San Francisco Massage Therapy News--True Massage & Welllness

Another Article About the Daily Deals Model

2011-08-17T12:04:00.001-07:00

This journalist also found it is not good for businesses.

http://wweek.com/portland/article-17852-cheat_local_.html?current_page=2

A Follow Up About the Living Social Deal--I am not alone!

2011-08-04T20:13:00.000-07:00

I am writing this post partly because I received an anonymous comment on my previous post that said I was not taking responsibility for this failing. The person left no email address, and it was not a name I recognized. I wanted to just put this behind me, but that comment bothered me so much, I felt the need to write a follow up to show that I am not the only one who has experience what I did with deals like this.

True massage & Wellness is closed because we could no longer pay the rent. Everything was fine until my accident of Sept 1, 2010, and my subsequent decision to run the deal. Four of my six massage therapists left because I asked them to take lower pay and they could not--and I was not going to be the sort of place that would pay therapists only $10 per hour. Seven months after burning through our portion of the "revenue share" from the deal, we were still doing massages that would generate no new revenue on people that neve had any intent on returning to pay full rate--no matter how good their massage was. Money was going out, but not enough coming in. Since I did the deal, and in light of the Groupon IPO, some journalists have been interviewing businesses about their experiences and guess what? It turns out that other businesses have experienced the same thing. I am not alone.

I also mentioned in my previous post that I was going to talk about the clientele. I'll just say that most of the people were wonderful, but there were a handful who were some of the most demanding, nastiest people I have met during the time I ran True Massage--and in my life, actually. Interestingly, some of these people are also the most vocal and wrote negative reviews that contain not only exaggerations, but plain lies. Not errors, but Lies. I have asked the reviewers to correct what I thought were innocent inaccuracies, but they refused. For over five years we had been in the top 5 in Yelp natural search results for the keyword "massage" in San Francisco and that drove a lot of wonderful new clients to us. After the deal we dropped to number 16. At the bottom of the second page. This just killed us. It's not so much each individual review that was damaging--the reviews actually say more about the reviewers than about us--nor was it that we went for the first time to a 4.5 stars from our long time 5 star rating--but the fact that we dropped in the search rankings is what did damage. I could see the change in our new customer flow as we dropped.

At the time I did the Living Social Deal, there was not much information out there about other business' experience with it. All I knew was that I would probably get a huge influx of new clients, and they would be coming at a huge expense to me. But that was a risk I was willing to take--given that my rep, Colm, implied there was no reason to be concerned by reminding me that we had so many positive reviews that people would surely return to pay full price! That was not the case--and it is not typically with these deals, I have come to learn. Most of the coupon bearers had no intent of spending anything more than the value of their coupon, and had no intent of ever returning to pay full rate--the same as the findings of the Rice University Study.

When I booked the deal, Colm, my Living Social rep, assured me he would try to get me a date in October. I emphasized that if it did not run in October, I could not do the deal, since November and December were our busiest months. October 15 rolled around, and I had not heard from Colm about a date yet, so I called to express concern and tell him it was getting too late. I had also by then noticed that other businesses who were in the same business as I was had received a high proportion of negative reviews after running a deal. I asked Colm if we could just not do it. He never directly said "no", but he used an intimidating "You've signed a contract, Mary". In retrospect, I realized I should have pressed harder to get out of it, and I probably could have.

In that same call, I asked if we could at least cap the number we sold, but he would not allow me to do that either. We sold over 850 of them. I cringed that morning as I watched the counter go up on each refresh.

Some articles:
=> A Rice University study done on Groupon, Living Social and the like. In it, they find that "Although close to 80 percent of deal users were new customers, significantly fewer users spent beyond the deal’s value or returned to purchase at full price." among other interesting findings.

=> The blog of Jessie Burke, the owner of Posie's Cafe. In it, she discusses how people were rude and they spent very little over the value of the coupon.

