Elite Event: Yelpers “Knead” to Relax

Who doesn’t want to get off work, be served an amazing pulled pork sandwich along with unlimited kombucha and then get a 30-​minute free massage???
This pampering YEE was just what I needed after a stressful time at work. The staff at Elements were super friendly and attentive, something that you unfortunately do not experience at most spas. I will definitely come back here for treatments, especially as my masseur was phenomenal and the prices are reasonable. Elements gave us coupons for free upgrades to longer massages before we left the event.
Abby was busy pouring kombucha and sparkling water for the thirsty Unilocalers and gave out Unilocal reusable water bottles (best Unilocal swag so far!) in exchange for checking into the event. Thanks, Abby for making us all feel relaxed — what a great small YEE!

I have a fear… a fear of MASSAGES. Yes, I said it. Whether it be deep tissue, Swedish, relaxing, couples, or whatever type of massage, I’m usually trying to run out the door even if it means leaving my clothes there!
This was a courageous decision of mine to sign up for this awesome YEE Abby S. put together. I honestly just want to connect with other Elites more this year so I thought, «Why not conquer your fears and make new friends at the same time?»
I was actually able to try some of the food that wonderful Lynn Milos (owner of Culinary Twist) cooked up for us. Her pulled pork was simply amazing and the fresh peanut coleslaw was pretty bomb too. There were also some little desserts laid out, I totally swiped a lemon cupcake and devoured that sugary bad boy so quickly. Mmmmm! Yes, I cheated on my bodybuilding diet! Eeeeep!
Now onto my experience with conquering my massage fear. I was actually the only person out of everyone who got an invite to this event to opt for a CHAIR MASSAGE. I figured if I was on a chair, I have much more control to run the eff outta the room if things got too craycray for me. But of course, my masseuse David totally talked me into getting the full table massage (unclothed). He told me that I would have a much better experience and he would even teach me ways to really work on areas of my body where I need the most stretching done.
My massage was a total of 20 minutes.
First 10 minutes, I was tense, nervous, uncomfortable and in PAIN. Reason why I was probably in so much pain was because I actually NEED to get regular massages to work on my muscles I’m trying to build up this year. I actually trained back a couple nights before this massage so David, was literally killing me this first part.
Last 10 minutes, I was more relaxed and used to the pressure that was happening to my body. Whew! I think the hot stones he used totally alleviated any crazy pressure. Thank you very much David for talking me into getting the full body massage. I know I need this type of work done, especially since I lift heavy weights all week and barely fit in time to stretch out. (No bueno)
All in all, this was a great event that Abby put together for us. I am truly thankful for the massage I got and even more thankful for the wonderful new Elites I’ve befriended. LOVE our community of foodies! :D

One of my favorite YEE!!!
Abby served us beverages while Culinary Twist served up some delicious bites.
I had a wonderfully relaxing massage by Lili, she knew exactly where my body needed attention.
My favorite part, hanging out with my fellow Unilocalers!!!
Thanks for another WONDERFUL YEE!

Summary: seriously soothing session with some super sweet Elites!
It was gray and rainy outside, but it was warm and lively inside at Elements. This was my first non-​SF Elite Event, and can I just give some MAJOR props to Abby for organizing an intimate and cozy get-​together? No bottlenecks, no running out of food or drinks, no issues at all! Go South Bay Elite Squad! It was also my first no +1 event, so I have to admit I was a little nervous about not having a sidekick to keep me company, but all of the Elite ladies (what, you Elite men don’t like massages??) I met were friendly and fun. And I made new Unilocal friends in the area I’m excited to reach out to for food exploration in our hood. Woot!
Getting checked in with a labeled nametag and adorable Unilocal water bottle took all of 10 seconds before I was whisked away to my first ever massage. Thank you, Ben, for being patient and thorough for newbie me! Ben was super accomodating to my feedback («can you go easy on me? oh wait, actually, that’s too easy.»), and I’m glad I found somewhere so professional and friendly and thoughtful and attentive to send my massage-​loving husband in the future. They even gave US thank you cards with chocolate at the end of our massages… um… No. Thank YOU! Definitely one of my favorite YEE thus far in my short Elite life.

