In her two treatment rooms on the penthouse level of a studio on Manhattan’s busy 57th Street, Laurie Towers provides expert and effective trigger point and deep tissue massage that works wonders for her clients, both in terms of short term pain alleviation and in terms of long term wellness, often crucial for her clients’ careers. Physical Advantage: Massage for the Stars and for Us All by Marilyn Green he woman who left just before my appointment had all the hallmarks of a dancer: long, slender body, long, perfect straight hair, graceful movement. She is typical of the clientele of Physical Advantage, which also irons out the problems of actors, professional athletes and ordinary people seeking relief of pain and rehabilitation that brings them back to their lives and careers. However, there’s nothing of the affected attitude or snobbish subservience that often comes with working with celebrities. Owner Laurie Towers tells the very typical story of a diva who wanted her to work on her before a performance (Towers can work on the body to liberate the voice). Towers agreed to make a call, which involves three hours of her time instead of the usual one, at the usual rate. The diva’s representative then called back to be sure Towers didn’t smoke (she doesn’t). However, the third call, specifying that she should not wear perfume, etc., etc., sparked a clear response that underlines Towers’ down to earth position. “Listen,” she said. “There was a reason why you called me and I’d like to think that that reason is still there. I haven’t given you a celebrity price; I’m treating this as I do all outside calls. But I will have on perfume because this is part of my day. Now if you can get away from treating me like an indentured servant or a child, call me back and we will go ahead.” They called her back. And there’s a good reason for this. In her two treatment rooms on the penthouse level of a studio on Manhattan’s busy 57th Street, Towers provides expert and effective trigger point and deep tissue massage that works wonders for her clients, both in terms of short term pain alleviation and in terms of long term wellness, often crucial for her clients’ careers. Physical Advantage also goes directly to the client and has given in-office treatments to such Manhattan firms as Morgan Stanley, AT&T, Chase Bank, and Liz Claiborne. She makes perennial appearances in New York Magazine’s “Best of” listings and has been featured on Fox TV. But the real evidence of Towers’ prowess is the long line of grateful clients who have used her services. Count me as one. When I came to Towers I was still limping, despite extensive physical therapy, Pilates and various kinds of rehabilitation that had reduced the problems from an injured knee but not solved them. After questioning me closely about the injury and what I had been doing about it, Towers started working, heading right for the contracted muscles and impacted acids that were causing me considerable pain and restricting my movement so that my hips and back were being affected. By the time my hour was up I had nearly levitated from the table a couple of times – this is one massage that will not send you to sleep – but I could get up without pain in one smooth motion, I slept through the night without stiffness, and I booked a series of weekly massages with great thankfulness. Towers checked my gait, told me my problem appeared correctable. The former body builder and personal trainer recommended some simple steps to maintain the progress we had made, adding that she didn’t think I had to walk back a week later in the same condition. I wouldn’t think of it. To book an appointment with Towers or her two highly-trained therapists visit Physical-Knead.com, or call (212) 460-1879.