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Unilocal really helped me out choosing this massage location. I was just visiting San Fran for a few days and wanted to get some reflexology done. I looked on Unilocal and Stephen had great reviews. I’m super skeptical about things online like reviews, but went for it and was so very pleased. He is super professional, accommodating and a great bodyworker. I felt very comfortable in his office (which is very small) and loved that after the massage, he gave a review of both what he found (spots that were very tight, etc) and suggestions for things to do to help: both from an exercise standpoint and what I should suggest other bodyworkers for my next massage. (For example, I’ve never had my calves worked on much in other massages and he spent a lot of time on them and explained how the muscles between my feet and calves work so closely together.) I’m so happy I took the chance on the Unilocal reviews. It was invaluable to have reviews and the perspective of others and that moved me to do the same in writing this. The price was very reasonable, even after he was able to add a little more time to our session after I mentioned I tried to book online for longer than an hour. Great guy and great massage therapist!

I’ve been coming to Stephen for about a year now and after every massage I tell him I LOVE YOUR HANDS. lol. Before every appointment he takes the time to ask how my body is feeling and what issues I’ve been having. He is very thorough and professional. His speciality is sports massages so if you love to workout I highly suggest a visit to him for a nice reset for your body. You deserve it!!!
Has very reasonable prices and offers great packages.
Only downside is he works Monday to Friday and his last appt is usually around 6pm. He is located in an office building 2 floor.

Honestly the best massage I have ever had. Prior to Stephen, I was hopping around from one massage therapist to another — but after one session with Stephen, I was an instant regular. I see him every other week and cannot live without!
He tailors every session to focus on your needs. Typical session can include anything from deep tissue, resistance, joint movement, aromatherapy, relaxing Swedish, etc.

No one gets it right like Stephen! By far, he is the best and most consistent massage therapist I have ever had. His professionalism and focus really show in his work. He really listens to me when I’m explaining my aches and needs and he gets right to work on them and Tah-​da! It’s so much better when he’s done. He even takes the time to explain why I am getting these aches and provides advice on how to prevent them by showing me daily exercises I can perform to help my body.
Each session is totally worth it and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Stephen to anyone! He also does excellent maternity sessions!

Stephen is serene, intuitive and knows how to individualize his treatments to my particular body. I have had lots of bodywork in my time. This is the best. I switched from the person I have been seeing for over 8 years. So grateful to have found him.

Stephen is incredible. I run and swim so I’m consistently using some part of my body that needs working on. Stephen is great at Swedish and relaxing massage of course, but I go to him because he understands Bodywork, lymphatic massage, deep tissue, and sports therapies. Stephen is quiet when I need to rest and open and and conversational when I’m working though a stretch that’s tough. He always answers my questions about certain muscles very thoroughly. I cannot say I’ve found as good a therapist before (I’m a massage junkie)! I’ve been getting work done from Stephen for several months now and he’s my go to therapist for my Pre & Post races & training!