So my evening involved delicious sauces, kombucha, pulled pork, a cool water bottle, and a massage. Weird you say? Nope, just another great Unilocal event. Thanks to Abby for pulling this one together. The staff at Elements massage were so nice and my masseuse, Daisy, had just the right touch on my back and neck. I felt so much better after my massage.
The light snacks were actually really generous. Lynn from Culinary Twists had a nice spread, including a delicious pulled pork sandwich with slaw and her own spicy sauces. There were little desserts, grapes and veggie wraps too. I was lucky enough to win a bag full of Culinary Twists sauces. Can’t wait to try them out. I’ll have to check my local Mollie Stones and Whole Foods for the other flavors.
Overall, a great event, a new place to check out on my own, and wonderful flavors to use for cooking. This was a win all the way around. Thanks Elements, Lynn and Abby! Great job!

Nothing like ending your work day than with a nice relaxing massage and afterwards meeting some awesome Unilocal peeps!
That’s exactly what this Elite Event was! Thanks to Abby, Elements and Culinary Twist for an awesome event!
I really appreciated how attentive my masseuse was and asking if the pressure was OK and where to focus on. I really liked the attention. I will definitely take advantage of the offers they provided us.
I enjoyed the food from Culinary Treats! The sauces were yummy! The pulled pork sandwich was delish as well as the coleslaw.
As always, it was great meeting other Elites in the area! Loved this event! Awesome work!

So many wins for this YEE! First of all, it was right in my backyard in San Mateo, so I didn’t have to make the trek to San Jose or somewhere far. Second, free massage! Third, amazing food and company.
My birthday is coming up and I had decided to take the day off (it falls on a Thursday) so that I can relax and plan a bunch of activities for myself. One of which was going to be a massage. So when I saw this YEE, I saw it as the perfect opportunity to scope out a new spa right by my house. I hadn’t actually heard of Elements Massage before, and when I pulled up in front, was surprised that I hadn’t noticed it before (although I am quite oblivious so that’s not a huge surprise). I love how Unilocal is able to introduce me to new places right in my neighborhood.
It was an intimate event where I got to chat with two other awesome Unilocal Eliters while waiting for our massages. I was a few minutes early, so I was also able to enjoy a delicious pulled pork sandwich from Culinary Twist. The BBQ sauce was delicious! I actually felt really bad because my boyfriend and I have been juicing and he was actually waiting for me to juice. But when I saw the yummy sandwiches and cole slaw, I just couldn’t resist.
Then it was time for my massage! It was so relaxing and just what I needed after a long day at work. My masseuse was really sweet and did an amazing job. Not only were we treated to a free massage, but Elements provided a coupon for a free upgrade! 90 minute massage if you pay for 60. I don’t think I’ve ever gotten a 90 minute massage before because I never wanted to splurge. Lol. Now it looks like I have my chance. Can’t wait to return! Hopefully for my birthday =).

This was by far the most relaxing YEE! I felt great afterwards from all the healthy food and drinks and of course the complimentary 30 minute massage.
David gave me my massage for the event. He was great! He applied just the right amount of pressure to relieve all the knots and tension in my shoulders and neck. He combined different styles and techniques of massage to help with my sore muscles. He used hot stones on my back and used deep tissue techniques for a lot of the knots in my shoulders and neck. David also gave me great tips for neck and shoulder stretches to keep the tension out.
Pulled pork sandwiches were provided by Culinary Twist. Culinary twist sells various bottled sauces for marinades, dressings, etc. The sauces topped on the pulled pork sandwiches were delicious, and the dressing used for the coleslaw was great as well. I loved how they provided recipe cards for the pulled pork sandwiches. Revive kombucha was served during the event, and it was very refreshing especially after the massage.
The staff at Elements San Mateo were very friendly. Communication was great even before the event to schedule the time of the massage and what the 30 minute massage will entail.
Thanks to Abby and Elements for such a great event!

