Tahoe Nurturing Massage

After reading the one-​star review, I want to update mine.
I am a diehard feminist and never before have I doubted an accusation of molestation. But I don’t believe the one star review by Heather M. I believe she was uncomfortable but not that Zeke did anything improper or had anything less than the most professional of intentions.
She accuses him of 4 diffrerent things. How did this happen? In 30 years of getting massages, only once did a male masseur make me uncomfortable. And I stopped him with a single «no!» within seconds of the uncomfortable touch. I suspect this woman stayed for the entire massage despite being uncomfortable from fairly early on, then reacted afterward by striking out at him. Easier to blame Zeke than to accept responsibility for not knowing your limits and failing to protect them.
Finally, using simple common sense, obviously the problem is on the part of the reviewer. Every other review is 5 stars. No one else has a single negative thing to say about Zeke and that says it all.
FACT, Heather: if you were uncomfortable, it was YOUR responsibility to communicate that. Had you said something as simple as «could you not work that area» or «I’m becoming uncomfortable» I’m absolutely certain Zeke would have stopped immediately. I’m sick to read that someone as gifted, talented and caring as Zeke can no longer practice his profession because of one person’s failure to use common sense and know their limits. At least you should have the decency to remove this review now that you’ve gotten what you wanted.

My partner frequents professional massage therapists of a wide variety. After she tried Zeke, she was aglow, describing an unparalleled experience of comfort and relaxation. I recently purchased Zeke’s two-​hour massage for her, after which she was simply beaming. This man has a gift. I can recommend no other name if you want to experience body work as it is meant to be.

Just had another amazing massage with Zeke. Before finding Zeke I have had many professional massages, from a «hugging» massage at a resort, to channeling my inner Elvis, to deep tissue for improving my volleyball game, and none of these even came close to the massages I’ve had with Zeke. These days even when I’m traveling with friends and family and they decide to have massages because they are available at the resort or lodge, I abstain and save my money to see Zeke when I get home. Why? Well, because with Zeke it’s not just massage, it is really and truly bodywork. And I don’t mean to indicate any hocus pocus/​juju type thing, I mean bodywork. His knowledge about the human body: muscles, tendons, joints, skin, as well as their role, function and interconnectedness, is amazing. I have the unique perspective of overhearing a conversation going on between Zeke and my body while under his care; where something in me is soothed, stretched, relieved, comforted, righted and rejuvenated. It is truly a gift how whole and hearty I feel after a session with Zeke.
Before finding Zeke I struggled to express what I was looking for in a massage. I strongly disliked spending a large chunk of money and then being poked by someone’s fingertips, lightly caressed, and then painful points of tension jabbed at and then poked at once more. Over the years I’ve come to understand how much work it takes to fully apply pressure while equally dispersing force. And Zeke is a master at this. I was awed by how much pressure he could bring while simultaneously never poking me with his fingers or the pads of his thumbs. Instead he utilizes many parts of his body: forearms, chest, knees, as well as his hands. I remember the first time the massage went from face up to turned on my side, and how aghast I was that no one had ever done that before. So simple and yet profoundly satisfying.
I’ve had massages in a few of Zeke’s studio’s over the years and I’m always impressed with the attention to detail. On arrival I’m always sure the room is too warm. But once I’m on the table it’s always exactly right. The room is always clean and beautiful, simple and soothing. His sound/​music choices always bring something to the massage rather than seeming to be just another faux detail in some imagined conception of a massage therapist’s ideal décor.
But more importantly than all the rest of that is the deep sense of connection. The way he stays present and intentional in the massage allows me to feel a connection with him that brings with it a deeper relaxation, and this allows an even greater release of pent up stress and negativity. The safety and support Zeke brings opens a space for me to more deeply let go, to let go of my worries, my despair, my stress, my responsibilities, the constant demands on my attention; and to just be present and aware of my body and what it needs and all it has to offer.
And when it’s over he doesn’t aggressively severe that connection and boot me back into the chaotic world, but instead quietly sits with me and allows me the space to find my way back from the deep, calm, warm, relaxed place that the massage has let me travel to. And I am filled with gratitude for how thoroughly his awareness and intention created a safe space where a fuller, deeper relaxation could take place, and then stayed with me while I resurfaced. And I often wish it were somehow possible to live in that warm, peaceful, relaxed place. Yet Zeke magically senses when I’m resurfacing, and the world starts to call to me, and as he moves away to give me the space I need, I soothe my sense of loss with the knowledge that I am stronger and more whole, and that another massage with Zeke is imminent.

