MassageMG, Davie

A deep love of her work has kept licensed therapist Monica Gonda practicing bodywork for more than 14 years, and it is this positive energy that emanates from her fingertips during each session. In her repertoire of seven massage modalities, lomi lomi—loving hands in Hawaiian—stands out for its use of the forearms to send waves of relaxation into deep layers of muscle without attracting beach bums. Monica also practices a lymphatic-drainage technique that notably reduces swelling caused by fluid buildup in connective tissue. The most unique therapy is the crystal massages. A blend of body and energy work, warm semiprecious stones bathe acupressure points in soothing heat and redirect energy flows to achieve mental clarity or emotional well-being.

Monica awakens senses with organic tea and chocolates and can expand olfactory pleasure with her nuanced understanding of how geranium, lemongrass, and clare sage influence mood through sensory and monetary payoffs. Monica extends the reach of her goodwill by donating 5% of her profits to cancer research, an issue close to her heart because she practices oncology massage for lung-cancer patients.