and berating myself for not speaking up. Then while paying for the session we realized that Candice had given me a 60-​minute massage rather than a 90-​minute one, as I had scheduled, and she corrected the bill but literally laughed it off.
I’d committed to a membership and had had such a great initial massage, so I resolved to just try another massage therapist. Plus, Sunflower’s reviews are stellar so I wanted to believe it was an isolated, weird experience. I ran the voice mail gauntlet again and carefully made my appointment with Danielle, turning down all of Candice’s availability without explaining why because I felt like it was my fault somehow for not speaking up when I was uncomfortable with the trespass (With all the current education about consent you’d think I’d know better, but alas). Several weeks later I get my day-​before appointment confirmation, and my massage therapist has been changed to Candice. I left two voice mails early and late in the day and emailed the owner, but got no response. About 40 minutes before my appointment Candace called, but only to let me know that she was running late; she said had not heard my voice mails. I tried find out why my appointment had been changed and asked to keep my original appointment, but she said Danielle was scheduled with «Hildy (last name redacted)» and said she would just have to cancel my appointment. Candice seemed to be angry and complained that none of this was her fault, but now she would have a hole in her schedule.
I heard from Rachel, the owner, the next day via phone, and she said took my report very seriously and that nothing like this had happened at her studio before. She pointed out that she does not know me, and expressed uncertainty as to how to interpret my experience, but offered to set up a complimentary appointment with her. Rachel reported that my appointment was changed on the day I made it, apparently by Danielle, but she was unable to explain why this was done. She offered to look into it further, but at this point I don’t see the utility in it; I’m unlikely to feel comfortable and safe getting (mostly) naked there and there are plenty of massage studios at which I have not had a series of bizarre and/​or upsetting experiences. Rachel cancelled my membership as asked but refused to refund my unused December massage, instead saying I have two weeks to use it if I want it. I’m trying to look at this as a $ 50 lesson in being super clear about my boundaries and NOT signing a 12-​month contracts with business with whom I’ve only had one experience.

I went here for a prenatal massage. I was able to use the online scheduling system and an evening slot for the next night was available with Dolores for the prenatal massage. The space smelled nice, was nice and quiet, and the staff professional. The room was comfortable — didn’t feel like a doctor’s office or strip-​mall-​type massage space. Dolores was very considerate in making sure I was comfortable and walked me through how to lay on my side for this type of massage. She spent more than the hour I paid for, and was very concerned about my back feeling better before she finished. My back did feel completely better, although she did make sure to tell me that I’ll have to learn how quickly pregnancy will bring the pain back and talk through what may be causing my back pain. I’ll definitely return for another prenatal massage when my back pain is unbearable again!

If I could put negative stars I would! Just got off the phone with the owner who was very unprofessional about my membership. I had 5 massages built up from my monthly payments which she would not honor. She made it seem that my business was not important to her. If she wants to lose a client and future business over $ 200 I already paid her it’s a shame. I will never go back or recommend anybody to ever try this place. They weren’t even that good to begin with, just convenient.

Purchased a Unilocal deal and was able to schedule online so that was super convenient. Instantly felt calm the moment I walked into the doors. I got the hot stone massage, prior to me stripping down, Shana asked if I had any problem areas, and I said my shoulders and neck are pretty tense and she worked on those areas thoroughly. I was in a super zen mood, and didn’t realize my hour was over, because it felt like eternity, but at the same time it felt like 5 minutes. Definitely enjoyed my experience.

Its been a while since I paid to have a massage but boy am I glad I decided to get one. Ive also decided to sign up for the membership program to take advantage of the additional savings. Rachel and her team definitely provide a peaceful atmosphere which is perfect for stress relief, pain relief and also just to get away from all the commotion of daily life.
Believe me, this is money well spent. Thanks Rachel for everything!

I’m a huge fan. I’ve been here several times and do have a membership now because it’s worth it. I need the stress relief and it forces me to make an appointment. The only downside: scheduling can be a bit of a pain if you work the typical M-​F 9 – 5. They do have later openings and weekends, but they fill up fast. It’s nice to be able to schedule online.
I’ve had four different therapists work on me here and every one of them was awesome. All of them have listened to me and gave me exactly what I was there for. Recently I had a prenatal massage, my first, and it was also extremely relaxing. Some people say they are not as good, too light, etc, but this one wasn’t. I vow to go back monthly for them through the duration of my pregnancy.
Everyone here is friendly and the environment is really relaxing. I’m a dedicated customer!

Keyonda did a wonderful job on my massage. All the staff was very friendly and professional. I will definitely return!

