About Ayni Therapies
Ayni Therapies offers a range of healing and relaxation services in Carmel Valley, including massage therapy and craniosacral work. The therapist, Stephen, is described as a highly skilled and intuitive practitioner who listens to the needs of his clients and tailors his approach to address their specific concerns. Clients praise his gentle yet effective touch, his ability to identify and release areas of tension and pain, and his kind and professional demeanor. The studio is described as spacious, warm, and inviting, providing a comfortable environment for the healing sessions. Stephen's expertise extends beyond general massage, with clients reporting successful treatment of issues such as plantar fasciitis, lower back pain, and frozen shoulder. He is also commended for his flexibility in offering house visits when needed. Overall, Ayni Therapies is highly recommended by its clients, who describe Stephen as one of the best massage therapists in the Carmel/Monterey area, with the ability to provide both relaxation and targeted therapeutic benefits. His affordable pricing, convenient online booking, and commitment to his clients' well-being make him a trusted choice for those seeking healing and wellness services.
I came to a session with Stephen after a long week that left me feeling a bit ungrounded and unkempt. Upon my arrival, he began asking questions and selecting different herbs from his vast selection. Intuitively he was listening to which herbs spoke to him. He asked me about the sensation and smell of each to decide what we would use. The herbs that seemed to open and immediately spin in the body. I noticed the pattern that all of the herbs seemed to work with my upper chakras from heart to crown. It was a deeply bitter concoction that rested on the tongue and sank down into my stomach. I had been craving coffee earlier and reminded myself that I didn’t need the caffeine. I could feel the sensation in my liver immediately after drinking. The medicine was doing its work in my digestive system. The mixture of these specific herbs seemed to reach inside of me and access a function in my body almost immediately. It was truly needed before the cranial sacral part of the session and it all seemed to flow together perfectly. (Three different types of Tulsi each touched on a different sensation in the smelling portion. One around the head on either hemisphere. One at the heart. And the other at the top of the crown. The ginseng really gave me a kick that was warming in the smelling portion and gave me some energy and awareness when drinking. I feel like I’m missing one, the sweet one that smelled of Carmel Valley fields.) Moving to the energywork portion of our session, I was welcomed to the warm cocoon of the massage table. I could feel the herbs working through my body as the cranial sacral session began. The music and the heat melted my muscles and calmed me into a very safe space for receiving. The herbal remedy seemed to grow with intensity as it moved through my body with the energy work. I enjoyed the grounding sensation beginning at the feet to start. A few yawns and I was dropping into a relaxed state of mind. There had been a kind of cloudiness around my head that morning, and I had mentioned that my eyes seemed to be filmy. I rested into the nest of the table in a pleasant surrender. Allowing the energy to flow. Stephen felt called to work around my headspace the most and he was very right and doing so. I had missed my meditation the night before because I was out of my regular routine from a celebration of life o had attended. I hadn’t realized how the emotional impact had contributed to my cloudy feeling. I allowed myself to breathe deeply and sank deeper into the cocoon. As he ran the energy through my neck I could feel the connections in my body align bit by bit, slightly adjusting the joints almost involuntarily as if I was a marionette. I felt the spinal fluid, flowing, gliding, moving up and around my head. I could feel my qui flowing and my brain hemispheres bouncing back and forth and then balancing into a relaxed spaciousness. There was a sense of restful calm that was replenishing. I could feel the clearing of my “antenna” and felt more connected with my divine reception. This flow was slow and welcoming. It was as if my body had fallen into hibernation as I received the rest of the energy work my fingers shifted at some point in the session into Mudra‘s. So as Stephen gestured me to slowly come back to my body, I noticed my hands resting in an om mudra. It was a pleasant surprise. Feeling so present and emotionally integrated after the session. I have a sense that I will sleep deeply tonight. Thank you Ayni Therapies for truly restoring my body and soul! 🌈🙏✨
Excellent massage and beautiful location!
Hands down best message therapist I’ve encountered. Incredibly knowledgeable in eastern and western practices, his mechanical engineering background influences his problem-solving and surgical-like approach and precision. Gentle spirit and pure atmosphere. Come out with a significant measure of healing every time.