I am really enjoying my life out in the Bay Area. I enjoyed my life out in Boston, too. What was a big part of this? Unilocal.Every time I go to an Elite event, I meet new people, and I get to talk about something that I am really passionate about, with other people who are also really passionate about this thing ( Unilocal), but without sounding like a real dorkus. You just can’t talk about Unilocal so much with regular people without getting the side-​eye!
Thank you, Sophia, Victoria, Stephanie, Chuck Norris, and Abby (among other folks) for making my night a lovely, lovely affair. Hearts!
Elements is a massage place that has super good energy. It may sound really California of me to say that, but please hear me out. First of all, the staff was made of happy people who expressed how glad they were to be there — not at this party, because they are open this late every night, but at their jobs. Massage is hard work, and it makes me feel good that the massage therapists I spoke with seemed to be content at Elements. I didn’t get a massage that night because I totally got my wires crossed, and even though my brainfart was at fault, they still gave me a little goodie bag with a gift card in it for a free massage on a different date! What? It was my fault, seriously, but everyone was nice to me, putting me on the wait list, and like I said, giving me a little goodie bag when I had to leave at 9PM.
I was not expecting there to be a cool indie vendor there tonight, though I don’t know why I wasn’t expecting that, because that’s a Unilocal event hallmark (especially Elite events) and indeed, there was Lynn Milos of Culinary Twist, who made pulled pork and coleslaw with her artisanal sauces and marinades. (PS delicious.)
Thanks for including me in this event. It hit all the right notes!

Ahhhh this event was so perfect for my stressed out body! Yummy food, Unilocal water bottle, 30 minute table massage, good people, and relaxing setting…
I thought it was awesome how Elements Massage sent out an email with useful information prior to the event. I definitely could have used such an email before my first professional massage a couple of months ago (I was so confused then).
My masseuse was friendly and accommodating, and we received a thank you card, coupon, and chocolate afterwards. So sweet!
The facilities are kept clean, and I noticed small details that I really appreciated – from the makeup removing wipes in the bathroom to the outlets on the floor next to the sofa in the waiting room (? not sure what that first room on the left upon entering the hallway is called)!

Zzzz… it’s been 15 hours and yet i’m still asleep from amazing deep tissue massage. My knots are gone, my belly is full from the Culinary Taste pulled pork sandwiches with tangy BBQ sauce and slaw. Thanks Lynn for allowing me to share some marketing expertise with you regarding your product at Whole Foods. I’m looking forward to purchasing a bottle or set from the shelves.
Thanks to the friendly staff of Elements as well, I’ll definitely be pushing friends to try out a one month sessions there, the prices are great too!
Thanks Abby for saying, «Chuck, I know you have a bottle opener,» it shows how well you know me, much appreciated :)

This relaxing event was just what the doctor ordered! Days at work have been a little hectic, and slumping over the computer for long hours means an aching neck and tight shoulders.
Unilocalers were treated to 30 minute complimentary massages, just a little taste of what Elements had to offer. While mingling or waiting, we sipped on Revive kombucha and noshed on tasty pulled pork and salad featuring the sauces of Culinary Twist.
It was lovely catching up with old friends and making new ones. Thank you for such a wonderfully intimate event!

How can this not be a 5 star review. Food, drinks (NA) and a massage. The staff here at Elements was very friendly and accommodating the tons of Unilocalers here in attendance.
Food and sauces by Culinary Twist — Excellent
Revive kombucha — refreshing without the booze
Massage — I had Lili for my massage, she worked out a lot of the kinks in my back and my neck from carrying around a toddler all day. The only thing I didn’t like was that it was 30 minutes. I definetly want to come back for 55 or more minutes of massage to get all those knots out.
Thanks to Abby S for putting on another cool fun event for us. A nice easy and really relaxing night out.

I really have no words for how great this event was. Maybe it was because it was my first Unilocal Elite event but I was really excited to go!
The space at Elements was intimate and just right for the number of people who attended. The pulled pork sandwiches with their special sauces were wonderful, an awesome dinner after a long day. I finally got to try the Kombucha that I’ve been hearing about for so long! Abby was really wonderful, since this was my first event it was great to feel so welcomed.
The Elements staff was really great, they were super attentive to us offering extra chairs whens some of us were sitting on the floor and being friendly to everyone.
My massage wasn’t until 8:45 so I had lots of time to meet new people (in person!) and chat about all things Unilocal.My massage was wonderful, big compliments to Ben because he had been massaging all night and I was his very last massage and he was great. I was nervous going into the massage because I have a lot of back pain and he made me feel so comfortable, alleviating a lot of that pain. He answered my questions and we talked through the massage. He was respectful and totally appropriate– I never knew how these things really worked! I will definitely be going back to Elements for a longer massage in the near future!

