WELCOME TO ESALEN INTEGRATIVE MASSAGE


Hello! ... My name is Nik, I use they/them pronouns and I am so glad you made it here! Massage has been incredibly profound in my healing journey and I strive to support folks in experiencing this process as well.

FIRST TIME RECEIVING A MASSAGE SESSION WITH ME?
Please review the Scent Free Policy, Covid Protocols & FAQ at the bottom of this page before booking and you can reach out to me directly HERE with any other questions.

Two Locations~
Albany Wednesdays and Thursdays
Sebastopol Mondays and Tuesdays

Niksen "Nik" Kurtz
"I've had body work done worldwide and never worked with someone quite like Nik. I wasn't familiar with an Esalen Massage before, but I do know that their style is intuitive, knowledgeable, and effective. The time was so much more than a simple massage. I felt myself drifting in and out of semi-awareness, almost in a meditative state, more than I've ever done before. It's like that rare precious state one can sometimes find during savasana, when the body and the mind release from their state of consciousness and just be."
~Jamil S., Emeryville 

Why Receive Massage?

Massage can significantly reduce pain, calm stress, improve range of motion, and help you move through emotions that have been stored in your body.  Who you are and what you bring, is where each session will start.  Nik brings a nurturing and meditative touch to  bodywork that allows them to sink deep into the layers of the muscles and connective tissues. Whether you are coming in for relaxation or injury rehabilitation massage, Nik uses their heart, hands and ears to listen and meet the needs of clients.

Combining deep tissue techniques with slow integrative strokes to relax your nervous system and create space for the body to do its own healing. Nik’s bodywork practice is greatly informed by their love of dance.  Their intention is to leave you feeling connected and more embodied.
Nik's Somatic Trainings include:  Esalen® Massage, Deep Bodywork®, Sports Injury Massage, Cranial Sacral, Gestalt Awareness Practice, Racial and Social Justice, Soul Motion, Axis Dance Company Summer Training and DanceAbility.  See more
IMPORTANT... I am allergic to natural and chemical scents, including but not limited to perfumes & cologne, laundry detergent, essential oils and shampoos.  I ask folks to please come in as fragrant/scent free as possible to your session.  I get ill from certain levels of exposure and do my best to limit those.
Things that can help limit your scent/fragrances:
•If you are going to shower the day of your appointment don't use scented soaps, shampoo/conditioner or body scrubs.
•Don't put deodorant, lotions, essential oils or hair products on right before coming in.
•If you've had your hair recently dyed or treated wear a cloth wrap to contain any scents.  

Let me know if you have questions and here is a link to my scent free page with more details and resources:
Scent and Fragrance Free practice.

COVID PROTOCOLS

I am following Covid guidelines and regulations and I will continue to stay in contact as things shift to give you the most up to date information I have.  Here is what you can expect from me; I am fully vaccinated, test regularly, will be wearing an N95/KN95 mask, run air purifiers, wash my hands regularly, sanitize the space between each session and I will be doing everything I can to create a relaxing space for you.

Indoor masking is still required by the state for everyone, regardless of vaccination status, in health care settings.

I use PureGreen24 (an EPA approved disinfectant to kill Covid-19) to disinfect massage table and chairs surfaces and alcohol to disinfect door nobs and other surfaces.
Portable Hepa filter in the room / Merv 13 filter in the central HVAC system.  (More info in FAQ's below)

What I ask of you:
• ALL clients must wear N95/KN95 or equivalent during sessions, regardless of vaccination status.
•AirQUEEN masks are available (no additional cost) if needed.
• If you are having flu/covid symptoms please call to reschedule
•If you have specific immune-compromised needs I encourage you to book the first session of the day and to message me to talk about any concerns or access needs you have.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Esalen® Massage?
“In the Esalen massage, four basic principles are operating:
1.     The practitioner is working with, instead of on, the client.
2.     The massage is a moving meditation; the practitioner is committed to being as fully present as possible for the entire massage session, bringing a full-hearted, meditative presence to the table.
3.     The practitioner is aware that a client may be affected on physical, mental, emotional or even spiritual levels.
4.     Long, flowing strokes, integrated throughout the massage give a sense of relaxation, connection and wholeness.
          
