827 State St Suite 20, Santa Barbara California 93101
Nico is among the best massage therapists/bodyworkers I've ever been to. He's everything you want in a massage therapist. First of all he has "the touch", which can't be taught. You either have it or you don't. For Nico, bodywork isn't just a job, it's also a gift, a purpose, and a passion. He has over 30 years of experience and he's the type of guy who never stops learning about his craft. Bodywork is an art and a science and he's both an artist and a scientist when addressing the complexity of the neuromuscular system. He knows his physiology very well. Checkout his website and read through the articles. His plethora of knowledge is immediately apparent. He's the strongest massage therapist I've ever been to, so when I have a muscle knot in a very deep and strong muscle, he's the guy who can get it to release. But he's offers far more than just physical strength. He is skilled in many different modalities and knows when to apply them. He's well versed in deep tissue work, sports massage, injury-specific massage, myofascial release, neuromuscular work, trigger point therapy, hot stone massage, gua sha, and others. He often combines several of these in a single session as needed to address the specific issues you're dealing with. He's a wealth of knowledge. When years of physical therapy have failed for a variety of the muscle tension-related issues, Nico has provided supstantial relief. For example, one time, all of my symptoms pointed to a very tight psoas muscle. I had been hunched over for days due to the pain. I couldn't stand up straight due to the burning, pinching, radiating pain in my lower back. None of the stretching and strengthening exercises that the physical therapists provided were providing any relief. I asked if they performed psoas releases and each one said no, and that it wasn't necessary for my recovery. I reached out to Nico and asked if he performed psoas releases. He said yes, so I booked the soonest appointment he had. He performed the release and I walked out of the office upright and almost pain free. The massage with Nico was a partially painful 90 minutes, but it was absolutely worth it. Nico also understands to the mind-body connection. He doesn't just deal with the muscles and joints. He also knows how the nervous system is deeply connected with the muscular system. I've suffered from chronic headaches in the past. I came to him with this issue and he released some deep tension in my shoulders and neck and this provided substantial relief. Nico is very compassionate and holds space if you need He understands that trauma can be stored in the body, and when tension in the body is released, long held emotions can also be released. I've broken down in tears on the massage table not from physical pain, but from the release of deeply held emotions that came to the surface as a result of the bodywork. Nico understood this and held a safe space for this emotional expression. It wasn't awkward or uncomfortable at all. Nico is also very generous with offering tips and at-home exercises, ergonomic changes, etc. that will help you to address the root causes of your pain, tightness, and other discomforts. Nico is a genuine, good-hearted person who is skilled in his work. He's also a talented painter and his office is filled with is beautiful art. Come for the excellent bodywork, and stay for the art gallery :)