SFSM turns 50

Welcome to our first blog of 2019! Here we are at the beginning of a new year. This is always a time when people look forward with hopes for what opportunities the new year will hold. It is a time for reflection, forecasting, and putting plans into action.

For us here at the San Francisco School of Massage & Bodywork, this year is more than just the next year, it is a significant milestone in our own journey. 2019 is our 50th year in massage education and to our knowledge, makes us one of the oldest massage schools in the country. 50 years is a substantial achievement for any business, never mind a massage school. In fact, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, as few as 36% of businesses make it to the 10 year mark and only 21% see their 20th anniversary. The number of companies who survive 50 years is so slim that we actually cannot find any statistics on it. Suffice it to say, having survived a half century is a uncommon achievement.

Our humble little school has seen many things come to pass in that time. Born out of the tail end of the hippie movement, we watched the Transamerica Pyramid go up, witnessed the first San Francisco Pride, felt the warmth of the seminal burning man on Baker Beach, and saw the original critical mass ride through our city’s streets. We also experienced the Moscone-Milk murders and subsequent White riots, saw AIDS devastate the city’s population and our student body, and survived the Loma Prieta quake just days after our 20^th anniversary. Throughout it all, we have been fortunate enough to learn and grow thanks to good luck, dedicated instructors, and most importantly our amazing students.

During this 50^th year, we will reflect upon our storied history and share some of it with you. We also hope to bring you some special opportunities to celebrate this milestone with us. We are so proud to have become a genuine San Francisco institution and wear that mantle with humility and deep gratitude. A heartfelt thanks to all of the visionaries that have helped us along the way and continue to shape the future of massage therapy in our classrooms. Thank you to the thousands of amazing students who believe in us and who believed in themselves; we literally couldn’t have done it without you!