Blog | For Body and Mind

Jan

New Year, New Specials

For the new year, I’m updating two regular specials, and one Yelp Deal.

The regular specials will be for up to two visits for new clients only: either $45 for a one hour massage (regular price $75) or $65 for a 90-minute massage (regular price $95). Feel free to take advantage of one of each to see which works best for you, or if you know you prefer either a one hour or a 90-minute massage, feel free to get 2 of either one. No matter how you choose to use it, you’ll get a $30 discount per massage for a total $60 discount.

The Yelp Deal is $75 for a 90-minute massage and is open to all customers for the duration of the deal without restriction. Visit my Yelp business page to purchase the deal on Yelp, or request the Yelp special when you call to make your appointment.

Feel free to call or email to schedule. I’ve also posted my Google calendar below the fold so you can see my availability. Mondays-Thursdays, same day appointments are frequently available with an hour or two notice (call to schedule).
415-647-2829
foryourmindandbody@yahoo.com or
4bodyandmind@gmail.com Read more of New Year, New Specials

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discount, massage special, massage therapy, therapeutic massage, yelp

Posted in specials

Oct

Awesome Massage Deals for October

This month I celebrated my 40th birthday. As a gift to you and to expand my home practice, I’m offering as much as $95 worth of discounts through the end of this month.

The first deal is available only to new clients at my home practice: $40 for a 1 hour massage. That’s a $35 savings off the regular price, and is available through the end of October for an initial visit for new clients.

The second deal is available through Yelp to both new and returning clients, and may be used twice. You may purchase 1 or 2 certificates for $45 each, saving $30 each time on the regular price of a 1 hour massage. These certificates are good for up to 1 year from the date of purchase. I haven’t set an end to the Yelp deal yet – it depends on how well the promotion goes.

For the best deal, new clients may use both the $40 special for new clients as well as 2 of the Yelp deals, for a total savings of $95 for 3 hours of massage. The Yelp deal may also be purchased as a gift for loved ones.

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discount, massage special, therapeutic massage, yelp

Posted in specials

Oct

October 2011

It has been a while since I’ve posted, and an update is overdue.

Last year in March, I started working at the UCSF Mission Bay Fitness & Recreations Center. I have settled in to two shifts: Saturday from 2:30-7:30 and Sunday from 9:00-2:00. The price structure at UCSF has so that it is now the same for students, members and the general public alike. The rates are now $38 for 30 minutes, $68 for 1 hour and $98 for 90 minutes. Non-members still get a day pass to use the gym when you get a massage.

Last year, I was also working with On the Spot Massage at Whole Foods’ Harrison St. location in San Francisco. Sadly, that service ended at that location when Whole Foods went through a remodel and decided they didn’t have space for massage any longer. I had hoped something would come up to replace the service in the SOMA district, but nothing did, at least with that group. I miss the folks who had become regulars as well as the conversations with a diverse group of people, so I’ll make an effort to join or recreate a similar setting in the future. But – that is a project for another time that is for now on a back burner.

My home practice has grown slowly, but surely over the past couple of years. Now I want to make a more concerted effort to build it further. I’ve invested in a Yelp ad which includes a one-minute video. If you’ve been to my front page lately, you’ll see it there. Four great clients helped put it together, for which I am enormously grateful. I’ve also posted the video at the end of this post below the fold.

On October 10th, I celebrated my 40th birthday. In the spirit of both celebration and expanding my practice, I’m extending a gift to you by offering a one hour massage for $40 to new clients. This deal may be claimed only once, but feel free to share with friends. I am also doing a $45 Yelp deal, which may be used twice, and is open to current and past clients as well as new clients. Take advantage of all three for the best deal and save $95: 1 $40 massage + 2 $45 massages = $130 for 3 HOURS! of massage (vs $225 at regular rate). The $40 deal will only be around through the rest of October, but we’ll see how things go with the Yelp deal.

Feel free to call or email to schedule. I’ve also posted my Google calendar below the fold so you can see my availability.
415-647-2829
foryourmindandbody@yahoo.com or
4bodyandmind@gmail.com

Practice Fusion talks to Integrative Practitioners

On March 14th, I invited representatives from Practice Fusion to present the electronic health record to integrative health practitioners. Several acupuncturists and a couple of bodyworkers (myself included) attended the presentation, which included many questions from attendees.

Many thanks go to the crew from Practice Fusion for taking the time to present to this small group.

Videos from that presentation are embedded below the fold.

