Clearing Stress Through Bodywork with Dave Claing

Amanda & Carolina: Dave, how did you get into this work?
Dave: I’ve been at it ~27 years. I was a college soccer player obsessed with the training room. A volunteer stint with USA Hockey led to traveling with elite teams and pros. Working inside Olympic training centers was a crash course—standards were sky-high and the job was keeping athletes functional through relentless schedules.

A & C: Your style is… intense. What is it?
Dave: Think functional sports therapy. Not spa massage. I “read muscle braille”—eyes on the tissue, following the levers and pulleys of how you move to find congestion, adhesions, and waste that block function. Sessions are focused, pressure-forward, and aimed at change you can feel the same day.

A & C: Who’s a good fit for you?
Dave: Self-motivated movers—surfers, runners, lifters, FlowLIFT folks, pros and retired pros—people who want to keep doing their thing. If you want a fluffy hour, I’m not your guy; if you want performance, pain relief, and function, we’ll get along.

A & C: “Take out the trash”—what do you mean?
Dave: Training creates metabolites and micro-damage. Strong bodies can “hide” junk in the attic and basement. Regular bodywork is the janitor—we clear the buildup so your tissues glide, contract, and recover. A clean “house” performs and feels better.

A & C: How often should people come?
Dave: It depends (needs, results, budget). If it helps, use it. Don’t wait until there’s a crisis—injuries usually build upwhile people keep sweeping issues under the rug.

A & C: Red flags—when not to see you first?
Dave: Acute back spasm often responds better to acupuncture and short-term meds than massage. Possible fracture or fresh trauma? Get imaging and an ortho green-light. Then we go.

A & C: Tools people can use at home if they can’t come often?
Dave: Foam roller, massage gun, compression boots, TENS/EMS, heat/cold (sauna/cold plunge), lacrosse balls, toe spacers/foot rollers—none is magic, all help when you actually use them.

A & C: Mind–body—do emotions live in tissue?
Dave: Often, yes. Injury adds an emotional layer too. Regular bodywork helps people feel and listen to their bodies. It’s physical therapy AND nervous-system hygiene.

A & C: Favorite client lesson?
Dave: The most driven people neglect themselves. Consistency makes sessions less painful and progress faster because you’re not hoarding junk between visits.

A & C: Where can people find you?
Dave: 7440 Gerard Avenue (between OsteoStrong and the karate place). I’m old-school—best via text/email; mostly word-of-mouth. Yes, I’m accepting new clients.

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