Client Reviews
Massage Therapy
Reviews from Bay Area Massage sessions 03/27/23 - 03/30/23:
“I have had lower back pain for years, and when I described it to Sam, she addressed it in a way that has actually prevented it from returning! She was so attentive and didn't just massage the affected area, but instead worked with the surrounding muscles to treat the underlying issues, really honing in on what was causing my problems. She knows how the body works!”
“Samantha is an excellent provider. She is able to find trouble spots and is attentive to adjusting the pressure, as needed. I am not looking for a “spa” environment, which this was not, but that’s fine with me since I am focused on finding someone to get the knots out of my neck and shoulders. Samantha also took the time to show me some exercises that would help with my stiffening joints. I will definitely schedule another session.”
“I had a stiffness in my neck from carrying a heavy bag through New York while traveling for business. I told Samantha about that area and she was able to spend a good amount of time working on it. At the end of the session, I had a great deal more mobility in the neck area and it was pain free. Samantha takes the time to really get to know my body. It's nice knowing that I can go back to someone who understands me and what my body needs.”
“I was interested in massage for relaxation and tension relief. Samantha performed a Swedish whole-body massage which was effective for both purposes. She was responsive to requests to adjust pressure and checked in near the end to provide one final area of focus, which I really appreciated. I felt very comfortable with her technique and bedside manner. Thank you, Sam!”
Personal Training
Email submission on 04/2020 from Joelle M. who trained with MFT from 09/2018 until Samantha moved to Sacramento in 08/2020:
I grew up playing and loving competitive team sports. But, the farther I got from my high school and college years, the harder I found it to maintain a consistent level of fitness, even though my favorite things to do are physical and outdoor activities. The weekend warrior lifestyle just wasn’t working for me, and I found myself discouraged when I was unable to keep up with my friends and partner on bike rides, hikes, and in soccer games. And although it was easy enough to do cardio activity on my own, I was absolutely clueless about resistance training, even though I knew that building strength would support my goals.
I needed some instruction, structure, and accountability, so I started looking at personal trainer options. I found Coach Samantha in September 2018 and was lucky enough to work with her for almost a year before she moved to Sacramento. We started with personal training sessions, where Samantha helped me build confidence, and learn the fundamentals of resistance training and other key movements. Once I felt comfortable with the principles and technique, I moved to small-group sessions where I could still get a personalized workout for my goals but I didn’t require as much help or correction. I also enjoyed the (shockingly effective!) conditioning and interval training that Samantha built into our workouts; they greatly improved my cardio fitness for those weekend runs and hikes.
I really connected with Samantha’s coaching approach and personality — she is soft-spoken but always pushes you to test your limits, after listening attentively to your goals and concerns. Throughout my time working with Samantha, I learned that I actually really enjoy resistance training, especially seeing how heavy I can go on fundamental movements like the squat and deadlift. Samantha taught me the important parts of a strength training program and how to build a workout, so that I feel way more confident in my abilities when I go to the gym on my own or train with others. Not only am I physically stronger now, but I understand how essential resistance training is to being able to maintain an active lifestyle as an adult. I wish that Sacramento was closer to where I live so that I could continue to work with Samantha!
Elicia R. - East Bay (Bay Area) 2016
"Sam is a fantastic trainer. One of the best things about working with her is that she understands that a health and workout routine needs to fit into your life. It went from something that seemed daunting and unreachable to something that actually is attainable. She is so knowledgeable and will be happy to explain anything to you; no dumb questions! And no self-consciousness. She is 100% on your side and wants the best for you. And, it's really fun to work out with her! What more could you ask for?!"
David S. - San Francisco 2014
"I've been training with Samantha for almost 2 years now, and she has quite literally and quite seriously changed my life! Sam is the definition of a star trainer--she really listens to you and adapts your training sessions to reach your goals, and researches any questions you have in order to make it so you get to where you want to go and understand why and how to get there. She also understands that we're all human, and like eating good food (and REAL food -- I'm talking hamburgers and donuts), and that there are ways you can adapt your life and your training so you don't have to deprive yourself to be healthy.
Best of all, she's hella fun. I'm not a huge exercise fan, but Sam makes working out a good time--I don't even notice how many friggin' burpees she's making me do, because we're just laughing the whole time."
