At Prime Sports Institute, we have called downtown Bellingham home since 2018, and our clinic at 1704 N. State Street has become a go-to spot for people who want more than a quick rubdown. If you are weighing your options among Bellingham massage places and wondering what a visit actually looks like, here is a clear walkthrough of what to expect when you come see us.
Why Downtown N. State Street
Downtown is the heart of the city, and our location puts expert care right where you already live, work, and play. The area is easy to reach from across Whatcom County, and the City of Bellingham highlights downtown as a central hub for visitors and locals alike. That accessibility matters when you are building recovery into a busy week, because a convenient location is the difference between booking consistently and skipping sessions.
We are a sports medicine clinic conveniently located in downtown Bellingham, and we designed the space to bring the kind of athletic therapy college and pro athletes rely on to everyone who wants to feel, move, and perform better.
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What Makes Prime Different From a Typical Spa
Many Bellingham massage places focus on relaxation alone. Prime takes an integrated approach to healthcare, with a team of practitioners working together for you, all under one roof. That means your massage connects to the bigger picture of your movement, performance, and recovery.
A Holistic, Comfort-First Experience
From the moment you book, our focus is on you. Our licensed massage therapists take a holistic approach centered on your overall comfort and nervous system support, whether it is your first massage or you are a returning patient. Every massage room experience is built around your comfort, movement, and results, from your first visit to your next.
Treatment That Targets the Root
This is where Bellingham medical massage sets us apart. As our owner and Licensed Massage Therapist Kerry Gustafson explains, treatment massage and medical massage are not a traditional spa massage. The goal is to reach the root of the problem and leave you with results you keep feeling over the next several days. If you are dealing with chronic pain, neck tension, back pain, shoulder issues, or need help with injury recovery, our sessions are designed to improve range of motion and reduce discomfort.
The Services You Can Expect
When you walk into our N. State Street location, you have access to a full range of care, not just one style of massage.
Massage Therapy
Our licensed massage therapists specialize in a range of techniques to address specific needs. We offer Swedish massage, relaxation massage, trigger point massage, hot stone massage with soothing hot stones, and prenatal and pregnancy massage options. For athletes and active individuals, our Bellingham sports massage focuses on myofascial release in the deeper layers of muscle to enhance performance and speed recovery. Our therapists also work with techniques including deep tissue, cupping, neuromuscular work, orthopedic massage, and more.
More Than Massage
Because Prime is an integrated clinic, your visit can connect to athletic training, strength and conditioning, physical therapy, nutrition, and guided recovery in our Athletic Training Room. That recovery space lets you use the latest innovations in recovery equipment with expert guidance and an individualized plan from our staff. Your Bellingham fitness and recovery goals stay coordinated instead of scattered across town.
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Meet the Team Behind the Table
A great massage comes down to the person delivering it. Our team of Bellingham massage therapists brings real depth and credentials.
Owner Kerry Gustafson is an Athletic Trainer and Licensed Massage Therapist with more than 20 years of experience across physical therapy, high school, Division I, and Pac-12 college athletic settings. Michela Stratton is dual-licensed as a Massage Therapist and Certified Athletic Trainer. Veronica Triplett specializes in sports massage, orthopedic massage, deep tissue therapy, stretch therapy, TMJ massage, frozen shoulder massage, and massage for headaches and migraines. Seth Lee, Thom Mooney, Amanda Cook, and Kristina Zographos round out a team trained in everything from Swedish and deep tissue to intraoral massage. Whatever brings you in, we match you with the right therapist for your goals.
Planning Your Visit
A little planning helps you get the most from your time with us.
Choosing Your Session Length
90-minute session: May include an orthopedic and musculoskeletal evaluation with measurements, detailed techniques for your primary complaints and compensations, plus self-care strategies and a customized recovery plan.
60-minute session: Addresses both primary and secondary complaints, and works well as a full-body option.
30-minute session: A focused choice when you cannot wait and need to treat an acute injury.
Recovery Right in Downtown Bellingham
Downtown deserves a massage experience that actually moves the needle on how you feel. Prime Sports Institute pairs skilled Bellingham massage therapy with a full sports medicine team, all in one convenient location on N. State Street. Book a relaxing session or focused therapeutic massage with a licensed therapist.
Book Your Massage We accept HSA cards and provide SuperBills. Prefer to book by phone? Call (360) 922-3120.Hours on N. State Street
Our clinic hours are Monday through Friday, 9am to 5pm, with Saturday and Sunday available by appointment. The Athletic Training Room keeps its own schedule: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9am to 5pm, Tuesday and Thursday from 9am to 6pm, and Saturday from 12pm to 4pm. We recommend booking ahead so you get the therapist and time that fits your week.
Payment and Insurance
Massage therapy and athletic training at Prime are self-pay, and we accept HSA cards. We can also provide a SuperBill you may submit to your insurance company for out-of-network benefits, though this does not guarantee reimbursement. If that interests you, contact your insurance provider and request a bill at the time of service.
A Trusted Choice in Whatcom County
People consistently tell us Prime is the best massage they have had in Whatcom County, and there is nothing we love more than helping our patients experience a positive change in their quality of life. Whether you are visiting from Bellingham, Lynden, Lake Whatcom, Sudden Valley, or near Bellis Fair Mall, our downtown clinic is the trusted place for lasting results. For anyone searching massage Bellingham locals rely on, N. State Street is worth the trip.
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Book Your Visit to Prime
Downtown Bellingham deserves a massage experience that actually moves the needle on how you feel. Prime Sports Institute pairs skilled Bellingham massage therapy with a full sports medicine team, all in one convenient location. Whether you want a relaxing session or focused Bellingham therapeutic massage with a licensed Bellingham massage therapist, we are ready to help.
Call us at (360) 922-3120 or schedule your appointment online today, and come see why N. State Street is the place to recover in Bellingham.