=> Tech Crunch Writer Rocky Agrawal's Interview with Jessie Burke. He summarizes her experience, which I found helpful. Her experience was very similar to mine. When people tried to get around the system, I had to cancel appointments and tell them why. Some people didn't like that. Some of them were really mean. One was downright crazy.

=> An Entrepreneur article. Finally, someone is writing about the pitfalls cautions of running one of these deals.

=> An example of a nail salon client's bad experience. Incidentally, by the last few months we were still open, I was so tired of dealing with people that were angry that they could not get in when *they* wanted to, and didn't understand that we needed to save prime time for our paying clients, that I also, perhaps more gently, suggested that if waiting made people unhappy, they were welcome to call Living Social to get a refund.

So, to that anonymous poster: I take full responsibility for making a bad business decision in a panic less than two weeks after I had been in a serious accident. I should not have done it, but honestly, the reality that I was not going to be able to work for three months had just set in--I had just hired several new people and expanded by adding a third studio--I was completely freaked out and needed to get new clients in. I regret not having pushed harder to cancel the deal with my rep before it ran.

But that's about it.

Authenticity: be TRUE, especially to yourself to be happier and enjoy life more!

2011-02-24T11:15:00.000-08:00

A great article about authenticity!
This concept is where our name comes from! When you come to see us, you don't have to be anyone but yourself. No fancy makeup or clothes required. :)

Be sure to check in on Foursquare!

2011-01-21T08:19:00.000-08:00

10% off for the Mayor

Wow! We're on Lonely Planet!

2011-01-21T08:15:00.000-08:00

Please review us if you get a chance!

My Experience With Living Social Daily Deals as a Small Busines Owner

2010-12-10T16:26:00.000-08:00

I am writing this because I feel that running one of these highly discounted deals has done more harm to my business than good, and there is no real way out there to warn others who are considering doing them to think twice about doing it. I've tried reviewing Living Social on a reviewing site, but I was told by someone located in Washington DC (Living Social's home base) to take it down. I also tried reviewing the app, but that was removed as well.

My intent here is not to assign blame. What's done is done and yes, it was THE single worst business decision I have ever made--at a time when I should not have been making decisions, but resting. My intent in writing about this is to bring to the end consumers' attention that their little deal they're getting my be really hurting the small business they bought it from--and also to share with other small businesses that may be considering running one, the reality of the results for at least one small business--and it may not be good. There is a lot of hype about these deals, but nobody seems to be discussing that they may not be good for all small businesses.

I will not buy the daily-deals unless it's for a larger company, a restaurant or a retail store where I would end up spending more than the value of the coupon. I don't buy them for one-on-one services, because either I know the practitioner is being paid less than they should be, or the business is losing a lot of money.

If you're a retail or dining business where people often spend more than the value of the coupon, then great. If you're a service, then be careful.

Here's my story:

After my accident on September 1, I was concerned that I would not be able to work for 3 months, especially after I had recently expanded. I hired more therapists to cover my appointments, and one particular--despite my advice to be patient, learn (she was not experienced) and build a reputation--began expressing concerns that she was not earning enough money (though I pay them about %50 of the revenue generated from their sessions).

I recalled being contacted a few months earlier by Living Social to run a "Daily Deal" sort of coupon. I was also talking to Groupon, and Yelp had contacted me to be their Daily Deals Launch Partner while I was out of the country, since we were one of their oldest sponsors with over 150 5 star reviews and had maintained a 5-star rating over all, after over 5 years of being on Yelp (we were one of their first sponsors).

I thought it would be a good way to generate more business since I would not be able to do the hands-on work for 3 months with my injuries. What I wasn't aware of was that I also had a concussion, and I probably should not have been agreeing to anything.

I called the rep who had contacted me, and while I felt pressured--he wouldn't allow me to limit the number we sold, but suggested that we could limit the number of appointments available. He did say that he would see if we could run our special in October. Running it in October was important because the following holiday season is typically busy enough. We ended our call on that note, he sent me the paperwork, and I signed it as I said I would, and sent it back. Then for weeks, I heard nothing.

