Sandra Jersby - OsteoThai Massage with the Elite Stretch Therapist of Los Angeles

Sandra Jersby is known as the Elite Stretch Therapist of Los Angeles.  Sandra’s unique approach to recovery is widely popularized amongst many, from professional athletes to novice exercisers. Her extensive knowledge, in several different recovery methods, has allowed her to adapt to each client with an individualized program geared to their specific needs.

Visit Sandra on her website: https://sandrajersby.com and follow her on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/stretcha.method/

During this conversation we discuss topics like:

• How she got started as a body work professional?
• Cranial sacral therapy and osteopathy.
• What Osteo -Thai  Yoga Massage is.
• Training for bikini bodybuilding competitions.
• The catalyst for her passion for bodywork.
• How to synthesize Thai massage into the modern day spa environment?
• What is the massage industry like in California?
• Communication between the giver and the receiver.
• How do you prepare for a healing session?
• Cool fact of the day.

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Transcript

Todd McLaughlin: 0:33

Welcome to Native Yoga Toddcast. So happy you are here. My goal with this channel is to bring inspirational speakers to the mic in the field of yoga, massage, bodywork and beyond. Follow us @nativeyoga and check us out at nativeyogacenter.com All right, let's begin Welcome to Native Yoga Toddcast. Today I'm so excited to bring to you Sandra Jersby. Check Sandra out on her website, which is sandrajersbey.com. Also, I highly recommend that you look her up on Instagram her handle is at @stretcha.method. Which I learned is the word in Swedish for stretch. And she is originally from Sweden but she lives in California and she offers training in Thai style osteopathic massage and bodywork and she has courses on our website where she teaches Thai Yoga assisted stretch therapy. She has a thai table fusion stretch therapy. She offers courses. And again I love watching her videos. I feel like I'll watch them to learn a couple of new moves and ideas for Thai massage. And she's got some really cool stuff and she was so gracious to join me right before she's getting ready to travel to Sweden the next day. So let's give it up for Sandra Jersby. All right, let's begin. I'm so happy to be here with Sandra Jersbey. Sandra, how are you doing today?

Sandra Jersby: 2:27

I'm doing fantastic. Thank you. How about yourself?

Todd McLaughlin: 2:30

I'm doing really well, thank you. I've been so excited for this opportunity to speak with you because I went on Instagram and I thought let me look for Thai massage and see what's happening and typed in Thai massage and I found your profile. And your videos are so good. And I love watching your instructional just the way you kind of are instructing Thai massage and and stretch work. And so you do an amazing job. So I'm so happy that you are willing to come on the show with me and talk about your efforts. Thank you. You're welcome. Thank you so much.

Sandra Jersby: 3:08

Yeah, I'm very excited to be on this show and, and share what I so passionately enjoy doing and have for many years.

Todd McLaughlin: 3:18

So yay. Well, I appreciate that, on that know, how did you get started? Yeah, as a body work professional.

Sandra Jersby: 3:30

So my journey has actually been relatively short. As far as like my training and body work. Um, I think just always being like, if if I really have the time, pull it back, like I you know, early on was enrolled in gymnastics and dance. So that sort of created that body awareness and connection. So when I first was introduced to body work in 2017, it was a very natural transition to work with bodies. Prior that I was a personal trainer and a dietician assistant for nine years. And then I really get interested in the recovery work of the body and, you know, how can we take the body to the next level using recovery methods. So from there, I learned about fascial stretch therapy with the Frederick's in Arizona. So I went I took my first class, absolutely loved it. So I continued that journey and get certified in all their three levels, which was amazing. I created a whole new clientele because people apparently love to be stretched. So that really exploded from there on but I felt like I wanted to continue the journey. learning more. And so Thai massage became that outlet where it's really just endless of learning. And I feel like with Thai, it's it's never ends, there's so much to learn so many different modalities and teachers. So I took my journey into Thai with Jenny Skagen, who was in Grass Valley, I did all my training in traditional Northern Thai massage, which is more working with the energy lines and a little bit more static compared to what I do now. A great foundation, and it has really like shaped and formed the practice that I have now always keeping that in my back pocket. And from there on, I travel the world and train under many teachers from Europe, France, and Spain. And I spent some time in Laos for the time with our circuits learning osteo Thai, which is a beautiful, more contemporary way of doing Thai massage. And that's usually probably what you see me do in a lot of my videos is that osteo Thai version, which is a little bit more rhythmic and dynamic compared to traditional Thai massage. And it's also a very nurturing approach to the body very comforting. And yeah, so now I offer two different services to my clients. And one is just pure Thai, where I'm mixing Ostia, Thai, traditional Thai. And then I also have my table stretch fusion, where I include both fascial stretch therapy, time massage, and also active isolated stretching. So I don't know where we want to go from there. I can definitely delve deeper into any of those topics. But yeah,

Todd McLaughlin: 7:04

that's awesome. Thank you for that snapshot or timeline. The first thing I wanted to ask you about is can you explain a little bit you said it was called the Thai massage circus in Laos? Yes. Cannot what is that? What is that? I know is that is that a school there? Or is that a specific teacher that uses that as their kind of identity name or

