The Teal Center For Therapeutic Bodywork

love this place! from acupuncture to massages, it is amazing all around

Acupuncture is underrated and not enough people know about its value to the body. I hadn’t been to an acupuncturist in years, about 5 years. I’ve been carrying a lot of stress, internally, and I happened to read a book that reminded me of the healing powers of acupuncture. I got to Unilocaling for a recommended place to try. I found the Teal Center and visiting the one in the Virginia Hospital Center.
The receptionist was very friendly and provided me with a good understanding of what my first session would entail. From arrival to departure, it was about 2 hours. You need to fill out a few forms so they know your background, why you’re there, what help you need.
Theresa was my acupuncturist and she is a gem. Professionally she’s very thorough, spends 30 or so minutes getting a sense for who you are and what she can do to help. On a personal or conversational level, she’s got a way of understanding others and you’ll end up sharing more than you intended. It’s always refreshing to meet someone and feel like you’re able to connect. All of the above made me comfortable and confident I went to the right person.
The acupuncture was painless, as it should be, and I felt the relief and reward instantly. I couldn’t stop smiling afterwards and I’ve felt significant improvement in my energy, peace of mind, and quality of sleep. The results are different for everyone, but if you’re open and communicating to the acupuncturist, you’re more likely to have similar results.
I’ll be back, maybe next month, to get some more work done. The first session is $ 150 and the subsequent sessions are $ 100. Invest in yourself!

I’ve been a client of the Teal Center for over 12 years now and have had consistently great experiences with all of the staff there. Please note, this is not a fluffy robe and slippers spa, but they will wow you with their knowledge and techniques. To ensure a great experience, be sure to tell the person working with you your likes/​dislikes and trouble areas.
To add on to the other reviewers, it really is a clean, relaxing atmosphere, (not stuffy) and from the front desk staff to the massage therapists, everyone is knowledgeable and professional. I found the new rates,$ 102 to be below the rates of similar locations in our area and well worth the price.
Thank you Teal Center!

I love the Teal Center! Whether you’re in pain or just looking for some relaxation, this is the place to go. I’ve seen several of the therapists at both locations and have never had a disappointing session. The office went under a huge renovation earlier this year and the place looks wonderful. It’s not too spa-​like, but still has a relaxing natural wood/​blue tone that makes the place feel comfortable.
My regular therapist was Jenny who is awesome! I saw her about 1−2x a month and am sad that I no longer live in the area. You’re usually able to get an appointment with Jenny since she works all day long, while most of the others don’t seem to, so you don’t have to worry whether you’re getting a good therapist or not if you’re booking last minute. If you don’t have a flexible schedule — book ahead! She is very knowledgeable and knows all sorts of modalities so she can really customize the session to your needs. I’ve seen her for Thai, Reiki, Triggetpoint, Deep Tissue, Relaxation, etc. We got to a point where I trusted her enough to do whatever she felt I needed based on what I told her that day.
Angela is also great for a deep, invigorating massage, and Yulia for relaxation!
Highly recommend online booking, though if you don’t know what you want, the receptionists are helpful and knowledgeable about each therapist and their modalities.

This place is my to-​go spot for massages. The place as a whole is great –professional support staff, clean, relaxing atmosphere, and fantastic massage therapists. I always book my sessions with Adam. He’s very knowledgeable and can give you a true deep tissue massage with his steel fingers. Many people think they can «dig deep» but a few truly can. Adam will get rid of all the «knots» on your body.
The price is a little steep -$ 102 for an hour massage, but it’s worth it.

I booked an appointment for me and my sister (deep tissue for her and prenatal for me) and was pretty happy with the overall experience. Easy appt and confirmation process. My therapist, Cathy, was excellent and hit all my trouble spots. At 38 weeks I definitely needed a massage. Checking out was easy as well. The atmosphere is a cross of a spa and physical therapy practice.
I’ll likely come back when I want to splurge since the price is on the more expensive side.

