Your masseuse

I'm Valerie Shoaps and I'm a CMT (certified massage therapist). Originally from north of Boston, I've been living in California for 17 years, San Francisco for the last 15. I'm Caucasian, 5'8", very athletic and live and practice a healthy, balanced lifestyle. "Nothing in extremes" is the key except for feeling good and taking exquisite care of ourselves - there can't be too much of either of these. I also offer personal training (Marin/SF/Silicon Valley) and nutitrional consulting. For more information, please visit my personal website, Shoaps.com.

 

I never pursued massage - bodywork and the healing arts found me. After a rewarding career as a film editor and multimedia producer, I needed a change. Through the CMT training program at the nationally reknown Body Electric School in Oakland and further training at The Esalen Institute in Big Sur, I uncovered my need to heal and nurtured a compassion to reach out to others. As a self described hedonist, it's my goal to enrich people's lives with the gift of healing touch and empower people to accept and embrace the mind, body and spirit.

 

My technique encompasses a variable combination of Swedish, Esalen, and Deep Tissue modalities with a peppering of various other techniques. I'm also a student tantrika of Ipsalu Tantra and incorporate this as well as Taoist touch/breathwork and my training in Reiki (Shogun attunements). By combining these massage and energy techniques, your mind and body will deeply relax, undo stress and renew itself on the cellular and spiritual level. It's an incredibly relaxing, yet rejeuvenating experience and exactly what you need when you crave some personal pampering and attention.

 

Taking place within a private candlelit studio, your massage will be a luxurious pampering experience. This time is an escape from mundane everyday pressures. You deserve the kindness of healing touch. As my hands begin their dance, you will revel in their touch as they engage you in a soothing and blissful state. This is the door to healing to mind, spirit and body.