I had the pleasure of experiencing Sunflower after buying a Groupon for a massage. I have to say that what I love about Sunflower is that they have just the right balance of a personal, kind, soft touch, yet they still manage to run a business professionally. When you enter Sunflower, it has a nice atmosphere – the furnniture is comfortable, the décor is interesting, but not overwhelming, they were playing really calm music, and it smelled really great too; maybe not eveyone likes that, but I love good aromatherapy. The receptionsist was very courteous. Everyone there was friendly, yet they are also really efficient and professional. I got there extra early and they were able to begin my massage early, which was nice. My massage therapist was Keyonda and quite frankyl: she was the BEST massage therapist I’ve ever had. I’ve never had a bad massage, but there was something about Keyonda that was really amazing and totally understated at the same time. I don’t how to describe it except to say that she seemed to know how to have exactly the right amount of pressure and apply it in just the right way, to every muscle, area of tension, etc. I would not hesitate to recommend Keyonda and Sunflower to anyone; wonderful.

I’ve had 2 experiences with Sunflower, one poor but the other awesome. So for now, its evened out to 3 stars.
The first was with Josh (my first ever massage) and I wanted him to work on my neck and shoulders, which I communicated to him before he started. He did a good job on my shoulders, but then spent the rest of the time working on other body parts and never touched my neck once. Since it was my first time having a massage, I was hesitant to speak up because I figured that he was probably going to finish with my neck. But before I knew it he said my time was up. I don’t know if he had a bad night or waht, but this really upset me because the only reason I scheduled a massage was for the tightness in my neck. I left without confronting him, and vowed to never come back.
I was still upset the next day, so I called to tell them about my experience and why I wouldn’t be returning. I was lucky enough to have the manager, Rachel, answer the phone. She was shocked to hear about my poor experience and said that she just had a cancellation and offered to personally work on my neck for free for 30 min. I was free that day, so I agreed to come in. I got there early and we talked for several minutes and she was genuinely concerned and wanted to make things right. She ended up working on my neck and shoulders for close to 45 min and I could immediately feel a major improvement. This was definitely a 5+ star experience because of how much time she spent trying to make things up to me. At the end, Rachel was able to convince me to make another appointment, so I’ll let this next one be the tie-​breaker.
(I feel bad singling out Josh because Rachel said that she has never had any other complaints about him and that he has personally worked on her. So maybe it was a mixture of him being a little off and me being too nervous to speak up and remind him that I wanted my neck worked on. But for whatever reason, I won’t want him working on me again.)

So, I recently got married and moved away, and I really, really miss this place!!! For the year I had my membership, I looked forward to my massage at Sunflower Massage Studio every month! Sometimes, I would come twice a month (for an extra $ 30 — it was totally worth it)! I originally bought a Groupon deal when I was looking for a place close to where I lived and worked. The studio was so clean and cute, and the membership deal was fantastic, so I signed up! Not to mention, Rachel (the owner) is THE sweetest person and really takes the time to get to know you. That kind of thoughtfulness is hard to find in most businesses!
Crystal was my go-​to gal, and let me tell you — she is the best of both worlds. She does a fantastic deep tissue massage, but at the same time, provides a very relaxing experience. I fell asleep on one of my last visits! I was training for a half marathon, and she did a fantastic job working on my lower back/​hips. I also work at a desk most of the day and I tend to carry most of my stress in my upper body, so she really worked on my neck, shoulders and upper back. She could always find pain points that I didn’t even know about and work them out! So talented!
Definitely make an appointment to try it out — and even buy the membership if you love it like I did! It’s one of the best investments I made last year! I definitely feel massages should be a routine part of a healthy lifestyle, and Rachel and her staff provide a top-​notch environment for you!

Will keep it short:
1) Saw the Unilocal deal and purchased since Sunflower has good reviews and it is close to work.
2) Booked a same day appointment on a Thursday night for 1.5 hour massage with Stevie.
3) Everyone was friendly. Joint was clean. Knew my name when I walked in the door. They also ask for you music preference on the form which is cool. They made me Ludovico Einaudi station on Pandora (I assume) to play during the massage which was great. Massage kicked all kinds of ass. One of the best I have had. Will book with Stevie again.
4) I nearly always scoff at membership deals — but I actually bought a membership! Very unlike me so you can be sure the massage & experience rocked. $ 40 a month for 12 months is excellent. They roll over if you don’t use them (but I will). You can let others come as «guests» for $ 45 for a 60 min massage.