Nothing about the progress in scheduling my deal, nothing more about planning.

Since I was formerly an advertising sales rep, I kind of expected that to happen once he closed me. I called my rep, Colm, on about Oct 15th to express my concern--particularly about how I noticed that companies that ran these deals often ended up with LOADS of negative reviews on review sites such as Yelp and that it would ruin our 5-star rating. I asked if we could not do it since he failed to follow up with me and I had a concussion when I called him. Most of all, however, was my concern that we would get overly entitled people who expected us to bend over backwards to accommodate unreasonable demands. And that they would go write negative reviews when we did not treat them like the "special" people that they are (Fortunately, 98% of the people have been great so far).

He denied that he dropped the ball and coldly stated that I had signed a contract and there was no chance. Big red flag.

A couple of things that Living Social does not publicize is that they take 50% of what you pay for your little coupon, so in reality, the business is getting HALF of that 50% off coupon--25% of what they normally charge. They also refused to allow us to put a cap on the number of coupons sold. In lieu of this, they encourage service-oriented businesses to limit the availability of appointments--and they don't tell the public this--which makes the business look like they could not handle running a deal. Or, they suggest that you pay the therapists less for Living Social clients. I respect my therapists as professionals and want them to be able to make a living, so I chose to continue to pay them their full rate as long as I could. Besides, I considered it my decision--an *investment* in growing my business, if you will. A gamble that will end up costing me approximately $13,000--the most expensive marketing I have ever done--when this is all said and done.

All the while, Living Social makes off with $20,000 and in some cases, even more.

Sure, it brought us that amount as well, but in a regular month, our payroll is half of that. With the influx of Living Social clients, we went through that in 6 weeks. How? Since we pay our therapists pretty well, each living social coupon redeemed was actually *costing* me between $7 and $20 in payroll costs alone. That doesn't include linens, rent, phone and other costs. YES. What we received for our Living Social deal that we have to honor for a whole year, covers payroll for 6 weeks, and the rest is out of my pocket. I ended up having to pay the therapists out of my savings until I finally had to ask them to take a lower rate for the Living Social clients. Two refused and then quit. The others will only take one per day, and some only take one per week. I see as many as I can, but need to limit the number of clients I see, as I am still recovering form a broken hand and a separated shoulder.

Next: The quality of the clients we've received from our Living Social deal, what people expect despite our efforts to manage expectations, and the effect this has had on our Yelp reviews. I know this may be controversial, but I've got to speak up about it. I'm sure that I am not the only business that has had an experience like this with one of these coupon companies.

(((more later...)))

Just Breathe: Your Body Has a Built-in Stress Reliever

2010-12-06T08:16:00.000-08:00

According this NPR article, all you have to do is breath to relieve stress.

I agree.

NIKE Women's Marathoners: Take 10% off!

2010-10-14T08:55:00.000-07:00

Bring in proof of registration to the NIKE Women's Marathon & get 10% off any 60-minute or more service until October 31! Use as many times you would like until the offer ends. Not valid with other offers or gift certificates. Must book online.

A Great New York TImes Article About Massage

2010-09-24T10:07:00.000-07:00

Read it here!

The article is based on research measuring blood levels of oxytocin, lymphocytes, cortisol and other hormonal indicators.

Planes, Trains, Bicycles and Broken Bones...

2010-09-21T09:22:00.000-07:00

Some of my regular clients may have noticed on our online booking system that my schedule is closed off for the months of September and August. Next to my name, it says, "broken hand, can't see clients till November."

"What's that all about?", you ask?

I've told the story a gazillion times, but here goes. Many of you know that I am an avid bicycle rider. I ride in the city almost daily and have been doing so for years. I am that person who uses hand signals, lets other bicyclists know when I am passing, and am super vigilant about watching what is happening ahead of me.