Sandra Jersby: 7:27

I think it's the name really of the of that specific retreat. It's basically a month training in in the jungle of Laos. And it's led by our No, her mitts. It's French I'm not great with French but I think that's how you pronounce his last name. So our know. He he is originally an osteopath, which is very common in France actually is think of it as a chiropractor that went to school for what, two, three more years. That's kind of what an osteopath is. So there are doctors. So him and a friend David Lutz way back I want to say over a decade ago, they were introduced a time mustache. So they combined the two. So that's where the name or the practice of Ostia tie came about. So focusing more on like the the cerebral fluid, the fluid of the body, and also the structure, the skeletal structure, the spine, and focusing on the alignment of the body through the combination of osteo osteopathy and Thai massage, so are no, the founder, one of the founders of it, he created the Thai massage circus. Sue owns this huge piece of property in Laos. It's about an hour and a half away from Luang Prabang, which is like one of the major tourist cities and so you're out there with the locals and you're I slipped in a tiny I mean it's I find it a little bamboo hot that was like my, my living and it was amazing. Basically outside mosquito net over me. Bathrooms like a hole in the ground. Awesome. Loved it. Yeah. And an eating the local food. So then yeah, and then you train and do austere Thai for for 30 days. With a team of practitioners. Otto is the head and then he usually have like three or four more teachers working with him and yeah, a group of 2030 people.

Todd McLaughlin: 9:47

Nice. If somebody listening has never had time massage. How would you describe time massage

Sandra Jersby: 10:01

The first thing that pops into my mind is a meditation, in flow, a meditation and movement. And through that meditation, your, your body is taking through difference stretches, they're receiving palm pressing, it's not a massage with oils, it could be in certain modalities. But it's more palming and pressing to move the energy your body and through your body, or remove blockages by constantly. Also switching up the rhythm and tempo to at the same time relaxing your nervous system. When your nervous system is relaxed, usually your muscles your joints will let go, it kind of takes into a theta stage. So there when you are that's why I call it meditation and flow, because your mind really relaxes. When that happens, then everything else let's go. So a lot of the tension that we may be holding on to may not need, you know much force and may just need to relax and through time massage moves that helps your body to let go and relax. So that we are when we are moving you into these stretches. It's it's more of a welcoming from the body like I am willing to let go and receive. And then also with the osteo, Thai, we do a lot of mobilization of the joints as well. So it's a lot of circumduction basically moving in circles, that helps to open bring in this novel fluid, like we know from yoga. And we also do a lot of traction movement, like pulling to help create that space. So the combination of all these different palming the pulling, the stretching, helps to open up the body. And a lot of times people have never experienced in being in a lot of these positions. So even that is an experience like oh my gosh, I didn't know my body can go in all these positions, and it feels probably invigorating and recharging at the same time being taking on this being taken on this journey, and experience all all these different flows and directions and upside down. And so that in itself can be just a huge, like energy boost after receiving type.

Todd McLaughlin: 12:39

Great answer. That's a really good explanation. I'm curious, from my own practice and study around cranial sacral therapy, which I know the osteopaths a lot of the cranial sacral therapy practices are closely linked with osteopathic practice. And so I'm curious if say on the Thai massage, if you have them start laying on their back. And because you studied northern style, or nuad Bowron that you probably started the fee and worked your way up to their head. Do at the point when you get to like working on the points at the occiput do you employ some of the classical cranial sacral therapy work at that point? Is that one of the places that you feel like you blend in some of the osteopathic work? Or is there another point in the classical time massage routine that you feel like it then crosses over more into the osteo? side?

Sandra Jersby: 13:42

I would say it's more osteo side when I get to the neck. Yeah. And also actually what I've learned in fascial stretch therapy. So actually the neck work. I feel like I learned some of my traditional Northern Thai but I feel like it wasn't that extensive. So a lot of the neck work is more osteo and fascial stretch therapy.

Todd McLaughlin: 14:07

Cool. How'd you did you get a chance while you're in Laos to go over to Thailand? Have you been in Thailand? Before?

Sandra Jersby: 14:15

No, I was just I just felt weird. I feel like with doing what I do, like, that's definitely a checkbox, I need to make sure that we check off. So my goal is hopefully I'm hoping by next year, I would like to actually go back to the time with our circus because I just love being around my teachers and then just kind of reinforce and you know, go over things that I've learned. So I'm hoping that I can actually visit Thailand at that point. So that is definitely a goal. That's cool.

