Why isn’t massage therapy working for me?
Most practitioners follow a routine. The body doesn’t. If the work isn’t adapting to what your body is actually doing, you’ll get temporary relief at best.
Deep therapeutic bodywork guided by twenty-six years of practice. Your body leads. I follow.
jaece
One who heals.
I’m Michael. I’m not just a massage therapist of 25+ years; I’m a healer and co-founder of CGW Studios, known for listening deeply to the body and helping people feel seen, heard, and restored.
A room is never just a room. At CGW Studios, this one reflects the life behind my work.
It reflects me, the people I serve, and the experiences that have shaped me. Years spent as a mother, a daughter, a wife, a veteran, a business owner, and a lifelong student of people.
I began this work like many others, trading time for money. Over time, it became something deeper. A practice. A way of understanding how people carry stress, story, and experience in their bodies.
Along the way, I’ve collected more than techniques. I’ve collected people, stories, and a deep understanding of what it means to be cared for.
Today, I work with clients and also mentor others building their own path.
The room I’ve built reflects all of it. My curiosity, my care, and the life I’ve lived.
Michael Jaece
When someone walks in, they bring a concern, pain, tension, or something they can’t quite name. I start there, but I don’t stay fixed on it. I listen to what the body says next.
Often, the body points somewhere unexpected. I’ve learned to follow that, because that’s where the deeper work begins.
I don’t force an outcome. I listen, respond, and let the work unfold. In that space, we find what’s really going on, not just the place that’s asking for attention in the moment.
A full range of tools and techniques, applied with precision to what your body needs.
Learn more about each modality before booking: Ashiatsu · Foot zoning · Three-hour sessions · Deep therapeutic · Coaching
A client favorite. Three hours allows space to work more deeply and move between modalities as needed. A session might include foot zoning, Ashiatsu, and other techniques, all integrated based on what your body needs that day. More on the three-hour session →
If you recognized yourself in the first column, I would love to meet you.
Most practitioners follow a routine. The body doesn’t. If the work isn’t adapting to what your body is actually doing, you’ll get temporary relief at best.
I’m not following a fixed routine. I’m adjusting constantly. Your body changes during the session, and I change with it. That’s where the results come from.
Yes. This is one of the main reasons people come to me. Chronic pain usually comes from patterns your body has been holding for a long time. When those patterns are addressed correctly, people can get out of pain, not just manage it.
Most people notice a difference after the first session. How long it lasts depends on how long the issue has been there and how your body responds.
Deep tissue uses hands and elbows with shorter, targeted strokes. Ashiatsu uses my feet, which allows for much longer strokes across the muscle. That length helps not just with pressure, but with actually lengthening and opening the tissue in a way hands often can’t.
You’ll fill out a detailed intake form, but most of what I do isn’t based on that. It’s based on what your body tells me once we start. We’ll talk briefly, then get into the work.
No. Most people don’t. You feel where the pain is, but not necessarily what’s causing it. Muscles respond in predictable ways, and I’m able to follow those patterns to find the root of the issue.
Come in comfortable clothing that’s easy to change out of. You undress to your comfort level. Proper draping is always used and follows Utah law, so you’ll stay covered throughout the session. I can work with whatever level you’re comfortable with.
Sometimes you’ll feel great right away. Other times, especially with deeper or lymphatic work, you might feel a little off at first. That’s normal. This isn’t a light, spa-style massage. It’s therapeutic work. After a few hours, once your body settles and processes, that’s when most people feel the real improvement. Staying hydrated helps a lot.
I've tried to write this review several times now and each time it's been a challenge to articulate Michael's skill set.Bernice A.
My massage with Michael was mentally, emotionally, and physically therapeutic. It was the self-care I needed.J.
Michael saved me. I had a hard time standing for more than a few minutes. Now I'm on my feet again.Denece J.
A place for the questions behind the work.
If you've tried massage and nothing changed, you weren't unlucky. You were likely given the wrong type of work. Why most massage fails, and what effective bodywork actually looks like.
Read the cornerstone →Massage and chiropractic care address the same symptoms from different angles. Here's how to tell which one your body actually needs, and when the answer is both.
Read → May 11, 2026Michael Jaece is a licensed massage therapist with more than 25 years of practice, co-founder of Canyon Gate Wellness Studios in Orem, Utah, and an Ashiatsu instructor. Here's the longer story of who she is and how she works.
Read → May 10, 2026Most massage therapists cap their bookings at 90 minutes. Here's why three-hour sessions exist, who actually needs them, what happens during one, and when shorter sessions are still the right answer.
Read →This room is more than a workspace. It’s where every plant, tool, and client-given keepsake carries a story of connection and trust.
Over years of practice, Michael has cultivated a space that reflects how she sees the world, shaped by a lifetime of learning, deep curiosity, and a genuine interest in people.
Each session is as much about understanding the person as it is about caring for the body. In this eclectic room, every detail serves a purpose, and every interaction is grounded in genuine care.
Michael co-founded CGW Studios, the space where she practices.
CGW Studios was built to support independent practitioners with access to a fully developed, professional environment, designed for real work, not just appearance.
It’s a place where you can focus on your craft, with the space, tools, and atmosphere already in place. If you’re looking for a space to grow your practice, CGW Studios was built for that.
Visit CGW Studios →Opens in a new window. Current clients can bookmark this page for quick access.