Samadhi Massage

Samadhi Massage has enhanced my overall well being. Jan is both professional and experienced in his massage bodywork practice. We started with Swedish massage and moved into a combination of Swedish, Cranio-​Sacral and energetic work. As a health care provider with Hospice, my body mechanics are put to the test daily. Jan has warm healing hands and a quiet focused presence.
Samadhi Massage and Jan has won my respect, and stands out in the
area of Massage and Bodywork.

Jan is wonderful! Truly one of the best massages I’ve had. He went out of his way to accommodate me at the last minute when I was dealing with sciatica pain. He is a powerful healer and a kind caregiver. His space in the Mission is super central and accessible, and overlooks a beautiful green courtyard. And he has great taste in music, always a plus!

Jan Sobel is a true healer and gifted bodyworker. I have had lots of experience with massage and bodywork, and Jan is a true healer. He is very intentional and has a beautiful intuitive sense of where to go and just how deep to go to give the maximum therapeutic benefit.
I went in with some jaw tension, wanting to experience his specialized work on the jaw, and boy was I pleased! It was definitely intense at times, but never overwhelming, and the release that followed was magical! I felt my body shedding stress and tension in an amazing way! I highly recommend Jan! He is a true gem. Also his space is super cozy and comfortable and puts you right at ease!

I have been seeing Jan for massage for a few years now. He’s GREAT. He’s very respectful, thoughtful and professional.
I had surgery for cancer and some of my scar tissue needed some deep massage to break it up and Jan really helped and was very sensitive to my needs.
Highly recommend!!!

Jan at Samadhi Massage in the Mission, San Francisco is an amazing massage therapist. He begins with getting to know you and finding out where your body may be having issues, which was appreciated as other massage therapists I’ve had in the past haven’t asked me that. He made me feel comfortable the whole time. And best of all, the massage was one of best massages I have ever received. I had a lower back pain that wasn’t going away and after going to see Jan, I haven’t had it since. I will be going back soon. I highly recommend you check samadhi massage out…

Jan is a bad-​ass massage ninja. I had a nasty kink in my shoulder that was killing me, and he worked that shit right out, like magic. He also happens to be professional and a pretty chill dude, on top of that. Highly recommended.

I came to Jan early in 2013 with an acute, very painful arm and neck pain that I was convinced was going to require neurosurgery and/​or disable me. Chiropractic care and acupuncture were not doing much good, as this was a disc-​related issue.
The first session began with a very thorough and concerned ‘in-​take’ interview about my massage history, what my issues were and what to expect. I expected some pain because the severity of my problem, but Jan was really tuned in to my feedback and went as far as I was willing and said ‘enough’. I felt better the next day, and a couple of more sessions closely scheduled really got me on the road to healing.
I’ve since signed on for his monthly massage program, which is very generously priced and convenient to schedule. My condition really improved once I started physical therapy and learned good posture & specific exercises, but the monthly massage greatly reduces the stress and tension that caused the problem to flare up so much.
Jan’s space in the Lower Mission neighborhood is clean and safe, and the other tenants of ActiveSpace seem very like-​minded. I even found a good bicycle service station there!
Strongly recommend Samadhi Massage for therapeutic massage without unnecessary frills, alternative-​hippie-​music, or distracting fragrances and imagery.
Jan is a professional I trust and would not hesitate to recommend to a close friend.

Jan’s an awesome body worker/​healer! I was very impressed by how deep into the tissues he got without being aggressive at all, he has a very soft approach! I loved the space, there was a very still and quiet vibe to it. All in all I highly recommend Samadhi Massage to anyone looking to heal or just pamper themselves with some nourishing body work!

I’ve been seeing Jan a few years now and am quite happy with the results. I do a lot of running and weight training, and Jan’s massages have helped reduce aches and pains as well as increase flexibility. His Mission location is conveniently located and I’ve never had an issue with parking. The facilities are clean and well put together. I use his monthly pay program which is convenient and affordable. Check him out!

Jan is the consummate healer. His thoughtfulness is first apparent in the massage space he has created in the Mission District of San Francisco. You walk into the warm womb like room, soft sounds of nature surround you and you are immediately in another world. Jan listens to you on many different levels. He knows if you want to talk during a massage of if you need quiet to replenish; he hears and responds to where the healing needs to be. Many here have spoken of his gentleness and intuition. I want to speak to his strength. For true healing sometimes a massage needs to be deep as opposed to soft and gentle. Jan is able to do either or both. His technical skills are amazing-​deep tissue, Swedish, Cranio, TMJ, etc. I have gone to Jan several times and, always, he has relieved the problem. My partner has fibromyalgia and Jan was able to alleviate the pain better than anyone.
I urge anyone to see Jan if you are thinking of massage. Whether it is for relaxation or to work on a specific body issue, there is no masseur better than Jan Sobel.

I had a good sense of Jan from the first phone call. I woke up in pain and wanted (needed) an appt with someone immediately. He proved himself to be very caring, accommodating and a good communicator immediately. I really appreciated the concise intake that he did in person so that he could provide the best experience for me and target the areas that needed the most attention. His touch is very healing, strong, and intuitive. I felt thoroughly relaxed in every way because of the aesthetics of his space, to his gentle and skillful massage. Thank you Jan!

Jan is really into his craft and it is apparent. His location has been carefully designed and painted by himself to allow his clients to enjoy and relax, creating a trusting atmosphere where you can be pampered and allow the stress of the day to melt away. I have come to know Jan over the past year or so and he is a reliable and caring man that is good to others.
The experience I had was delightful. Jan met me in the waiting area on time, the room he operates from was clean and his manners were respectful and attentive. He plays soft music that will take you away to a far away rain forest or to the tumbling sounds of an ocean roaring… I experienced a thorough massage and he even has a monthly massage program to keep you in check and offers a very reasonable price for his services.
This is one business has my full endorsement and the guy running it will make you feel like his only client.