When looking at these principles more deeply, it is apparent how interrelated they are:  When a practitioner is working with, instead of on, a client, the practitioner learns to listen and respond to what he/she/[they] is feeling both in the actual tissues and on an intuitive level.  Consequently, the Esalen practitioner responds to the unique issues presented by the individual client, instead of imposing a particular protocol, from or set way of working as in some other forms of massage.  In order to successfully feel and know what is appropriate for a particular client, the practitioner needs to develop a full-hearted presence, the ability to be truly present and focused with the client, and to listen with the whole being. 
           
Often, bringing this full-hearted presence to the table enables a client to feel safe enough internally to relax and let go on very deep levels.  Formerly unexpressed emotions, the holding of tissues that often follow with trapped emotions, or even held pain due to physical or emotional trauma-all have the opportunity to rise to the surface and clear from the bodymind, frequently affecting the client on more than a physical level.
         
The responsibility of the Esalen practitioner is to stay fully present and provide a safe space, thus supporting the release of the pain or emotion that was originally trapped in the tissue in the body.
           
The fourth principle, the long, flowing strokes in Esalen massage, not only relax and prepare clients for deeper touch, they also easily move the practitioner from one area to another are of the body, supporting the feelings of connection, integration and wholeness.  The effectiveness of the long integrating strokes is becoming more apparent as evidenced by the number of other massage modalities have begun incorporating signature Esalen strokes.”

~Deborah Anne Medow – Massage Magazine April 2011
Do you offer gift Certificates?
Yes! 

Instructions to order a Gift Certificate and Purchase Session Packages:

1-Send following information to BodyCuriosity@gmail.com
•Name/Email of person being gifted
•Your name and any personalized message
•The type of session and amount of time you'd like to gift

2- Send Payment via
•Paypal to BodyCuriosity@gmail.com
(*Please add 3% to total for paypal fee)
*If you are using Friends/Family and no fee is charged you do not need to add the additional 3%

~or~

•Mail check to Nik Kurtz
7740 Atkinson Rd., Sebastopol CA

*Once both steps have been taken you will receive an email confirmation.*
Where are you located?
I have two locations- Albany & Sebastopol

•Berkeley Acupuncture Project in Albany. 
1229 Solano Avenue, Albany, CA.

There is free 90 minute parking on our block on Solano Ave and free all day parking on Evelyn Ave (except for street sweeping once a month on Wednesdays - look out for signs!)

•True Nature Wellness in Sebastopol
523 S. Main Street, Sebastopol, CA 

There is ample street parking as well as the parking lot when spaces are available.
What payments do you accept?
Cash or Check are preferred!
Currently I am also taking Venmo and Paypal*

*This will likely change soon to taking payment via a 3rd party app.
cancellation Policy
If you cancel after 48 hours or miss an appointment, you will be expected to pay for your session in full.  If I am able to fill the space you will not be charged.  I ask this in order to be fair to other clients and my time.
If you are late for your session, please contact me to let me know.  Expect your session time to be shortened.

Cancellation due to Covid symptoms or exposure to Covid will be accepted at any point without penalty.
last minute appointments?
Yes!
Head on over to my Last Minute Appointment Notification Form and when a session opens up, I will contact you.  Available for both Albany and Sebastopol Locations.
Do you take insurance?
No.
I can write you a receipt if you have insurance that reimburses you for massage.
What are your hours?
My hours have changed! 

I am now available -
Mondays and Tuesdays in Sebastopol
&
Wednesdays and Thursdays in Albany

Please see Booking App for specific times each week.

