Best Of The Flathead, Massage 2023

“Best of the Flathead”, the Daily Interlake newpaper’s yearly poll which includes a massage therapy category, is upon us once again. Here’s link to the newspaper. The final’s haven’t been chosen, but being that I made the top ten this year, I thought I’d write a post and comment on the other nine local therapists, some who I know, and some who I don’t. Those I don’t know won’t receive much attention here. Being that in the last couple year’s I’ve scaled down my business, and do no real marketing, I’m very surprised I made the prelims, especially when at last count there were roughly 80 local LMT’s in the running for the top ten. Massage therapy in the Flathead Valley!

Last fall, due to extended responsibilities caring for my parents who have advanced dementia (my dad died Sept. 29th 2023, but not from dementia), I scaled down from working 6 days a week, to 4, and gave a brief list to my clients of who I would go to if it was me looking for a reputable, local LMT. I’m secure enough that I had no problem offering these suggestions, and am still in a mental state where I’m happy to offer my thoughts on other locals, even if it means losing clients. I have this theory, “it’s good to eat at a different restaurant now and then”, you get the idea. So, massage junkies of the Flathead Valley, here’s the current top ten, and I will update this post after the finals. The list is in no particular order.

Lily DePinto. I don’t know her, know nothing about her, a quick google search didn’t show much but her Instagram, and the last post was 9 weeks ago. I’m not on facebook so I can’t search there. But she must be doing something right, she made the top ten! And, what a cool name!

Jessica Gutierrez. She appears to be associated with Vibe Wellness Lounge in Whitefish. She is one of the rare locals, like me, who does ashiatsu, and cupping. Here’s a LINK to my ashiatsu page. Unlike me, she lists pregnancy massage as a skill. I think she may have worked on me a long, long time ago. Her last Instagram post was 8 weeks ago.

Brienne Stekly. I don’t know her. A google search shows her with a business listing in Columbia Falls. Pictures there show graston tools, and cupping equipment, and sound therapy or tuning forks, cool! She’s into yoga, and mommying! She does have a business website.

Kendra Bennett. Kendra’s name comes up a lot in this poll, I think she’s won it before. I don’t know her. Google shows a biz name of Majestic Motions. Looks like she’s got good reviews! Unfortunately when you click on the website tab thru her google biz listing, it takes you to her facebook page. Her last Insta post was 161 weeks ago.

Megan Biggs. I met Megan once, when she was still in local massage school. She is the daughter of local chiropractor Steven Biggs. Being that she hasn’t been in business too long, and has already made the top ten, that’s pretty cool!

Kara Elmore. Don’t think I know her. Associated with Oasis massage, her last Insta post was 160 weeks ago, maybe she’s more of a facebook girl! Her last post was seeking votes for the 2020 poll. I’m not on TikTok, but that looks like a way to find her. I can’t find much about her business on google, but she may also work as a CPA. Many local LMT’s have a 2nd job.

Kaia Van Nutta. I met Kaia some years back when we both worked in the spa at Flathead Lake Lodge. She’s been on the massage radar locally for a long time, I think she offers continuing ed classes, and generally is very involved with the local scene and probably has tons of experience and great skills. And another LMT with a cool name! Google shows her as the owner of Whitefish Wellness. She has a number of other LMT’s working for, or with her there.

Jessica Emily. I know Jessica! Like Kaia, she and I worked together at Flathead Lake Lodge. Jessica was at Amore as I recall, she admits to not doing deep tissue work, but leans towards swedish and spa type vibes. She’s consistently in the poll, although I don’t think she’s ever won. Go Jessica!

Jody Deutsch. I know Jody! Both my wife and I have been to her for massage therapy at Cloud 9 in Kalispell. She’s booked out a long ways! She is one of the few locals I’m aware of who has tons of education and experience with lymph drainage work. I very much enjoyed her work, and wish she wasn’t so busy.

FINALS: AND, HERE’S HOW IT ULTIMATELY TURNED OUT THIS YEAR, 2023:

1. KENDRA BENNETT
2. JESSICA EMILY
3. MEGAN BIGGS
4. LILY DEPINTO
5. JOHNNY COCHRANE

Unfortunately over the years this Kalispell / Flathead Valley massage poll has become more of a popularity contest rather that a truly “best of”. In my opinion, if it truly was a “best of”, we’d consistently see folks like Mike and Jeff Eayrs, Kaia, Jody, and the like, winning this thing. We’ve all seen it, local people and businesses paying for ads and marketing trying to get ya to vote for them. It’s one thing to email your clients and remind them of the poll and ask for a nomination, but it’s a totally different, sad thing to PAY FOR VOTES, and that is quite common these last few years. The poll is a great way to research local businesses, from contractors, to realtors, to hiking trails. I won in 2016. Massage Therapy: GET SOME!