I have now been seeing Zeke regularly for 1year and about 8 months. In that time my life has been a roller coaster of stresses. Needless to say my body has been impacted by the stress. Zeke continues to provide me with courteous, professional, and phenomenal massages. I have gotten massages off and on over the past several decades and I can honestly say that Zeke is one of only two massage therapists in all that time who truly provides one with an individualized, wonderful massage. His massages are very respectful of ‘my space’, and he has an excellent grasp of trigger points, etc. So, when I go in for a massage and my neck feels as though there is a vice grip around it and my back is hurting from very tight muscles, etc., Zeke can get right to the heart of the matter. Always remember to speak up if you want more pressure or less. If you speak up and tell Zeke that you do or do not like something he is more than willing to accommodate your particular wishes and needs.

I experienced a Zeke massage a couple of months ago and felt compelled to offer a review after reading of another woman’s negative experience.
Like her, I felt my legs opened during the massage and my chest was included in the areas of my body he worked on. I was not familiar with Esalen massage prior to this appointment and found that this technique was a different experience than other massages I’ve had. In my experience with Zeke, the inclusion of my chest and stretching movement of my legs did not alarm me in any way. None of it felt sexual. At all times, I felt like I was under the care of an experienced professional. This massage released tightness in my hips and groin allowing me more freedom of movement for running and yoga. He released tightness in my neck and shoulders and followed up the next day with a phone call. I found him to be a very kind, caring, and experienced professional. I wouldn’t hesitate to book another massage with this kind, strong, caring masseuse!
(And I also noted that he waited politely behind the screen while I dressed– maybe because there’s no lobby/​waiting area outside??)

I feel very lucky that I found Zeke and even more lucky that he has time on his calendar to work with me and my back and hip issues. Zeke has an amazing sense of how to work on problem areas as he has had many years of experience providing body work to his clients. For those of is who are athletic and tend to push our bodies to the limit, we depend on healers like Zeke to help is recover so we can keep doing the sport or activity that we love. He has been absolutely professional and very helpful in my two years of working with him and I hope we continue to work together for many more years!

Zeke deserves every positive comment that’s been posted here about him. I have to agree with all of them. He really does provide great therapeutic bodywork.
He checks-​in with me before the massage. He has a really nice energy about him. He’s got amazing strength. He’s intuitive. He’s respectful. He’s professional. And his massages are always balanced with the strength and pressure I need.
Hands down, he’s the best massage therapist I’ve ever worked with. And he’s helped me get through several crises of back and shoulder issues caused by stress and work.
People joke about going to their special places. Visiting Zeke’s studio is mine. Thanks, Zeke. You’re wonderful.
P. S. Your new studio is really nice.

If you want a really deep massage to work out the kinks and knots that you just can’t seem to get rid of, Zeke is the man to see! He knew exactly where and how to apply his pressure and his knowledge of sports injuries and how to combat them was so very helpful.
I recently went on a 3 day backpacking trip at Desolation WIlderness in Lake Tahoe. We hiked through all sorts of terrain, and I injured my right shoulder trying to climb up a huge wall of granite slab with a 60L pack on. It’s been about 3 weeks now, and I haven’t been able to workout or sleep comfortably because of the stiffness and sore aches I’ve been feeling.
I decided that seeing a massage therapist would be the best choice to get rid of this pain and found him on Unilocal.Through his website I filled out an intake form which allowed me to write a note about my situation, and he wrote back immediately with his thoughts and suggestions. He felt that it may be a rotator cuff trigger point (which I really had no idea what that was, so googled it and agreed). I then booked an appointment through his scheduling site and I had an appointment the following week. The process was so easy!
The massage was PHENOMENAL. He knew exactly which pressure points to work on and had the perfect amount of strength to release the tension I had been feeling for weeks. He told me afterwards that he felt it may be something more than just a rotator cuff trigger point being activated and suggested I follow up by seeing a chiropractor. He was so thorough with his assessments and suggestions.
He followed up with an email the next morning, to see how I was feeling and I asked him for recommendations on seeing a chiropractor. He highly recommended a colleague of his:
and after that massage I have full confidence in the advice he gives.
Thank you SO MUCH for all your care and thoughtfulness Zeke!
I will definitely be back if I ever need a good deep tissue massage again!