Todd McLaughlin: 14:48

And when I had been in Thailand before and people talk about how amazing Laos was i It seems like when you look at the map like well, it's right over there but it's it's quite a journey to you know, move around all this stuff. Didn't countries and go through the borders and stuff and I would feel like I'm already here in this one place and it's so amazing. Do I need to go much further to feel amazing, but that's I totally understand I really want to visit Laos as well. And the way you explain that training sounds really cool. Even the part about having mosquito nets over me and being in a tent. And roughing it. It sounds like you roughed it pretty decent there. Yeah,

Sandra Jersby: 15:24

but it really did. It was like, definitely, I had never been to Asia before. So this was my first like, ever introduction. I'm like, I feel like I'm so far away from home. I really felt like and this was also in the early stages of the pandemic. So this was the 2020. So I had no idea what was going on, because we didn't really have like, internet connection. So we were in our little bubble, and which was actually I guess, now in hindsight, really nice that that's where that's where I was. Yeah. And yeah, and I think Laos is very i From what I've heard is very similar to Thailand. The food is amazing. We ended up eating all I'm not vegan, but that's all we had, we had all vegan food and it was incredible. And, and it's just like these little nuggets, like even being out in the middle of nowhere, there was this like beautiful little cafe, like right next door, but we get my coffee every morning, I'll sit by this beautiful waterfall by myself. And you know, I'm further up the road was a little village and that was like the very famous a famous tourist waterfall is called that quantity waterfall, which is incredible, like people just go there just for that. But that's where we stayed. And and I think learning in that type of environment. Not only is that I think energetically supportive, but it also humbles you when you have like no luxury around you know, like commodities, and you're just one with Earth. And so it's a very grounding and humbling experience to be in as you're learning this beautiful practice.

Todd McLaughlin: 17:18

Yes. It's amazing, isn't it? Yeah, it's pretty amazing. So you're you're in LA Sandra, is that correct? Correct. And you're originally from Sweden? Yes. Nice. How long have you been When did you move from Sweden to USA? California?

Sandra Jersby: 17:39

Gosh, ages ago. It's so weird now because I've actually lived here longer than I have in Sweden. But I still consider myself like I'm in sweet to the core as my primary language. But ya know, I came when I was 19 So I did the traditional route I was the Swedish out here and and I actually still now what is it 23 years later? That is still my I call them my American family. So we've been you know close ever since took care of a set of twins a boy and a girl. And um, yeah, so after that year being an au pair, I I went to school and then I got my undergrad and Nutrition and Food Science. And that's kind of where my wellness journey began. And, you know, then later on to what I'm doing now.

Todd McLaughlin: 18:34

That's so cool. I saw on April 1 that you announced that you were moving back to Sweden and then said April Fool's and I thought that was actually a pretty funny joke. I thought so

Sandra Jersby: 18:48

love like no you're paying me cry and this and that you got

Todd McLaughlin: 18:53

your Why not leave you can't leave us No. Classic Yeah, that was

Sandra Jersby: 18:59

a fun one. I honestly thought like everyone like this is of course a joke right like along with like Paul for him. But everyone did which was hilarious, but also like, I felt really loved.

Todd McLaughlin: 19:11

Yeah, that's so funny. My have a yoga teacher in San Diego named Tim Miller. And he April Fool's once wrote an email out an email blast. Everybody's saying, Oh, the studio I'm so sorry. We just can't make it work anymore. We got to close it down. And I remember reading it just going he didn't say April Fool's in the email and I was just like, I was like dumbfounded. I couldn't believe that. And then he sent another one follow up one like, you know, an hour or two later, like April Fool's. And I was like to that's a crazy trick to plan your entire business client. But it sounds like it actually worked in your favor because everyone expressed how much you know like, appreciation they have for you don't want you to leave type of thing.

Sandra Jersby: 19:53

That could almost be like a testimonial. Yeah, yeah.

Todd McLaughlin: 19:58

So what do you You do for your say like working out and or exercise beyond the work that you do with your body work.

Sandra Jersby: 20:11

So I am currently actually training for a bikini bodybuilding competition. Wow, which you're going to be in June, something I started doing in 2017. After I quit doing CrossFit, which I loved, I was drinking the Kool Aid, but I had to make the switch because I kept throwing my back out. So, um, yeah, so now I'm getting ready for another calm. And besides just the training, which I'll get back to, but the prep and the structure and commitment to doing this training really spills over into everything else that I do, and it keeps me on track and keeping me you know, accountable and productive in my work and the things that I need to get done. So I love that portion of it. But it is, it is a lot of mental work actually doing these competitions, because when you're cutting your calories, and you are hungry all day long, and all you're thinking about is the next meal. It's definitely a mental challenge, but also at the same time creating a lot of clarity. But um, and then yeah, so with that said, moving on to the training, I currently do five days a week of strength training. And then I do 60 minutes, five days a week of walking incline cardio, I also do 20 minutes of yoga and breath for, you know, that's just what I'm adding just to kind of center myself and get myself grounded before I start my day. And yeah, so it's, it's, it's good work. And, and not only is that, you know, I have this little side hobby that I'm doing. But the strength that I'm gaining from training and doing yoga really helps me in the body work that I do, like, keeping my body strong and healthy when I'm putting myself into these positions. And, and a lot of my clients are I work with a lot of athletes. So they're huge. I mean, I have offensive lineman, that's 683 50. So I definitely, or the training has helped tremendously when I work on these bigger guys. And even though when I took my trainings, they always say like, oh, like, size and weight doesn't matter. Like know, when you're small like me, if I put 425 pounds, and you're working with someone that's like, you know, the 356 Eight, the strength definitely comes in handy. And then also structurally knowing how to leverage my body to keep myself safe, but also keeping my clients safe. So the training has helped in so many more ways than just getting ready for a competition.

