Heather McFarlin, CMT

Amazing practitioner. Took her time with me and explained everything that she was doing. Soothing touch and very experienced at what she does. Hard to find someone who truly practices the art of Chi Nei Tsang in the area.
Highly recommend her any type of bodywork/​massage. She is one of the premier CMT’s in the bay area after having experienced many different practices over these past few years.

Best of the best in SF! Heather is a healer, magician with her hands. She will unwind it all and leave you feeling inspired and ready for everything!

I have had many physical issues, many surgeries and many many excellent massages and various therapies. My session with Heather was my first Che Nei Tsang massage and it was — she was — amazing. I ended up with 2 packages of 5 each and taking my sister visiting from Chicago for a session. I found Heather to be incredibly skillful and sensitive to my needs. She really listened and gave me the feedback I wanted as well. Eventually in a completely respectful manner we broadened the healing into light cleansing and even some very deep spiritual work. Heather is a true partner to your overall health and well being. I highly recommend her.
btw. I travel from Sacramento to San Francisco. She is that good! I am now healthy enough for some overseas travel. I will continue with another pkg. when I return.

Heather’s a great healer and passionate about the practice of Chi Nei Tsang. Great modality, great space, great therapist.

I liked Heather a lot. She was warm, gentle, explanatory. Will definitely make other appointments.

After seeing Heather for one session of Chi Nei Tsang (abdominal & organ massage) I was so hooked that I immediately purchased a series of 5 massages.
She has a very gentle and nurturing way of delving into some very deep places (emotional/​ohysical/​spiritual). If you are interested in letting go of anything that may not be serving you or just need some relaxation and good bodywork, look no further.
Heather is very experienced, professional, compassionate and just a lovely person. I trust her and would send my best friends and family her way.

I had my first CNT massage last week with Heather and loved it. During the massage I felt so relaxed and at peace but I did not realize how altered I was until walking down Union street to head home. Everything seamed to move much slower. I felt more present. While some of the relaxation faded after returning to work the following day, I still felt the benefits for another week. My appetite was lower and my workouts were more focussed.
I plan to return for another CNT massage!

I have been going to Heather for about a year now (maybe a bit longer). One of the things I like about Heather is that she is perfectly suited for what she does: she has a strong but gentle hand and a chill personality without being annoying «ethereal» about what she does. I sometimes go into that lovely, sub-​conscious, dreamy space during her massages – not something that happens with every massage therapist that I use.
She’s also very likeable and down to earth (again, keeps the fairy dust under wraps), but is also quick to provide advice and suggestions about what is happening with your body. She’s also very gracious. I was at least 10 minutes late for my first 2 or 3 sessions with her. I’ve gotten it together since then, but I always appreciate how she hung with me without making me feel like the irresponsible slacker that I was. Nice.

I found Heather through my husband. The results he got from CNT from working with Heather for just a few weeks were so dramatic, I had to check it out for myself.
So, after maybe just 2 – 3 belly work sessions (after having years of stomach issues) I feel much more connected to my body and belly. It allowed me to have a new relationship with my body and learn from it. What does that mean? Well, because of the CNT work, I now know when my stomach is happy or sad, and when food/​people/​or energy coming my way isn’t treating it right. This awareness allows me to make decisions in my life that are healthy for both body and soul.
If you want life-​changing body work, I highly recommend seeing Heather and receiving CNT. At the very least, you will sleep better!

Heather is a high-​vibrational, sharp, intuitive healer with a perfect bedside manner and KILLER skill set! Massage my organs? Yes, please! Massage my FEET? I IMPLORE you!
10 stars!

I was recommended to Heather by a good friend from work who piqued my interest with her experience with Chi Nei Tsang. I’m one to try things at least once, and I got in to see Heather a few weeks later.
It’s one of the most calming, relaxing, inward-​looking things that I’ve experienced. It’s hard to describe what happens, but I definitely feel like I’m in a state between sleep and awake, and there’s a huge sense of peace that I leave with after she’s done.
Not only does she do amazing work with CNT, I developed some shoulder issues a few months later, and her great knowledge of massage really came to light, and she’s become my go-​to healer.
She’s a caring, warm spirit, and one of the best that I’ve encountered.
Thanks, Heather. :)

I’ve been a regular of Heather’s healing strong hands for about 14 years. I’ve had many imposters try but none have the abilities, spirit or knowledge that she has. Her calming approach combined with intimate knowledge and sense of a persons being make for a truly deep and rewarding massage. She continually educates herself on her craft and it shows in her ability to address so many needs. I highly recommend establishing a regular routine with her in order to maximzie the benefits. She is unlike any other CMT I’ve been too. Truly one of a kind!

