people who rock

Leland Thunes , master massage therapist, gifted musician, amazing human being.

I first met Leland at the Front Street Chiropractic Clinic in San Francisco, where I got treated for carpal tunnel syndrome. His therapeutic massage work dramatically reduced my symptoms. As we talked, I learned that he’s also a musician, plays regular live gigs, writes scores for films, is training in acupuncture, runs Bay to Breakers every year, has just founded a jazz trio, gets more done in a day than I do in a week, and attributes it all to PMA – Positive Mental Attitude.

Normally, people like this make me slightly nauseous. I have to eat a bar of chocolate to get over the inferiority complex they induce in me. But Leland so genuinely walks his talk, so generously shares his gifts and knowledge, that every time I see him, I get a hit of creative energy – not to mention PMA. After a recent session with him, I felt as if I had a new spine, and I got down drafts of two new poems on the BART ride home. Leland's massages remind me that the natural state of my body is balance, fluidity, energy - if I just treat it with the respect it deserves. They educate me about the skill, knowledge, awareness, and sheer physical labor that go into the craft of bodywork.

You can hear Leland play tonight at Kelly's Jazz Club, 1313 Park Street, Alameda, Oakland. Cross street, Encinal.

You can contact him for massage or music at 510-533-0861.