My daughter goes to Nishanka for CST on a fairly regular basis. Nishanka gets 5 stars. She is the most lovely, caring, and careful practitioner. My daughter felt instantly comfortable with her and the results have been amazing. The new Teal Center space also gets 5 stars… it is beautiful and thoughtful.
The actual location gets 2 stars. I loathe the parking situation. My blood pressure always rises when I have to enter the lobby– you never know what kind of attitude you’ll be greeted with at the desk, and then you have to pray there is a parking spot available in the back. Otherwise, you spend hours driving around Arlington trying to find parking. A little dramatic, I know, but it really is a hassle.
So not to end on a bad note, I highly recommend Nishanka, and i have no doubt the other services provided are just, or nearly, as wonderful. Obviously worth the parking hassle!

Price is up to $ 102/​hour.
I asked for someone with a sports focus. I got the person who was available, jennie. Jennie admitted it wasn’t her focus, and that she didn’t work with athletes. I was a bit disappointed with that. I also didn’t feel noticeably better, but that is a high bar to set.
It is hard to get evening appointments. I tried to make a reservation on adam’s schedule after the appointment with Jennie. The receptionist got nowhere on the computer after ten minutes, and we both gave up. I would give this place another shot, based on the generally good reviews. I would just go with a Unilocal reco, and not a receptionist’s reco — i understand that she is just trying to fill the schedule.

Just had my first massage since moving from NYC — and also one of the very best. Feel amazing and booked another for next week. Thank you so much.

I went to the Teal Center seeking relief from lower back and hip pain that had been plaguing me for over a decade. I had recently completed a long run and severely aggravated the condition. I made an appointment with Adam and asked him to provide deep tissue/​trigger point treatment in the lower back and hip. After two visits with Adam, the pain was gone! For at least 10 years I had tried physical therapy, chiropractors, steroid injections, acupuncture, massage, etc. to no avail. Adam finally fixed me! Thank you.

I had a wonderful experience here today. I really recommend Patti. She had a gentle firm touch and overall positive energy. I’m pretty picky about pressure but she seemed to just divine the right amount for me. Bonus: the table had a heating pad (perfect!).
Overall, the place has a quiet, chill ambience. I called in the morning and they had time the same day. That felt like a lucky break. Bonus: you can just roll up to the front, put on your blinkers and go inside for a token to park in back of the bldg for free.
I’ve booked a second appt for next month.

My entire experience with the Teal Center was fantastic from speaking to the front desk to make the appointment to the amazing attentive masseur who did not skimp at all. I called on a Tuesday and requested a lymphatic drainage massage with whoever was their resident specialist and with admittedly little idea of what it would actually entail — just fixating on the word detox. It happened that the next available appointment was for the following day (and then basically booked until January) so I jumped on it. The receptionist (Cathy? Carrie? She has a very calming voice and it starts with a C…) talked me through the whole process and made me aware of their billing policies (credit card to hold the appointment and no cancellation for my particular appointment bc it was less than 24 hrs away), gave me directions and parking instructions and links to forms to fill out in advance, and then assaged my concerns in my subsequent follow up call 10 mins later panicking that I had picked the wrong treatment/​massage/​masseur/​etc. She talked me through the differences between lymphatic drainage and tui na (the other option I was considering) and filed a note for my masseur (Sylvia) that I may prefer a firmer pressure (lymphatic massage is generally very light).
The actual massage: AMAZING. First Sylvia talked to me about why I was there and what I wanted out of the session (insomnia, detoxification, generally stress and tense muscles) and then outlined what she would be doing (massage + lymphatic drainage with a focus on my face, arms, shoulders, back). She was attentive and supportive and gave me a full 60-​min massage/​treatment! I was half expecting to be rushed towards the end but never did I feel harried or pressured. In fact, after the massage, she sat down and talked with me some more about how I was feeling and deep breathing exercises to help with the insomnia/​stress.
The facilities were very clean and warm, the music was soothing, the lights were off and blinds on, and the room smelled good. There was some outside noise from the construction and one time a siren but honestly it didn’t disrupt the ~zen~. The waiting room (I didn’t have to wait as she was ready and greeting me when I came in about 5 mins before my appointment time) was nice and tranquil. I don’t get the comparison to a physical therapists office which I’ve always found more doctorly and sterile. Definitely not a spa facility mind you but still very inviting.
The massage was great! Deep but not painful, relaxing and soothing and well paced. She got out the knots and used the perfect amount of pressure. The lymphatic drainage part was obviously different from the massage part and mostly entailed very light soothing motions over the ‘lymphnodes’ points or something like that. I’d sarcastically call it granola-​nutty healer mumbo jumbo except it TOTALLY WORKS. I have no clue how or why but I definitely felt my body unwind and zen out.
Bottom line:
Sylvia’s the lady with the magic angel hands and attentive no skimps no frills.

