Down By the River Massage

🌿 Schedule Update from Down By The River Massage 🌿

Hello everyone!

Shelby will be out of the office June 24th–29th for some much-needed time away with family. 💙

Don’t worry—you can still get your massage fix while she’s gone! Heather has added extra availability and will be seeing clients on:

📅 June 24th
📅 June 26th
📅 June 27th

With over 20 years of experience, Heather offers customized massage sessions including medical massage, trigger point therapy, hot stone massage, vacuum cupping, and lymphatic techniques.

If you’ve been thinking about scheduling an appointment, now is a great time to experience Heather’s work while Shelby is away!

📍 Down By The River Massage
📞 469-636-6314

Thank you all for your continued support, and Shelby looks forward to seeing everyone when she returns on June 30th! 💆‍♀️✨

One of the most common questions we get is, “Who should I book with?”

The truth is, there isn’t a wrong choice! Both Shelby and Heather provide customized sessions tailored to your specific needs. Whether you’re looking for pain relief, relaxation, injury recovery, or ongoing wellness care, you’re in good hands with either therapist.

🌿 Not Sure Whether to Book with Shelby or Heather? 🌿

💆‍♀️ Shelby
• 9 years of experience
• Typically works with deeper pressure
• Specializes in:

* Medical Massage
* Deep Tissue Massage
* Sports Massage
* Cranial Massage
* Static & Dynamic Cupping
* Great for chronic tension, athletes, stubborn knots, and clients who prefer firmer pressure

💆‍♀️ Heather
• 20+ years of experience
• Typically works with lighter to moderate pressure
• Specializes in:

* Medical Massage
* Trigger Point Therapy
* Lymphatic Techniques
* Hot Stone Massage
* Vacuum Cupping
* Great for clients looking for a gentler therapeutic approach while still getting effective results

✨ Both Shelby and Heather offer medical massage, trigger point therapy, and lymphatic techniques. The biggest difference is often pressure preference and treatment style.

Not sure who is the best fit? Reach out and we’ll help match you with the therapist that best meets your goals!

📍 Down By The River Massage
📞 469-636-6314

Which do you prefer during a massage—deeper pressure or lighter pressure? Let us know in the comments! 👇

🌿 Pay What You Can Massage Days Are Back! 🌿

We’re excited to announce the return of our Pay What You Can Days at Down by the River Massage!

Thank you for your patience during our brief hiatus while we made some changes behind the scenes. We’re happy to once again offer these special days for members of our community who could benefit from massage therapy but may not be able to afford our regular rates.

📅 Available Dates:
• June 18th
• June 22nd

📍 Down by the River Massage
234 Michigan Ave, Suite 3
Grayling, MI 49738

📞 To Book:
Call or text 469-636-6314 or send a message to our business page.

These appointments are offered on a limited basis and are intended to help make massage therapy more accessible to those who need it most. We look forward to helping you find some relief and relaxation.

Hey everyone we will be closed Saturday this week because I’m doing a local powerlifting meet at TBC Wellness in East Jordan! Anyone is welcome to come watch it starts at 9:30 am💜💜

“How Much Time Should You Book for a Massage?”

One of the most common questions I get is: “How long of a massage do I need?”

Here’s a quick guide:

🌿 30 Minutes
Perfect for one specific problem area.

* Neck & shoulders
* Low back
* Hips
* Focused therapeutic work

Great if you’re short on time or just need relief in one spot.

🌿 60 Minutes
The most popular option.

* Full body relaxation
* General tension relief
* A few areas needing extra attention

Perfect for maintenance and regular self-care.

🌿 90 Minutes
My personal favorite.

* Full body massage
* Plenty of time for problem areas
* Deeper therapeutic work without feeling rushed

Ideal for chronic tension, athletes, desk workers, and anyone who says, “Everything hurts.”

🌿 120 Minutes
The deluxe option.

* Full body treatment
* Multiple problem areas
* Deep therapeutic work
* Stretching, cupping, hot stones, or other add-ons as needed

Best for chronic pain, high stress, recovery, or when your body needs some serious TLC.

✨ Still not sure?
Book what feels right and stays in budget, and we’ll create a treatment plan together. If you’re torn between options, 90 minutes usually gives us the best balance of full-body work and focused treatment.

📅 Questions? Send me a message and I’ll help you choose the best fit for your goals.

— Shelby
Down By The River Massage

Heyy we can officially announce we were voted #1 for best massage in town and #2 for best new business! Huge thank you to everyone who voted for us!!! It’s crazy that in just a year we opened and have been voted the best of the best 💜💜💜💜

The results are in!

Congratulations to all of the winning businesses.

Pick up a copy, on newsstands now, to see if your favorite won!

https://www.crawfordcountyavalanche.com/pageview/viewer/Best_Of_Best_2026

CUPPING THERAPY — WITH A FUN TWIST
At Down by the River Massage you can customize your cupping session with different cup shapes:

⭐ Stars
❤️ Hearts
⭕ Classic circles

Whether you’re looking for pain relief, muscle recovery, improved mobility, or just want to try something unique, cupping can be a great addition to your massage session.

Perfect for:
• Tight shoulders & back pain
• Athletes & gym recovery
• Chronic tension
• Relaxation with a little personality

Because therapy doesn’t have to be boring. 😉

Book your session with Shelby at Down by the River Massage today!

Also thank you to my model Stronger Fitness Sami Szydzik

Happy Mother’s Day! And to all the people who forgot we have gift cards online 😉

We’re so excited to officially spotlight Heather here at Down by the River Massage!

Heather brings over 20 years of massage therapy experience and a true passion for helping people feel better in their bodies. Her background includes years working alongside a chiropractor in a clinical setting, giving her extensive experience with pain relief, injury support, and therapeutic bodywork.

She specializes in:
• Medical massage
• Trigger point therapy
• Hot stone massage
• Cupping
• Lymphatic work

Heather also has extensive experience working with clients living with TBIs, quadriplegia, chronic pain, and mobility challenges. In 2023, she became VA credentialed and is proud to work with and support veterans through therapeutic care.

Her sessions are thoughtful, therapeutic, and tailored to what your body actually needs — whether that’s pain relief, recovery work, or simply time to decompress.

If you’ve been struggling to get on Shelby’s schedule, this is the perfect opportunity to book with another highly experienced therapist you can trust. Existing clients also receive their first-time discount again when booking with Heather!

We’re incredibly lucky to have her here. 💚

🌿 Deep Tissue vs. Relaxation Massage — What’s the Difference?

Let’s clear something up…
“Deep tissue” isn’t just about more pressure — it’s about more purpose.

A relaxation massage is amazing for:
✨ Stress relief
✨ Calming your nervous system
✨ Giving your body a much-needed reset

But if you’re dealing with things like:
🌿 Chronic tightness
🌿 Knots that keep coming back
🌿 Limited mobility
🌿 Pain from workouts, work, or daily life

That’s where deep tissue really shines.

Deep tissue massage works by:
✔️ Targeting deeper muscle layers and fascia
✔️ Breaking up adhesions (“knots”)
✔️ Increasing blood flow to problem areas
✔️ Helping your body actually heal, not just temporarily relax

Think of it like this:
Relaxation massage = maintenance 🌊
Deep tissue = repair + results 🔧

✨ And here’s the truth: deep tissue doesn’t have to hurt to work.
It’s about slow, intentional pressure that your body can actually respond to.

Your body deserves more than just a quick fix — it deserves lasting relief.

⸻

If you’ve been feeling tight, sore, or stuck in the same patterns, it might be time to go a little deeper 💚

📍 Down by the River Massage