Todd McLaughlin: 23:08

That's cool. Is this your first competition that you'll be in?

Sandra Jersby: 23:12

No, I think this is probably like my 10th competition, I

Todd McLaughlin: 23:16

think. Yeah, you said you started doing this in 2017 as well. Yeah, cool. So you've been my goal is

Sandra Jersby: 23:23

always to I like to get my pro card. And right now I'm I'm older. I'm 43 so I'm competing in masters, which is I'm not gonna say it's easy, but it's easier in that category. So I'm hoping and that's what I'm aiming for with with this competition is to qualify in this competition and if I qualified then I move on to a national show. And then in this national show, I can potentially win my pro card.

Todd McLaughlin: 23:57

Did you say pro card? Yes, I don't I've never heard that term. I'm completely oblivious to the bodybuilding world and that what is a pro card means you're pro you're a pro bodybuilder. Yeah. Reach it's like official like you get a card that says you are now Pro and that and that lets you go to like different competitions that only allow pro card holders to go to

Sandra Jersby: 24:25

exactly so yeah. So like it's the elites is basically think of it as like, instead of you know playing college basketball now you're in the NBA

Todd McLaughlin: 24:37

got it. Can you earn a living doing that?

Sandra Jersby: 24:42

No, not really. Yeah, I think you can make a little bit of money maybe sponsorship but like I said, since I'm a master, we're not really the the category that the sought after category is more than the younger like the 20 and 30. already because, you know, I will be competing against them if I do make it Pro, but they also have separate masters competitions, which I probably will be doing. But I really just do this for the passion of the sports and not looking to make money is really just my little side thing that I get excited about doing for myself.

Todd McLaughlin: 25:21

That's awesome. Sandra, did you you said like you were doing CrossFit before? And then you had a couple of like situations where you're back with throw out or get thrown out? Is that when you first got When was your first body work session that you received? were you when you were a child? Were your parents taking you to someone to get massage therapy? Or was that the first time that you receive some type of bodywork treatment?

Sandra Jersby: 25:46

So it's interesting you would ask that I was first introduced to bodywork I think I was like eight or nine years old. I used to have asked slaughter and my knees if you familiar with that. I

Todd McLaughlin: 26:01

feel is that like extreme almost like growing pains like extreme Growing Pains since situation that growing

Sandra Jersby: 26:07

pains but it's it's like an inflammation in your knee. And like the I don't know what this one is. But like right in front of the knee like it starts growling like a little bowl goes out. It has gone down now. But it gets really inflamed and your knee really hurts is really common apparently in boys to play soccer. I didn't play soccer. I was very active though as a kid. But that's what I had issues with. And I was always in pain I was wearing like braces on my knees. And this is like back in what is this 8889. So it's way back. But my mom, she would take me to acupuncture, she would take me to chiropractors. And then eventually she found his lady who did energy work. So it was my and my mom is not spiritual. She's not into any of that. But she had a co worker who couldn't get pregnant who had seen this person, and she got pregnant. So she was like, I'm, I'm gonna have my daughter sign up for this woman. So I started seeing her, I think, yeah, at the time, it was probably just nine when we finally found her. And she would just put her hands over me and another person and I will be in there for an hour. And they would do they call it some therapy, I would assume maybe like that will be some sort of Reiki healing. If, if, if it's, you know what I think that she was doing. And I also had, back then, which I didn't disclose to her. I also had seizures, I had epileptic seizures. So she kind of brought that up, she's like, I can see that you know, you are having some seizures. I didn't say anything. So she's like, I'm gonna work on that as well. This might be a little woowoo for some people, but know what happened. And one day she said, My knees were getting better, by the way. And then one day, she said, stop taking your medications for your seizures. And also just want to say like, you know, this is not a recommendation, this is just my journey. So make sure you check with your doctor is what works best for you. But I stopped taking my medications and never had a seizure since Wow. And my knees had been fine as well. So this was a year of seeing her on a weekly basis

Todd McLaughlin: 28:42

that had to have piqued your interest in relation to what is this? And do you think that was a catalyst for what you're doing now in relation to your passion for bodywork?

Sandra Jersby: 28:56

Oh, 100% I think it definitely planted the seed and that always and she kind of you know, she said that first, you know? Yeah. interest in me to continue to explore, you know, energetic pathways and what goes beyond the traditional way of treating the body. So that always stuck with me and I think that's why I also believe so much in these holistic approaches with the body because I had experienced it firsthand and seeing, you know, the benefits and the healing of my body literally just saw I'm putting our hands over me not even touching me. So

Todd McLaughlin: 29:40

yeah, that is amazing. Sandra that's really cool to hear. I think it's neat to that you're at an age where you didn't have opinions formed yet. You know, like sometimes people when we are introduced to the potential trying a new therapy or different therapy we might have already heard a lot of say negative thoughts or connotations around it. So therefore we're like, oh, this couldn't work. But it's kind of neat to think that if you got introduced when you're young and you don't even talk to you about Reiki or energy work, and here you are that, I would imagine we'd be a little bit more open to healing if we have less prejudice toward the modality before we even set foot in the door.