I have worked with several therapists over the years at the Teal Center. They are all well trained and know the body. They listen to your concerns and focus on them beautifully. I am currently working Joe with some persistent mid back pain. For this pain, I have had MRI, CAT, injections, physical therapy, chiropractor, acupuncture and massage at other places. Joe’s massage techniques are producing wonderful results and I actually believe he will eventually succeed in getting it to melt away.
The price is terrific when you discover the results. Well worth it.

Great experience at The Teal Center. This place is more of a physical therapy center than a resort spa as described by other Unilocalers. My husband and I both needed some knots taken out of our backs and decided to give this center a try. We both had experienced practitioners, who according to the website are certified by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork and certified by the Virginia Board of Nursing. We give Adam and Diana 5 stars. The massage rooms are nicely appointed and soft music played in the background. They use a variety of treatments and will consult with you on your areas of concern before your session.
Tip: The center is located inside Randolph Towers, which is a mixed residential/​commercial building. The Teal Center provides free parking and you will need to check-​in at the lobby to secure the parking. If you are new, you should fill out the new client forms in advance to save time.

Color me impressed. Recently I started feeling pain all up and down my neck, shoulder and arm from a pinched nerve. The pain from this is the type that doesn’t just keep you up at night, but wakes you up in the middle of the night. I went to the Ortho, and started going to PT, but didn’t like it that the only thing that could make the pain manageable was pain meds and muscle relaxers. A couple of my friends from softball and hockey mentioned that Acupuncture was the way to go, so out of desperation I started looking and found Teal was well-​reviewed.
So off to Teal I go, where they provided me an in-​depth questionnaire and yes, they still take credit cards at time of reservation and hold a 24 hour cancellation policy. I drew Lisa, a relatively new (to Teal, she had worked elsewhere) therapist who reviewed the questionnaire with me, explained how Acupuncture worked without getting into the mystical Eastern medicine jargon, patiently explained everything and listened as I explained my concerns, and then we began.
I can’t emphasize enough how awesome it was to find a therapist who actually listened. Win.
Bottom line. When I walked in there, I could not turn my head to the left and my shoulder was throbbing. When I left an hour and a half later, I had full range of motion for my head and my shoulder pain had subsided.
Parking is a pain, give yourself time to find a spot or better, walk.

I didn’t make it to church one Sunday, but I made my appointment with Angela Thomas at The Teal Center and found an angel with magic hands.
Since it was my first time at the Center, Ms. Thomas sat me down and discussed why I came to her, my lifestyle (where and how I work, how often I exercise, etc.), and any stressors that might have contributed to muscle soreness and tension. She gave me a series of simple exercises to do while sitting and suggested I treat myself to more soaks in the tub. I was really starting to like her!
Ms. Thomas was very informative and placed an emphasis on my comfort level. She told me that I was in control of the session and emphasized communication. I was to tell her whether she was applying too much or too little pressure.
As soon as she started, I felt totally relaxed. All of my kinks were worked out from head to toe and Ms. Thomas discovered some I didn’t even know were there.
The bottom line: Angela Thomas and her magic hands worked a serious healing on my tight, knotted muscles. Her knowledge and professionalism made me feel at ease throughout the session. I left feeling totally rejuvenated. So, if you’re new to massage or are looking for serious, professional bodywork, go to Teal!

