We were lucky to catch up with Ricky Chimal recently and have shared our conversation below.

Ricky, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’re complete cheeseballs and so we love asking folks to share the most heartwarming moment from their career – do you have a touching moment you can share with us?

A little over a year ago, I met a woman who had been suffering from hip pain and extreme tightness for many years. She had tried many treatments including chiropractic care, anti-inflammatories, and cortisone injections but found no relief. She scheduled an appointment with her doctor, but had to wait two months for the appointment, so she decided to come to me for a one-hour assisted stretch and release session to try and find some relief. As I was working on her hips, I felt impressed to tell her about how we carry trauma in our bodies, and I could tell that she was carrying it there. As soon as I said that, it was like a lightbulb went off for her and she began crying. She told me about a difficult time when she was working at a prison, and that now she lives alone without any family members nearby. Soon after that first appointment, she began feeling relief for the first time in a long time, and she quickly scheduled another session only four days later. In that second session, she told me that this is her answer to her recovery/healing. After doing just a few minutes of compressions on her back, she again began to cry and I realized how deprived she was of touch, and how important it is. A simple compression can be so powerful for someone. I continued to see her consistently from there, once a week, and I taught her how to do stretches that would target all the muscles surrounding her hips. She also began doing yoga and Pilates, and within two months, she had almost no pain and greatly increased range of motion. She still followed up with her doctor who confirmed that she was doing great, and there was no need to discuss surgery. Since this change in her life, she has dedicated her time to traveling the world, and since the beginning of the year (2025), she has already visited six countries. I rarely see her now for maintenance, and during my last visit with her, she told me how much I changed her life for the better, and now she can enjoy moving and traveling the world pain-free.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Before becoming a massage therapist, I was a medical assistant in podiatry for nearly a decade. During that time I realized how much I enjoyed helping people, and I selfishly wanted to be a bigger part of their healing, but of course they were mainly there to see the doctor. My friend who had been a massage therapist for 16 years recommended it to me as a very rewarding career where I would be able to help people directly. I enrolled in evening and weekend classes, getting through two grueling years of working full days and then attending class, often getting home after my two young kids were asleep.

Obtaining my 500-hour certification was a proud moment. Coming from a hardworking immigrant family and not having much interest in school as a kid, I didn’t think that I would pursue post-secondary education. I especially never would have imagined getting through tough classes like anatomy and pathology, but I ended up loving it, and I still take classes once a year to stay updated in current modalities.

I started my career working in a chiropractic office and moved on to the spa life in a fast-paced environment where I would do between five and six massages and/or assisted stretches per day, mostly for 90-minutes each. After working at a spa for five months, I began having a very full schedule and if an appointment was canceled, the spot would be filled within minutes. I was even told I had a cancelation list! After working there for a year, I would constantly hear from my clients how difficult it is to get on my schedule. Some would have to wait almost two months!

During this busy time, I also began filling up my days off with private clients, doing mobile massage therapy. It became clear that this schedule would not be sustainable, and I decided to take the leap and go all-in with my mobile massage business, Ricky’s Therapeutic Massage. My wife Kylee, a communications professional, helped me create a website, social media pages, and list my business online, and some of my longtime clients left great reviews.
 
With Ricky’s Therapeutic Massage, I focus on promoting recovery, wellness, and relaxation, helping clients feel their best by addressing stress, pain, and tension. I like to take the extra time to teach my clients about their body, how it works, and where their pain can potentially be originating from. The more they know, the more they can improve their lifestyle. I can only do so much – it’s up to them to continue maintaining their wellness. For example, I had a client who was a professional bodybuilder experiencing right shoulder pain. I noticed that the main problem was coming from his pectorals major, which inserts into the shoulder. As I addressed this with massage and stretches, I also taught him how to do specific stretches himself. He was consistent with doing his stretches between each session, and within four weeks his range of motion increased, and pain went away. He told me that he went to the gym and was able to perform a workout that he was not able to do for a long time because of his affected shoulder. Because he understood where the pain was coming from, and his consistency with doing stretches between sessions, it significantly increased his chance of healing.

I offer convenient mobile massage services throughout the Central Coast of California, bringing the spa experience to my clients’ homes or businesses. I love being mobile because it allows clients to immediately take a warm bath with epsom salts or relax after the massage to receive its full benefits instead of driving home or running errands afterwards. Parents with young children or pets can avoid the extra cost of care while the adults take turns getting a massage. Mobile massage also offers a more personal and tailored experience compared to the corporate spa setting, free from the distractions of a busy spa. Clients are able to get the full amount of time they pay for, not having to wait for a room to be turned around.

I’m happy to be in a role where I can help people every day, truly getting to know them, caring for them, and directly contributing to their well-being.

Training and knowledge matter of course, but beyond that what do you think matters most in terms of succeeding in your field?

It’s important to have patience. Patience with clients – even if they do not take my advice and continue to struggle with things that I’m trying to guide them to work through. And patience with myself and my body. I have learned the importance of self-care, getting regular massages myself and taking better care of my health. I have even started doing yoga, which I would never have considered before.

If you could go back in time, do you think you would have chosen a different profession or specialty?

I would definitely choose the same profession again. I feel like I’ve found my calling. The very first day I was in massage school I was asked why I chose this profession, and it helped me realize that I have been massaging my whole life. Not professionally, but occasionally a shoulder rub for a friend or family member. I feel fulfilled when I’m helping people heal in a natural and relaxing way, and this is the perfect way for me to do that.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.rickystherapeuticmassage.com
• Instagram: rickystherapeuticmassage
• Facebook: Ricky’s Therapeutic Massage
• Other: Google business: https://g.co/kgs/5Gzc4YB