Hae Min Cho, LAc

San Francisco, United States

4.5

20 reviews

Contacts

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Telephone:
+1 415-203-4848
Website:
www.haemincho.com
Address:
44 Gough St Ste 308 and 208, San Francisco, CA, 94103
b/t Rose St & Page St
SoMa
Nearby public transportation stops & stations:
0.2 miMarket St & South Van Ness Ave
0.2 miMarket St & Van Ness Ave
0.2 miBig Bus Tours Stop 8, Fulton Street
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Today

Today –
Local time (San Francisco) 2:00 AM Sunday, June 29, 2025

Business hours

Monday –
Tuesday –
Wednesday –
Thursday –
Friday –
Saturday –
Sunday –

Description

Specialties

Acupuncture and Acupressure Massage — Body Dao specializes in Korean Traditional Acupuncture and Acupressure Massage. This is a system which uses pressure points to stimulate circulation, relaxation, and detoxification. This system is particularly good for: chronic back pain, sports injuries, stress, weight loss, sciatic pain, repetitive stress injuries, joint pain, tendon pain, migraines, poor circulation, insomnia, depression, long-​term exhaustion, and other common ailments.

Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan, Sundays 10-​noon — Wellness and vitality requires daily self-​care of vibrant nutrition, holistic daily exercise, restful sleep, and emotional/​spiritual grounding. Tai Chi Chuan is a daily practice which supports energy positive posture, body awareness, parasympathetic breathing, ergonomic training, energetic grounding, vitality and vigor. Each class includes postural coaching, Qi Gong, forms practice and martial applications. (New students must contact the instructor, Hae Min Cho before attending class.)

History

Established in 2000.

From 1998 to 2000, I studied at The College of Korean Traditional Healing Arts under Master Yoo, the lineage holder of Hwe Choon Do-​In Sul Bup. In 2000, opened my own practice in San Francisco, to continue Master Yoo’s family style of Traditional Korean Medicine. I am honored to have been introduced to this incredibly effective healing art.

In 2012 I graduated from ACTCM with a Masters of Science in Traditional Chinese Medicine. I am currently enrolled in a Clinical Doctorate Program in Pain Management and Women’s Health.

I am daily inspired by my patients to continuously study and improve myself so that I can better be of service to others.

Meet the Business Owner

Hae Min C.

Business Owner

Early in life I discovered that I had a gift for intuitive touch and a natural desire to help people. In high school I was active in performing arts, singing in an a capella madrigal group, performing in musicals and dancing. I found myself at cast parties and on tour giving my friends massage sessions and then being asked to work on virtually everyone. Then I went to UCSC for undergraduate school and forgot about my hobby. I immersed myself in academic life and became very active in student politics. After graduating with a dual degree in American Studies and Women’s Studies, I became a political organizer and a union organizer. After a while I realized that I needed to learn how to live a more healthy balanced life. I began to study Traditional Korean Acupressure Massage, Buddhist meditation, Chen Tai Chi Chuan, Yin Style Bagua, Qi Gong and Classical Chinese Medicine and Herbalism. My goal is to help people attain vibrant health in mind/​body/​spirit.

Hae Min Cho, LAc also recommends

Kim Makoi, DC

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Chiropractors

Hae Min C. says,

«Kim is one of the most knowledgeable, holistic chiropractors I know. He has cured my chronic low back issues and his NET has had amazing results!»

Robert Johns, LAc OMD

8

reviews

Acupuncture

,

Traditional Chinese Medicine

Hae Min C. says,

«Dr. Johns is very caring and knowledgeable. He is especially good at diagnosis and difficult cases. He has over 30 years of experience.»

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20 reviews of Hae Min Cho, LAc