For those who want the atmosphere of a fancy spa, this is not the place for you. For those who truly want a good massage in a quiet and clean environment, do not miss out on this wonderful place. I read what other reviewers had to say. In addition, my bestie, who went with me, had explained to me that this is not a spa. Therefore, I knew what to expect.
Yes, you need to make an appointment and there is a 24 hour cancellation policy. It is normal for a business to have such a policy. When I made the appointment, the receptionist made it known. I received a confirmation call 30 hours before the appointment. I got a deep tissue massage and it was well worth my $$. The massage therapist was Jessica and she was awesome. She really focused on my upper and middle back where I was experiencing aches. I slept well that night after the massage and the day after and the day after that!
I highly recommend Teal Center.

I have been going to my therapist, Dot Perry for two years now and have been highly impressed by her. She is very versatile and can alter between the standard foofy foof Swedish massage to more intensive work such pulled/​sore muscle message and even lymphatic drainage (my personal favorite).
I once injured my shoulder muscle and was unable to live my hand over my head for almost a week. I saw Dot and she made it all better by the next day. I also get a sore neck all the time from sitting at a desk — again, Dot saves lives.
She is really a holistic healer and wonderful at it. When I was withdrawing off medication, I suffered from horrible side effects. I saw Dot for manual lymphatic drainage treatments and it helped with my overall recovery. She really knows what she’s doing.
Dot is very popular so I recommend booking in advance. At the Teal Center you have to reserve your spot with a credit card and the cost is $ 95/​hour massage and tip is cash only.
The Teal Center is not the Ritz Carleton or the Mandarin Oriental with rose petals on the bed but it is a place where you can allow your body to heal.

Note: if you’re looking for a luxurious day at the spa, this is NOT the place for you. I went because I NEEDED a massage after my very first marathon. Nan knew exactly where I needed work, and when I asked her to press a little harder, she was quick to comply and maintain that even pressure the rest of the way.
It’s true that you are not allowed to put the tip on your credit card, so bring cash (but for whatever reason, the receptionist was in a good mood the day I showed up, so she let me tip on my card).
Like everyone else on here says, it’s a no-​frills place, and you will be decidedly underwhelmed by the décor in the waiting area. You may even be a little confused about where you are when you first walk into the building (my friend lives here, so it was weird to walk in and get a massage instead of making my way up for dinner, hah).
All I know is, I was dying after my race, and after my massage, you’d never be able to tell I’d just run 26.2 miles by the way I was walking about. The soreness did return the next day (as Nan said it would), but I was much less sore than I had been before. Definitely my go-​to place for sports massages and worth every penny.

THE LOWDOWN:
— 6 treatment rooms
— Credit card needed at time of booking
— Cash or check for tips only!
— 24 hours to avoid a full cancellation fee
— If it’s your first visit you can save a bit of time by printing an intake form from their website. Repeat visitors do not need to fill an intake.
— Short walking distance from Ballston Metro
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This is a no-​frills center for therapeutic bodywork, much like Alternative Health Associates in Alexandria. If you’re looking for a day spa with amenities like steam room or sauna, you won’t find it here. While I have only visited once, my boyfriend tries to visit at least once a month or every other week. Years of extensive computer use and gaming has really damaged his shoulders, hands, and back, and he finally decided to start getting massages regularly to help alleviate some of that pain. The thing I do like about the center is that if a therapist feels like there’s someone who’s a better fit for you, they do make recommendations for you to see that person.
On my first visit, I had Adam as my massage therapist. He was great! I normally opt for Swedish but my neck and shoulders have been bothering me. For an hour massage, the cost was $ 90. As a person who works in a spa, it is really important to communicate to your therapist during the consultation what areas are your primary concern. If you want a full-​body massage in an hour, let them know. One hour, to me, is pretty short, and since I wanted focus on areas that where I had pain, Adam spent the whole time on my neck, shoulders, and scalp. He has a great bedside manner and it is really easy to talk to. I felt awesome walking out of that clinic.
As they have a lot of treatment rooms and therapists who make their own schedules, it is really easy to schedule an appointment. Their therapists have studied a variety of modalities so it’s pretty much your one stop shop for all types of massage including sports, craniosacral therapy, Thai massage and even acupuncture. However, as with any place that offers massage, Saturdays will be their busiest day. If you have a favorite therapist, I would recommend re-​booking with them after your treatment to ensure you have the date and time that is suited for your schedule.