Mari Summary: Very successful at addressing my specific issues Problems Resolved: * Tight Hamstrings: My hamstrings had always been very tight. I have seen many professionals, trying to address this specific issue, unsuccessfully. Mari added 30 degrees of mobility, which is a huge improvement. * Glute "Amnesia": My glutes never felt like they were doing much. They were never sore after a track workout, never cramped after a 10 mile run. People said "oh, you're quad dominant". The glutes are supposed to be the biggest muscle group. Mari showed me how to get my glutes engaged. I now have much more power and endurance, plus my quads stopped being "dominant" and no longer cramp out. * Shoulders Rounded Inwards: Mari has loosened up my pec muscles and greatly increased my shoulder mobility. Methods: * Mari is like a body repair engineer. She identifies and addresses the root causes with an effective approach drawn from her experience with Deep Tissue Massage, ART, myofacial release and other modalities. * Homework: Mari introduced me to excellent books and youtube mobilization series from Dr. Kelly Starrett of SF CrossFit. Both Mari and Kelly focus on functional movements, which I like. I do my "homework" then see Mari for weekly testing and tuneup. This has resulted in steady progress. I appreciate that she keeps a detailed notebook of what we've done and my progress. My Background: I don't have pain. I do have restricted movement. Even though I road bike 200 miles and hike about 50 miles monthly, I spend most of the day sitting. As a result, I had anterior pelvic tilt and my shoulders were pulled inward (toward the keyboard). read more

I went to see Mari because I injured my quad muscle playing rugby and knew that it was a bit more than just my quad from having had past injuries. I'm in my 40s and have noticed since I turned 30 that some injuries from my youth, including a major knee reconstruction in college had caught up to me. About 5 years ago I found a guy from Japan who knew ART and really helped me understand the concepts associated with the discipline. After he moved back to Japan,I really didn't pursue anyone else. I found out about Mari on Yelp and am very very happy with the results!! She was very efficient from the get go and took detailed notes to understand what my issues were. She makes great use of the time spent and doesn't just talk and eat up the hour you pay for. Time does fly because you realize the results immediately and it helps that she explains everything as she goes along. She is the first person I have ever worked with that relieved my plantar issue (which I had been dealing with for about 4 months) in one session. She found the trigger point and released the pain in a matter of minutes. I believe this was because she asks the right questions and truly cares about healing and results. I had purchased the package and she was able to fix my sciatica issues, my quad issues, she even helped me avoid knee surgery by working my knee via the IT band and some soft tissue work. All of these had immediate results and I really feel like I can heal. Thank you Mari! read more

Mari is wonderful! I had a herniated disc in my lower back severely compressing my spinal canal. Despite having surgery on L4/L5 I had residue nerve symptoms going into my legs, feet, neck and left arm. Not only did Mari help relieve my nerve symptoms but she taught me techniques to use at home to calm my nerves!! I have been seeing doctors, chiropractors, and physical therapists for years with no lasting improvement in nerve pain or range of motion. After working with Mari my quality of life has drastically improved! When I first started seeing her I could not tolerate even the simplest PT exercises without having a flare in nerve pain. Mari is so incredibly knowledgeable that she was able to tailor rehabilitation exercises that didn't produce pain. These exercises where the foundation to me getting my strength back and getting my life back. Mari is the real deal. You won't get any cookie cutter advice from her. She is so much more than just body work. Anyone that can relieve chronic sciatica and free up a pinched ulnar nerve is well worth the money!!! read more

I have suffered from lower back pain for years. I was referred to Thrive Sports Therapy several months ago by my Doctor following a serious rear-end car accident. I started to experience dramatic pain relief after two treatments. Not only has Mari been healing my back, but has been treating and correcting the source of my original back pain. Therefore restoring my health and quality of life beyond my recent injury. Thrive Sports Therapy uses state-of-the-art equipment and treatment techniques proven superior to any sports therapy I've ever received. I am also impressed with her willingness to educate her patients. Not only does she explain the mechanics behind her treatment methodology, she actually teaches her patients how to maintain their restored health so they can continue treating themselves at home. Her commitment to helping her patients is exceptional. Thank you Mari. read more

I came to see Mari for a chronic shoulder pain problem caused by infraspinatus tendonitis that was limiting my workouts, my sports and my basic enjoyment of life. Mari quickly assessed my range of motion, asked me a bunch of questions and then got straight to work. I had no idea what A.R.T was, but as soon as she described it to me it made sense. And it really works! I'm happy to say that I'm back to strength-training, basketball and golf. She's also great at loosening things up with chair massage. While working on the shoulder over weeks of therapy, she also helped me with a knee problem which was limiting what I could do, especially on the basketball court. The feeling I have in my body when I leave one of her sessions is amazing. She really gets in there - right on the spot, wherever it is. I couldn't give a higher recommendation! read more