I’m so grateful to Abby and Unilocal for giving me a social life. Tonight, I got out of the house and enjoyed a free massage, food and drink, Unilocal swag, and excellent company. What more could a girl want?
It was definitely important to show up on time (if not early) for appointments, as there were people on the waiting list ready to step in for those who were late. Fortunately, I wasn’t one of them. I came early enough to drink a couple cups of Revive Kombucha (very mild and easy to drink!) and enjoy the food that Lynn from Culinary Twist had prepared. Her sauces were bold and flavorful, and I might have to look for them at Whole Foods.
I met a bunch of cool Elites as I enjoyed my sandwich and coleslaw and waited for my massage. Austin A., Sophia Y. and Stephanie the Creeper Queen were awesome to talk to, until I was whisked away from the group to start my massage!
I haven’t had many massages in my life, and before today, none were conducted by men. (Though I’ve had a pap smear by a male doctor… so I’m open-​minded! TMI?) However, Ben was great and has a very soothing touch. He worked on my back and neck and gave me some advice on what I can do to loosen my shoulders. The whole Elements team was very welcoming, so I’d like to come again.

I really «kneaded» this event!
After squishing myself into airplane seats that are too small even for my five-​foot-​two-​self and dragging my luggage back and forth through airports, trains, and city streets last week, my arm has been nagging at me. Enter this YEE. It’s like magic!
The crew at Elements are SO DARN NICE. They made the event (and visiting their business) a super pleasant experience, which is what you want from a massage place, right!
Ben provided my massage service tonight. I requested that he focus on my aforementioned arm, which he did. He’s very knowledgeable about physiology and knows the techniques that will help you with whatever’s bugging you. If one doesn’t work, or is a bit too strong — he’ll try another. I appreciate that.
What’s also nice about Elements is that it’s clean, relaxing, inviting, and comfortable. Booking is also very easy — just call, or make an appointment online.
Like any Unilocal event… of course there was food! Had I known the «light bites» would be pulled pork sandwiches with slaw, I would’ve skipped the meal I had beforehand! Yum. It was so good. I will be seeking out Culinary Twist’s sauces. In addition to being great to cook with myself, it’s another great idea for gift-​giving.
I sampled the Revive kombucha. I told myself I’d try it, and I’m glad I did. Revive’s version is good. It tastes kind of like NA beer. I might have to branch out and actually buy some sometime. I hear it’s good for you, so it may be on the List of Things to Incorporate Into my Diet :)
The company is always the icing on the cake at these events. As always, it’s good to see other Unilocalers in person, and especially super to meet my fellow Downtown SM Unilocaler, Andrea B, who’s full of Pro Tips about the area :)
And here come the thank you notes:
Thank you! Elements… for hosting our Elite event in your cool, inviting space. And for the nice goodie bag!
Thank you! Culinary Twist… for being a friendly rep for your brand, and for bringing those tasty sandwiches!
Thank you! Revive… for making my first experience with kombucha enjoyable.
Thank you! Abby and Unilocal… for a great event, as always. I really liked the opportunity to meet fellow «locals» and support a local business. And I love my new water bottle!
[/​unfunny jimmy fallon]

I’m so confused on what I did to deserve this. I write some reviews… and then upon stepping into Elements and checking in, I get a free Unilocal bottle, dinner, snacks, dessert, a 30 minute complimentary massage, and then a THANK YOU note with chocolate and coupons from Elements themselves. Why are you thanking US?!
Seriously, this was a much needed event! When I RSVPed for this free massage session, I knew this was going to be one of my favorite events already. What I didn’t expect was a great spread of food as well! Lynn from Culinary Twist personally came over to me and made me a pulled pork sandwich, introduced me to all her different sauces, and then made sure I wasn’t hungry. She definitely had enough food for everyone there. Didn’t get to try the kombucha but heard it was good and refreshing.
I had also been pretty hesitant to come to Unilocal Elite events without a +1 but luckily my friend/​coworker Steph O’Dowd (most of you all know her as the creeper adding you all on Unilocal) was there with me. And everyone was so nice! This seemed to be a smaller and more intimate event, so it was great to get to know more people. Before I knew it, time was already up for my 8:45pm slot.
My masseuse Daisy (?) was so sweet… and that massage was heaven. The little details were all right! She turned on the heater for me and made sure I had enough pressure in my massages. She even managed to give me a full body massage in those 30 minutes.
And a big shout out to all the staff at Elements! The two receptionists up at the front desk were all amazed at the tight-​knit community of Unilocal and were surprised people were so social with each other. They seemed so genuine when they said they wanted to host the event again (and I hope they do)! Even at the end of my massage, Daisy kept thanking me for coming and didn’t at all expect me to tip her (I did, of course).
What a great breather from the work week. Thanks Abby S, Elements Massage, and all the great new Unilocal friends I met today for making the Unilocal Elite community so special!