I am pickier than heck when it comes to massage therapy. A lot of the time I find myself ending up with «relaxing» massages instead of deep tissue, even when I specifically ask for knots to be worked on. I’m an athlete; I’m not getting massages to relax but rather to help loosen tight muscles and take away some of the constant soreness that come with exercising on a daily basis.
For awhile, I was just mooching off the free Thai massages my last workplace offered. Once I switched jobs, the massage perks stopped, and I embarked on an epic journey of discovery — i.e., I’d grab up deals on Living Social, Groupon, or wherever. Yeah, they were discounted massages, but I was also on the look-​out for a massage therapist that could actually help me and who I could stick with long-​term.
Stephen was that person for me.
One, I’m shy and at the beginning of a gender transition from female to male. In short, I don’t currently pass but am using my preferred male name full-​time right now. I’m also very sensitive to peoples’ reactions to me just in general. My social anxiety only gets worse when I realize I’m going to have to let someone deal with my body, something that doesn’t conform to most peoples’ notions of a traditional male figure.
Stephen was great though, and I never got the sense that he had an issue with my identity (I know this is San Francisco and all, but you’d be surprised by how many people actually do). Like most therapists, he had me fill out a basic get-​to-​know-​you piece of paperwork before I got started for my first session. Unlike most therapists, he actually went through it and discussed my specific needs, as well as took time to talk about what sorts of techniques he’d be using to achieve the results I’d stated I wanted.
The massage itself was heaven, a combination of what felt like deep tissue and reflexive movements involving resistance to help increase any range of motion that might have been impeded by sore muscles. He talked only when he needed me to do something (like resist pressure he was applying, or to ensure I knew I could ask for more or less pressure in the massage itself). I came away feeling rejuvenated, and fresh, even though we didn’t have time for a full body massage (my neck and shoulders are ridiculous and require a lot of additional time).
In fact, the first consult was supposed to be 75 minutes, and he spent considerably longer than that with me, talking with me about what he’d been doing and what he recommended for future visits afterward (while giving me some water to sip, which was much appreciated).
I’ve been back one time since and it was the same good quality massage from a therapist with a professional demeanor and approach. I’m sincerely impressed.
His office is also quite nice. I’ve been to a few massage therapist offices like his — a rented, single room space in a much larger office building downtown, half of which is separated by a curtain so he has an area for his computer and a seat for his client in one area and the massage table in another. Most places like this are not optimal for a comfortable experience since the street noise is generally way too loud to be relaxing. Stephen’s office must face inward though, because I never hear anything but the soothing soundtrack of music he’s got playing. Brownie points!
My only beef is that his hours are very limited. I work down in the South Bay and don’t make it back to the city until at least 5:30 every evening. His last appointment is usually at 4:15pm and, although he says he has Saturday hours, I’ve yet to see one available on his online calendar sign-​up page, so you see my dilemma. If I could, I’d see him 2 – 3 times a month, but unfortunately, my schedule only allows for about once every 4 – 5 weeks (I’m fortunate enough that I do work one day a week from SF, so I can attempt to cram a massage into my lunch break or leave a little early, as he’s just down the street from where I work).
Anyway, I hate to recommend him, because his available time slots are already super limited, but that’s selfish of me. Stephen’s a fantastic massage therapist who is absolutely worth the money. Do your aching body a favor and put yourself in his expert care… just not during that 4:15pm time slot on Wednesdays, if you don’t mind!

Stephen is a master of the muscular system — definitely in the top two of my all time favorite massage therapists. Relaxing Elements is definitely more of a PT type of massage therapy, which is perfect if you’re looking for help with problem areas, be it from long term and focused injuries to chronic tension from the daily grind. Stephen’s specialty is better described as muscle therapy and rehabilitation, so be prepared to participate in deep stretches and in resistance work while he fixes the kinks. This is less of the place for you if you’re looking for a pampering spa massage, though I’m sure he does that well too. Also note that Stephen does excellent compressions. Go here if you like the feeling of tense muscles separating from each other and their bones.

Stephen is professional and an incredible masseuse.
I went for a 75 minute prenatal massage and he was able to provide a perfect balance of efficacy and relaxation. I typically like very deep pressure b/​c I have ridiculous knots. I get frustrated that many masseuses treat a pregnant woman like they are fragile or broken. I also get frustrated that some people take the idea of deep pressure to mean pain for the sake of pain. Stephen was able to use very effective pressure and techniques to relieve some knots that have never been effectively relieved before in a relaxing, non-​cringing way.
I like that he sits down, reviews your paperwork and actually has a discussion with you before the massage and actually touches base afterwards about what he found.
I was impressed with his professionalism and even more impressed with the skill he had in his task. I will definitely be going again.

I loved my massage with Stephen. I bought a deal on «Living Social» for the 75 minute massage. He really worked on the knots in my shoulders, and made me feel completely at ease. I loved the tranquility of the massage room as well. Highly recommend.

Ever get those stubborn kinks behind the shoulder blades? Painful plantar fasciitis that just won’t go away? Nasty back and neck pain? Well look no more… Stephen Tran is the man! He not only relieves me from all these aches, pain and injury, he also tracks my progress and truly cares for my entire well-​being. He is a very skillful and talented therapist. Really lucky to have him working in our awesome city.

