Meet Eva Malama | Functional Movement and Massage Therapist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Eva Malama and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Eva, what do you attribute your success to?

Sink or swim. Those were the only two outcomes. The choice was clear; necessity dictated that I had to swim. Once I deliberately made that decision, my new working mantra became “Failure is not an option.” I must have repeated this a thousand times in the early days of starting the business. The mantra floated in my mind like a banner in revolving loops day after day. Every business decision I made had to ensure the success of the business because failure is not an option.

This success-focused mindset propelled me to risk big and enroll in an expensive and intensive business course designed for massage therapists. This risk paid off and after re-branding, the business took off to the next level.

What should our readers know about your business?
San Luis Chronic Pain Therapies offers a unique approach in resolving pain at its source mainly through a combined method of massage and muscle reprogramming. The massage portion is of a therapeutic nature and includes many modalities I have acquired over the years.  Muscle reprogramming consists of spinal alignment and intrinsic core muscle strengthening to hold the alignment.  In this manner, muscles get reprogrammed (or repatterned) allowing for optimal functioning in your daily movements.  When optimal alignment is attained and maintained, movements will be healthy and free of restrictions.  The next step after alignment is to strengthen intrinsic core muscles that reside close to the spine because they are responsible for posture, stabilization and balance.  The end goal is for a client to restore muscle balance and integrate new movement patterns until they become second nature.

It is definitely very exciting to see a client become more body aware, to possess the tools to keep their body functioning optimally and to enjoy longevity!

The wonderous path I have chosen to traverse as a bodyworker has been a winding one beginning with studies in acupuncture and Chinese bodywork. Then came many years of child-raising to which there seemed no end. However, the end did arrive and I went back to school for massage therapy and applied functional anatomy. It took grit and the discipline of putting one foot in front of the other and money to ensure the success of the business. Tending to self-care, resolving problems as they arose, finding mentors, not procrastinating and most of all, having a solid mindset to stay on track in growing and refining the business.

I operate the business in accordance with the vision of having a world of physically active people living life without pain while feeling nurtured, empowered and balanced. I want people to know that there is always hope.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Okay bestie, let’s go tour the Central Coast! We’ll start our day with breakfast at Sally Loo’s – a super popular cafe featuring wholesome farm fresh ingredients. I had the best apple cinnamon pancakes! Now that we’re fed, we are off on a hike at Montana de Oro (in Los Osos), a picturesque gem-of-a-spot with sand dunes, cliffs and the Pacific Ocean. Because we are craving seafood for dinner, we make a reservation for Mistura Restaurant (in San Luis Obispo) and order the sea bass…delicious!

The next day, we start the morning kayaking in the serene waters of Morro Bay and gaze at the birds as they go about their business. When in Morro Bay, we must go see Morro Rock, a volcanic plug that is approximately 23 million years old and considered a sacred site by Native American tribes. Once hunger pangs strike, we head to Flour House Pizza (in downtown San Luis Obispo) for their pizza Napoletana. I know this place is authentic because the high school exchange students from Italy have verified it!

On the other days, we have a plethora of hiking trails that will lead us into the canyons or the beach or both. Some of the more popular hills are Bishop’s Peak, Madonna Mountain and the Irish Hills. Of course, a stroll on the beach is another must and I especially enjoy the quieter Cayuocs Beach.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Betti Banks-Ahonen, my colleague, friend and owner of Auspicious Atelier – A Skincare Studio- deserves a shoutout. Throughout the process of forming and transforming my business, Betti was always available for a word of encouragement and advice.

Website: www.sanluischronicpain.com

Instagram: @eva.slchronicpain

Linkedin: #San Luis Chronic Pain Therapies