To view the playlist on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/view_play_li st?p=5C5FC1606902A11F

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Tags:
EHR, EMR, phr, Practice Fusion

Posted in EHR/EMR/PHR, health technology

Oct

A Dream of Creating a New Health Care Paradigm

Among my activities, I organize a Meetup group: San Francisco Integrative Health Networking. On September 30th, I held a meetup in which I described a bit about my dreams for the group. I recorded the meeting so that those who were interested, but unable to attend would still be able to see what was discussed. I am also looking for feedback to help refine these thoughts.

One person participated in the discussion with me, but did not wish to be on camera, so the video portion is just me.

I’ve embedded videos of the presentation & discussion below the fold.

Here’s the link to view this playlist on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=BEFB57FDA82BD3CD

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Tags:
EHR, EMR, integrative health, integrative medicine

Posted in Chinese medicine, EHR/EMR/PHR, health & fitness, health care reform, health technology, research, social networking

Mar

Changes

I’ve been meaning to write this post for a while, but have been waiting for some work-related changes to settle in. The short version is that I’m now working two new places in addition to my private home practice.

On March 6th, I had my first massage shift at UCSF’s Bakar Fitness & Recreation Center at Mission Bay. This is great for anyone who would prefer to see me in an office location rather than in my home office. I currently have regular shifts on Saturday’s from 2:30 to 7:30pm, Sunday’s from 9:00am to 2:00pm, and a sub shift Tuesday’s from 4:00 to 9:00pm (beginning April 6th). Gym members and UCSF students & staff may schedule online via the UCSF Fitness & Recreation Center website. Non-members may schedule by calling the Service Desk at (415) 514-4545.

UCSF Bakar Fitness & Recreation Center
1675 Owens Street San Francisco, CA 94158

Pricing

Individual Services	30 minute	60 minute	90 minute
UCSF Students/Members	$34	$64	$90
Non-member UCSF Employee	$38	$72	$102
Non-member General Public	$45	$85	$120

Packages (purchase multiple packages and save)

	3-Pack 60 minute	3-Pack 90 minute
UCSF Students/Members	$185	$257
Non-member UCSF Employee	$210	$291
Non-member General Public	$246	$342

On February18th, I began doing seated massage with On the Spot Massage at Whole Foods SoMa location in San Francisco. This is a great way for people to get a massage as a tune-up or a quick therapeutic treatment. I’m available Thursdays from 3:30 to 8:00pm. Appointments are on a walk-in basis only.

Whole Foods Market, SoMa
399 4th Street
San Francisco, CA 94107

Seated Massage Rates

5 Minute Tune-Up	$5
10 Minutes	$15
15 Minutes	$20
20 Minutes	$25
25 Minutes	$30
30 Minutes	$35

I’m continuing to test Practice Fusion‘s Electronic Health Record system as well as their Personal Health Record. I originally posted separately about that here. Having two new practice locations does change how I can implement it, not because of anything regarding the record system, but rather due to how things work at UCSF and with On the Spot Massage. If you’re interested in testing this EHR & PHR system with me in my private practice, sign up with me for 10 sessions of either 60 or 90 minutes each. I’ll discount these sessions as a package to $600 or $750 respectively, which can be paid in three installments of $200 or $250.

Finally, if you haven’t read my post on changes associated with the Chinese New Year back in February, take a moment to look at it. I think it’s a fun perspective on these changes in my professional life as well as on some on some of the volatility I’ve seen in events and the lives of people around me.

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Tags:
Bakar Fitness and Recreation Center, massage therapy, On the Spot Massage, Practice Fusion, practice info, UCSF, Whole Foods Market

Posted in EHR/EMR/PHR, health & fitness, health technology, services, spiritual health

Feb

Embracing the Year of the White Tiger

Has life gotten a little more… interesting than usual lately? Perhaps a circumstance or two moving with a wee bit more alacrity than usual. Or perhaps feeling like it’s careening wildly out of control? (Health reform, anyone?)

Beyond their entertainment value, I’m not usually that into astrology. On the other hand, life clearly goes through many cycles: seasonal, annual, biological, economic, political, etc. Events in my life, in the lives of several people and groups around me, and even national and world events make me think this is a time of change marking a new cycle. As these changes are coming at the start of the Chinese Lunar New Year, I’m persuaded to make note of this Year of the Metal Tiger.

Before getting into the significance according to Chinese astrology, I want to note that President Obama has now been in office for a little over one year, giving time for the beginning of change from the previous administration to take effect. Some changes in the culture of Washington are starting to show like new growth in spring following a long, dark winter. While there is a new flow of information and more openness than has ever existed before, at least to my knowledge, there are complaints about back room deals and that things are not as open as we were told they would be. Things do not change overnight.

