Mobile Massage in Encino: Why I Moved Here (And Why Your Body Will Thank You For It)
I have lived in Los Angeles for over a decade. I grew up getting familiar with every corner of this city, from the beach towns out west to the hills above Hollywood to the neighborhoods tucked into The Valley. I spent four years at Equinox in Beverly Hills and West Hollywood, which meant I knew the Westside intimately. And yet, if you had asked me a year ago what Encino was actually like to live in, I would have given you a pretty blank stare.
Honestly? I had driven through it on the 101 a hundred times without ever really stopping. Encino always seemed like one of those places people mention without much detail: "Yeah, it's nice out there in The Valley."
Then I moved here. And it turns out I had been completely missing out.
Encino, I Owe You an Apology
The first morning I walked around the neighborhood, I genuinely felt a little embarrassed. This place has everything. Wide streets lined with mature trees, a pace that feels a few beats slower than the city without losing any of the energy, and people who actually seem happy to be where they are. After years of grinding through traffic from the Westside, there is something deeply pleasant about a neighborhood that just feels... settled.
For me, personally, the big revelation was Lake Balboa Park, which sits just a few minutes away. I make it a point to get out there regularly now, and I cannot recommend it enough. Walking around that lake, watching the pedal boats, seeing families and dog walkers and people who clearly use it as part of their daily routine — it genuinely lifted my mood in a way I did not see coming. After years of apartment living in denser parts of LA, having that kind of breathing room close by has been a game changer.
If you have not been, go. It is one of those Los Angeles gems that does not get nearly enough credit.
The Golfers: A Section I Was Born to Write
Here is something I noticed pretty quickly after moving to Encino. There are golf courses everywhere out here. Balboa Golf Course and Encino Golf Course sit right there in the park, and on any given morning, you can see people heading out for a round before the heat kicks in.
I love this. Not just because I appreciate the sport, but because after nearly a decade as a massage therapist, I know exactly what golf does to the human body. And specifically, I know what it does to elbows.
Golfer's elbow, medically known as medial epicondylitis, is one of the most common overuse injuries in recreational golfers. It is a condition affecting the tendons that attach to the inner bump of your elbow, and it develops from the repetitive gripping, swinging, and wrist flexion that the golf swing demands. The pain tends to radiate down the forearm, gripping gets uncomfortable, and if you ignore it long enough, it starts affecting your game significantly.
The research on manual therapy for this condition is genuinely encouraging. Based on articles retrieved from PubMed, a 2024 randomized clinical trial published in Scientific Reports found that deep friction massage produced significant reductions in pain and meaningful improvements in upper limb function in patients with lateral epicondylitis (the closely related "tennis elbow" version of the same tendon overuse pattern).* And a separate 2024 study in the Journal of Diseases and Related Surgery found that local massage therapy produced clinically meaningful results in the early weeks of treatment, with significant decreases in pain scores within the first two weeks.** The research landscape makes it pretty clear: targeted soft tissue work belongs in the treatment plan.
From a practical standpoint, here is what I do with golfer's elbow. I am not just rubbing the elbow and calling it a day. The real work happens in the forearm flexors — the muscles that control grip and wrist movement — and in the surrounding soft tissue that gets overloaded every time you take a swing. I combine deep tissue massage techniques with myofascial release to address the fascial tension that builds up around the area, and in some cases, dynamic cupping is a genuinely powerful tool for decompressing the tissue and improving circulation to a spot that tends to be chronically under-recovered.
If you are hitting the links at Balboa or Encino Golf Course multiple times a week and your elbow has been talking to you, I am right here in the neighborhood. Most of the time, Golfer’s Elbow is a result of a dysfunction somewhere else in your body. It could be poor rotation in your spine causing you to muscle your swing. It could also be coming from your IT band, hips and glutes. Let's figure it out and get you some relief along the way.
Beyond the Golf Course: What I Love About This Neighborhood
Lake Balboa Park
I already mentioned this above, but it deserves its own section because the park genuinely has something for everyone. The lake loop is a solid walk, the Japanese garden is beautiful, and the whole place has a community feel that is hard to manufacture. I have run into clients, neighbors, and strangers who quickly became both — all at the same park. If you are looking for a place to decompress between massage sessions, honestly, the lake is your prescription.
