Andrew Castellanos massaging the upper back of a patient lying face down on a treatment table

Acupuncture + Massage Combo

A specialized treatment that combines acupuncture and massage in one session, to fully relax the nervous system and get far more from both. Available with Andrew, Ali or Suzanne.

Rated 5.0 on GoogleLicensed acupuncturists

Performed by
Andrew, Ali or Suzanne
Length
60 minutes with anyone; 75 or 90 with Ali or Suzanne
Price
$225 (60 min), $265 (75 min), $300 (90 min)
How it feels
Deeply relaxed. Most clients say they "feel like butter"

What our patients say

5.0 on Google from 92 reviews

Andrew applies his knowledge of the body and expert techniques to address affected muscles both for maintenance during training and related to injury. His combination of acupuncture and massage helps to open up areas and find the place to target. I have seen Andrew in the past for recovery post concussion and most recently for routine maintenance while training at a high level for my next marathon. I highly recommend Andrew and am lucky to have him as a part of my support team to stay healthy! - Katie Hynes, competitive runner -

Katie C.Apr 2023 · Google review

Andrew introduced me to a form of healing which, after years of competitive long distance running and many injuries, I am more than thankful to have discovered! My latest injury, a small tear in my left hamstring, sidelined me for a number of months. After trying rest, physical therapy and anti-inflammatories with little results, I finally met Andrew. His approach from the very beginning was completely methodical, precise and extremely professional. Right away the pain eased, and I felt my body finally respond to treatment. Andrew was instrumental in healing my hamstring, and I trust that his acupuncture/massage techniques will keep me healthy and, importantly, keep me running for many decades and miles.

Ana MoralesImpala Racing Team · Patient testimonial

I’ve always wanted to be able to demonstrate clearly to professional dancers when giving them corrections or setting ballets. However, without the level of daily physical preparation that my body was used to when I danced, my body now has moments of rebellion that, however careful I am, need the assistance of experts to ensure I can do my job fully. Andrew’s combination of acupuncture and soft tissue work always made a significant difference to my mobility, helping me undertake my role in the studio at a level of physicality such that I’m not confined to the minimum level of demonstration. With his level of experience with dancers it was always easy to discuss problematic muscles and joints, and reassuring that he ‘got’ what was going on and what was required to improve the situation efficiently and effectively.

Bruce Sansomformer Ballet Master for the San Francisco Ballet company · Patient testimonial

Andrew’s massage and acupuncture techniques have seen me successfully through back-to-back marathons seven weeks apart, plus two active pregnancies and a record-breaking racing season in between. He is a veritable genius in his field — a true healer.

Allison HowardImpala Racing Team · Patient testimonial

I was introduced to Andrew by a friend who dubbed him as nothing short of magical. After experiencing his expertise firsthand, I couldn't agree more. Andrew's mastery of the human body and its intricacies truly feels like a kind of magic. I've been to other specialists for my chronic upper back and neck pain, but Andrew is different. He focuses on treating the actual problem, not just masking the symptoms. For the first time, I walked out of an acupuncture session and went back to exercising without feeling any pain. It was a game-changer. I feel as if I've been given a brand new back. Honestly, I never thought a life without back pain was possible until now. While I was also working with Andew some other health issues came up that couldn’t be diagnosed by western medicine. His thoughtful and holistic approach immediately made me feel understood and valued. Throughout our sessions, he would patiently explain the various points he was working on or the sensations I was experiencing, shedding light on what was going on internally within my body. Thanks to him, I now have a deeper appreciation for how imbalances in one area can send ripples throughout the entire system. He was able to find the root cause, guiding me slowly but surely on the path to recovery. I feel blessed to have met Andrew, he really has changed my life and I’m grateful for that.

Veronica J.Feb 2024 · Google review

I would strongly (strongly!) recommend Acupuncture for Athletics for both athletes and non-athletes alike. Not only does Andrew help with injury recovery, pain management, and stress relief, but he creates a relaxing and positive environment that enhances the work that he does and leads you to feel better both physically and mentally after each visit. And beyond acupuncture and massage, Andrew goes the extra mile to provide guidance on how to address specific pain-points and injuries, or to simply ensure that you are feeling and performing your best. Again, I can't recommend Acupuncture for Athletics enough!

Patrick H.Apr 2023 · Google review

Andrew is amazing! Very caring and concerned about your health and well being. He genuinely is a very kind person.