Even amid the start of culture change in Washington, there are those who went to halt progress and keep things essentially as they have been. These efforts to conduct arguments on old premises and theories which had been ascendant for over thirty years have brought out stark contrast in different elements of Washington culture as well as anti-Washington culture. Obstructionism and anti-government sentiment have been brought to new heights. At the same time, our financial system, though still in trouble, has been brought back from the edge of collapse. We are closer to historic health care reforms than we have been in about 100 years of reform efforts.

I could go on and offer greater detail, but the point I want to make is not about politics or our political culture. I merely wish to establish the context that this is a time of significant change. Within that context, I’d like to suggest that looking at this time through the lens of the lunar new year can offer a foundation to supply some meaning to these changes. With that, let’s have some fun and look at 2010, the Year of the White Tiger, also referred to as the Year of the Metal Tiger.

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change, Chinese New Year, Year of the Metal Tiger, Year of the Tiger, Year of the White Tiger

Posted in Chinese medicine, mental/psychological health, spiritual health

Jan

Testing an Electronic Health Record System for My Practice

For several years, I’ve maintained my massage practice records on a Tablet PC. I like being able to take my notes by hand, and once in a while include a rough sketch to note a specific problem area. My notes have been practical and functional for me, but are not a medical record.

Later this year, my goal is to turn my degree in Chinese medicine into a license to practice acupuncture. As both an acupuncturist and as a massage therapist, I want to be able to work with other health care providers where appropriate. I’d also like to see modalities like massage therapy and acupuncture better represented in mainstream quantitative and qualitative clinical research. In addition to their benefits in streamlining and improving patient care, Electronic Health Records (EHRs), also known as Electronic Medical Records (EMRs) offer potential for improved communication between practitioners as well as expanded research opportunities.

Many recent developments have made EHRs available to practitioners even if they don’t belong to a large hospital or medical group. For me and others like me, the most significant development is that several vendors are offering high-quality, low-cost or even free EHRs. This gives me an opportunity to test EHR solutions for my massage practice even before I add acupuncture to my practice. This in turn presents an opportunity for new clients.

While I can’t offer free massage as incentive to help me test Electronic Health Records, I will offer special discount packages. I am looking for 10 new clients who will commit to a package of 10 massage sessions of either one hour or 90 minutes each. The packages will be $600 or $750 respectively – savings of $200 or $250. At this stage, I’m not looking for any special qualities other than a willingness to sample the EHR for 10 sessions.

If you are interested, you don’t have to make a commitment without being comfortable with me and my message style. We will set up an initial appointment that will include an intake of about twenty minutes. The initial massage will essentially be an assessment like I would do for any new client, after which we will check in for a few minutes to give each of us the opportunity for feedback. Assuming you are comfortable with your massage experience, I will offer some details on what I hope to learn from the trial and what would be different from a regular massage appointment. You may then choose to participate in the trial or not. If you choose not to participate, you will still receive the discount on the single massage, saving $20 or $25 off the regular one hour or 90 minute rate as appropriate.

If you choose to participate, I would prefer that you pay for the package up front. I understand that might make it difficult for some who would otherwise be interested in participating. Among my goals with this trial is to evaluate some of the patient and practice management tools of the EHR. Having the 10 visit commitment makes that possible, and paying up front makes it more likely both parties will follow through on the commitment. If paying for ten visits at once is not possible for you, we might still be able to work together to include you by working out a payment plan.

For more information, feel free to use my Contact page to see how to contact me. If you would like to get started right away, you can use the Book Now link available on any page of my site.

For this trial, I will be testing Practice Fusion‘s Electronic Health Record, and hopefully it’s Personal Health Record (PHR) component as well. Practice Fusion’s EHR system is fully compliant with all relevant privacy laws, including HIPAA. Your personal information will be secure and will not be shared without your permission.

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Tags:
EHR, Electronic Health Record, Electronic Medical Record, EMR, massage, Practice Fusion

Posted in EHR/EMR/PHR, health care reform, health technology, research

Jul

A San Francisco Sunset for Wally Walker

Wally Walker passed away in late May. He had just recently celebrated his 64th birthday. Sunday, ACTCM and the Alumni Association held a memorial service for him at the beautiful and historic Swedenborgian Church in San Francisco. Many friends came to pay their respects and share some of their love for and memories of Wally. While I didn’t take my camera with me because I wanted to be 100% present for the memorial, I did bring it out once I got home. I wanted to share these with you as we say goodbye to Wally’s physical presence, but welcome his spirit into our hearts, and wish him well on his journey onward.

There is just a little more below the photos.