Heather is deeply gifted and highly intuitive. The deep tissue massages I get once a month help me stay healthy, reduce aches from residual lyme disease bullshit that I deal with, and cause me to detox generally. She rocks.

Had a Freshguide coupon for Heather and it was a very, very good massage. I don’t think it was any one modality, but that’s part of why I liked it so much. She combined a lot of different techniques and had very good, deep pressure where I asked. Convenient location to me on Union Street. I am still in search of SF’s best massage for me, but I would absolutely jump on another discounted deal with Heather if I see one again. She’s a little hard to schedule last minute on a Saturday, but if you have a couple weeks in advance it shouldn’t be that hard. We had a number of back and forths over email trying to schedule, but she always got back to me within 24 hours.
Very solid massage.

I went to see Heather last fall because I was diagnosed with this condition called RSD/​CRPS I (Nerve Damage). I had 5 sessions with her and she did some pretty amazing things to me. Chi Nei Tsang is the work that she did on me. Chi Nei Tsang literally means «working the energy of the internal organs» or «internal organs chi transformation».
I truly believe that if you don’t take care of your body and mind internally, things will happen on the outside that will reflect that. I had a couple massages from her too and they were amazing! She is a true healer and I definitely would recommend going to her! I haven’t had any pain since last December. She is a miracle worker!

So I’m not sure what Heather does to me, but its AMAZING. I got into this massage coma, unlike any other massage coma before. Maybe its the trigger point therapy or the chi nei tsang or the oil or the relaxing beach music in the background or the lavender eye patch she uses when you turn over or the fact that I want the head massage to last forever… I don’t know, maybe its ALL of these things?! And Heather is so wonderful about fitting you in… she took me very late on Monday (which was great because I just went home and passed out) and it was wonderful, unknotted my back and released some stress. I do recommend breathing into the places she’s working on, it GREATLY helps to release energy. Now because you’re in a massage coma you may forget to do this, that’s OK, you can start off doing it. The only thing I’d say is that I’d love it if it was $ 10-​$ 20 cheaper, but then again $ 90 for a 1 hour is a standard SF price and I only see Heather every other month — so its worth it.
I bought my boyfriend a massage a couple of weeks ago, and he too walked out feeling like j-​e-​l-​l-​o!

Heather is a superstar of a massage therapist and healer! She is extremely intuitive and listens to your body as she works. She has a wide range of skill from deep tissue to light touch that will penetrate your body and soul deeply. I fall into a euphoric state everytime she works on me and I am so grateful to have her in my camp of supporters! She is part of my regular wellness practice and régime to live an outstanding and beautiful life. We are so fortunate to have Heather here in San Francisco!!!

Heather is a great massage therapist, she’s recently worked on me and it was absolutely amazing. She is very in tune with one’s body. She really took time and care so that I could relax. She really knew how to get into the pressure points with her strength. A true work of art, she’s a natural healer.
I had some anxiety attacks due to my work situation and when I had a session with her it’s calmed me down so much I stopped feeling them and my body felt this calm and peaceful sensation, it was almost euphoric.
I can’t wait for my next appointment.

I was having severe breathing problems and combined with digestive problems. After one session with Heather I could breath freely and within a day my digestion felt corrected. I felt a deep sense of calmness within my first 10 minutes on her table. I am so excited to have this profound work available to me. Its definitely been transformative and my life feels more free.

I’ve been getting massages from Heather for probably twelve years. In that time, she has evolved from a young, talented practitioner with strong hands and good instincts into a seasoned, well-​rounded, intuitive master of the art of massage.
Heather uses her own blend of therapeutic bodywork, integrating a number of techniques for a custom approach to each client and the client’s current needs. She is both gentle and firm, able to work out the knots and kinks caused by the stress of modern life, then guiding the body into a relaxed bliss.
Heather is knowledgable about physiology and can work with and around injuries and limitations. Despite her long experience, she never seems to go into «auto-​pilot» and rely on the true-​and-​tried. Some years ago, she started studying a technique called «Chi Nei Tsang», which added a whole new layer to her repertoire of healing tools.
I also appreciate that her spiritual practice informs both her therapeutic work and her professional conduct. She is honest and discreet, compassionate and ethical. Last but not least, she is also a gifted artist, but that’s another story.