My Oasis For Healing

My session with Anya was an incredibly eye-​opening and healing experience. I had no idea what to expect when I walked in her door, but I felt comfortable with her right away. My session with her was meditative, interactive, calming, and profoundly fulfilling. I will definitely be back!

I loved our session, Anya! The gift of your voice and guidance took me to healing places and connections within, and it felt so wonderful! Thank you!
I also wanted to mention how I loved your pace — the pace of your speaking, and the beauty of the pauses. I felt like I had all the time in the world, and that is very precious.
Thank you for the notes you provided from my session! I look forward to seeing you again!

I struggled with anxiety and insomnia when I decided to see Anya. I was interested in her work because she uses a combined technique of massage and hypnotherapy. Anya helps you to feel relaxed right away and I immediately felt at ease. Hypnotherapy gave me the tools to cope with stress during the day and in the evenings and the massage work helped my body relax.
Since seeing Anya, I am generally more relaxed and less stressed. I always look forward to our monthly sessions and find comfort in knowing that I have a place and time where I can devote time to myself.

I had a wonderful session with Anya, she is very spiritual and gifted. We had a movement & art session, I left the session feeling much more aware and very peaceful, with a glimpse of my soul on the canvas I used to make a drawing… thank you Anya for a wonderful session… with gratitude, Tamara Nakhjavani (owner of Moonlit Soul Healing in Oakland)

Anya was wonderful. Very professional and relaxing. I was able to «let go» very easily with her — I will definitely be back!

From start to finish, a nurturing, helpful massage experience. The focus is on healing as the name implies, and I felt just that occurred for me. Anya has a beautiful space in a beautiful building and everything is easy. I’m so happy to have found it.

I came upon My Oasis for Healing through a deal on living social for three thirty minute jaw massages. I am a former smoker and work in a high stress environment as an EMT and I often find myself clenching my jaw or grinding my teeth when I get stressed out. I was also in this endless cycle of always chewing gum to relieve jaw tension. After the first 30 minute jaw session I felt such a remarkable amount of relief that I could not wait for my next session. I no longer grind my teeth during sleep and no longer feel the need to always chew gum. She is so kind and knowledgable and all three of my experiences there were amazing. Highly recommended if you find yourself holding stress in your jaw and I’m sure all of her services are incredible.

Great jaw massage!
Anya is the only person I know about who does jaw massage. As a long-​time TMJ sufferer, I found her jaw massage to be downright delicious. Just the right amount of pressure in just the right places.
She massages the outside of the jaw and back of the neck, and then (with gloves on) puts her finger inside your mouth. Using her finger, she targets the jaw muscles that can’t be reached from the outside, while you slowly open and close your mouth. If you don’t have jaw pain, this probably sounds ridiculous. If you do have jaw pain, you can imagine the relief.
No, this will not cure your TMJ. But my left jaw used to be really tender to the touch, and now doesn’t hurt nearly as much. (You can probably tell by now that my jaw is a mess. I’ve had TMJ for 25+ years. There’s only so much a night guard can do.) I’ve had 2 treatments, and am looking forward to more.

Today’s session with Saranie was great. She has soft caring hands that intuitively found what places that needed to be found including things I failed to mention when we talked before my session. She checked in about pressure, etc. just enough and every time she was right on. The time flew by. Would have been happy for another hour :-) She is highly recommended. And she made the rest of my day relaxed and full of energy.

I cannot possibly extoll Anya’s virtues enough to do her justice. All my cares melt away when I am in her little sanctuary, and she is sensitive, conscientious and kind. She is wonderfully intuitive and I’ve never experienced a second of discomfort in her care. When I finish an hour on her table, I feel physically and emotionally repaired and refreshed. I had to take a break for a couple months because of a tight budget (though she prices her services very fairly), but just jumped on another groupon so I am back on the Anya train and I can’t wait. I feel blessed not only to be a lucky beneficiary of her healing touch, but to have met her!

In perfect divine timing Anya came into my life through the magical web of connections between us. As she dropped me through her healing touch into a depth of relaxation I didn’t know possible (and hadn’t felt in a long time), her Shiloh Sophia McCloud painting «Love is in the Air» sprinkled sparkly love dust into my cells. Anya’s tenderness, the aromatherapy, the alchemy of art on her walls all transported me back into my body and I am still receiving the healing benefits days later. Thank you Anya!

Having lost my previous massage person, this was a special present to myself and I was very happy with the massage I received. I would recommend Anya for anyone wanting a healing experience!