Jeannie S.Patient testimonial

I came to Andrew after nearly six excruciating months of not being able to run. I had a seemingly minor Achilles tendon injury that simply refused to heal, defying every modality I tried. I hoped Andrew, a specialist in sports injuries, could break the deadlock. The simple answer is that in three visits, I was running again, hardly able to believe my good fortune. The more complicated answer runs deeper. Andrew’s work doesn’t just address physical injury; he works on spiritual and emotional injury and stress too. I didn’t realize that my physical injury was bound up with emotional trauma, but he did, and he figured out how to disentangle them so the healing process could start. The process can be painful; emotional injuries that have lodged in your body have to work their way out through muscle and bone, like a physical illness. But it’s also both profound and unexpected. As another of Andrew’s clients said, he is a true healer.

MKPImpala Racing Team, San Francisco · Patient testimonial

Andrew Castellanos has helped my Achilles tendinosis and tendinitis with acupuncture, not only getting the swelling down, but also massaging the area after. His therapeutic work has enabled me to continue dancing at a high level without having to take a break, so I’m able to dance with injury due to the therapeutic work that Andrew does.

Vanessa ZahorianPrincipal Dancer for the San Francisco Ballet · Patient testimonial

As a professional dancer, I rely heavily on Andrew throughout the performance season to literally fix me in order to get me back onstage. I have chronic problems with my knee and my shoulder, and the combination of acupuncture with electric stimulation and heat has been tremendously helpful. Andrew only needs five minutes to find exactly where he needs to work, and the results are fantastic. His acupuncture work is also gentle, and doesn’t leave me sore the next day — in fact, it’s one of the only therapies I feel comfortable receiving right before a show. Andrew does great deep tissue work as well, and he is very responsive and attentive as a therapist. I’d highly recommend him to dancers, athletes and non-dancers alike.

Courtney ElizabethSoloist for The San Francisco Ballet · Patient testimonial

Andrew treated me over a period of about two years for hip and shoulder problems, and he was tremendously helpful. I was impressed with his knowledge and skill, not to mention wonderful “bedside manner” and especially his enthusiasm for staying current in his field.

Ann H.Patient testimonial

I loved coming to Andrew. He was a lifesaver in helping me through some back issues when I was pregnant with my first child. A lovely, warm place and Andrew is amazing!!!!

Colleen M.Patient testimonial

Calm the nervous system first. Then the massage.

The acupuncture + massage combo is one of the treatments our patients love most, and it's different from a regular massage. Your practitioner starts with acupuncture to ground, calm and center your nervous system. Then you receive an effective, targeted massage on a body that's already dramatically relaxed and open.

Because the acupuncture has already settled your muscles, the massage can work deeper with less effort and less guarding. If you've been searching for massage and acupuncture near you in San Francisco, this is the treatment that puts both together, in one session, with one practitioner, at our Cow Hollow clinic.

Why Work with Us

We're not just for athletes, but for everyone wanting more movement and less pain in their life.

Built around your life

We start with how you move, then treat the injury with a plan to get you back to training, work and everyday life.

Excellence in one visit

Acupuncture, dry needling, cupping, cold laser and sports massage from the same licensed team, so you're not bouncing between clinics.

Trusted by professionals

Andrew and team have treated athletes for USF, the San Francisco Ballet, LINES Ballet and MLB spring training. Our patients rate us 5.0 on Google.

How a combo session works

One session, in a set order, so each part makes the next one work better.

  1. Check in

    We start by figuring out what's going on with your body. Your practitioner talks with you one-on-one and uses Traditional Chinese Medicine assessment, including tongue diagnosis and pulse points, to find where the tension and stress are sitting.

  2. Acupuncture

    Needles and, where it helps, cupping target your problem areas and address both physical and mental stress. This part is meant to ground, calm and center your nervous system, and many people drift off.

  3. Targeted massage

    You then receive a focused massage on a relaxed, open body. The effects of the acupuncture help the muscles let go, so the massage reaches further. Most clients leave saying they feel like butter.

Why combine them?

Acupuncture and massage each help on their own. Put together in the right order, they build on each other.

A stressed, guarded body holds on. Muscles brace against pressure, and a massage spends much of its time just getting them to soften. When acupuncture comes first and the nervous system has already shifted into a calmer state, that bracing drops away. The massage can then go straight to the tissue that needs it.

It's also simply efficient: one appointment instead of two, with the same practitioner treating you start to finish, so the massage is aimed at exactly what the acupuncture found. Want to know more about each part? Read about acupuncture at our clinic and cupping therapy.