Recently, a neck spasm so bad I couldn’t turn my head to one side for days alerted me to the fact that I’ve been a walking knot of tension, owies, and a fierce inability to relax. I’d seriously stopped feeling human, just… Like my body was surly and constantly shaking its fists at clouds. So I decided, now that I’ve overcome my aversion to being touched by a stranger, maybe a massage would help me become able to perceive the good things this world has to offer, even if just for an hour or so, and not just my muscles singing that Idina Menzel song off-​key. So, to the Unilocal I came and found Zeke!
Zeke was super kind even from booking… Never thought I’d type «even his confirmation emails were soothing» but yup, it’s true. And he received me with a bright smile, which helped me feel much more at ease so quickly, which is no small feat, I can be kinda chihuahua-​like when doing something new… Oh did I mention this was my first pro massage ever?! And it showed, because I couldn’t get my brain to stop thinking and my muscles to tense up accordingly, but Zeke and his valiant efforts succeeded and I was soothingly lost in the long strokes, stretches, and kneadings. He was gentle and used his strength wisely, which showed me that he was very present during the massage, not going through motions and thus sticking to one mode/​strength. It was like he was reading my body and supplying it with the touch that would help most. It was very nurturing :) And then after he gave me some insight as to how my body was responding to what I’d told him of my life and emailed me links to Kundalini yoga sources, which I’d been considering for a long time! So cool.
Will I go back? You bet. You know how, after a good meditation, the world looks almost Technicolor? I hadn’t experienced that in years, and it happened after Zeke’s massage. I felt healed, body and spirit. Life won’t get easier anytime soon, but it helps to know a good healing massage to recharge your life bar is in the neighborhood with Zeke.

Fantastic. Very kind, very professional. Arms of steel. He got all the pressure points, was attentive, and took his time. Strongly recommend for deep tissue and stubborn knots. 90-​minute massage is a must.

One of a kind. Zeke’s knowledge and skill in this form of therapy is abundantly clear from the first massage, yet it is his willingness to trust an intuitive path to healing that places him above the many massage therapists I have encountered over the decades. A master alive in his art, Zeke offers sustenance, nurturance, healing. His bodywork has had a profoundly positive effect on my life.

Zeke is one amazing therapist. His instinct for touch and pressure is crazy spot on. Both my fiancée and I have enjoyed his massages; he adapts well to what each of us needs. Also, he’s got the nicest energy, he’s a real friendly and sweet guy.

Zeke is terrific!
I had a wonderful massage therapist, whom I saw intermittently over a several year period, but he moved away over 10 years ago. Since then I have had many a massage but Zeke is the first massage therapist since then who actually truly understands how one’s body works and treats you and your body as an individual with distinct needs, versus giving everyone the exact same massage. As an earlier reviewer mentioned, every massage is different.
Zeke is able to skillfully find and work on trigger points for my migraines, as well as determine what is underlying other problems. Often times I have believed that I might need to see a doctor for some joint issue or other problem and Zeke will know what part of my body may be tight and thus contributing to the pain or problem. With Zeke’s skillful, intelligent, and intuitive work my body has come a long way toward becoming more balanced. (I must say that as I am aging I have some of those lovely aging aches and pains which always surprise me.)
Zeke has been incredibly supportive since I began seeing him about a year ago. Although he is known for deep tissue work, he is very open and willing to work in a lighter manner if that is your need or preference.
Zeke is flexible which is a wonderful trait in a professional massage therapist.
Zeke, thank you so much. You are a wonderfully kind and sensitive man with whom I, as a woman, feel completely comfortable during my massages.

I really would give Zeke 10 stars if I could. I’ve had a lot of massages over the years, and this really is the only one that is consistently worth coming back for. Seriously the best masseuse I have ever encountered. He is intuitive, strong, focused and effective. He’s able to go deep and address stubborn knots and tension, all the while holding a light and sensitive energy. I find his massages so transformative that rather than an occasional indulgence they’ve become a necessary expenditure. He’s super responsive to booking inquiries, and all around delightful. I’ve never had anything less than a perfect massage, and leave feeling incredibly grateful that I discovered someone who is so skilled at what they do. This is as good as it gets.

