Radical Zen Massage Therapy

I’m Samantha H., a massage therapist licensed in Washington, D.C., Virginia and Maryland. I studied at PMTI where I completed over 600 hours of academic and practical training and graduated in 2017.

I grew up in Northern California and although I’ve called the DMV home for more than 15 years, my roots out west continue to shape who I am and how I practice. 

I love being able to give a therapeutic massage that’s deeply relaxing. I like to incorporate my knowledge of trigger point therapy and myofascial release techniques mixed with slow, calming work to deliver an experience that is effective and nourishing to the body as well as the nervous system. Many clients see me for low back pain and migraine relief as well as help with feelings of burnout and anxiety.

I decided I wanted to be a massage therapist after experiencing for myself the profound relief massage had on my own frazzled nerves and aching muscles. And I’ve experienced how truly grounding a massage can be with a practitioner I feel safe with. My goal is to be one of those practitioners that every client feels safe with, to create an environment free of judgement and to share my skills to help ease your pain. 

I continue to expand on my knowledge and have a growing interest in Ayurveda and plant medicine. In my free time I love to see live music and art shows or unwind with a good book and a glass of wine. I love the outdoors and travel with my partner as much as we can. I’m a believer in staying playful and practicing gratitude. 

About the Location

The studio is located at 817A King Street Suite 205 B, above Calico.

There is plenty of paid and free street parking available as well as a parking garage on N Alfred and King Street Lot. The studio is also reachable by metro on both the yellow and blue line. It’s about a 15 minute walk from the King Street Metro stop.

Use the code listed for Radical Zen Massage Therapy in order to be buzzed into the building. *Please do not arrive more than 15 minutes before your scheduled appointment time as you will not be able to be buzzed in.

Please note that the studio is located on the second floor up a small flight of stairs. Unfortunately this means the office is not accessible to everyone. I apologize for the inconvenience.

What to Expect and Helpful Tips

Before

~ When you book an appointment, there is a short intake form for you to fill out. Please do your best to fill this out completely as it will help me prepare and make sure you have the most enjoyable treatment possible. You can edit this up to 24 hours before your appointment if anything changes. 

Day of Appointment

~ Make sure you are hydrated and come dressed in comfortable clothing. It’s helpful to take off any extra jewelry, especially necklaces and bulky items like watches. Please arrive clean but it’s recommended to leave hair natural and wear minimal makeup if any at all. Don’t worry about shaving! For those with longer hair, it’s helpful to bring something to keep your hair off your back and neck while receiving your massage. 

~ Arriving slightly early is recommended so that you don’t feel rushed, especially if it’s your first time to the studio. It also allows us to discuss your intake form and go over any concerns or questions you may have. 

~ I will leave the room and give you privacy while you get yourself settled onto the massage table. Some people prefer to undress completely while others prefer to leave underwear on. Either option is acceptable as you will be under a sheet and only undraped where I am currently working. I apply the same draping protocol to every client and don’t undrape anyone’s chest, glutes or genital areas. If you receive chest and glute work, it is done while draped. 

~ Once on the table, you are encouraged to focus on your breath, let it be deep and let your body be heavy. Don’t feel the need to “help” me with any movements. You should feel supported and comfortable. If something feels off, please say something. If it’s too warm, too cold, if the head rest is in a weird position, if the music is too loud, let me know so I can adjust it for you. Same thing goes for pressure. I prefer to let you zone out and enjoy your massage and don’t like to check in too often. Feel free to doze off! 

After

~ I always recommend taking it easy for the rest of the day. Allow yourself to soak into your relaxed nervous system. If we did deeper work, you may feel a little sore for a day or so, similar to what you feel after a workout. 

~ Tipping can be confusing. I price my sessions to be competitive but also cover my expenses and time. Please know that tipping me is not required but it’s always appreciated. 

*Just a note that some massage therapists that work for someone else most often don’t have control over their prices and typically receive a small percentage of the treatment price and rely on tips as a big chunk of their income. Tip them accordingly. If you’re ever in doubt, just ask your therapist.

~ If you’d like to be on a regular schedule for massage, I generally recommend every 4 to 6 weeks for most people, but you can book as often as your schedule and budget will allow. Maintenance massage is definitely a thing and you will start to feel the results of consistency after just a few sessions. You don’t have to wait until your body is screaming to book a treatment.