The morning after I had returned from vacation, I was enthusiastic about getting back into my TMW groove, seeing my clients, and working again. I got on my bike to head into the office taking my usual route. On my way there, I saw a police car pulled over to the side. The driver opened the door slightly, and I thought to myself, "Good. He saw me.", and proceeded to move left to get out of the way.

Just then the officer whipped the door wide open. My right hand hit the door, I and my bike flipped through the air (according to witness accounts), and I landed hard on my left shoulder. Fortunately, I was wearing a helmet because I know my head hit the ground.

My bike and I left the scene in an ambulance (I've never been in one before!) and went to the hospital.

Turns out I had a fractured metacarpal on my working hand, and a shoulder separation on the left side. I feel lucky to be alive, but bummed that I can't work.

My first few days are a little foggy, but I remember friends coming over to feed me and cut up my food into bite-sized pieces, wash my dishes and take me to the grocery store. Since one hand is out of commission and I couldn't lift the other, I've been having to get my hair professionally washed and dried, which is not so convenient, but kind of a treat.

I am feeling really grateful, because it could have been worse. Fortunately, that and my wonderful friends have kept my spirits high. :)

I'll look forward to seeing you in November. In the meantime, please book with the other practitioners--they're really great! I'll be spending my days healing, and working on other aspects of the practice...and spending a lot of time doing nothing, which is a challenge for me.

Be careful out there, and please, wear wear a helmet...no matter how safe a rider you are, there are always potential circumstances that are out of your control.

Mary

Last MInute Deal for Tuesday, 8/10/10

2010-08-10T16:12:00.000-07:00

Caitlin and Brittani both have appointments open this evening, Tuesday, August 10' 2010! Take $25 off when you book online using code "TMW081025". www.true-massage.com.

Can that new handbag really make you happy?

2010-08-10T09:05:00.000-07:00

Here is a great article from The New York Times on experiences vs. things with regard to happiness.

As a long-time advocate of the simple life, I like this! :)

Last Minute Deal for Monday, 08/09/10!

2010-08-09T16:42:00.000-07:00

Andy, Caitlin and Elizabeth all have appointments open this evening, Monday, August 09' 2010! Take $25 off when you book online using code "TMW080925". www.true-massage.com.

Feeling Grateful Today!

2010-08-06T11:35:00.001-07:00

I was just looking through some feedback I have received from our clients a while back and honestly, it warms my heart on this foggy, chilly San Francisco summer day...

Heading to Prague for a vacation Aug 18-Sept 1!

2010-07-29T09:08:00.000-07:00

I will be taking a much needed and deserved vacation to travel with a dear old friend and his wife in Prague from August 18-September 1. If you think you may need to get in for an appointment around that time, please don't wait till the last minute! I currently have appointments available, but once word gets out, they will book up!

Andy, Caitlin, Elizabeth, Mike and Britt will be available during that time, and all of them are excellent. Please take $20 off your first session with any of the other therapists you have not worked with before, using booking code "intro".

My friend grew up there, but now lives in Germany, so if you have any tips for me, please post them!

Superfoods!

2010-07-27T21:40:00.000-07:00

As usual, I've been paying a lot of attention to my nutrition, so I was excited to see this list of superfoods

Last Minute Deal for Friday, 7/16/10!

2010-07-16T16:02:00.000-07:00

Mike has appointments open this evening! Take $25 off when you book online using code "071610". True-massage.com #in #sfshopping

Last Minute deal for 7/7/2010!

2010-07-07T15:16:00.000-07:00

Elizabeth has a 7:45 appointment available this evening, Wednesday the 7th of July! Take $25 off when you book online! Use code 0707. Valid today Only. Not valid with other offers.

Saying "No" for a Less Stressful Life

2010-07-06T08:16:00.000-07:00

Think about it... Do you take on too much at work? Do you do things for others you don't really want to do simply because you can't find it in yourself to say "no"?