Zeke has the unique gift of intuition that he brings to his massage technique. He has the ability to know exactly what my body needs during a massage and where. In addition he uses the perfect amount of pressure. And he’s a great guy! I highly recommend.

I have mobility issues, and the option to have someone come to me was wonderful. On occasion, my neck and shoulders lock up and I lose feeling in my arms — Zeke was gentle with my trouble areas, and restored movement in my neck and arms without hurting me (something I usually have issues with when I see a masseur). I wouldn’t trust anyone else with my back after seeing Zeke.

This is the best massage experience I’ve found! My career demands physical movement and my bad habits demand some extra care. I travel all over the country and look forward to coming to Northern California.
Zeke’s technique works through the whole body and gives me both the deep massage on my shoulders, hands, and hips that ache, and his work gives me a fresh balance on a daily basis. We have worked together (when I am in the area) since 2004 and I have yet to find a more complete and relaxing massage therapy treatment.
I look forward to another session in a couple of weeks! Thanks!

I didn’t see Zeke’s website before booking my appointment — I just found him on the Unilocal app and saw that he works in my neighborhood. Turns out this was a movie I didn’t need to preview; I got a better massage, and a different massage, than I was expecting.
The word «Esalen» holds a revered, whimsical status among people who live in California who have heard of the place: a haven for yogis/​yoginis, for soul searchers, for breathers, meditators, shamans and seekers of holistic vitality. If you like credentials before getting a service, I think Esalen is the Harvard of bodywork.
The massage happened in a very small side studio with just enough room to hang your coat, slip behind the sliding screen doors and get into the soft blankets adorning the table bed. After an ill prepared stab at a 5k run on Thanksgiving, I needed a lot of help with pulled muscles and stiffness. I felt like Zeke was removing some sort of exoskeleton and reaching the muscles that needed encouragement, as well as the person inside of me that needed some nurturing. It felt great.

Simply put, you will not get a better massage anywhere. Zeke is absolutely the best.
My husband and I have been regular clients of his for about two years now. Before each massage he asks, «How’s your body?» and tailors his massage appropriately. His massages are never the same twice as he adjusts each one to his intuitive interpretation of your responses. He is also continuously learning new «moves» so his already excellent technique keeps getting better and better.
Unlike many massage therapists I’ve encountered, Zeke gives an excellent deep massage when that is warranted. Many cannot go deep enough and, even worse, many who try to go deep do it far too fast. Zeke applies deep pressures extremely slowly and even stops completely when intuition tells him to go very deep in a certain spot. I have chronic lower back pain and he always seems to know exactly where to apply that pressure. His intuition about what your body needs and how to address it is unsurpassable.
If you want a phenomenal massage. Zeke is the guy to to go.

I called Zeke very last minute because I was in town only for a short time. I used to live in the Bay Area and expect excellent massage here, which is why I wanted to get some in while here visiting from the Midwest to do some work. He was able to fit me in, and I’m very glad, because this was the best massage I’ve had in a year. He did some intense and deep work on the piriformis muscle that was bothering me, and was really strong and also very creative. He had some moves that I’ve never seen before involving stretching and massage at the same time, and I’ve had a lot of massage. I also appreciated that he worked without talking, because I like to be silent during my massages.
A lot of massage therapists advertise sports or deep tissue work as if it were exclusive from or separate from «relaxing» massage, which true hardcore massage people tend to dislike and stay away from. Zeke really does do both – it isn’t just rubbing for sure, everything feels purposeful and like it is accomplishing something.
I am not a new age person, more a sports massage person, but he did some energy work or something at the end that gave me a really interesting vision-​quest like experience, the like of which I’ve mostly read about but not experienced. I felt full of energy after a 90 minute massage and leapt off the table. If I lived here I would see him every week. He is such a talented guy and so nice as well.
His normal rates are reasonable and in line with other practitioners I’ve seen. I used the crazy-​inexpensive Unilocal deal he has going for first-​time customers: 90 minutes for 90 dollars So I gave it one star based on this deal. I left a nice tip because this did not seem near enough for the service I had.