Running is a terrible idea, and I don’t know why we do it. After injuring myself and going through months of physical therapy, my recovery had plateaued. It was really frustrating.
Finally I went to Jan and he found muscles in my calves that were too tight and causing me pain near my ankle. He also worked out tiny muscles around the ankle and top of foot that gave me much more range of motion.
After one session I went from .5 mile in a lot of pain to 3 miles with almost no pain.
I’ve had quite a few different massage therapists, and this guy is damn good. I signed up for his regular monthly service.

Done.
I came to Jan after a backpacking trip in Cuba where I was lugging over 50lbs of camera gear and had worn out my shoe soles. Jan’s pre-​session consultation ensures he can focus on your immediate needs — for me mainly my neck, shoulders and arthritis. He not only hit those spots but made notes along the way and followed up with explanations of what/​where/​why and how we can resolve the issues.
Other massages I’ve received typically feel like I’m going under a steamroller or there’s never enough pressure — of the massages I’ve received on four continents, this was the best. Jan uses a multitude of techniques that apply to a given issue to find resolution and he applies just the right amount pressure.
Magic.

I’ve been getting regular massages for years and when I moved to San Francisco, I knew I had to find a new masseuse. As it turned out soon thereafter I was lucky enough to be introduced to Jan. I have been going to him for years and I wouldn’t even think about looking elsewhere, that is unless I move to a different city.
Searching for the right masseuse is as important as finding a one-​on-​one personal trainer or a trusted physician and in many cases far more intimate.
Beyond Jan’s calm demeanor, his level of expertise and technical knowledge is outstanding. Over time as he gets to know you better, he can tell you exactly where you could both focus on. Both inside and outside of the studio… This is also based on his detailed documentation gathered with each visit.
Upon arrival, he will listen to you carefully before he is able to apply the right amount of energy and pressure in areas that may need more attention, but he doesn’t shy away from deep tissue work for those of you who prefer that level of intensity.
Best of luck.

OMG!!! Jan is amazing. I’m a hairstylist slash runner and he got straight to business and worked out my stress until I turned in to jello. He’s very calming, easy going and excellent at massage. I highly recommend him:)

I have issues. I don’t «do» intimacy and I really don’t like people touching me. One of my many issues is stress… I’m a black belt in Stress and I carry all of it in my back.
My back aches daily in at least five different places. So I finally decided to just stop being a spaz and get my back worked on. After some Unilocal searching and friendly inquiries, I found Jan. He came highly recommend by both.
He listened, explained and made me feel comfortable at once. Holy shit, my back feels tons better. He even found a muscle issue in my leg that I had NO idea was in such bad shape. ouch! I like knowing what is happening and why things happen. He was patient and told me why he used different methods for different muscle problems and all of which worked.
My back is not a one-​session repair… but I do feel more loose. I didn’t realize how wound up I was until the tension was released just a little.
Thanks Jan! I will be back…

Jan was professional, kind, and very comforting from the beginning. I have had scoliosis since I was five years old and have therefore suffered with chronic back pain my entire life. I’ve had many messages and only Jan uses craniosacral therapy. With just a light touch he is able to feel and correct dysfunction. I felt my muscles relax and slept better than I had in months after our first session. I signed up for a package and I can’t wait to go back! I’m definitely sending friends! Highly recommend!

In short:
I’ve had regular massage sessions with Jan for over a year now, and during this time I’ve gone from more or less broken and in chronic pain, to almost entirely pain free, and living a much happier existence. Serious results.
Jan of course has the requisite knowledge, strength, and skill to provide immediate relief, but where he really shines is his talent for listening, adapting to your particular needs, and building rapport to generate long term progress.
Calm, unassuming demeanor, very capable, and great guy. Highly recommended.
In long:
I’m going against my Unilocal mantra of, «write about what you’re reviewing – not about yourself,» but backstory does Jan the appropriate justice.
I’m in my early 30’s, and for about seven years had an ever-​present back pain ranging in intensity from merely distracting at best, to points where I could do little but lay on the floor. I first learned about his practice through my extended social circle and originally came to him during some particularly acute back pain. He provided immediate relief, which I appreciate having been through a number of massage therapists before with mixed results, and this built a great initial first impression.
Having lived with my back issues for several years at this point, I had taken a great interest in educating myself about the causes and treatments. I would consider myself to be fairly well-​informed, disciplined, not a newbie to bodywork, and determined to beat the pain. I decided that I would try a series of massages with Jan, and with the ensuing progress, these soon became an integral part of my treatment plan.
As I mentioned above, the pain is basically gone, and I couldn’t be more pleased with the night and day results. I still see him regularly for maintenance work, and we usually find some interesting semi-​latent spots in need of attention. He’s quite adept at picking up on surprising trouble areas and dealing with them with impressive precision.
I highly recommend Jan for your massage therapy needs.
One tip: With a doctor’s note recommending massage therapy, you can use your FSA to pay for massage.

Just had my first massage today from Jan and I have to say it was one the best I’ve ever had. And I’ve had a lot. I’ve dated several massage therapists so I’ve had more than my fair share of free massages and this one was worth every penny. I’ve also paid for massages as I find it helps when I’m working out. I don’t feel as sore and my recovery time is quicker.
Jan has a very nice room setup that gets natural sun light and it creates a very welcoming environment. I’ve never had a 1 and ½ hour massage before, always just 1 hour but I noticed the extra half hour really gives extra time so no body section is left out.
I will defiantly hire Jan again.