Sandra Jersby: 30:19

Yeah, it's interesting, you would say that, because that's also something she would tell me. She said, You're so young. And because you're so young, you were so receptive to this work. So that was, you know, at the time, I was like, okay, yeah, well, like I didn't, I didn't have any, you know, like you said, no prejudices, like I was just like, here I am. Let's

Todd McLaughlin: 30:41

go. Yeah, I want to feel better. So let's go. Let's get going.

Sandra Jersby: 30:44

Yeah, like this is working. So all and

Todd McLaughlin: 30:47

I went to Thailand to study Thai massage in 2001. And when I came back, I live in Florida. When I came back here. The the blessing and the curse was that nobody, as far as I knew or could find, was doing time massage. Here in Palm Beach County. The Curse of that was that nobody knew what time massage was. So I found I had to educate people and really try to generate enthusiasm, excitement for this, like different style of bodywork. And so do you encounter that now you're in LA, which is pretty hip to everything kind of culture? Like you have a lot of everything out there. So but do you ever encounter that where people are a little skeptical about something like Thai massage?

Sandra Jersby: 31:40

No, no, really, I think I've only had one person that was skeptical because they had that the little hole in the wall experience, which wasn't the greatest. So I think only a handful of times I had to explain that. That's, you know, the training I have is like actually a full on train training. And a lot of times like these places, I don't know where, where they are trained, or if they learn from each other. So it's just maybe not. Yeah, the intention and, and work might not be the same. But I've had more of I've had more of this where people come and they receive Thai and they have received Thai massage before. And they're like, oh, wow, like, this is so different from what I've ever received before. So I get more of that. Like, they're surprised. This is much different for them.

Todd McLaughlin: 32:40

Yeah. And how great it is. Yeah, only surprised. I didn't think I would like it as much as I do. That's cool. Well, yeah, cuz

Sandra Jersby: 32:48

I think it has a little bit of stigma of being painful. Like Thai massage is like, supposed to be painful, and it was hurting. And but that's, I mean, maybe that is there a modality for some, but that's not really my approach. Yeah. Yeah,

Todd McLaughlin: 33:05

I hear you. When I studied in Thailand, I found like, there's southern style, and there's northern style. And my first time massage experience was in and Bangkok at a place called WaPo. And it was I when I was going to massage school, and here in Florida in Miami, I didn't know what I was going to do when I got out of massage school. And I knew I needed to specialize in a specific thing. And somebody said, Well, what do you like? And I said, Well, I'm loving doing bodywork, and I really enjoy and practicing yoga. And they said, Well, have you heard of Thai massage? And I said, No. And they said, well, it's like the perfect blend of yoga and massage. And at that moment, like the light bulb went off, and I was like, I'm going to Thailand like I've never even had a Thai massage. But I'm going to Thailand and so when I landed in Bangkok, I went to Wat Po and they have this like line of people outside the door and at WIPO. They have all this really classical Southeast Asia or south southeast Asian architecture like it looks like everything you'd imagine Thailand architecture to look like. And as I waited in line, he said next and I walked in and there was a room full of like 70 or so mats on the floor was about that many therapists all working at the same time. And so right away, I was like when when you said Thai massage circus, that's the first visual that kind of went in my mind was that, like, I walked into a circus tent, almost because everybody was in a different point in the Thai massage routine. It just blew my mind a little bit just to see it. And then the experience of it. I was like, Oh my gosh, this is the best thing ever. I and I think that that element is a little so different to what the spa scene is like here and I don't actually this brings me to another question about Swedish massage being that you're from Sweden but like here, when I came back to start working doing Thai massage, it was like so foreign because at first I was like, well, let's get off the tea. able and I'm going to need to move the table and put a mat on the floor and plus you're going to be fully clothed. And that wasn't going with what the SPAS here really wanted. Like, that just seemed a little too out there. So I'm, I'm curious, I noticed that you do Thai on the table, can you talk a little bit about how you synthesize Thai massage work into the modern day spa environment? Or that sort of idea?

Sandra Jersby: 35:23

Yeah, I mean, I, so I've never, I've never worked in a spa environment. So I don't have that experience or reference. Mine was always more under like, as I work with a lot of athletes, more athletics setting. So it will be sometimes even people around you know, I do a lot of in home. So they'll always be like family members is more of like, maybe not that calming, relaxing surrounding of it. So it was, it was pretty easy for me to take it off the floor to the table. And it kind of goes like it wasn't that. You mean? Like, is your question more so like to take the moves from the floor? And how to put on the table?

Todd McLaughlin: 36:16

Yeah, I guess if somebody's never had time massage, but they've been to a spa and had table massage. And I noticed that you have a course that you offer on your website. That's like a Thai table synthesis course, I guess I just wanted to have Yeah, explain a little what the idea and concept is around that.