No registration required
Place rating: 5
San Francisco, CA
I went to Hae Min Cho after I friend referred me to her. I had been out of work for 3 weeks from a back injury. I went to a Specialist who was educated in Chinese medicine and also is a chiropractor as well as physical therapy 3 days a week. A LOT of money, a lot of time, and a lot of slow slow progress. I went to Hae Min ONE time and I swear to you, I felt so much better after and have had no problems ever since. I left the office floating… I recommend a ride home after deep work (massage & acupuncture) like that. Keeping up with helpful stretching suggestions she gave me has provided me with preventative measures to make sure I sustain a healthy back and posture. Hae Min is truly a healer and is highly recommended by me.
Place rating: 5
Los Angeles, CA
I got a treatment from Hae Min about a year ago and I honestly say that I feel pretty amazing. Some time ago I fell into depression, cloudy mind, low energy, lost interest in things, and felt pretty burned out. I got a treatment and followed some information she had told me and since then my body has been healing each day. My head also has been hurting and now the pain has disappeared. Thank you Hae Min for the wonderful treatment!!!
Place rating: 5
San Francisco, CA
It’s not often that you can see and feel instant impact from an acupuncture and acupressure session, but with Hae Min that happens all the time. She’s a consumate healer and nurturer. Do yourself a favor and see her.
Place rating: 5
San Francisco, CA
This woman has changed my life in the best way.
I walked in with the worst (back) pain in my adult life, and in 1 hour walked out feeling 75% better. In two sessions, I was cured. It’s been about 8 weeks of continuous care, and I can’t be happier with my experience with Hae Min!
I regularly receive a combination of acupressure massage and acupuncture. Additionally, she helps coach me in meditation, stress relief, and nutrition.
If you tend to be an over committed, super high ambition, and unconscious stress-​case, Hae Min can help relieve my body from the pressure it’s under, resulting in a clearer mind, healthier body, and reminded of the important things in life — YOU.
I cannot recommend her more.
Place rating: 5
Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
She’s the kind of woman that makes you feel better as soon as you walk in the door. Great facility with beautiful artwork and plants on the patio. Awesome sense of humor, focused, and gentle. I feel completely re-​charged!
Place rating: 3
Oakland, CA
I thought her work was great; but it went over the line in conversation. It wasnt the experience I was looking for.
Place rating: 5
San Francisco, CA
Lots of people can give a nice massage. Hae Min takes it to the next level by 1) being really good at it, adapting to the feedback (I like light and I am ticklish) and 2) offering lifestyle, diet and workout coaching, grounded in her formal Chinese Medicine training.
And no, we are not talking about some vague hippie vegan stuff. We are talking no-​nonsense, easy to follow, real stuff. In my case, amongst others: eat more red meat.
The studio is clean and quiet, I’ll be back!
Place rating: 5
San Francisco, CA
I have known Hae Min for over ten years and found her to be a gentle practitioner. She does chair massage on Sundays at Pharmaca on Cole Street. She is a woman who REALLY cares about helping me and others heal. I have seen it over and over again. She is very intuitive and very knowledgeable about the body. I can’t say how many somatic modalities she knows but she amazes me! She just finished taking her licensing exam in acupuncture and that has been a 5 year process of schooling and studying for her exam. I can’t say enough about how she knows her stuff but she does! I highly recommend her! God bless her!
Place rating: 5
San Francisco, CA
Hae Min Cho is amazing and has been treating my back pain for over ten years! She is intuitive and genuinely cares about your health and well-​being. She has helped me kick my habit of eating ice cream every night. Hae Min is a martial artist and very strong, so I tend to ask her to lighten her touch because I’m a big baby when my knots get kneaded, but Hae Min listens attentively and adjusts the pressure just right to smooth out all my knots. Hae Min is very generous and you can feel her healing energy in her touch. Also, Hae Min is studying acupuncture and is very professional and gentle with her needles. I highly recommend Hae Min Cho and look forward to my next massage.
Place rating: 1
San Francisco, CA
My experience was completely different than other Unilocalers. I went in via Bloomspot for a 30 minute foot reflexology session. The negative highlights:
— Hae Min took two calls from other clients during my 30 minute session. One was just as she was about to start my massage. The second time, she actually interrupted my massage in the middle to answer a client call on her iPhone. This was completely unacceptable, no two ways about it.
— Hae Min initiated a conversation with me at the start of my massage, which continued throughout; I didn’t want to be rude by saying that I’d prefer to be quiet and relax. (I feel pretty strongly that the massage therapist should check in about this if they have initiated the conversation, to ensure that the client does not have a preference for a quiet massage.) The bigger problem is that when she was talking, she would start gesticulating … which meant that she either stopped massaging all together, or would take one hand off my foot and be lightly rubbing my foot with her other hand. This happened several times, frustratingly, just as I was starting to relax and appreciate what she’d been in the process of doing.
— At one point, she decided that the tension in my feet indicated that I was placing too much pressure on the inside of my foot when walking. She interrupted the massage yet again — to pick up my boots (without asking me if this was okay) and to examine the soles to see if they corroborated her conclusion.
