WELCOME TO A STEP ABOVE MASSAGE
Welcome to A Step Above Massage! We’re a deep tissue massage therapy clinic in Albuquerque, NM United States run by entrepreneur and movement practitioner Larisa Chavez.
Our team is raising the standard of care by blending mind-body techniques and body work to help people move with ease and live without pain.
We’re certified in a range of therapies and techniques to soothe your pain and mobilize your stiffness – even if doctors have dismissed or minimized your experience.
WE’VE WORKED WITH:
- A World Champion Power Lifter to completely erase pain in her lower back and calm overstimulated nerves so she can now move her arms above her head again.
- Government Computer Scientists, Engineers and Accountants go from having sunken posture with stiff shoulders and recurrent headaches to being able to be at rest in good posture and not have any pain or stiffness in their neck or shoulders.
- Competitive Ballroom Dancers maintain a long season of competitions without injury.
- Active Retirees to completely erase sciatica, lower back pain, unstick calves and soothe achy legs.
- Avid Active Gym Goers restore and keep full range of motion of their pecs, shoulders, traps, back, hamstrings, and calves
- A Busy Hairstylist to eliminate persistent migraines, TMJ and lower back pain from long hours standing and working with their hands and shoulders.
And we’re bringing this same approach to you- we create a nurturing, unhurried space where we use mind-body integrating techniques to help you forget about stress, prioritize self-growth, improve sleep, eradicate muscle spasms, ease pain and boost mobility—so you can achieve your goals and focus on doing the things that make you come alive!
Because you deserve care that prioritizes you as a whole person. You deserve to feel your voice is heard, your body is respected, and your unique needs are honored. You deserve for your care to be and feel like more than just a hollow transaction. Together, we’ll listen to your body’s wisdom as it illuminates your path to being the best version of yourself.
PROUD TO HAVE WORKED WITH
MEET THE TEAM
Larisa Chavez, LMT
Hi, I’m Larisa. My journey to massage therapy has been as dynamic as the dances I’ve loved for over 30 years- even training with coaches from Dancing With the Stars. But it was my unanswered questions about how movement expresses emotion that led me to massage school, where I discovered the fascinating intersection of neurology, anatomy, and body mechanics. My previous career in molecular biology and love of dance finally and seamlessly blended my natural skills in a way that feels perfectly aligned. This is where I’m meant to be. This is how I’m meant to be of service to the world.
In 2018 I was diagnosed with Lyme’s disease – this dragged me through the experience of being gaslit by the doctors I was supposed to trust. They were telling me that my lived experience wasn’t real. The medical system failed me. Hospital doctors told me nothing was wrong and that I was just depressed. But I KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG. My body was yelling at me to keep searching, and when a holistic doctor did a complete workup of all Lyme disease strains, not just the ones recognized by the CDC, we got a clear positive result.
This isn’t right—I believe people deserve to feel safe and at home in their body and to be heard and believed when they share their experiences.
Chronic pain, stiffness, and the emotional weight of perfectionism and self-doubt can make life a constant battle. I’ve seen how the medical system fails people, offering quick fixes or dismissive advice like “it’s psycho-somatic” or “it’s part of aging.” That’s why I challenge both overly mystical pseudoscience and strictly empirical medical practices. From my experience, the most effective truths emerge from a balanced middle ground.
The body is a symphony of interconnected systems, and when one area is out of sync, it creates ripples of dysfunction. I believe in informed decision-making, sustainability, and collaboration. My role is to listen to, guide, and empower my clients with the tools and knowledge they need to heal. I help active individuals and professionals reclaim a sense of vitality, freedom, and joy in their bodies.
My current mission is to empower my clients with the tools and knowledge they need to take control of their health. I believe that people should have access to information that grants them the freedom to confidently care for themselves and others. I want to make it possible for you to move through life with ease, vitality, and joy – forever.
If you’re dealing with limited range of motion or pain that’s keeping you from the activities you love or a lingering issue in your shoulders, back, buttocks, or legs that you’re just “living with”, I look forward to seeing you.
CLINICAL QUALIFICATION & AFFILIATIONS
- Ashaitsu (DeepFeet Bar Therapy) Certified
- Licensed Massage Therapist
- New Mexico School Of Massage Alumni
- Bachelors of Science in Biology, UNM
- American Red Cross CPR/First Aid Certified
- American Massage Therapy Association New Mexico Chapter Board Member
Chloe Morris, LMT
Hi, I’m Chloe. My path to massage therapy has been anything but straightforward, but it’s led me to exactly where I’m meant to be. With over 10 years of experience, I’ve honed my skills in chronic pain management and deep tissue work, and I’m loving calling Albuquerque my new home.
Growing up with chronic migraines, I learned early on how powerful touch can be— my parents would rub my shoulders growing up, or I would do the same for friends. After burning out in college (shoutout to anyone who’s ever felt trapped in academia), I realized I needed a career that felt more aligned with who I am and how I want to show up in the world. Massage therapy clicked for me in a way nothing else had. It’s like I finally came home.
I specialize in chronic pain management and deep tissue work, especially neck and trigger point therapy. I call it “immediately gratifying” because the relief is often instant and dramatic—it feels amazing watching a tense muscle melt under your hands. Having lived with chronic illness myself, I get it. I know what it’s like to feel despair and pessimism about living a life in pain. That’s why I’m so passionate about creating a space where you feel heard, believed, and empowered.
I believe pain is like a puzzle waiting to be solved. My job is to listen to your body, follow its lead, and help you put the pieces together. I’m all about evidence-based care, but I also value your lived experience. I’m not here to push the “no pain, no gain” narrative or sell you on woo-woo practices. Instead, I want to give you tools that actually work—tools that help you feel more connected to your body and more in control of your health.
I believe massage is a birthright—a way to reclaim your body and your autonomy.
If you’re FED UP with unrelenting neck, shoulder or back pain, I’m your gal! I look forward to working with you.
CLINICAL QUALIFICATION & AFFILIATIONS
- The Lauterstein Conway School of Massage Therapy
- Bachelors of Arts in Cultural Anthropology
- Certified in Manual Lymphatic Drainage (Vodder Technique)
- Member of the American Bodywork and Massage Professionals Association