Saskia Kleinert's Emeryville Health and Wellness Center offers the kind of integrative health services she experienced in her native Switzerland. "It's common there to find doctors and health practitioners of both allopathic and natural medicine in the same office," Kleinert says. The Center is a fulfillment of her desire to add those complementary resources to a 13-year massage practice. "I frequently made referrals to other alternative health practitioners, but my clients wouldn't necessarily make the effort to follow up, so I decided to make it easier for them by bringing them all here under one roof," she explains.

The tranquil and exquisite facility feels as though it was transported from a high-end spa oasis somewhere in southeast Asia. Gracing the walls are original artworks from Thailand and Burma, where Kleinert has done advanced massage training. She hand-selects each of her colleagues based on the depth of their experience and training. "All our practitioners have great educational credentials and they live their work in their own lives," Kleinert says.

The Health and Wellness Center offers Swedish, orthopedic, Ashiatsu, and pre- and post-natal massage. The Center also provides acupuncture (complete with a full Chinese pharmacopia), chiropractic, homeopathy, acutonic treatments, skin care and facials, as well as two free classes each week from a selection of Pilates, Tai Chi, hatha and tao yoga, and gentle exercise. Judging by the blissful and calm expressions of several departing clients, the Center is a hit.

October, 2006