I’m still 100% in love with this place. Rachel is so accommodating and their hours are wonderful. My therapist I was seeing (Jenny) is no longer there. So I tried out some of the other ones again. Janice is great — really can get in deep. However, for me she’s not as relaxing. I think it’s because she’s more mechanical in nature and not as soothing. But, that’s just my opinion and I’d totally go to her again. I also paid Stevie a repeat visit — and she reminds me of Jenny. She can also work those muscles pretty deep and is sooo relaxing. I nearly fell asleep during Jenny’s massages multiple times and probably sounded completely out of it when she would ask me to turn over haha. Well, Stevie does the same thing to me! I love it! It’s so hard for me to completely relax and just forget about the stress of school, work, life, ect so for them to nearly knock me out within like 30 minutes — heck that’s faster than I fall asleep at night! Impressive!
I’d go to Janice for an extra good deep muscle massage and to Stevie for a great massage that’s soooooo relaxing.
There are a few comments about the dance studio next door — but honestly I rarely hear it and in the rooms they have music playing as well so that usually would drown out any of the noise coming from there.
I brought a friend and she also loved it (she had Darren) and said he did a wonderful job of stretching her hips where she had hip surgery. After her massage membership at one of those chains is up she is contemplating switching! :)
I seriously cannot get over how monthly or bi-​monthly massages are the most beneficial thing ever! I feel soooooo much more relaxed after them and I can actually stretch and not feel super tense. I’m telling you — GET THE MEMBERSHIP! you won’t regret it! I promise!!! :D

You must get the monthly massage package. No really, you should!
It’s a great deal and even better treat to look forward to a massage on a regular basis. My body feels calm, revived and refreshed after every session.
Whitney does a great job! She’s extremely professional and makes you feel comfortable.
This is a gem of a massage studio off the beaten path in Maplewood.
I’ve now had three massages at Sunflower and definitely recommend to my fellow Unilocalers!

I’ve been going to Rachel at Sunflower for my massages for a year now, so it’s definitely time to update my review. I only wish that I could give Sunflower more than five stars!
Everyone has different ideas of what a five-​star establishment entails. For some, it’s fancy décor or luxurious fabrics. For others, it’s a lavish meal or perfect service. For me, it’s easy: get to know me and make me feel like one of your best friends visiting your home.
That’s exactly what owner Rachel offers at Sunflower. From the first phone call to the pre-​massage chat to the post-​massage personal catch-​up, Rachel absolutely goes out of her way to make you feel relaxed, comfortable and welcome. There are no giant waterfalls, new-​age chimes or super-​purified sauna experiences at Sunflower — and thank goodness for that! Instead, you get the best personal attention I’ve found anywhere in or around St. Louis.
The fabulous massage is almost secondary to Rachel’s thoughtfulness. She remembers her clients’ careers and interests from visit to visit, and enthusiastically asks detailed questions about your happiness and your well being. You won’t find any bland «Hi, how are you?» small talk from this lady. She joins in her clients’ excitement and shares her own dreams and successes. During every visit, I feel more and more like we’re hanging out at a coffeeshop instead of the lobby of her studio.
Speaking of her studio, it’s in a cozy Maplewood building that’s quite different from the one she initially had on Cherokee. The current place is quite calming, and Rachel’s artistry is on display in various rooms. She has plans to expand into the space next door soon (the building is a business duplex) to offer even more space for clients. I can’t wait to see what she paints on the walls on the new side!
But you want to know about the massages, right? There’s only one word: «Oooooooooohhhhhhhhh.»
Take that in the happy-​as-​a-​kitty way, not the porny way, please. I see Rachel for the 60-​minute massages, and she knows exactly what my back and neck need. During each visit, she remembers my stress points and how my posture and activities contribute to my body’s aches and wonkiness. She always asks if I’d prefer any particular music (The girl is cool. Appropriate Radiohead, Arcade Fire and Iron & Wine selections? Um, yes, please.) and remembers to avoid my insanely ticklish feet. Rachel’s massage pressure and technique are the best I’ve ever experienced, and she adeptly adjusts them on the fly to what my body needs. I feel completely nourished, pampered, relaxed and loved every time I visit.
And that’s why I’ve finally bucked up for the 12-​month Sunflower membership. Well, I shouldn’t say «bucked up,» since the price is insanely inexpensive for what you get. In the 12-​month membership, you pay just $ 40 a month to receive a 60-​minute massage. If you want additional massages each month, they’re greatly discounted. There are other plans at other prices, too, but $ 40 for the best 60 minutes of your month is a steal. You know how some of you buy Groupons for $ 30-​$ 50 massages as new clients at different studios each time, but then pay $ 80+ for mediocre massages after that intro rate? Yeah, stop doing that. Just pay the $ 40 and get the best at Sunflower each month.
Honestly, I finally joined Sunflower’s monthly membership because it’s a way to force myself to slow the hell down and relax for at least an hour each month — something I’m just not good at. I’m absolutely not exaggerating when I say that it will be the best $ 40 I spend in any 30-​day stretch. Seriously, Rachel is *that* good.