I signed up for Anya’s «hot stone journey» and discovered a unique experience that you won’t find anywhere else! As she lays the stones on you you can feel your body responding to the heat. It’s a little surprising at first, but as you relax into the heat you’ll find that your thoughts and your troubles melting away while she works her attentive magic and relieves the stresses of the outside world!
She’s constantly checking in, but as I started to relax and bliss out a bit she was fine with just letting me zone out and working her magic.

After seeing Anya every few months over several years, I can testify to the multiple modalities she can apply depending on what is needed. But the effective knot-​reducing physical massage itself is not the only thing that distinguishes her practice. I look forward to sessions with Anya because she creates a total relaxation experience, from the soothing space to the initial welcome & check-​in consultation to scented essential oils to starting each session with reminding me that there is nowhere else I need to be. I appreciate the gentle verbal coaching during the massage such as to relax into gravity, which also helps me get the most out of each session.
Realizing that massage complements other treatment modalities, Anya also referred me to an excellent chiropractor. She also introduced me to a natural muscle pain relief cream that is very helpful during flare-​ups.

i’ve had many a massage in my day, but never one like the session i had with anya a couple of weeks ago. i was in the midst of moving and in one of the busiest times of my working life, but i was able to take an hour and see her. it made ALL the difference. she really listens to what’s going on with you and knows how to address that through her technique. i commented to a friend afterward that i actually felt like a human again.
two giant (and über-​relaxed) thumbs up!

I first saw Anya about two years ago, using one of those coupons from a discount site to try out her massage. At the time, I was going through a tough, emotional rollercoaster and was looking for something to help quell the thoughts and relax myself.
I went to her place of business, an unassuming house on MLK in Berkeley, and initially I was thrown off by the very un-​spa-​like atmosphere. It reminded me moreso of a home, with the bookcases and homey decorative touches here and there. My experience up to that point had been at primarily spas or chiropractors’ offices, so I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. After a short talk where Anya asked about stressors in the beginning, which also struck me as quite un-​spa-​like, I got ready for the massage. And, at the end of the hour, I was in such a blissful half-​waking state of wonderfulness that I was like «eff those spas! never. going. back.» It was altogether a healing experience.
I came back to see Anya on a regular business over a year later, after having spent almost a year in southeast Asia. Let me tell you — the massages I received in Cambodia & Thailand, while rejuvenating and incredibly affordable just don’t compare. I went to some swanky places there, too, on a regular basis. Anya really spoiled me in this regard, because while technically, I got some good and even great massages, there was an awareness of body (from the masseuses) that was clearly lacking. So, upon my arrival back stateside, I made it a point to seek Anya out again and make this an on-​going, monthly thing.
Anya runs a truly thoughtful massage practice and because she is cognizant of every little knot & tenseness in your body, she is better equipped to work through those things to get you to a place of utter relaxation. She understands that massage can be a healing and relaxing practice, and it just radiates out of her.

Anya is amazing at her craft. She was great at talking me through everything, helping me with breathing and focusing my concentration towards the body work. At one point, there were some police sirens off in the distance and she very calmly covered my ears and helped me to retain focus. She has a great skill of confidently nurturing her clients and she will be my first choice to recommend to anyone I know. Five stars.
–Ethan

Unfortunately, I have to disagree with these reviews. I got this groupon, and was pretty disappointed. The appointment took over two months to schedule, there was a cancellation, and when I got there, the room smelled funny. Anya was pleasant, but throughout the massage, she rarely checked in with me. I felt like she worked very few muscle groups, and by the end of the massage I was sore and uncomfortable, but didn’t know how to ask her to stop poking the same muscles over and over again. I couldn’t wait to get out of there.

I’ve had many massages with many techniques and I could have stayed on the table for a couple more hours as Anya did a wonderful job incorporating all the senses and techniques to make my massage a great experience. Her approach, the atmosphere and location were great. Parking was a bit of a challenge but everything was lined up for me that evening as I found a space and promptly went in with good directions. Thank you for your wonderful healing spirit, Anya.

Anya was the absolute best massage I’ve ever had. About halfway through the session my body’s breathing slowed down like I was asleep. No other masseuse has ever relaxed me to that point before and
I’ve had my share of massages from various people all with degrees or certifications from their various schools.
By the end of the session I felt like my body was an ocean that was no longer knotted up or filled with blocks. From my head to my feet I was at peace.