Do you offer sliding scale?
It is important to me to offer accessible pricing and I offer Adjusted Scale Pricing at a limited capacity.
I prioritize BIPOC & Trans/GNC/Gender Expansive folks who wish to receive regular monthly sessions.  Please reach out, as it is important to me to connect and talk about what works. 

In Sebastopol I also offer Trans Tuesdays.  The 4th Tuesday of every month I offer 90 min sessions for $100.

For those who can pay the full rate or more, this is what allows me to offer these session and at what capacity.
How do I book a Massage?
1- Review the Scent/Fragrance & Covid Policies
2- Review the Frequently Asked Questions
3- Book a session HERE
What to expect in a session?
Before your session I review what you share on your intake form to get an idea of how I can best support you and to work with you in your specific needs.

Please arrive no more than 5 minutes before your session time.

When you arrive, you will be asked to wash your hands and if you'd like you can use the bathroom.

We'll then settle into the massage space and chat about how you are, what your body needs are and how I can support you.

I'll leave the room, giving you space to undress to your comfort level.  Many people ask if they should leave their underwear on or take it off, this is 100% up to you.  What I do say is that I often to work in the gluteal muscles and there are specific ways I do this work when using oil that I cannot do if fabric is there.  And there are other ways of getting into this region that I can do through fabric.
I do use draping.
And use warmed rice bags to keep draping in place and support your comfort.

Before returning into the room I give a knock/check in verbally with you to make sure it is okay that I enter.

I begin the session.

When the session ends I let you know and once you are dressed and transitioned I'll come back in so we can chat about the session (if you like), give you at home exercises, settle payment and offer to schedule a follow up session.
do I Tip?
This is up to you and I do not expect it.
*When you do pay more than the base rate you are contributing to the capacity of the adjusted rate sessions I can offer.
Physical Access
Albany ~ Berkeley Acupuncture Project is on ground level. There is not an automated door. If you will need help with the front door please write it in when booking your session.  I will greet all clients at the front door lobby area.  The door may be locked if you arrive more then 5 minutes before your session.  

The massage room has two entrances, one has one step up and the other has no step.  To get to the second entrance you do have to go around the community space a bit to go up a small incline and the door width is approx. 31."
                                            ~~~
Sebastopol ~ True Nature wellness is on ground level. There is not an automated door. If you will need help with the front door please write it in when booking your session.  I will greet all clients at the front door lobby area.  The door may be locked if you arrive more then 5 minutes before your session.  

There are no steps once inside.  Door width to come.

Fragrance-Free policy
Esalen Integrative Massage is a fragrance and scent free practice. 
I wear only fragrances free body products, use scent free oil and lotions during your session and use only scent / fragrance free cleaning products.

Nik uses PureGreen24 (an EPA approved disinfectant to kill Covid-19) to disinfect massage table and chairs surfaces and alcohol to disinfect door nobs and other surfaces.

For those who have MCS or other environmental sensitivities- I strive to have a scent and fragrance free practice and cannot guarantee 100% scent free as sometimes clients come in wearing scents and there may be scents in the building materials / carpets that I cannot control.  I have two air purifiers in the massage space of both locations.  Please reach out if you have any questions.
Why scent free?
IMPORTANT... I am allergic to scents and chemicals, including but not limited to perfumes & cologne, laundry detergent, essential oils and shampoos.  I ask folks to please come in as fragrant/scent free as possible to your session.
Also, some staff members and patients of BAP/TNW   have allergies and if they are exposed it cause physical reactions, sometimes causing them to have to leave the space.

Things that can help are; if you are going to shower the day of your appointment don't use scented soaps, shampoos, lotions, don't put deodorant on right before coming in and if you've had your hair recently dyed or treated wear a cloth wrap to contain any scents.  Let me know if you have questions and here is a link to my website that has more details and resources ... Scent and Fragrance Free practice.
Is BAP Fragrance-Free?
From Berkeley Acupuncture's website:

"BAP strives to be a fragrance-free space. Many of our patients and some of our staff have sensitivities to fragrance that cause physical reactions, sometimes causing them to have to leave the clinic if they are exposed. Therefore we request all our patients, staff, and visitors to refrain from using any scented products, including essential oils and other "natural" scents, prior to coming to BAP. However, we cannot guarantee a completely fragrance free environment. If you smell fragrance in the clinic or on any linens please let us know.