Sandra Jersby: 36:36

Yeah. So the concept came around, because I originally was trained in fascial stretch therapy, and that's on the table. And then after taking my time research courses, I would perform those on the mat, but then I would take moves that from the floor that worked really well on the table as well. So that's kind of how the table came about. And then as I kept learning more and more time and a lot more movements, I was gaining a larger like toolbox of of moves that would work really well on a table. Some of them I had to change a little bit to suits the table setting. And so that's kind of how my my table course grew that, you know, with after taking so many courses, learning so many different movements and learning how to apply that onto the table. That course came about and also the table course so my my intention here was also helping athletic trainers, personal trainers, even massage therapists, to get like a solid routine with pure stretches. Because sometimes as you know, with Ty, they may not it might be more palming, it might be more like, you know, the thumbing and maybe not so much. You know, there are stretches in between two, but not like after each other one, you know, one by one. But I wanted to create a routine, or it's actually a routine that I use on a lot of my clients that is more like stretches back to back with circumduction and oscillation. Nice. So yeah,

Todd McLaughlin: 38:28

it does. And when I again, I hope everyone listening will check you out on Instagram, what your handle is at stretch dot method. Correct? Yeah, sorry. Second, the method part almost eluded me. And I love Well, so what is the gym like setting that I see in a lot of your videos. And it looks like you're teaching courses in a group setting and it looks kind of like a fitness room. But there's massage tables set up? Is that your office? Or is that a gym that you work out? Or what is that environment that you're posting a lot from?

Sandra Jersby: 39:07

So I assume this might be from my workshop, but it's actually in my apartment building where I live. There's a community lounge that I use for my workshops, and sometimes my clients as well. So that's what yeah, that's easy. I can just plop up like with all my equipment, because I do include sound baths, too, in my workshop. So it's something that can easily transfer up and down. Hmm,

Todd McLaughlin: 39:33

very cool. Do the people that what is the breadth of practitioners or professionals that are coming to train with you ranging from like, like massage therapists who said personal trainers do will do what is what is the gamut that you're covering in relation to the people that are showing up?

Sandra Jersby: 39:54

Yeah, so for example, in my last workshop, the people who came they were Massage Therapists, yoga teachers, and physical therapists and personal training. So yeah, it's that full era. And so a lot of them now, I like to be, I like to know, my students well, I like to keep the contact even after. So I've been messaging with a lot of them and making sure that I'm here for them if they have any questions, but it's so cool to see now they're already seeing clients doing this work and have basically picked up a whole new practice and service. And then some of them, they already did stretch therapy to begin with, and now they're like, mixing and blending, you know, with what they already had, and then with my modality, so it's, it's truly amazing to see what's happening after. So that's like, also another thing too, like, I want to know, my students like, I really want to make sure that we are a family, a community, and that they know that I'm here for them even when they tick off and leave. And I also have created a program where after their certification that they will complete 100 practice hours and then record themselves doing a 60 minute session submitted. And then I'm going to eventually create a directory on my website so people can find any of my students in their area for the future. So that's a new thing I have added. And so my students are currently working on your hours. So I'm excited to be able to add that,

Todd McLaughlin: 41:33

that's really cool as well. That's cool. Sandra. When I had my massage, I have my massage license here in Florida. And then my wife and I, in 2003, or two or something went to San Diego and I thought, because California is a little bit known for like having rules and regulations. I mean, every state is but and when I got there, there was no such thing as a license for massage therapy. I remember at that point, it was like a certified massage therapist, a CMT. And there wasn't all this like strict straight state regulation around the massage theory, therapy profession. And I'm curious if that's changed or if that's the same in California now.

Sandra Jersby: 42:19

I don't know for massage I know is different. Being a massage therapist, even though Thai massage is called Thai massage, it's not really massage. We're not using oils, it is really just palming and stretching, which I learned from when I took my fascial stretch therapy course that you it's different. You don't fall under the that was called the NCB TM like regulations, because it's you're not using oil, and you're not sliding and gliding on the person. So we actually like even for my insurance, it's enough just to get the personal training insurance for this type of work. Cool. Yeah,

Todd McLaughlin: 43:01

nice. I noticed on some of your videos that you'll have a little asterix down below saying these moves should only be practiced, or I might not be getting this right, but the general gist, but these moves should be practiced by someone who's been professionally trained, like, please be careful. Don't hold me liable. That type of of which I think is smart. What are your thoughts on how to train people to get good to where they don't hurt people? Because it does take time? Would you agree that it does take time practicing to actually get good at doing hands on body work?

Sandra Jersby: 43:46

Yeah. And that's why I've added like the 100 hours of practice hours because that's something I received, or had to do for some of my courses to get on directories. So that's why I apply that as well to my training. But even during my training like I am, I make sure to be very thorough, I make sure to talk about what could happen if we were to do something incorrectly. Like even for example, like the there is a reverse wheel, you know, where I'm trying to explain think of the person is in a in a wheel yoga, my knees are under their glutes and I'm sitting underneath them. So that's a position where if you lift the head off the floor, and then as you're trying to get out of it, if the head is not on the floor, you may potentially gain the neck back. So when I'm teaching that move, like I'm very thorough and I keep repeating over and over again how important it is. We've got to check make sure the back of the head is on the floor. Before we bring that person back in onto their backs. And, yeah, and the same thing to in my videos, that little warning thing. There's a lot of subtleties that you can't maybe pick up, if you're not trained in Thai massage that I'm doing. Like, you may not see that I'm actually tracking the person, you may not see that I'm, you know, positioning myself in a certain way or the person a certain way, if you don't have a trained eye for and so that's why I always put that little warning. But yeah, through in my training, I am drilling like hardcore and repeating, especially when there are situations where, you know, it could cause and go wrong if it wasn't done properly.

