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Testimonials
“Tanya is simply magic. I’ve received many massages from different practitioners and she is by far the best I’ve ever had. She is strong, attentive, communicative and an absolutely wonderful person. She is highly observant to how your body responds during the session and will adjust accordingly. Her skills with her feet, hands, elbows and overall body control is unparalleled. Having had incessant instability throughout my life by way of sports, which has resulted in four surgeries, I’ve been very cautious with who I receive treatment from. I consider myself very lucky to have been connected with Tanya. So long as Tanya is here in the Bay Area, I will continue to go to her for all of my sessions.”
“I’m a bit fussy about massages, but have really enjoyed my massages with Tanya. She’s responsive to specific feedback on pressure, style, my recent musculoskeletal issues, etc and remembers my preferences from session to session. She also has a really positive energy! As soon as one session finishes, I look forward to the next one.”
“Tanya has the unique ability to provide an incredibly relaxing experience while addressing any pain issues you might have. She has a calming, nurturing personality that is felt as soon as you meet her. It is quite obvious she genuinely cares about her clients wellbeing. I feel very lucky to have found her, can’t wait to see her soon!”
“Tanya is a truly amazing massage therapist, the best I have met. She genuinely cares about improving the wellbeing of her clients, and through a powerful combination of great skills and strong technique, her sessions strike a wonderful balance between relaxation and productive body work. Because of sports injuries I’ve had both ankle and thumb surgeries. My thumb injury greatly benefits from targeted pressure, and since my ankle injury generates hip discomfort, it requires long and smooth stretching along the entire leg. Tanya masters both, targeted work and a broad understanding of the body and its connections.”
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About Tanya
Tanya Mervin (CAMTC #78459) has been deeply immersed in the practice of bodywork & healing arts since 2017, following a transformational massage experience. She chose to start her massage practice journey in her native country, Thailand. Successfully completed 372 hrs Traditional Thai Massage program in Chiangmai, certified by “The Union of Thai Traditional Medicine Society”. In California, she completed a program for Western Massage Therapy at McKinnon Institute, in the San Francisco Bay Area, where she was employed as a teacher. She then became certified to provide Esalen® massage and Ashiatsu DeepFeet Bar Therapy®.
Being able to create a healing environment, to hold space for others and to connect with people on a deeper level became her objective. It fascinates her experiencing how profound the power of touch can be in solving a variety of ailments. Her sessions are meant to help clients to slow down, get quiet and take the time to become grounded in their bodies. Tanya finds fulfillment in providing people with the experience of feeling nurtured and cared for through bodywork.
The offerrings
Ashiatsu and Neuromuscular Massage
Our session offers a unique blend of therapies, including Ashiatsu DeepFeet Bar Therapy, myofascial cupping (when necessary), and Neuromuscular massage. This approach is grounded in a neurofunctional and kinesiological understanding of bodywork. It involves comprehensively analyzing the body's layers and using manual muscle testing to identify imbalances within the musculoskeletal system. Specifically, we determine which muscles or structures in any kinetic chain are either overactive (over facilitated) or underactive (inhibited). When certain muscles or structures fail to support the musculoskeletal system adequately, others are forced to overcompensate, leading to imbalances. These imbalances can stem from various factors, including overuse, stress, past or current trauma, acute or chronic pain, poor breathing mechanics, or dysfunctional movement patterns. A critical aspect of our therapy is the identification of these compensation patterns through manual muscle testing. However, it's important to note that some observed patterns may be secondary or tertiary responses to a deeper issue. Our primary objective is to identify and treat the 'prime driver' of these compensation patterns. By focusing on this root cause, we often see secondary and tertiary issues resolve themselves, allowing the central nervous system to re-establish balance and proper function.
In the Japanese language “Ashi” translates to foot and “Atsu” into pressure. Ashiatsu massage is a barefoot massage technique in which the therapist delivers deep, broad, consistent pressure while utilizing their feet and body weight. A lubricant is applied to the clients body making this deep therapeutic massage fluid and relaxing. Additionally, ashiatsu strokes help to elongate the spine. These movements dramatically stretch shortened muscles, which help in relieving pain and discomfort. The long fluid Ashi strokes also help flush the body’s lymphatic system, which releases metabolic waste at a high rate. Hydrate before and after a treatment is recommended to assist with the body’s detoxification process.
Thai massage offers a traditional healing system that has been around for over 2,500 years, guided by Ayurvedic principles and acupressure with assisted stretches. The techniques are based on the notion of energy lines, or Shen-lines, they correspond to different parts of the body, such as the bones, muscles, blood, and nerves. Some Shen also affects the mind and consciousness, these are called subtle channels.The theory suggests that tight muscles cause blockages within different Shen, these blockages reduce the flow of life energy, which results in stiffness, pain and illness. Thai massage uses different techniques that either open or constrict different Shen to correct flow of life energy.
Pressure range: Medium - Deep - Extra Deep
Esalen® Massage
Esalen® Massage is a unique form of bodywork, developed since the 1960s at world-renowned Esalen Institute in Big Sur, California. The massage approach utilizes a variety of techniques and theories working “with” the body as opposed to “on” it. This technique is melded classic Swedish massage with sensory awareness practice with slow, flowing t’ai chi. Known for its soothing, long integrating strokes, creating an experience of deep relaxation supporting the natural ability of body and mind to self-heal. For more information visit, www.esalen.org
Pressure range: Ligth - Medium
The technique
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