Why I Chose Deep Tissue/Bodywork

The reason I didn’t choose spa or relaxation massage, even though that’s where I first started, is simple it wasn’t me.

My very first job in San Francisco was Burke Williams Day spa. We did it all: Swedish massages, deep tissue, Prenatal, and customized spa treatments. While it taught me the basics and gave me experience, I found it… boring.

Deep tissue work, on the other hand, felt like a calling. Every time I did a deep tissue session, I felt excited engaged, challenged, and present in a way I never felt doing a general relaxation massage.

Part of that curiosity comes from my own body. Growing up with scoliosis and undergoing back surgeries made me naturally curious about pain patterns, anatomy, and how the body functions. Relaxation massages didn’t satisfy that curiosity. Working with clients coming in for general relaxation didn’t challenge me or excite me enough. What I craved was seeing a client come in with a specific pain, working on those patterns, and having them walk out feeling a significant difference and wanting to return for the next session. That sense of progress and impact made every session worth it. Studying structural integration and anatomy allowed me to understand my own body better as well. Those insights simply couldn’t come from a standard relaxing massage. Real understanding comes from working the the body’s structure, not just soothing the surface.

And then there’s my heritage. Growing up with Hilot in my family gave me an intuitive understanding of the body a foundation in pain relief and healing. Hilot is a traditional Filipino form of massage, rooted in communities where women helped others in pain. It wasn’t just technique; it was purpose, care, and connection. Deep tissue work became a natural extension of that legacy an evolution of the skills my Lola passed down to me, combined with the technical expertise I built over years of training.

For me, deep tissue and bodywork aren’t just a career, they’re a calling, a passion, and a continuation of my family’s healing tradition.

I say "Massage is meant to relax the body, calm the nervous system, and quiet the mind. Bodywork goes deeper. It analyzes your movement, your gait, and how each part of your body works together." If you've been dealing with choric pain and still can't figure out why this is where bodywork begins to make sense. If you want to experience results like this for yourself, book a session today!