Hands down the best massage I have had in a very long time. I suffer from lower back issues and have had a spinal fusion surgery on L5-​S1. Stephen is so intuitive and knows exactly what areas to focus on. My sessions have never been the same as he tailors each session based on what’s going on with my body. I love this approach. He is highly skilled, very professional and puts me at ease so while I am receiving my massage I float away and I leave the office relaxed and free from pain and much more mobile.
I feel fortunate to have found Stephen and highly recommend him.

Stephen was great. He worked on my neck and shoulder primarily. which was so stiff and tensed. I felt so much better afterwards. Made me so relax and sleepy. Which was good. I will be back soon, just bought another one.

I used to be a massage therapist, so I’m pretty picky about my massages. After I broke my ankle last month, my body has been a mess! Stephen was recommended to me by a friend as ‘the best massage therapist ever,’ and after getting a massage from him last week — I totally agree.
Stephen is able to do amazing work. Not just repetitive swedish strokes, but deep (really deep!) connective tissue work. He did a really great intake that let me explain my issues and concerns before I even got on the table, then during the massage itself, he communicated just the right amount to make sure I stayed in «the zone» but also got the work I needed. My favorite part was the passive stretches that accessed muscle groups I didn’t realize were tight. I’m definitely going to go see him again at his new office.
TL;DR Stephen is just a really cool, knowledgeable therapist, and I recommend him to anyone. Plus, he does house calls!

I just turned 40 this year and my body is feeling it. In the past 10 years or so, I’ve had more than a dozen different massage therapists. Ones who poke you with their finger and say a chant, and others who must have gotten their license from the back of a cereal box.
Luckily, 2 years ago, I found Stephen Tran and Relaxing Elements. I haven’t needed anyone else since. Stephen is hands down the best massage therapist I’ve ever had. He really knows the human body, and through his persistent continuing education, is always trying something new to see if it feels better. My body would not be the same without Relaxing Elements work.
I now see him every week, and I highly encourage you to give Relaxing Elements a try. I guarantee even the most discerning massage palate will find his work top notch. In a world of massage mediocrity, Stephen and Relaxing Elements shines in the top one percentile.
Shawn

I have been getting a lot of massages and have found that Stephen is one of the best massage therapist. He knows where to go or what techniques to use. I think he can read the body! He always can find the right spot and uses the right amount of pressure. I alway feel refreshed after a massage. Amazing! :)

Stephen is as good as it gets! I have received fantastic massages from Stephen on nearly a weekly basis for over 3 years now. He consistently goes above and beyond in every session to exceed your expectations. I’ve received massages from scores of therapists over the past 20 years… and none compare to what Stephen brings to the «table.»
Stephen is professional, thoughtful, respectful, empathetic, and knows where to focus and what needs to be done to get your body back to 100%. He utilizes various and ever-​evolving techniques to bare as he works out the knots, kinks, and tension. His bag of tricks include, aromatherapy, hot stones, shiatsu, reflexology, swedish, deep tissue, sports, stretching… and the list goes on. He even took the time to research different techniques to help resolve a recent shoulder injury.
Finally, he is modest not only about the high level of his talent, but with his prices too. I can’t recommend Stephen highly enough… true 5 stars!

I had the pleasure to meet Stephen when he was working with us at a chiropractic clinic, and he was definitely one of the most talented massage therapist/​body worker I have ever met. I highly recommend Stephen to anyone and everyone.

These hands are remarkable!
I have been receiving massages from Stephen for over a year now, and every experience has been absolutely amazing. I feel compelled to write this review because I’ve just had my first experience with a different therapist since starting with him and was left wondering «uhhh is this it??» the full hour…
He has experience working in luxurious spas and also with serious athletes, and I think his talent comes from his command of both skills. I always am left feeling relaxed and indulged, but also that my many kinks and knots have been genuinely worked through. He also incorporates a lot of stretching into the massage, and shares tips on stretches I can do on my own.
He only does mobile massage, and will come to your home or your work (San Francisco, East Bay and Peninsula). This has turned out to be extremely convenient, and he doesn’t charge a minimum like other mobile therapists.
We are all so hard on our bodies, and Stephen has made me realize how great I can feel. He’s talented, and is a genuinely nice and comforting person with great energy!

Worth every penny. Stephen is phenomenal, knowledgable, professional, and trustworthy. He has a convenient location on Market street, flexible hours, and does great work. I didn’t realize how screwed up my muscles were until he fixed them.