Mountain Stream Massage

Mike’s massage studio has moved to NW 20^th and Flanders… so don’t rely on the old address in the previous review. He’s now at 1983 NW Flanders Street.
Having recently become acquainted with the cheerful brutality of traditional Korean massage therapy, I’ve come to appreciate Mike’s firm yet gentle technique even more. His combination of the rocking of tui na, flowing swedish, and lomi lomi works out all the knots, but in a pleasurable way, and doesn’t have me gritting my teeth to get through a session. The hot stones are pretty cool too.
Mike’s also a pleasant guy to talk to: intelligent and laid back.
My only complaint: parking can be tough, so try to give yourself an extra 10 minutes or so in case you’ve got to drive around for a few minutes.

Mountain Stream Massage was my third stop on my quest to deplete my medical flex spending account for the year. I was able to schedule an appointment on New Year’s Eve, and that was a great way to wrap up 2009.
I met masseur Mike Borgstrom at his studio in the ActivSpace building, an urban industrial space just between the Pearl and Nob Hill. The building is cool and kind of primitive; it’s also a secured building so you can’t just walk right in. Mike met me at the door to let me in.
As is typical, I had to fill out a short intake sheet before the massage began. Mike talked to me about my previous massage experiences — what I liked, what I didn’t, what I was looking for during this session. Since I’d previewed his website in advance, I told him I wanted to try his 2-​hour «Bliss,» which is geared more toward relaxation and was more my speed after just having had a deep tissue session two days before.
Mike’s technique is a blend of relaxation with some deep tissue work. I found the «Lomi Lomi» Hawaiian technique interesting, as it had a lot of rhythmic rocking motions. He definitely was able to dig into my muscles over several areas. But by far the best part of the massage was the hot stone portion of the massage. This was my first experience with hot stone massage, and I gotta say I am a fan. The radiant heat of the stones is deeply penetrating on the muscles and incredibly soothing… it’s like rubbing a heating pad over your body.
The 2-​hour massage was $ 100, cash or checks only. Things I liked about this studio: the hot stones, the variety of techniques, and Mike’s personality — very calming and friendly.
I wasn’t too crazy about the studio itself. Mike’s suite faces Lovejoy Street, which is a pretty busy street, and a lot of street noise came in, even over the mellow music he had playing. Also, there is no restroom near his suite — it’s all the way down the hall (about 75 feet away, past 10 – 15 other suites) and requires a key for access. Since the building itself is locked and requires the intercom for entry, this seems like a bit of overkill. I always drink a lot of water before and after massages, so I needed a restroom break midway through my massage… having to completely redress, go down the hall to the bathroom, and come back definitely broke the frame of mind for the massage.
You will definitely enjoy a massage from Mike… especially if you request the hot stones