We use a hydrogen peroxide cleaner, approved by the EPA to kill SARS-CoV2 which has a mild smell (not added fragrance, just the hydrogen peroxide) to disinfect the chairs and treatment areas. We use Clean Well sanitizing wipes, as well as alcohol, on the computer, doorknobs, and practitioner work areas."

Is TNW Fragrance free?
True Nature Wellness is newly fragrance free.  They transitioned to fragrance and scent free and this has opened up the opportunity for me to work there!
All of the cleaning, soaps, laundry detergents and sanitizers are scent and fragrance free. 

We are working together together to create a fragrance and scent free environment and cannot 100% guarantee a completely fragrance free environment. If you smell fragrance anywhere in the wellness center please let us know, so we can work to remedy it.
Bathrooms
Albany ~ Berkeley Acupuncture Project,
there is a wheelchair accessible, single stall, gender-neutral restroom.

Sebastopol ~ True Nature Wellness,
there is a single stall gender-neutral restroom.  Not wheelchair accessible.
Covid Policies
I am following Covid guidelines and regulations and I will continue to stay in contact as things shift to give you the most up to date information I have.  Wellness clinics are required by state law to require masks.

Here is what you can expect from me; I am fully vaccinated, test regularly, will be wearing an N95/KN95 mask, run air purifiers, wash my hands regularly, sanitize the space between each session and I will be doing everything I can to create a relaxing space for you.

Nik uses PureGreen24 (an EPA approved disinfectant to kill Covid-19) to disinfect massage table and chairs surfaces and alcohol to disinfect door nobs and other surfaces.
Portable Hepa filter in the room.
Merv 13 filter in the central HVAC system.

What I ask of you:
• ALL clients must wear N95/KN95 or equivalent during sessions, regardless of vaccination status.
•AirQUEEN masks are available (no additional cost) if needed.
• If you are having flu/covid symptoms please call to reschedule
•If you have specific immune-compromised needs I encourage you to book the first session of the day and to message me to talk about any concerns or access needs you have.
can I come in if i have a cold?
No.
I ask that you please cancel/reschedule sessions if you have any of the following symptoms:

•Fever or chills
•Cough
•Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
•Fatigue
•Muscle or body aches
•Headache
•New loss of taste or smell
•Sore throat
•Congestion or runny nose
•Nausea or vomiting
•Diarrhea
They/them pronouns?
Yes, Nik, your massage therapist uses they/them pronouns.
More information about Why Pronouns Matter

Some examples of how to use "they/them" in a sentence:

"I went to get a massage from Nik yesterday and their table was so cozy, I look forward to seeing them again next week."

"Hey, my massage therapist moved locations, they are now at the Berkeley Acupuncture Project in Albany.  You can find them by searching their name on google!"

"I'm so excited I just got a massage from Nik at their new location in Sebastopol, you should try them out.  They are great."

And here are some great resources to learn more:

•Trans 101- videos
https://trans101.org.au/video1.html

•Trans Intimate - Knowing us deeper than our pronouns
www.transintimate.com
What are you trained in?
I have been certified as a California Massage Therapist since 2013.  I started my training at Esalen in 2012 and that is where my formal training to become a massage therapist started.

You can find out more about me and my trainings/education HERE
Other languages?
I only speak English fluently.
I understand this limits who has access and who might feel comfortable coming in for a session. 
If you'd like to come in or have a family member or friend come in who doesn't speak English you are welcome set up someone to translate important information for you.  They are welcome to come to the intake part of the session, stay the whole time or join us via telephone.

I am not able to pay for translators.
I don't see my question
I love hearing your questions!
You can email me at BodyCuriosity@gmail.com