I was floored. She is not a podiatrist and I was not seeking advice on my walking. (Whenever I’ve received these types of comments from a massage therapist before, they’ve been given AFTER the massage session has ended.) I wanted a 30-​minute continuous massage. With both hands. Without iPhone interruptions. Without inspections of my shoes. I did not receive this massage. I feel that I completely wasted my money. Very disappointed.
To add insult to injury, I explicitly specified that I wanted strong pressure at the start of my massage, and I asked her to use more pressure once. The massage could at best be described as light.
Place rating: 1
San Francisco, CA
I bought a massage here as a gift through Bloomspot, a daily deal site. When my gift recipient went to schedule a massage with her, the availability was so limited he had to book it for 1.5 months out. Then, on the day of the massage, she never showed up, even after he waited 30 minutes! Hae Min Cho offered to add on the additional 30 minutes in the future for whenever he rescheduled the massage, even offering to open up additional time slots that weren’t listed. However, he called back twice to reschedule and she never returned his calls, and it’s been weeks!
This is incredibly unprofessional! Worse, it makes me a look like a terrible gift giver.
Place rating: 5
San Francisco, CA
Hae Min is the best! She’s got really strong hands, too!
Place rating: 5
San Francisco, CA
I just want to say she is the best!!!
I have had Swedish, deep tissue, Thai, other method but nothing compares to her method of Accupressure. My blood flows through my entire body and mind after her work. Feels like a new person
Place rating: 5
San Francisco, CA
Hae Min is a great massage therapist. I have been a regular customer of hers for over five years now. I get massages from other therapists on occasion, but when I get a massage from Hae Min, it is guaranteed to loosen all of the knots in my shoulders and back, and allow my body to feel completely re-​energized. She is exceptional. In addition, she really reaches out and is a great conversationalist.
Easy access by public transport.
Place rating: 5
Somerville, MA
i usually like writing these reviews under the psychological guise of some anonymity, so i don’t get «oh no! you’re the one!» etc etc. but the Unilocaling continues, as well-​deserved.
i found hae min through a «Qi gong SF» search on Unilocal — previous experience with graceful massage in NYC led me to believe that qi gong is the most awesome thing on earth, and has helped me in so many ways — stress, knots, back pain, etcetera. graceful massages generally leaves me thinking i’ve broken my back. it’s intense. i live for the intensity. good enough.
i was surprised that hae min’s techniques weren’t backbreaking joint-​cracking sledgehammer-​wielding. i was surprised to feel awesome afterwards, and that my back feels much better now. i was surprised by hae min’s genuinely kind, warm demeanor, her tips, her general advice, her offering to give me a ride back to my hotel afterwards out of sheer kindness.
the only drawback: cash or check only. i rarely hit the ATM but okay, it was definitely worth it.
i would definitely go back again. highly highly recommended!
Place rating: 5
Tujunga, CA
I can’t recommend Hae Min highly enough! She’s an exceptional bodyworker, and it’s clear that she cares very much about the health of her patients.
I had my first session with her on Saturday, and I was delighted with her overall approach and skills. She’s the kind of bodyworker who makes you feel like a million bucks, and then gives you great advice for how to feel that way all the time.
Go see Hae Min — you’ll find yourself counting the days until you can see her again!
Place rating: 5
San Francisco, CA
Hae Min Cho is certainly more than a massage therapist. Before beginning my session, she asked me about my goals for the bodywork and what was happening with me physically. Throughout the session, she would ask questions and help me to relax into the bodywork so I would gain the optimum benefits. Although she spoke to me throughout the massage, her manner is calm and unobtrusive, so I was able to feel like I was having quiet, «me» time. After the session, Hae Min gave me some exercises to address some of my chronic issues. I’ll definitely go back!
Place rating: 5
San Francisco, CA
I first met Hae Min on a visit to Pharmaca in Cole Valley. She performs chair massages there every Sunday from 2−6pm. It was great because my neck was in a lot of pain and I really didn’t want to wait until Monday to go see my regular masseuse or chiropractor. I was very impressed at how much she helped me with just a chair massage! She has a calmness and tranquility about her that is very appealing. I’ve had a lot of massages over the years and it was immediately evident to me that Hae Min is highly trained and very passionate about her work. I plan on making an appointment to see her for a full massage in her Hayes Valley Studio. I recommend stopping by Pharmaca to meet her and book a 10 or 20 minute massage. You will be happy you did.
Place rating: 5
Mill Valley, CA
Just finished receiving another terrific chair massage from Hae Min, as always she got the kinks out of my neck and upper back and I feel great. Hae Min comes to our office in downtown SF every week and I never miss a massage. The 20 minutes I spend w/​her are always invigorating, she provides just the right amount of pressure and touch. She takes her profession very seriously and it shows.
As well, Hae Min is friendly, warm and personable and wonderful to talk to. She always has interesting things to say.
Can’t recommend her highly enough… treat yourself today.
Place rating: 5
Alameda, CA
Hae Min has done something quite unique and amazing. She has taken a traditional self-​healing healing art and converted her skills and years of training into a body-​work therapy. As far as she knows (and I know), there is no one who has done this and offers services for it like she does.
I would highly recommend that you give her a try. Her treatment is definitely soothing and invigorating, and if received regularly, can heal ailments in ways that Western medicine has closed its door on.