The Love Institute

My wife and I went for the first time. We did class #3 that has a focus on headache relief. I actually went in with a headache and left without one! Sarah was very helpful and friendly in explaining techniques. I was a little nervous about what we were getting into but the environment was very comfortable. one bit of advice is to wear comfortable cloths such as althetic shorts and tee shirt. Recommend to any level.

Wonderful and relaxing ambiance! We attended to two couple's massage classes:
Class 1: (Head, back, feet)
Class 2: (Arms, legs, hands)

Setting is located in a yoga studio. There are plenty of massage tables for every couple with different heights. The instructions were quite brief and basic. Definitely utilize asking questions if you missed anything, that's what the class is all about. You want to come home knowing that you mastered what you learned. We both really enjoyed the sessions! There are sweet treats after each session Overall, it's a great excuse/reason to spend quality time together and to be able to give each other full body massages.

Tips:
1. Park in the parking garage near Pioneer Square
2. Wear clothes that you can easily take off under the cover sheets
3. Take advantage of online deals

My wife and I did Massage class 2 today. Sarah was our instructor and she was fabulous. She put on a great instructional class, she was friendly, patient, and knowledgeable. We loved her class and purchased another one to comeback again.

This class far exceeded any of my expectations! Sarah was a wonderful instructor and I walked out feeling confident that I can give a decent massage to my fiancé. We are both talking about going back for classes 2 and 3. I was impressed at how much we covered in two hours but did not feel overwhelmed. The experience of giving and receiving is what love is all about. Thank you!

It was very worth while. My fiancee and I did both classes on back to back days and we were slightly worried that we would be too tired to enjoy the second day, but the class teaches it in such a way that you don't have any finger pain, and all the different techniques made each other feel truly loved. It was a great time and we are even considering buying a massage table to furnish our new home so we can keep these skills growing. Definitely a romantic time and worth while.

It comes highly recommended.

Loved it. ..bought a second couples massage session with The Love Institute to go back. ..we had a lot of fun, the instructor was very informative and she made sure you were doing it correctly.

Class 1: back, scalp and feet with Troy Benton on 02/18/18
Class 2: arms, legs and hands with Mary Jane on 03/18/18

My girlfriend and I attended two couples massage classes. We learned how to bring our massage skills to the next level; how to safely massage people without getting tired; and how to avoid hurting ourselves or our partner. I would definitely recommend booking a couples massage class with The Love Institute.

WHAT TO EXPECT:
The room had exposed brick, hardwood floors, and relaxing music playing. It was a warm atmosphere. You walk in, immediately remove your shoes, and put your belongings in a cubby. There are many tables to choose from with varying heights. The tables are covered with a VERY soft sheet. Arrive early so you don't feel stressed about parking/transportation. Lastly, don't forget to bring cash for a tip at the end of the session! Check out the Love Institute's FAQ page before arriving so you'll know what to wear and what to expect.
https://theloveinstitute.com/faqs/

A NOTE ON BEING A QUEER COUPLE:
As a lesbian couple, were were a little nervous we'd be the only queer couple in the class. In Class 1, there was another queer couple which made us feel relieved. The instructor, Troy Benton, started off basically saying, "So, typically I have the men on the table first so that the women can finish up their time with a massage. Now, not every group has a guy and a girl *gestures to the two queer couples* so, you guys can just decide who goes first. I'll try to refer to people as the 'giver' and 'receiver' rather than just 'the guys' and 'the girls' but I might slip up on that." Then, he proceeded to use the binary guys/girls throughout the rest of the session. I think it's great that he acknowledged the difference in the room rather than skirt around it awkwardly. However, it annoyed me that he just gave out a disclaimer then went on to not even try that hard... *eyeroll*

CLASS 1: MESSED UP JOKES/COMMENTS
Troy Benton relied heavily on jokes. I understand the desire to crack a few jokes to break the ice with your clients and establish a connection but, some of his jokes were very offensive. For example, while practicing scalp massages, Troy was talking about hair pulling. He said, "Be careful when you're pulling her hair. You want to grab closer to the scalp, not at the end of the hair. It's not like you're a caveman dragging her back to your cave for the night." *cue laughter* He also added, "Be careful. If you pull her hair to hard, she might turn around and smack you." I don't think jokes like this are funny, at all for many different reasons.

Guess what. 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men have been victims of [some form of] physical violence by an intimate partner within their lifetime (CDC, 2010). It's extremely likely that there are clients in that very room who are survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV). These outrageous jokes only serve to create an environment where some people can feel excluded, victimized, and/or retraumatized. People of any gender can experience or perpetrate IPV. To joke about people dragging their partner by their hair or people smacking and hitting their partner just isn't funny. It's hurtful to not only make these jokes but then force survivors of IPV to hear the other people in the room laugh at them. #Time'sUp to call out bullshit like this. I'm not asking for Troy to be punished but I think he should look at himself and ask how he can be more inclusive of clients in his space.

Other than that, Troy Benton was a decent instructor who clearly was very knowledgeable. I still gave him a tip at the end of the class. I simply want him to make a greater effort to be more inclusive of all potential clients (specifically queer, transgender, and/or gender non-conforming clients and clients who have experienced intimate partner violence). I hope he learns from this feedback.

CLASS 2
In Class 2, my girlfriend and I were the only queer couple. The instructors said it didn't matter who should go first on the table, but it seemed like the men (and myself...) just automatically went first anyway. I honestly don't understand why every class can't be like that (with the couples deciding who would like to go first). This class had two instructors who took turns teaching plus three additional assistants. This was cool because we received more one-on-one attention and help from them. It can feel nerve-wracking when they're observing you but I recommend you ask for help when you need it and be open to their feedback because, it's essentially what you paid for. They're kind, knowledgeable, and they're there to help you! Overall, the instructors in Class 2 (Mary
& Sarah) were extremely sweet and we felt welcomed. This time, I forgot to bring cash for a tip (I'm telling you, don't forget!! You'll feel like a big jerk!) and one of the assistants reassured me that it was alright and that a Yelp review instead would be more than appreciated. So, here I am!

THE END

We just finished our first class. Sarah was an amazing teacher! She helped us a lot with technique. We liked it so much that we immediately signed up for the other two classes. These will be some great date nights.

Bought this class as a Christmas present and thought it would be a fun thing to do. The class was great. You work on real massage tables learn real techniques and all in a very relaxed atmosphere. We loved it so much we signed up for another class before we left.

Just did our second one and signed up for a third one. Sarah H is knowledgeable, helpful, positive and a lot of fun. She was sure patient with us and made the class useful and fun. Highly recommend!