Todd McLaughlin: 45:44

Yes. What is your thought and feeling around the communication between the giver and the receiver in relation to letting the giver know that enough is enough, or I've had enough, or too much pressure or something like that, I guess I bring this up, because you had made mention about how some people have the idea that time massage is going to hurt. And I remember getting Thai massage from people in Thailand where it hurt really, really intensely, like they were applying such incredible pressure. And when I would voice that they would laugh and press harder. And so then I learned that there was this idea that if it doesn't hurt, this is coming into this is from Thailand, or what I what I what I experienced in Thailand, if it doesn't hurt, then there's not going to be any benefit that like through the process of learning to breathe through discomfort that that is what will help you to feel better. And then when I came back to the states and started practicing, I very quickly realized that that philosophy isn't going to fly here. And so what are your thoughts about all of that in relation to applying deep pressure with the intention of having some sort of increased release, but listening to the client at the same time and making sure that they're feeling good and not having their nervous system? jacked up?

Sandra Jersby: 47:25

Yeah. It's a great it's a great question. And I, I align very well with how my teachers taught me which is, you know, like, are no would say, there is no such thing as going too deep. But there is going too fast. So

Todd McLaughlin: 47:56

that's interesting.

Sandra Jersby: 47:58

Yeah, and so I think, me before doing his body work, and back in my CrossFit days, I was all about pain and get in there, like, make me feel, make me cry, like, that's probably going to release things and let go. Now, in hindsight, I, I have, I don't know if it's like, both mentally and physically I have grown, that is not what I want to experience. And I don't feel like this is how my body's actually gonna, like go. Now I'm more of a mindset that I want the body to welcome me, I want to be invited. And that's kind of how you create that dance with the nervous system. Because if you are, if there is pain, and you're forcing yourself into the tissue, that nervous systems gonna go, you know, things are going to tighten up. And it's gonna be like this tug of war. And, you know, from the, you know, my, the teachings I have learned, like, it's just not a long lasting and productive approach to the body. So when I see people, a generally take into consideration their personality, how active they are. Maybe a little bit of the vata pita, like if they're very fiery, like, they probably going to like in a little deeper, you know, pressure. If they more of remind me it's not vata it's the other one where they are more like more chill relaxed. Yeah, like more laid back like then maybe we need to, you know, like, just go gentle, not such hard pressure. So that's one aspect of it that take into consideration. You can even look at their body type, if they're very muscular than probably more pressure if they're very, like slender and like just kind of not so muscular. Usually, I feel like, yogi's that are very, like hyper mobile. But then, you know, that may change too, as to you. It's all those things, but then also their mental state, where are they at? Are they going through, you know, depression, are they? You know, do they seem sad. So based off of that, because then I might have to be more gentle and more nurturing. So those are the things along with, as I'm going, you know, there's also the intuition aspect, you're feeling things you're picking up. And sometimes even though they need to be calm, down and relaxed, you may want to do the opposite, you may start quick, you may slow down. So there's a lot of things that you're feeling in the session. But I, I, I'm all for I want to be invited by my receiver, I don't want to force myself into them. And that's usually how I receive and being, you know, getting that full release and relaxation from the person.

Todd McLaughlin: 51:26

Good answer. I like that you explained all the different kind of holistic elements coming into play here. It sounds when you explain it, it sounds like there's a lot. Like there's, it's like, you have to take in a lot. If someone if someone was learning this and felt overwhelmed, like, but how am I going to know how they're feeling? How am I going to know what their mental state is? How will I know if they have say, like a herniation in their back? Or how will I know if I'm helping or hurting? What is some advice that you give to your students to help set up guidelines for feeling like their success.

Sandra Jersby: 52:12

So always have an intake form before you see your clients to get any, like, get their background history and the injuries and the medications, they may be taking anything that could hinder or, you know, and then also kind of seeing, you know, what, you know, what are their daily habits, I, I also jump on the on the call with them as well. I like to get to know the person before I see them as well just to kind of pick up on their energy. You know, what do they do? Do they have kids? What's their work life? You know, are they sitting in front of a computer all day? You know, even like, what's their diet like and training because it tells me a lot about the person and their mindset and where they're at. So I like to collect a lot of data and information before I even see the person and also just creating that connection like that human current, like introduction, so that I already know the person before I put my hands on them. Nice. So yeah, those are some of the things that I like to do to prep. Um, sorry, I lost my train of thought. Like it was coming. And, um, besides that, yeah, so that's, that was gonna fail.

Todd McLaughlin: 53:36

Well, on that note, I know you made mention before we began the conversation that you're traveling to Sweden tomorrow. Yeah. And so thank you so much for taking time before you're like getting ready to like pack everything and be ready and get organized. And so I'm just so thankful for you to take time I find that I learned so much by having this opportunity to speak with other body workers and professionals in the field. So for me, I just, this is so great for me so thank you, Sandra. What when you go to Sweden, are you going to be working on people? Are you going to like take total vacation chill time like are you going to do you feel like your friends and family are going to say oh please work on me work on me or you're going to try to like just like let your body relax? What is your what are you planning?

