Opal began in the summer of 2000 when two young, energetic massage therapists named Sarah and Sherry dreamed of creating a healing center devoted entirely to bodywork.  Opal was born of the desire to ground our work in a physical space that provided the tools and atmosphere necessary to provide the most transformative massage experience possible. 

We started our  journey

in a tiny storefront on 5th Avenue in Park Slope.  It consisted of two treatment rooms, a bathroom, and a bench.  Back then we did everything ourselves—designed brochures, scrubbed the floors, answered the phones, did the laundry.  It was crazy, but we were so excited!  All of our choices were made with a single thought in mind:  How can we make a session better?  There was nobody to tell us we had to do things differently to increase our bottom line.  If we wanted to experiment with some new oil or a new tool or a new technique we just did it.  The freedom was intoxicating and the quality of our work exploded.

Time passed quickly

and within a year we became overwhelmed by appointment demand and diligently searched until we found another therapist who was as passionate about the work as we were.  We found Erica and the journey continued.

Very quickly, we got even busier.  We slowly hired more and more therapists, each chosen according to standards we will never compromise.   It eventually became clear that we needed more space and a proper office staff to help manage our growing family of therapists and clients.

In 2010

We closed the doors on our tiny center, bidding a fond farewell to Sarah, who moved away to more adventures.

Erica and Sherry opened the doors to Opal Massage and Allied Therapies, LLP at 28 8th Avenue, just three blocks from our original location. Only three avenues away brought us to a different world. We traded the bustle of a busy street for a brownstone on a beautiful, leafy corner. We doubled our treatment capacity and finally had the space for a staff room, waiting area, and dedicated office. We lovingly designed our new facility so it remained cozy and client-centered, which is so important to everyone here, and continued to work with the same intention, the same mission, and the same joy that inspired us in the first place.

In 2020

Ten years later we were still going strong. The roster of therapists evolved over the years, but even as departures brought sadness, the influx of new energy and skill sets kept our work exciting and fresh. We renewed our lease, did some space refurbishing, and started our third decade.

In March 2020 came the onset of Covid-19. Opal closed its doors for 4 months as NY took its pause. Like everyone else, we took the time to take care of ourselves and our families, reassess our priorities, and plan for the future.

In July of 2020 we were allowed to reopen. We did so—slowly, gently, and thoughtfully. At first it was just like the old days! Just Erica and Sherry—answering the phones, doing massage, doing the laundry, cleaning the space—all of it. That part only lasted a few weeks as we implemented and streamlined our new Covid protocols and decided how to best move forward.

As time moved on and our business began to recover we were able to bring back office help and more and more of our therapists. We added online booking and electronic messaging, continued to adjust our protocols as more information became available, and further streamlined operations. Steady On!!

A New Partner in Sara

At the end of 2021 Erica finally felt ready to go forward with a long-held goal of creating a life away from the city. Sara, a long-time Opal therapist and practicing LMT since 1998, became Sherry’s partner in the practice. With Sara’s skill set, work ethic, and personal vision Opal will continue its mission with the same focus and priorities that we have held from the beginning.