Loved my experience here!
Great drinks, food, Elite swag, and of course a massage :)
Lilli was super sweet and made sure that my massage was to my liking.
I am excited to come back and get a full 55 min massage, I definitely «knead» it.
Thanks to Element Massage and Abby for putting this event together.

Ahhhhhhh, hear that? That’s my sigh of contentment following a really awesome and relaxing massage. I was scheduled for a late appointment and thought I might miss out on the fun, but the lobby was still buzzing with happy Unilocalers. Not to mention, there was still quite the spread with lots of non-​alcoholic but still fizzy refreshments and delectable snacks, including made-​to-​order pulled pork sandwiches!
Thank you to Abby, Elements Massage, and Culinary Twist for a great event!
I will definitely check out Elements Massage in the future, especially because they gave us a parting gift of a card for a discounted massage on our next visit.

HEALTHY DRINKS? CHECK
SAVORY SNACKS? CHECK
SOMETHING FOR THE SWEET TOOTH? CHECK
COMPLIMENTARY MASSAGE? CHECK
FRIENDLY STAFF AND COMPANY? CHECK
what a terrific event! 5 checks = 5 stars! i haven’t been to a Unilocal elite event in AGES so i was super excited about attending an event, and one that offered complimentary massages, to boot.
prior to the event, the elements staff notified all of us attendees to confirm massage appointments and what body parts we wanted to focus on during our session. TWO THUMBS up for great organization!
i wasn’t expecting much in the food dept, since the event description said light bites and kombucha, but OMG, the spread was amazing! i wish i didn’t eat dinner right before coming! we were treated to:
+pulled pork sandwiches
+cole slaw salad
+mini vegetarian wraps
+grapes
+brownie-​madeleine bites
+mini lemon cupcakes
+salted pretzel sticks
+culinary twist’s signature sauces and dips — these were the perfect complement to the pork, cole slaw, wraps, and pretzels. YUMMMM!!!
in the drink department, we had choices of:
+kombucha — this was divine! i’ve never tried this before, keep hearing all sorts of crazy good things about it and the people are right! this was so FREAKIN’ GOOD i could just skip the alcohol and drink this all the time b/​c it has such a nice zing and is very refreshing!
+sparkling cider
+sparkling water
+bottled water
when it was my turn for the massage, i was brought to a mini-​waiting room to fill out a short intake form. a few minutes later, ben, my therapist came to get me and took me to the massage room. it was a very nice room, PERFECT temperature, PERFECT lighting, and oh so comfortable blankets and massage table! i could have stayed there all nite!
ben confirmed that i wanted legs and feet, and after i disrobed and got under the covers, he came in and started working on me. his pressure was PERFECT, and he adjusted as necessary based on how my muscles and connective tissue reacted to his touch.
when i got off the table, i felt like a new woman! coming into the session, i had some tension and soreness in my right leg, but afterwards, it was pretty much almost gone! wow, whatever tricks he had up his sleeve worked!
he gave me his card, and a little chocolate as a thank you gift, and walked me back to the lobby. i definitely made sure to leave him a nice tip for the awesome job that he did, and i will definitely be back for the full, hour long session so that he can work his magic on the rest of my body.
THANK YOUs
**first, i want to thank lynn, the owner of culinary twist, for sharing her delicious, savory sauces and condiments with us. i was even lucky enough to be one of the raffle winners and take home a few bottles of her savory sauces!
**second, i want to thank elements for their friendly staff and very knowledgeable therapists. thank you for taking the time to show us Unilocalers some «kneaded» tlc!
**lastly, thank you to abby, for organizing yet another awesome, fun, and relaxing event.