An air of peace and serenity engulfs you as you enter the front room of Bodhi Massage and Wellness Center at 3678 Fourth Ave. in San Diego. Every detail of the room from the all-wood floors, to the natural fabrics and colors of the drapes and furniture to the serenity stones and hand-made candles brings an immediate sense of balance that precedes your experience of comfort and healing at the hands of Bodhi’s team of professionals.
Andrew Grover and Rudy Emmelot founded Bodhi Massage and Wellness Center in 2005 with the goal of building a true “neighborhood sanctuary.” Their mission was to hire seasoned, well-trained and talented practitioners to offer customized therapeutic bodywork services focusing on customers’ individual needs.
Ten years on and Bodhi is celebrating this special anniversary by hosting an open house from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3. The anniversary event is free, for all ages and open to the public. Ahead of the event San Diego LGBT Weekly caught up with founder Andrew Grover to ask him about the Bodhi journey and to find out more about the services offered.
San Diego LGBT Weekly: Andrew, congratulations on Bodhi’s anniversary. Tell me a little on how you got there?
Andrew Grover: Well it has certainly been a journey! As a massage therapist for many years working in a variety of different settings, I noticed a lot of things that spas were doing that weren’t great for clients or practitioners. My great friend Rudy and I had a vision and decided we could do things a little better. A sanctuary for wellness that truly focused on the client, but didn’t sacrifice the needs of dedicated and talented therapists. After visiting San Diego, we knew this is where we wanted to live and build that vision. We moved to San Diego in 2002 from Los Angeles and began planning. It took us a few years to really prepare and most importantly find just the right space. When we found our little craftsman house in the heart of Hillcrest, we knew we had found our sanctuary! We moved into high gear and opened our doors in October 2005. Through a lot of dedication, hard work and belief in our vision, we have built an impeccable reputation. Ten years later we are thriving and giving better treatments and service than ever before. Our team and our clients are everything to us!
I notice that Bodhi is described as a “Wellness” center. Can you expand on the “Wellness” side of your business?
Wellness happens when you make time for it. Chronic pain and fatigue can make even basic life tasks difficult and overwhelming. Trauma and injuries alter how we move, feel and even think. The wellness that Bodhi Massage Center offers is comprehensive, and stems from both ancient and modern stress-reducing techniques. Our custom massages, skin treatments, energy work and acupuncture leave you feeling inspired to continue on the life-long path of wellness.
What makes Bodhi different from other massage providers?
Every Bodhi massage session is uniquely hand-crafted to accommodate the needs of each client. We assess posture and movement to identify the root of your complaints, and create goals to move forward. We treat you the way we like to be treated, and we offer heart-centered sessions and suggestions to keep you on track.
Is this a one-off experience or a more frequent one? What are the benefits of including your therapeutic services in a regular regimen?
The benefits of organizing a wellness routine are infinite. Massage works much like an investment does, only you can’t lose! The more you partake, the more benefits you will experience. Multiple sessions are typically in order to accommodate most chronic pain. We recommend when starting a wellness routine to come every two weeks for the first few months. This is because your body needs to learn how to relax, and the multiple sessions are great for encouraging that! A long-term plan can be discussed with your therapist. It is best to always book in advance so that you get the dates and times that work best for you.
Tell me about the anniversary event. What can people expect?
This event will be celebrating our 10 years of dedicated service to San Diego residents and visitors. Our staff will be presenting brief educational workshops on their specialties, and there will be free mini-treatments and refreshments. Discounts on our services, gift certificates and retail items will also be available. The event will be held 10 a.m.-2 p.m. and all ages are encouraged to come. Come take a tour of our facility and connect with our talented team!
Bodhi Massage & Wellness Center
3678 Fourth Ave.
San Diego, CA 92103
619-274-2744
