Beyond Massage ASPEN & Aspen Orthopedic Acupuncture (AOA) — Local services in Aspen

I do not say the following lightly: Nikolai is by far one of the most talented massage therapists I have ever had the luxury of booking a session with! I’ve been managing back & muscular pain with massage and bodywork therapy for 15+ years due to a scoliosis that causes overworked back/shoulder muscles as well as the occasional athletic-based injury. Rarely do you find someone like Nikolai who is the trifecta of talent: fantastic technical skills (read: amazing pressure), listening skills (to tailor your session) and a deep diagnostic understanding of how the body’s systems interact.

For myself, the goal of a massage is first and foremost to be a physically therapeutic experience; to relieve very targeted pain/tension and enable better range of motion in problem areas on my body. I’m not looking to take a nap on the table, I’m looking for a therapist that understands the complex interplay of the musculoskeletal body system. Nikola was so receptive to explanations of what felt wrong in my body, but more importantly, he brought to each session a focus on diagnosing and understanding WHY tensions were being held where they were, and discussing how to relieve and prevent them.

He employed a combination of classic massage techniques, kinetic bodywork, hot + cold therapy, some supplemental topicals/treatments, and (I cannot stress this enough) a comfortable and open environment to discuss exercise/physical habits that may have led to injuries and tightness. All the above added up to: leaving my apt feeling physically fantastic post session, as well as so much better educated about how to prevent and treat persistent stress and tension. I came in with severe pain and tightness in my shoulder due to a rotator cuff injury, and the fact that he was able to work around a recent stressor + congenital skeletal issues is pretty impressive.

YES, the price tag here is on the high end of bodywork type services I’ve even received, but between the high cost of living in Aspen and the amazing service provided, I cannot recommend Nikolai with more enthusiasm. His knowledge, experience and skillset are priced fairly for the benefit your body...

For most of my life, I viewed acupuncture and Eastern medicine as "supplements" to traditional medicine and not a necessary part of my overall well-being and program of care. As a massage client of Erica's for many years, I was intrigued when she told me that she felt that acupuncture could have many benefits for my overall wellness. I had one acupuncture session and was completely hooked. Since then, she has helped me to address issues from stress and focus in my professional life to orthopedic issues in my shoulders and back. I feel the positive impacts of acupuncture during the session and for days and weeks following; it has been a game-changer for me mentally and physically. Erica's whole mind and body approach is so refreshing. From a personal health perspective, I would often find myself rundown and sick during stressful times at work and many times after extensive work travel; many of these times resulted in antibiotics to treat ailments that just wouldn't go away on their own. Two years into my acupuncture journey with Erica and I haven't had a single antibiotic or illness beyond a minor cold. She's a master and her work has...

I am convinced Erica is a magician! She is most definitely a master of Chinese medicine. She has not only helped me but my mom as well. Erica helped and continues to improve my energy levels and gives me a grounded sense of calm each week. The greatest gift she has given me is the ability to be more comfortable in my own body by not feeling as hot in temperature all the time. I can now go for a walk without worrying that I will be a sweaty mess. Magic!

For my mom, she came in with cold shoulder which had been going on for months. After 1 session with Erica, my mom had full range of motion back in her arm and way less pain!

Thank you, Erica for your dedication to continue learning and broadening your knowledge to help me, my mom, and all of the other lucky patients that get to...