The Healing Wilderness

Purchased a Groupon and ended up asking for my money to be refunded because I never used the Groupon. I tried to book an appointment for any other time than 8am w/​them over the course of 2 months and couldn’t find an opening. If I’m having to book months out w/​my only choice to be first thing in the morning and during business hours then it’s worthless. I’m posting this in the hopes that if this business decides to ever offer a special again that they make it more pleasant for potential new clients instead of making a massage into a total pain.

I was thoroughly disappointed with The Healing Wilderness. Their customer service (Adam was the one I spoke with) acted like they couldn’t care less about their customers and was too haughty and high-​and-​mighty to help. To be clear, I am NOT one to go on Unilocal and write bad reviews. This is my first one. But Adam was so quick to throw a paying customer away that I felt this needed to be shared so others could be spared the feeling that they’re not important enough for Healing Wilderness’s business. These guys are right around the corner from my house — I was excited to go check them out. Too bad their «healing skills» aren’t quite what they advertise.

I’m only giving this place 1 star because of the hard sell tactics they use after your first massage. It reminds me of the way the Café of Life, and other chiropractors, work to keep you coming back. What a crock of shiet!
This place is very over priced, and they use hard-​sell «package deal» tactics at no discount to keep you coming back and overpaying too. I’ve explained my experience in greater detail below, if you want to read more.
I bought a Groupon for this place ONLY after reading the bios on the therapists and checking Unilocal for ratings and comments. Once I was confident they were legit and skilled, I booked a massage right after I bought it. I explicitly said I wanted Adam for my therapist. His techniques sounded very similar to another massage therapist I really like, and still go to, when I can get in.
I booked my massage with Adam for the following week. However, the day before the appointment, I got an email saying I would be seeing another therapist I didn’t know. This woman was hired due to the large number of Groupons that were sold. I had calculated that there were enough massages bought to keep the 2 original therapist busy for at least a year, doing 5 massage a day, which is not easy. No wonder they hired another therapist!
Anyway, I called Healing Wilderness to complain about the therapist switch a few times. After getting no response, I contacted Groupon to get involved. Not sure if this is what did it, but finally, Adam called me to reschedule to the ONLY day he actually works, Fridays. I agreed to switch my appointment date.
I got to my appointment a little early thinking I’d need to fill out some paperwork. First off, I can say I didn’t like the facility too much, but later, I discovered I’d come in the back door. Oops. The front area is nicer for sure. However, Adam let me in the back door instead of informing me I should go around to the front. Then, he sat me in the tiny kitchen (which is where the back door entrance leads into), instead of taking me to the front area. How strange is that? If he has a nice, front waiting area, why didn’t he tell me at the beginning instead of waiting until after my massage?
One star off for that alone.
As far as Adam’s work, he does know his stuff. However, he worked so hard on me that he literally bruised me in many locations! I literally hurt MORE after I left than when I went in. Also, even after telling him I have another massage therapist I like very much, he still tried to convince me that I should switch to him and get 2 massages a week, at the very least — 2 a month, AND pay $ 40 MORE an hour for my «fixing».
Whoa baby! I recognized this technique of «package» selling, and at NO discount either, and immediately fled the premises with no intention of ever going back.
What’s going on here?
Where are these «hard sell» people coming from?
3 more stars lost Adam. You ruined the entire experience for me, and likely many others by doing this. We in Boulder are not idiots. Good massage therapist are not in short supply here. I can’t imagine you’ll keep any of your Groupon clients this way.

Now, I’ve never gotten a massage from a man before. Maybe that’s not a big deal but it was something I was mildly apprehensive about. However, I also am a fan of super deep, firm pressure, and naturally I figured a dude would have stronger hands. I was right.
Adam immediately put me at ease. He was polite and emanated a soothing, calming energy that had me halfway relaxed before I ever hit the table. The space was tasteful and comfortable, and personally, I was delighted with the windows. Most of my previous massages have been in dim rooms with candles or muted lamps, but I found the natural light so much more entrancing.
Adam was respectful and extremely talented throughout my massage. He completely delivered on my wishes to loosen up my tension knots and fixed the crick in my lower back that even regular yoga and trips to the chiropractor couldn’t solve. As a martial artist, I’m pretty hard on my body most days of the week, and Adam rewound the clock on all my spots of repeated strain, new sores, and old wounds. He even had a special balm he applied to a few of my larger bruises, and in less than a day they had almost completely healed up!
But I think my favorite aspect of the massage was the last few minutes where at first it seemed he was simply laying his fingers tips on my face and head in arbitrary positions. But as I lay there and he continued to work, I felt my head clear up, as if I hadn’t even realized it had been full of smoke. Sort of how you don’t notice how dim it is outside until the wind blows the clouds away and the sunlight pours forth. My whole body felt clear and calm, it was amazing. Apparently he was applying subtle pressures to the bones of my skull, resulting in my whole head, neck and body feeling loose and comfortable.
I can be honest and admit that most of the time, my only massages come from promotional deals and coupons, but I will definitely be a loyal customer of Adam’s from now on!

I truely respect and admire Adam as we have worked side by side for a couple years. He is one of the only people I trust to work on my body. His intuitive nature and extensive knowledge sets him far apart from the rest!

Adam has been my massage therapist for almost two years now. He is by far the best therapist I’ve ever had. He can «read» my body. His knowledge is tremendous. I highly recommend!