The Encino Dog Park
Encino is, without question, a dog neighborhood. The dog park off Balboa Boulevard draws a crowd every single day, and the vibe there is exactly what you would want from a neighborhood gathering spot: relaxed, friendly, and full of people who are in no rush to be anywhere else. I have had more good conversations at the dog park in a few months of living here than I had in years of living in denser parts of LA. It is the kind of place that reminds you that community still exists in a city that can sometimes feel too big for it.
Also, dog owners, a note from your neighborhood massage therapist: crouching down to pick up after your pup fifty times a day, throwing a ball repeatedly, and wrestling a leash-pulling Lab on a walk are all surprisingly hard on your forearms, shoulders, and lower back. If you need some relief, you’ve found this post for a reason, just saying! I once worked on a dog trainer to the stars (well, dog stars) and her shoulder has been through it! But with some kind attention from me and incorporating a physical therapy component, she was able to heal and continue doing what she loves.
The Encino Farmers Market
Sunday mornings at the Encino Farmers Market are genuinely one of my favorite new rituals. Fresh produce, local vendors, and OMG the sourdough, the kind of morning energy that makes you feel like you are doing life correctly. I have started my Sunday routine there and I am not going back.
Now, I will say this with full honesty: if you strain yourself hauling a particularly ambitious load of heirloom tomatoes, I can probably be at your door within... well, most appointments take about 24 hours of lead time to schedule. But I am close. Very close. Consider this my standing offer.
The market runs on Sundays and it is worth building your weekend around. Between the market, a walk at the lake, and a massage session, you could have yourself a genuinely restorative Sunday in Encino.
Mobile Massage in Encino: What It Actually Looks Like
For anyone new to how this works, here is the quick version. I bring everything. The massage table, sheets, blankets, oil, and music. All I need from you is an 8x8 foot space cleared out in whatever room feels most comfortable. That is it. You do not need to prep anything special, drive anywhere, or make small talk in a spa waiting room.
I am a solo therapist — this is intentional. When you book with The Massage Guy, you are booking with me directly. Nearly ten years of experience (my ten-year anniversary is coming up this July), trained at the National Holistic Institute in Studio City where I graduated at the top of my class, and four years of working the high-volume environment at Equinox Beverly Hills before going fully mobile. You are not getting someone from a roster. You are getting me.
The techniques I incorporate into my Custom Therapeutic Massage in Encino and throughout The Valley include:
Deep tissue massage for chronic tension, stubborn knots, and structural issues that need real pressure
Sports massage for active people who need their body to perform and recover
Myofascial release for issues like frozen shoulder, limited range of motion, and fascial restrictions that do not respond to regular massage
Dynamic cupping for decompression work, improved circulation, and targeting areas that compression-based techniques cannot fully reach
I serve all of Encino and the surrounding Valley areas, and I cover the wider Los Angeles area including Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, West Hollywood, Hollywood, and Calabasas.
A Special Offer for My New Neighbors
I am genuinely excited to be here, and I want to meet the people who make this neighborhood what it is. So here is the deal: if you are a new client based in Encino and you book your first session, I am taking $15 off. No catch, no code, just a discount to celebrate arriving in a neighborhood I probably should have paid more attention to years ago. I’ll adjust it once you book and I see we are neighbors!
Book your first Encino in home massage session here
Ready to Feel Better?
Whether you are dealing with golfer's elbow from too many rounds at Balboa, a tight back from hauling groceries home from the farmers market, or you just want to start a regular maintenance routine with a therapist who actually knows what they are doing, I am right here.
Mobile massage therapy in Encino means you get a clinic-quality session in the comfort of your own home. No traffic, no parking, no waiting room. Just effective, experienced, results-focused work from a licensed massage therapist in Los Angeles who happens to love this neighborhood.
Let's get you feeling good, Encino.
Book with The Massage Guy today
References
* Król P, Lojewski B, Król T, Kuszewski M, Stania M. Focused shock wave and ultrasound therapies in the treatment of lateral epicondylitis: a randomized control trial. Scientific Reports. 2024;14(1):26053. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-77410-w via PubMed (PMID: 39472446)
** Çetin BV, Sepeçti Ö, Yazar I, Kaptan AY, Orhan Ö, Demir M, Altay MA. Comparison of local massage, steroid injection, and extracorporeal shock wave therapy efficacy in the treatment of lateral epicondylitis. Joint Diseases and Related Surgery. 2024;35(2):386-395. https://doi.org/10.52312/jdrs.2024.1648 via PubMed (PMID: 38727119)