The combo

60-min acupuncture + massage combo
$225
75-min acupuncture + massage combo
$265
90-min acupuncture + massage combo
$300
  • Acupuncture, then a targeted massage
  • One practitioner for the whole session
  • 75 and 90 minutes with Ali or Suzanne
  • HSA and FSA cards accepted

24-hour cancellation policy applies.

Combo or sports massage?

Two different treatments. Here's how to choose.

Acupuncture + massage combo

For when you want to fully reset. Acupuncture calms the nervous system first, then a targeted massage works on a relaxed body. Ideal for deep, stubborn tension, stress that's showing up in your body, poor sleep, or when you simply want the most complete treatment we offer.

Sports massage

For focused work on the muscles your training loads most, using sports massage techniques such as deep tissue and myofascial work. A good fit between hard sessions or before an event. See sports massage in San Francisco.

Who the combo is for

Athletes and everyday people alike. If any of these sound like you, the combo is a great place to start.

Not sure? Call us and we'll help you pick the right appointment.

  • Tight, overworked muscles that a regular massage never fully releases
  • Training blocks, races and long seasons that leave you run down
  • Stress, tension or poor sleep that's settling into your neck, shoulders and back
  • Long days at a desk and the stiffness that comes with them
  • Anyone new to acupuncture who also wants hands-on work

Who gives the combo

All three of our practitioners give the acupuncture + massage combo, and all three are California-licensed acupuncturists, so the massage is aimed at exactly what the acupuncture found, with one person treating you start to finish.

Andrew Castellanos, L.Ac, CST, our owner, brings more than 25 years with athletes and hands-on work that includes deep tissue sports massage, myofascial release, soft tissue mobilization, shiatsu and acupressure. Ali Hakimi, L.Ac, pairs local acupuncture for injury recovery and pain with hands-on work. Suzanne Lange, DACM, L.Ac, CMT, is also a certified massage therapist, trained in myofascial and trigger point therapy. Meet the whole team.

Who offers which length

Andrew
60 min
Ali
60, 75, 90 min
Suzanne
60, 75, 90 min

Pick the practitioner and length when you book online.

Acupuncture + massage combo FAQ

What is the acupuncture + massage combo?

It's a treatment that combines acupuncture and massage in one session, with any of our three practitioners: 60 minutes with Andrew, Ali or Suzanne, or 75 or 90 minutes with Ali or Suzanne. Acupuncture comes first to calm and center your nervous system, then you receive a targeted massage on a relaxed, open body.

How is it different from a sports massage?

A sports massage uses sports massage techniques to work directly on the muscles your training loads most. The combo is a different treatment: it starts with acupuncture to relax the whole nervous system, so the massage that follows can work deeper on a body that's already let go.

Does the acupuncture hurt?

Acupuncture needles are very fine. Most people feel a brief tap or a dull, heavy sensation, and many find the acupuncture part so relaxing that they fall asleep. Your practitioner adjusts everything to what feels comfortable for you.

What should I wear?

Wear or bring comfortable clothes, such as shorts and a loose top. You'll be draped for the massage, and we'll make sure you're comfortable throughout.

How much does it cost?

The acupuncture + massage combo is $225 for 60 minutes, $265 for 75 minutes and $300 for 90 minutes. We accept HSA and FSA cards and all credit cards, and we provide a superbill you can submit to your insurer for possible out-of-network reimbursement.

How often should I come in?

Some people book the combo as a regular reset every few weeks, others during a heavy training block or a stressful stretch. Results vary from person to person, and your practitioner will suggest a rhythm that fits your goals after your first session.

Where can I get massage and acupuncture in one visit in San Francisco?

At our clinic at 2920 Webster Street in Cow Hollow, a short walk from the Marina and Pacific Heights. All three of our practitioners give the combo: acupuncture first to calm the nervous system, then a targeted massage on a relaxed body, all in one session.

Can I book the combo in the evening or on a Saturday?

Yes. We're open from 7:30am to 9pm, seven days a week, so an after-work or weekend session is easy to fit in. The 60-minute combo is with Andrew, Ali or Suzanne, and the 75 and 90-minute combos are with Ali or Suzanne. See open times online or call (415) 646-1862.

Feel the difference in one session

Book the acupuncture + massage combo with any of our practitioners at our Cow Hollow clinic, or call us with any questions first.

Visit us in Cow Hollow

2920 Webster Street, between Union and Filbert. A short walk from the Marina, Pacific Heights and the Presidio.

Directions & parking

Address

Acupuncture for Athletics
2920 Webster Street
San Francisco, CA 94123
Gate code: in your booking confirmation email

Hours

Every day
7:30am – 9:00pm