Many of us want to be of help to others, but when we find ourselves out of balance and not getting our own needs met, then maybe it's time to consider setting some boundaries. Stronger boundaries and resist the urge to please others around us.

Here are some articles about how setting boundaries and saying " no" can lead to less stress.

Welcome our Newest Massage Therapists!

2010-06-21T08:23:00.000-07:00

Several new Massage Therapists here in San Francisco: Elizabeth Cover, CMT; Michael LaCroix, CMT and Brittany Karhoff, CMT!

I am very fortunate to have found each of them and am looking forward to working with them!

Elizabeth has been Traveling around the world picking up all sorts of bodywork modalities and techniques, Britt is a professional modern dancer and has worked with many dance companies in the San Francsico Bay Area, so she has a really good understanding of movement and body structure. Lastly, I have had the good fortune to have worked with Michael LaCroix previously on an intermittent basis. He brings his several years of experience--including some time at Psoas Massage & Bodywork--along with his Aikido practice to his work to join us at TMW, and does some great issue specific work. His work is pretty straightforward, but he can really "get in there" without being too rough.

So...look for some new things coming up! We will be adding services to our menu, as well as fully-clothed Mat Shiatsu.

We are also adding a third Studio after July 1, where we will do our fully clothed Shiatsu sessions.

Lots of exciting things coming up!

Why Do You Do This Every Single Day?

2010-06-21T07:50:00.000-07:00

Have you ever dared to ask yourself this question?

Some inspiration to become aware of your behavioral patterns and to change habits and patterns you wish change: http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/motivation-and-product-launches/

Closed Friday June 4 & Saturday June 5

2010-06-02T07:46:00.000-07:00

We will unfortunately be closed on Friday June 4, and Saturday June 5. See you on Suncday the 6th!

A Simple Exercise Routine That Works for Lower Back/Hip Pain

2010-04-07T09:18:00.000-07:00

I've found that this simple routine--that you can do at home in only 5 minutes--works to strengthen the muscles deep in the hips that help to stabilize the hip structure and well as the adductors. As a result, hip flexors like your psoas and your piriformis are not strained by trying to do what the core muscles should be doing.

The routine's got a silly name, and it obviously is intended to improve your appearance...but give it a try and let me know what you think!

*The link was previously broken but was fixed on 4/13/2010.

Have a good day!

2010-02-09T09:34:00.000-08:00

It seems like, in modern urban life, we are always seeking the answer to how to live healthier and happier. This article by Deepak Chopra offers some good insights.

2008-11-21T22:07:00.000-08:00

I am reminded by my Anusara yoga instructors that now--autumn/winter---is the time for old, dead things to fall away to make room for the new--including old habits and ways of being. That means old habits, relationships, stc.

Are there old things in your life you could be letting go of?

We Will Be Closed 11/15 & 11/16 to Move

2008-11-02T22:13:00.000-08:00

We are going to be closed on Saturday, 11/15 and Sunday, 11/16 to move into our new, larger space with our own waiting room! Thank you for your patience and we look forward to seeing you soon!

A Great Website for Nutritional Analyses

2008-09-30T18:15:00.000-07:00

As many of my regular clients know, I am kind of a nut about nutrition and how it affects how you feel. While I do enjoy a french fry now & then, or some ice cream, or some corn chips...well I'm all about the unprocessed food. Especially after reading Micheal Pollan's latest book, In Defense of Food, I am all about eating mostly plants--and yes, some animal protein too--but mostly really nutritionally dense food so I am getting most of my nutrients from the food I eat, rather than from supplements.

Here is a great site to research the nutritional values of foods you eat on a regular basis. You can even search by those lowest in fat and highest in Iron, for example. You can build your "pantry" and then create recipes and even do a nutritional analysis of those, and check out the nutritionally complete rating. One of my favorite features? It lists the "inflammatory factor" of foods. Why is this important? I read recently that prolonged inflammation is a factor in both heart disease and cancer. By working certain foods into your diet: like turmeric and fish, you can keep the inflammation in your system under control.

