Santa Cruz Bodywork

Dawn is the best bodyworker I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing. Dawns energy is extremely grounding and supportive and creates a space that I feel safe to relax and let go in. As someone who has experienced touch related trauma I cannot express how valuable this is. Dawn always asks how I’m feeling and what my needs are- this might sound like a small gesture, but I’ve had many experiences where it feels like practitioners are going through a template they use for every body.

I’ve been seeing Dawn for over a year now and each session is unique and targets where I hold tension, Dawn’s technique is intuitive and powerful. I personally prefer a firm/deep massage and like to work out what is tense and I have always left feeling SO much better than when I came in. I’ve referred multiple friends and they’ve all been just as happy. One of my friends prefers a lighter, more relaxing massage and said his session was perfectly tailored to his needs. I think this speaks to Dawns ability to really tune into what the client speaks and also what the body communicates. It truly feels like a silent conversation between Dawns hands and my body.

I am a generally anxious person. Each time I receive body work from Dawn I am able to really drop into my parasympathetic nervous system and ground into myself. This has been a huge gift and has improved my well-being. I am so grateful!

Also, since COVID-19 Dawn has implemented extra health-safety protocols and always wears a mask. I have been coming here through the pandemic and have always felt very safe.

As someone who is uncomfortable in her body due to old rugby injuries and carrying a ton of emotional tension, I finally received monumental relief with the bodywork provided by D. Grey.

It was the best bodywork of my life! D. Grey targeted the source of my body’s pain and worked diligently on relieving the built-up tension in my muscles. D. Grey is insightful, attentive, highly skilled, and takes the time to listen to you and your body’s needs.

When I stumbled out of the office in my euphoric cloudy state, I felt my body relax and move without struggling for the first time in years–experiencing my body post-D. Grey’s bodywork allowed me to realize I had accepted pain as the norm.

A cup of coffee may help me take on the world, but bodywork from D. Grey gives me a renewed, stress-free, relaxed energy to enjoy life. I highly recommend D. Grey. I am now a devoted client!

I truly cannot recommend Don more emphatically! Don immediately made me feel not only comfortable, but safe, in his care – I can’t emphasize how priceless this is. He applied the perfect amount of pressure throughout, creating the perfect balance between gentle and firm. After only two sessions with Don, I feel hopeful – for the first time – that I might actually experience lasting relief. Don is a true healer – I could quite literally feel him communicating with my body, listening to its feedback, and working *with* my body to put everything back into its rightful place. Don was able to intuit exactly what I needed, and I have left both sessions feeling as if I was floating on a cloud. Special mention to how affirming Don is – as a queer woman, I felt so seen and so safe in his space! If you have chronic pain, trauma, and/or are carrying high levels of stress in your body (who isn’t??), you MUST see Don. You will be forever grateful you did

Dawn is my third massage therapist in Santa Cruz. The first two were worthwhile. Dawn is amazing. She is amazingly well studied, has expert hands and is the best massage practitioner I have experienced in years.

From start to finish, a flawless appointment. I walked into the building, slightly lost, and Dawn magically pops out of a side door to show me the way! Kind of on theme here. I left myself in their capable hands.

Spoiler: it was a great decision.

Although I vaguely pointed out a few problem areas in our pre massage chat, Dawn somehow found aches and boo boos I didn’t know I had at that moment! Still amazed by that. Had such a soothing massage I almost didn’t recognize my own body! Immediately booked another appointment

D. Is the best massage practitioner I have ever had. When you arrive D asks you how your body is and is there any where you want focused on. And then D listens and responds to your needs. I find D intuitive to my body, listening through how my body responds while being massaged and works the knots and sore spots.

There really is not enough positive things I can say about working with D. The office is small but impeccably clean. I have felt very comfortable through Covid going back and receiving massages even though it is indoors. D and I both wear masks, not a big deal, you settle in and the pur of the air purifier is soothing.

I have recommended friends to D’s practice and everyone has raved about their experience and many are now regular clients.

As someone new to bodywork, I can’t express enough how amazing my experience was with D. Grey!

I am not local; I happen to be visiting my partner at the time. My body was full of pain and tightness from the stresses of the year and old sports injuries. After quarantining for 2+ weeks and getting a negative covid-19 test result, my partner surprised me with a massage at Santa Cruz Bodyworks.

At first, I was nervous and didn’t have the words to express my body’s physical stress. However, after taking the time to listen to me and guide me through the process, D. Grey worked diligently and thoughtfully to give my body release. And big note – D. Grey’s covid-19 protocol was extremely detailed with full intent for everyone’s safety. Thanks to D. Grey, I now have language for my pain, AND I also experienced the most ease my body felt in years.

It hurts (pun intended) that I am not a local because if I were, I would be a returning client for life! Thank you, D. Grey, for opening up my world to the benefits of mindful bodywork. I hope to return.

The place is beautiful, I had a great time .
However, they should put more attention in the details, I did not feel like the staffs help to make the experience special.