Massage therapy in Oakland, certified since 1985.

The practice, in plain terms.

Dawson’s Stress Reduction is a massage therapy practice in Oakland, California, and its specialty is on-site and work-site massage. The massage can come to you: a chair set up at your office, or a session arranged by phone at a time that suits your day, instead of a fixed slot you have to rearrange your week around.

The therapist became certified in 1985 and graduated from the National Holistic Institute in 1986, which the practice describes as one of the largest massage schools in California. That is the whole of the credential story, and it is one you can ask about when you call. It is a long time to have been doing one kind of work.

The range runs from ear candling to deep tissue massage, with a variety of techniques used to give a soothing session. Deep tissue and sports massage are offered for chronic or acute pain issues. The practice is also plain about the limits of force: deep tissue work uses slower strokes and more pressure, but simply using more pressure will not improve the results. Depending on the goals of the session, the pressure is something you are asked about as you go.

What you can expect is competitive prices, personalized attention and flexible hours. Appointments run Monday to Friday, 7 AM to 8 PM, and weekends are closed. The initial consultation is free of charge, and it is a conversation rather than a commitment: what is bothering you, what your days look like, how much pressure you like. The price for every length and treatment is published on the services page, so nothing about the cost is a surprise.

If you want a session at a desk, in a break room or somewhere else in Oakland, say so when you call. If you would rather lie down for an hour, that works too.