I have been paying more attention to this for the last few weeks, and you know what? I feel great, and look great! A little less creaky, a little less puffy.

Check out the website: www.nutritiondata.com

We're growing again!

2008-09-30T17:29:00.000-07:00

I am thrilled to announce that we will be moving into an office space that will have two studios and its own waiting room (don't worry--we'll be in the same building). So we'll be able to accommodate 2 clients at the same time!

In addition, we'll be adding more therapists and at least one acupuncturist. I 've returned from my laid back schedule...I feel rejuvenated and energetic, and I am currently back in the office at LEAST 5 days per week now. So, if you were disappointed in the last few months that you were not able to get an appointment: never fear, I am here!

On a similar note: we are currently wrapping up the hiring of a therapist who comes to us from Kamalaspa. She is bringing along her knowledge of Ayurvedic massage and I look forward to integrating that into the practice.

More later...

new people!

2008-06-03T09:34:00.000-07:00

Some of my regular clients may have noticed that I've reduced my availability. I feel so fortunate to be able to do the work I do, but as many of you know, it is demanding...so I have found that in order to continue to give you the quality care I have historically offered, I have had to cut my availability back to only 10 sessions per week. On Tuesdays, I see clients in their homes on the peninsula, and I currently have an opening in the afternoon between 2 and 4:30. If you are located between Hillsborough and San Carlos and would like to have a good massage therapist see you in your home, please send me an email.

Since we have this studio space, and the openings, I have also brought on some other new therapists, and I would like to mention them here:

First of all Jenny Parma--who was formerly a writer at Google, and is currently studying her premeds--she does a really great massage that is a good balance between the technical and intuitive. She is always learning about the body, and that is reflected in her work. Read the rave reviews about her work here. Book your first appointment with her online and get $20 off!

Simone Garrigues is currently in the MSW program at Berkeley, and is a very experienced massage therapist. In a session with her, it is obvious that she is experienced and talented--and that she's listening to what is going on in the body as she is working. Book your first appointment with her online and get $20 off!

Lastly, we are seeking either 2 more massage therapists or an acupuncturist and a massage therapist to work with us in our expanding practice. Please see our website for details.

Trigger Point Therapy

2008-04-24T09:03:00.000-07:00

As I have grown in my practice as a massage therapist here in San Francisco, I have been drawn to Trigger Point Therapy as a way to alleviate chronic and "mystery" pain.

A quick story: I had a young man come to my office complaining of facial pain, pain behind his eyes, headaches, a sore throat and a stiff neck.

He told me he was disappointed that he went to a neurologist and all the neurologist could tell him was that he didn't have a brain tumor. He then went to an Ear, Nose and throat specialist that told him nothing was wrong with his ENT passages, but that it could be muscular.

So he found me.

Along with a full massage, we did some focused work on his Scalenes and his Sternocleidomastoid (two important muscles in the neck that help support and turn the head that often have trigger points due to whiplash or unhealthy holding patterns. Although the work for these muscles is done on the side and front of the neck, the work is *never* done on the esophogas, or throat and is well-documented. )

Amazingly, his symptoms were gone. He was thrilled.

So, what is trigger point therapy?

Here is the Wikipedia entry on it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trigger_point

And this book is fantastic for explaining not only what it is, in layperson's terms, but how you can work on yourself. I recommend it to everyone: http://www.triggerpointbook.com/

For more information about my San Francisco Massage Therapy Practice, please visit www.true-massage.com

It's Official!

2007-09-26T22:47:00.000-07:00

We're moving! Yes, as of October 1, 2007, we will be located at 760 Market Street, in Suite 1023. Just a few doors down from the Virgin Megastore and at the Powell Street BART/MUNI station.

We expect it to be quieter, cleaner, and more professional. Ah...I am grateful to be a massage therapist in San Francisco!