I am a huge fan of Sunflower Massage Studio! I used to go to Massage Luxe on a monthly basis and it just felt too cooperate to me. Sunflower Massage Studio made me feel like they customized the massage to perfectly fit my body. The therapists there are so warm and welcoming and the studio felt like a comfy home. I arrived early for my appointment and they took me in early and even worked on me for extra time at no extra charge.
I highly recommend them!

I bought the Groupon and now we’re members (well, almost). Very professional and approachable staff, great atmosphere, very accommodating, and at a very reasonable rate. My husband and I left to think about the membership program and before we even made it home we turned around to sign up. Unfortunately, no one was there when we returned so we called and left a message. Rachel promptly called us back apologizing for not being available. Suggested we sign up on our next appointment, so why not? I got online and scheduled our next one. They’ll be seeing more of us soon!
Give Sunflower your business; it is so worth it!

Recently, I visited Sunflower for my first massage with them. All in all, it was a wonderful massage. I have had several experiences at other St. Louis establishments, and I can say that Sunflower was exactly what I was looking for in a massage.
Whitney was my therapist, and she did a great job working out tension in my upper back. The massage never felt rushed, and she really did use the full 60 mins to work out my knots.
The only reason I gave 4 instead of 5 stars was due to the dance studio next door. There were small points throughout the massage where I could hear the studio’s music and/​or the vibrations from the dancers next door. The music in Sunflower works to drown that out — but they might want to consider putting down a fluffier rug or something similar to dampen the carry-​over noise. It was still relaxing — but again, the reason for 4 out of 5 stars.
This is a great local business. If you are looking for a massage but overwhelmed with options and worried about wasting your money — worry no more. Sunflower can fill that need without regret!

This was one of the best massages I have ever had. It was wonderful to be treated like an individual. I was offered water when I arrived. The form I filled out describing my likes, dislikes, etc. was read and followed with accuracy :)
I used to be a member of one of those chain places. The real problem with those is the inconsistency between the therapists. I was so tired of telling my story about where to focus on, and what areas are too tender. Besides that, sometimes I got just plain mediocre to bad massages.
Sunflower is my new favorite massage studio. I will be recommending them to all my friends and family.

Darn. I bought a «Groupon Now» for a 60-​minute massage today (at a reduced price), and called the studio at 8:45am to schedule an appointment for today (the Groupon said it was good from 9am-​9pm today). Rachel answered the phone and explained that there weren’t any appointments available today, but that I could book an appointment online in the future and she’d honor the reduced rate.
That’s nice, but I was hoping for a massage today. I’m not sure why the Groupon Now was even offered (can’t the business cancel the offer if they don’t have appointments available?), but oh well. I’ll try again in the future, if I remember…
EDITED: Wanted to add that with Groupon Now, if the voucher isn’t used, it’s refunded automatically. So no harm, no foul. I was just hoping for a massage today and have to wait at least 2 weeks.

I’ve received a lot (a LOT) of massages in my life, but this? This may be the very best massage I’ve had ever. EVER.
Let me start at the beginning. I’ve been really stressed out lately (life is hard, yo!), and I’ve been in desperate need of some relaxation.
While I was out on a run a few weeks ago, I ran right by this massage studio. I didn’t know that Maplewood had a new massage place; I was intrigued!
I came home, looked it up on Unilocal,read the glowing reviews, and immediately made an appointment for a 90 minute massage. I loved that I could book an appointment online. Super convenient!
My massage was last night. I arrived 15 minutes early, and was greeted warmly upon my entrance. I was offered water, and the friendly woman (I forgot her name… d’oh!) chatted me up while I filled out the necessary paperwork.
A few minutes later, Rachel came out. She was SO incredibly sweet! We talked for a bit; she asked me which areas I wanted her to focus on (neck and shoulders, please!), and which areas I’d like for her to avoid. I usually ask for therapists to avoid my head, but I had a slight headache, and Rachel assured me that a good scalp massage would work wonders.
On to the massage. The room itself was spacious, comfortable, quiet, and totally relaxing. She put some peppermint oil on the pillow, which smelled WONDERFUL.
The massage itself was out of this world. Everything about it was mindblowing. Rachel is a miracle worker! I felt SO incredibly relaxed the whole time, and the 90 minutes just zoomed by. I could have stayed in that room forever!
After the massage was over, she mentioned the membership plan. For $ 40 a month, you get a 60-​minute massage, and additional 60 minute massages only cost $ 30 a month. There are also a number of cool presentations members get to attend for free. Next month’s presentation? Dream interpretation.
Even without the added perk of the free presentations, I was sold on the membership. This is a MUCH better deal than any other membership-​based massage studio I know of.
I’m so happy that I came here. I’m so happy this place is in Maplewood. I can’t wait for my next massage!
Two thumbs up.