In the past 15 years, Wally Walker has given a lot to the ACTCM community. But I think there can be little doubt that one of his greatest contributions was the work he did to create a successful Alumni Association. Without his work, alumni services would not exist for ACTCM. I knew Wally as a great advocate for the students and alumni of ACTCM, and never met him without hearing words of encouragement from him, as well as feeling the warmth of his joyful spirit. The college has set up a scholarship fund to preserve and build on his legacy as a passionate advocate for the students of ACTCM.

Rest in Peace, Wally Walker.

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Tags:
ACTCM Alumni, friends, memorial, Wally Walker

Posted in friends & colleagues, photos

Jun

On joining Twitter and other thoughts on Social Networking

I signed up for a Twitter account at the persistent prodding of a friend back in March, but I didn’t start using it until a few weeks ago. Going back, it looks like my first post was on June 5th.

I’ve also been busy developing a presence using other social networking resources. You can now follow me on Twitter: forbodyandmind, become a fan on Facebook: For Body and Mind Therapeutic Massage, and San Francisco Integrative Health Networking, and join my networking group on Meetup: San Francisco Integrative Health Networking.

I’ve been pleasantly surprised using Twitter these past few weeks. If you’ve been following the news lately, you’ve probably seen that coverage of the Iran elections has been heavily dependent on Twitter, Facebook, flickr, and YouTube. To me, that in and of itself is reason enough to get on Twitter. Learning #hashtags and @somebody’s id is relatively simple, and allows connection with a lot of information and people in small bits, very quickly. It might seem like a lot of noise to begin with, but becoming familiar with the nomenclature and finding resources to sort through the information and people you’re looking for is not that difficult. Seesmic Desktop is a particularly useful application. Other popular aps are Hootsuite and Tweetdeck. Here are 15 Highly Recommended Twitter Apps for Web Professionals. I found Tweet This! A Twitter Manifesto, 10 Twitter Tips for Professionals and 10 Tips for Twitter Professionals helpful guides for getting started.

Brevity inspires creativity. I think that is one of the true gifts of Twitter. URL shorteners like Cli.gs, Su.pr, ow.ly, bit.ly, and tinyurl.com make it possible to link to more in depth discussions of what you bring up on Twitter while reducing the characters you’re using overall. Many of the shorteners will also include tracking data so you can get an idea of who is following your links. Some like Cli.gs, bit.ly, and tinyurl.com also allow you to customize your shortened urls. There is poetry and wit to be had in 140 characters (see #hoekstra, and here, here, and here for background).

Having only been using it for a short time, I don’t have a definitive view of Twitter as a networking platform, but both the coverage of events in Iran and my personal experience suggest a powerful platform if properly employed. Facebook and Meetup have a track record that I’m more familiar with, and in my opinion, Facebook’s recent upgrade of professional pages has improved an already strong social networking presence for professionals. With For Body and Mind Therapeutic Massage, my goal is quite simply to support my massage practice and expand my potential client base. My goals with parallel San Francisco Integrative Health Networking groups on Facebook and Meetup are more ambitious.

My ultimate professional goal is to create a school for integrative medicine, outside of a traditional allopathic model, where practitioners in different disciplines learn to practice together. My intention is for the San Francisco Integrative Health Networking groups to be a foundation for developing such a school. Currently, the closest parallel would be Bastyr University in Washington. In San Francisco, UCSF Osher Center for Integrative Medicine and CIIS offer different integrative health models. The Haight-Ashbury Clinic and St. James Infirmary are probably two of the best implementations of integrative medicine that I’ve experienced, but their ability to provide services is severely restricted in the current economy.

Certainly allopathic medical schools are doing more to teach about complementary and alternative modalities like acupuncture/Chinese medicine, but from what I’ve observed, these programs still place the M.D. in the role of primary care provider over other disciplines. Since they are training M.D.s, this is perfectly natural. In California, acupuncturists, naturopaths, and chiropractors are considered primary care providers as well. While each discipline certainly has strengths and weaknesses, patients will predominantly see one provider for the majority of their care, especially with our economy in a condition like it is now. It is therefore necessary for practitioners to be masters of their own discipline, but also to be familiar enough with others to recognize when a patient should be referred to someone in a different modality for a specific condition. Even better is if that practitioner has a pool of skilled practitioners to whom they can refer. Thus the concept of creating an integrative health networking group. Starting with individual practitioners and small group clinics, a decentralized health network is able to pool a diverse set of resources and knowledge for each other and for patients. We’ll see how the tools provided by Facebook, Meetup, and Twitter can meet this goal.

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Tags:
facebook, integrative health, integrative medicine, meetup, twitter

Posted in social networking