If it's the first time you've had a professional massage

2006-09-18T13:08:00.000-07:00

If you have never had a professional massage before, it can feel a little odd. Having worked as a massage therapist in a busy San Francisco spa, I've had the opportunity to work with many people who have never had a massage before, and I realize you may have a lot of questions, and there are some things you can expect. I'll attempt to address concerns here, but please feel free to email me or visit my website to ask any questions you may have.

It's difficult to pick a massage therapist if you're never had a massage before, but here are some things that may be helpful to know:

1) The first session you have may feel oddly intimate, and you may feel somewhat vulnerable. It's natural to feel that way, and a professional therapist should be sensitive to that. They should be doing everything to make it a comfortable experience for you--especially when it comes to draping, boundaries and requests you have made. They should ask questions, check in with you about pressure, and listen to what you tell them you want or don't want.

2) A massage is probably one of the only times in your life you don't have to do anything! You don't have to help lift an arm or leg or your head. In fact, all you have to do is be a wet noodle, and breathe! Your therapist will tell you if the work they are doing requires you to do anything, such as push your head into their hand, or trun over.

3) You shouldn't feel exposed. If the therapist is sensitive to the fact that you are new to massage, they typically will be a little more conservative with the draping. If you feel to exposed and it feels uncomfortable, I recommend saying something. After all, your session is ultimately about you.

4) That brings me to my next point. If something doesn't feel right, then you should never hesitate to ask a question or speak up. Even people that are experienced with massage often doubt themselves when it comes to questioning what a practitioner was doing in their session. You're doing a disservice to yourself and to the therapist if you don't speak up when something doesn't feel right.

5) If you have knots or tension in an area, it may be sensitive, even if the therapist is not using a lot of pressure. Without getting into that technical aspects of why, I'll just say that it is usually a feeling where you're not sure if it feels good or bad, but it actually feels kind of good. And the bad dissipates. The therapist may be spending some time in this area, and it may feel to you like it's a little "crunchy". It is usually helpful to take a couple of deep breaths at this point, and let them go like a sigh. That helps release the tension. Your therapist won't mind, I promise.

6) And that brings me to making noise. You don't have to remain completely quiet & still if you don't want to. If you feel like audibly breathing, groaning, or even stretching, go ahead. It's actually very helpful to do so, and can enhance the benefits of your massage.

7) If your first massage was not what you were expecting, don't hesitate to try other therapists, as sometimes it take a while to find one that is right for you.

What Does "Therapeutic" Mean?

2006-09-17T22:06:00.000-07:00

It seems that when it comes to massage, the word "therapeutic" is often used to differentiate between massage that is purely for pleasure, and one that is more health-oriented.

But Mirriam-Webster Online defines it, not necesarily in a massage context, as follows.

1 : of or relating to the treatment of disease or disorders by remedial agents or methods
2 : providing or assisting in a cure

What is "Wellness?"

2006-09-17T21:59:00.000-07:00

It seems to be a buzzword that a lot of holistic practitioners are using these days.

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign defines it here. In summary, they say, "Wellness is a state of optimal well-being that is oriented toward maximizing an individual’s potential. This is a life-long process of moving towards enhancing your physical, intellectual, emotional, social, spiritual, and environmental well-being."

I like their definition because it is holistic. It reminds us to onsider our entire beings in finding a state of wellness, not only our bodies or our minds. It's worth a look.

If your practitioner uses this buzzword, have they actually been down this path?

Masai Barefoot Technology Shoes

2006-09-17T10:57:00.000-07:00

Intially, I thought they were just an over priced gimmick, but I finally tried on a pair of Masai Barefoot Technology shoes, and felt an immediate difference in my lower back.

Since my whole career is about the back and body, I broke down and bought some. I've been wearing them for at least a week now, and have noticed marked improvement in my balance, as well as my ankle strength & stability. They're definitely worth checking out.