Sandra Jersby: 54:27

I definitely want to work on my family. So you know as much as I do need to to get a break and recharge but like my mom, she just had a hip replacement so I definitely want to be there for her and that was also my intention actually, you know, I wanted to go back to work on her and but it was funny too because I by the time I had booked a trip I didn't know that she was going to have the hip replacement surgery so just happened to fall. Perfect timing. So I don't know it's like the energetic the universe is like, you know No putting me together and making sure that I'm there for my mom. So yeah, she's going to be receiving work. We'll see my sister she, because we have a lot of things lined up as to the point when I arrived we were going It's nonstop. But um, but yeah, mom, mom will definitely get some body work here.

Todd McLaughlin: 55:20

Nice. That's awesome. Yeah. Have you worked on? Have you worked on your mom before?

Sandra Jersby: 55:27

I have. I usually work on her every time I come back home. So cool. Yeah. She needs it. And even though like she's What is she now? 73. But she goes to the gym five days a week. She takes her spinning. She loves her yoga. So she's quite active. But yes, she's she's going to need some body work as well to for her recovery.

Todd McLaughlin: 55:52

Were in Sweden.

Sandra Jersby: 55:54

So this isn't Helsingborg, the southern part southwest. Is that near? Well, actually, I fly into Denmark, Copenhagen. And my sister is driving up from Germany. She'll scoop me up and we'll take the bridge over. It's a two hour drive to my hometown.

Todd McLaughlin: 56:12

Awesome. Is Malmo close to your town.

Sandra Jersby: 56:17

Yes, sir. So it's actually the town. So I arrive at Copenhagen, we take the bridge over and it goes to mama. Nice. And so then from Mama, I'll drive an hour north. And that's my hometown.

Todd McLaughlin: 56:32

Cool. Yeah, I recently got a chance to podcast with a girl named Isabella Niska, who lives in Malmo. And so she was telling me a little bit about how close it is to Denmark and some of the weather differences in relation to like South Sweden and northern Sweden. And it sounds beautiful. Sounds really amazing.

Sandra Jersby: 56:53

It really is. I, I think, yeah, some of the other besides the family. But I truly like the nature and the outdoors is just magical and Sudan. So that's something else I truly look forward to. And we're right by the water like, My hometown is a, you know, ocean town. So everything is along the water.

Todd McLaughlin: 57:13

That's cool. So you speak Swedish, English and the other languages?

Sandra Jersby: 57:18

No, I mean, I took Spanish and German, which is curious. Long forgotten.

Todd McLaughlin: 57:27

That's cool. That's awesome. Sandra. Well, thank you so much. I wish you safe travels, a wonderful trip back home getting to hang out with your mom, that's so cool. Is there anything that maybe I didn't bring up that you'd like to share and or any sort of tidbits of advice or wisdom that you'd like to close with? For any budding body worker, or even body building? Training? Personally, I

Sandra Jersby: 58:01

do have a piece of advice. Because I do get asked a lot, like, you know, how do I, you know, how do I run my business? How do I come about, like, what's the most important, and I'd say, like, for me to get to the point where I am. Make sure that you are well and good within yourself. Like always prioritize yourself first. And nurture your body, your mind and your soul. When you're good within you love yourself, you were doing everything to feed your soul and your spirits. Everything else around you really just kind of you know, expands and you start manifesting things. Because, you know, you're adding and, and showing the universe the love for you and, and that really translates into anything else that you're going to put your work and passion into. So that would be my advice to all of you out there. Because I know some people they work and they get into this, you know, client after client I am I'm capping, I see no more than two or three pints a day because I gotta make sure that I'm good. I'm taking care of I'm fed and I have time to meditate and really ground myself. So that's a huge piece that helped me to grow and expand and and do well and what I do.

Todd McLaughlin: 59:30

Excellent. That's really good advice. I think I needed to hear that today. Thank you, Sandra. You're welcome to A pleasure. I had so much fun conversating with you. Cool. Well, me too. I will definitely stay in touch with you. I would love to come to California and practice with your study with you. I definitely want to check out one of your courses online and to be able to go to Laos and practice at the time massage circus. Oh my god. Gosh,

Sandra Jersby: 1:00:00

that sounds so let's go together next year,

Todd McLaughlin: 1:00:02

we should lead a retreat over there something like let's get our groups together and go meet over there somewhere in Southeast Asia. That would be incredible. I love it. Don't ask me twice. Cool, Sandra. I appreciate it. Thank you, Tom. You had such a good time. Thank you. You're amazing. I appreciate it. Thank you. Thank you. Native yoga Todd cast is produced by myself. The theme music is dreamed up by Bryce Allen. If you liked this show, let me know if there's room for improvement. I want to hear that too. We are curious to know what you think and what you want more of what I can improve. And if you have ideas for future guests or topics, please send us your thoughts to info at Native yoga center. You can find us at Native yoga center.com. And hey, if you did like this episode, share it with your friends, rate it and review and join us next time