Some think of massage as a luxury only for the wealthy. And with today's prices, it is harder to afford. It is also harder to find legitimate massage therapists who have been properly trained and have experience. But the client must not lose focus as to the purpose of massage. Sure you can get some hunk with bulging muscles and other assets to do a massage. Who doesn't like a gorgeous man touching you? But the purpose of massage is to relax and help restore a measure of calm, health, and flexibility to the body.

Whether it is from overwork, too much play, or just age, we all have times when our muscles cause pain. Massage is one of the best ways of dealing with that pain. Compression therapy triggers the muscle to relax allowing blood to oxidate the muscle and thus heal. I've worked on many weekend warriors, and competitive athletes. They often push themselves to the brink. A few of my clients do CrossFit, a very intense training regimen. I've done bodybuilders, dancers, cyclists, runners, golfers...they all have one thing in common--muscles that need fixing. That's what a great massage does. Whether you think of me as a shaman or a fixer, I'm here to help those muscles.

During 25 years of doing massage, I've had the opportunity to deal with those who have been injured. Whether it was spraining back muscles working in the yard, grounding a club on the golf course, or working out too hard in the gym. Sports massage works in isolation on the muscle needing help. While in Austin, a client called me to do an outcall to his home. He was barely able to walk. He had been out playing golf and ground a club twisting a muscle in his back so severely that he couldn't walk. I laid him on pillows in his living room, all the while his daughter is trying to get him to go to the hospital. I began by examining his body heat with my hand. I located the exact muscle and began gently kneading the muscle. Then I began stretching the muscle and the tendons out. Elongating the muscle so that it would relax. At the end of the hour, he got up and handed his daughter the walking stick he had been using and proclaiming himself well. He could have spent a few thousand at an emergency room and been given muscle relaxers. But for $80, I took care of the problem. Or as he said, "He fixed me."

When a client has gotten on my table, the first thing I do is allow my hands to compress the muscles of the body. Starting with the upper back and going all over the body, my hands are "reading" the body. What does this mean? I'm looking for two things. Inflammation produces heat. I'm looking for any area that may be producing heat and thus swelling. I'm also looking for tight muscles that may be knotted and in need of special attention. I use compression therapy in this "reading" to stretch the muscles in order to determine their status. While the client may be thinking "would he just go ahead and start rubbing my body," it really is an important part of what the therapist should be doing. If your therapist is just immediately throwing oil onto skin without first examining the muscles and "reading" the body, they are missing an important step in your treatment. Want a good massage? First, listen to the body. Trained hands can easily read the body.

About 24 years ago, in Austin Texas, I was crossing the street on a brand new bike, when a car nearly hit me while crossing the street. I lost my balance and flipped backwards landing hard on a concrete sidewalk. Clark, a young UT student, was hired to come to my house to give me massages. Over time, he asked me if I had thought about going to school to get my certification. I registered and finished 300 hours of training. For years I did massage part time. Since 2018 I’ve massaged full time. Massage is a passion for me. I know how it helps people deal with issues in their lives. Other therapies may help; massage heals. See why thousands have entrusted their care into my hands. I understand your body. I listen to what it tells me.