A Great Book That Explains the Body/Mind Connection

2006-09-16T08:34:00.000-07:00

As a San Francisco massage therapist, I've recently found a book that is a good resource for anyone interested in exploring the body/mind connection. Very helpful in managing chronic pain issues. Discovering the Body's Wisdom, by Mirka Kastner. It does a great job of explaining different approaches one can take to manage pain, especially to people who are new to holistic health modalities.

What Does "Deep Tissue" Mean?

2006-08-23T08:52:00.000-07:00

The American Massage Therapy Association defines the term "Deep Tissue" as: "releases the chronic patterns of tension in the body through slow strokes and deep finger pressure on the contracted areas, either following or going across the grain of muscles, tendons and fascia. It is called deep tissue, because it also focuses on the deeper layers of muscle tissue".

Deep tissue is extremely helpful in managing chronic pain issues, and my ability to do deep tissue work is one of the things many of my clients like about my work.

But I don't believe Deep Tissue has to hurt to be effective. To me, "deep" means listening intently to what is happening in the body and paying attention to what is happening to the different layers of tissue during the massage--going deeper as the tissue allows you to rather than forcing your way through. It's like knocking on a door rather than barging in. I feel that it is less violating and is more of a collaborative experience with my client than a Deep Tissue massage that is done primarily with the elbows.

I Am Seeking New Office Space in the South Beach Area of San Francisco

2006-08-21T20:28:00.000-07:00

I'm currently working at 300 Brannan Street, but since I share that space with another professional, my hours there are limited. I really like the person who I am sharing with, and the space too, but I am actively looking for commerical office space to work out of in the South Beach area of San Francisco--preferably near 2nd & Brannan. I only need about 150-300 square feet. The only absolute musts are security, electricity of course, and access to a bathroom. Any leads on space are welcome.

Some Notes and Articles on Nutrition

2006-08-13T09:29:00.000-07:00

This is an article from the San Francisco Chronicle, Sunday, August 13, 2006. Though not directly related to back health, it seems important, nonetheless. Counter to conventional nutrition wisdom, it highlights the dangers of soy consumption. My Dr. has been telling me this for months.

From what I understand, Soy consumption should be avoided in infants and women who are prone to either breast cancer and low thyroid function.

On another note, I am currently reading The Omnivore's Dilemma by Micheal Pollan, which I think will be known as one of the most significant nutrition books to come out in our lifetime. He discusses the politics and history of the American diet. If you eat any food produced in the US, you should read it, if for anything, to know what you're really feeding yourself--and why.

Massage Research

2006-07-31T21:34:00.001-07:00

An article about massage research.

Those who get massages more alert and less stressed, study shows

2006-07-31T21:34:00.000-07:00

An article about massage in the workplace. Apparently it increases productivity and morale: "Research shows massage can lower stress, tension and fatigue, and one study in the International Journal of Neuroscience showed people given massage therapy proved more alert and calculated math problems faster and more accurately."

Not only that, but it supports employee retention in a competitive market.

Neuromyofascial Pain Syndromes are often Misdiagnosed as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

2006-07-27T15:40:00.000-07:00

Over the years as a massage therapist in San Francisco, I've had quite a few people come to me complaining that they have Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS), but that their doctor simply gave them a wrist brace, but it didn't help. After a massage, the "Carpal Tunnnel Syndrome" miraculously went away. This could be why. The nerves of the brachial plexus (a major bundle of nerves) come from your spine at about the 6th or 7th vertebrae. This bundle of nerves runs through your shoulder & pectoral area, all the way down your arm to your fingertips. If you're having pain, tingling or numbness in your arm, wrist or fingers, be aware that it may not be carpal tunnel. Whichever sort of doctor you go to, be sure they are looking at your whole limb, not just your wrist.

I'll be posting some more articles on the topic.

My new massage blog

2006-07-14T17:40:00.000-07:00

I'm always finding news articles & books about massage and new related businesses that are interesting, and I love to share. I'll be posting things I learn and discover about therapeutic massage & wellness, as well as info about related practioners & businesses I like.