I am an advanced-level tennis player who plays competitively and I initially came to see Mari about some recurring repetitive stress issues in my back and shoulder brought on by serving. I've been back for a number of sessions and in addition to helping alleviate my shoulder and back problems, Mari has been able to help me with some knee issues that I've had for a while, from years of playing sports. I have not needed to wear my knee support on the tennis court or when running, for a few months now. Mari is a highly skilled Active Release Techniques provider and an excellent massage therapist who has helped me improve my performance on the tennis court and maintain great athletic condition. And in addition to being a knowledgeable health professional, she is also a very nice person! I recommend her services without hesitation. read more

A friend referred me to Mari when I injured my gluts and lower back in the gym and could barely walk. I went to see her the day of the injury and she started working on me. My main concern was being able to get back on the bike and not lose too much momentum in my training. This is a serious sports massage so if you are interested in the spa experience this is not for you. She targets exactly the right areas and what she does really makes sense. I've been back for a number of sessions and in addition to helping alleviate my acute problems, she has been able to help me with my chronic neck and shoulder tension..The Active Release Techniques training she has really makes sense, so much value for what she provides. Highly recommend her. read more

I came to see Mari to treat my ball of the foot pain (Metatarsalgia) I've been suffering badly for a while. It got so painful that I ended up limping!! Not even pain killers help. Wooww, what a difference, 80% of the pain went away and left her place walking normally. I don't know exactly what techniques she used but definitely worked !! Mari even spent more time as scheduled to treat my condition. After the first session, I did not have to take pain killers for 3 days because I didn't need them. Because I felt results immediately , I had to buy two of her packages including the Light Therapy to see better results. I highly recommend Mari for any aches and pain you might have!! Give her a try and won't be sorry. read more

Mari was amazing. I am an athlete who suffers from pain and discomfort caused by an old shoulder injury years ago playing college rugby. I decided to start the process of recovery and came to see Mari. She used a variety of different techniques including ART, deep tissue massage, and myofascial release to loosen up areas that have been locked up for years. Mari is extremely professional and courteous. She is very knowledgeable about anatomy and physiology as it pertains to movement and everyday wear and tear of the human body. I would highly recommend her to anyone that is in any type of debilitating pain and/or in need of a different approach due to ineffective results. read more

I first met Mari when she was volunteering her services at a local swim meet. I got a lot of positive feed back from my athletes that she worked with so I asked her if she would come to are pool and treat other swimmers with various different issues of soarness, tightness, and joint pain. She was terrific and my athletes were able to train and compete at a higher level. I refer Mari to all my athletes. If you have any physical issues stop looking and let Mari treat you! You'll be satified and have a healthier lifestyle for it. Jerry Bozzo Head Coach South Valley Stingrays Swim Team read more

Mari is amazing! I started going to her after I hit a wall in my recovery from shoulder surgery as my range of motion was no longer improving with the standard physical therapy. In less than 2 months, I have now attained full range of motion, increased strength and decreased discomfort. I truly believe this would not have been possible without the techniques she used and the approach she took for my treatment. I am very grateful for the great work Mari does and highly recommend her to anyone who just wants there body to be stronger and function better. read more

Mari is excellent! I am a massage therapist and ART practitioner and drove from 3 hours away to see her because she was recommended to me by two people. I was not disappointed as she used a combination of ART (Active Release Technique) and NRT (Neural Reset Therapy) to provide a very effective treatment. I had very tight calves and lower back pain that Mari was able to work on quickly and effectively with her specialized knowledge and skills. I highly recommend anyone who is looking for therapeutic work and not a standard massage to see her! read more

I originally went to see Mari for a sprained ankle. She helped reduce the pain using ART. And relieved my shoulder muscle tension as well. I had been searching for someone who could relieve the recurring painful back spasms that sent me to the ER two separate times. Mari not only fixed the problem without shots or medication, she got to the root of the problem and educated me on how to prevent the spasms from coming back. So grateful. For overall body wellness, I highly recommend a visit with Mari. Much better than physical therapy. read more

Mari has really helped me. I am a former competitive athlete, and I still like to compete on the golf course. The golf swing is a really dynamic and explosive motion and can wreak havoc on your body. Mari has been able to help me, where traditional massage therapists have not. WIth Mari's ART treatment, she can be very specific for anything chronic with my body, no matter how specific my injury or soreness may be. I would highly recommend Mari to anyone that is not having success with your current therapist and/or chiro. read more

Mari is by far the best sports therapist I have ever used. She has introduced techniques that has literally turned the clock back on my body. For example, I always believed I had arthritis in one of my knees and she totally disproved this. Through a couple of sessions I was exercising pain free in that knee for the first time in over a year. I use Mari for all other minor aches and pains and she always delivers. I recommend Mari to all my friends and family. Matt S. read more

Mari is fantastic. I have used her several times now, and referred others. First times were for neck pains after a long road-rides (change the bike since). More recently upper back and neck after a very long international trip. In all situations she really took care of the problem. She knows the body's physiology and does great work. Nick E. read more