I can't believe I'm going to be the first reviewer for Jin Jin. Perhaps it's because all her other clients want to keep her a secret. I was referred to her by my pilates instructor, Ronda, at Fitwise Pilates (also amazing), which is in the same plaza as Jin Jin.
Jin Jin is sweet but does not give relaxing massages, so you can move along if that's what you're looking for. She reads your body and gives it a working over, finding the knots and stored stress in your muscles, and releasing it through a combination of deep massage and acupressure. She says she works with your body's meridians.
Example: I work at a computer, which is bad for the posture and only exacerbates the fact that I store my stress in my shoulders and neck. What I didn't realize is that the tension is also across the front of my chest/upper pectoral/collar bone area. When she started to massage me there, it was so painful that she stopped and moved to my feet. Because there are meridians running from my shoulders to my feet. If you've ever had acupuncture, you'll know what I mean. Stick a needle between my toes and that's good for my eyes? Yes. Anyways, it's all connected. Acupuncture and acupressure operates on similar principles as far as I know. So, she worked on my feet, which was also sensitive, but not painful, and it helped release the tension in the areas that she couldn't massage.
She checks in with me about where I need to do work but I trust her to know where to focus. While the session is not the most relaxing, I always leave feeling rejuvenated in that "wow, I just got a work out" sort of way. She always warns me that I may be sore the next day but so far, it's been ok. Each time I walk away knowing that she's helped me to go a bit deeper in healing my body, and cut away at the layers of injury and trauma. My body usually feels lighter too for the next week--freed from some of the accumulated weight of stress that inevitably builds up over time.
I see Jin Jin monthly in combination with a monthly chiropractic tune up (Armstrong Chiropractic in SF--I'll be reviewing them after this) and regular pilates (already reviewed). I've been rehabilitating a stress-related injury in my shoulders and neck and the combination has been great. (Dr. Armstrong works on re-aligning the underlying musculoskeletal structure; Jin Jin releasing my muscles' holding patterns and breaking up the scar tissue that impedes new/proper movement; and Fitwise helps me re-learn how to move my body in a safe way and strengthens it too.)
Tips:
1) Jin Jin is Chinese and her English is limited especially over the phone. When you call and/or leave a message for her, speak slowly and clearly. Repeat your number and say the numbers--510- would be "five-one-zero," not "five-one-oh," or "five-ten."
2) She only takes cash or check
3) Her rate is phenomenal: $50/hr. I always pay her tip because she's a small lady and she does some hard physical labor. read more