We ground in mutual aid and community care. All of our events are completely free to attend!
If you would like to honor the work of MELT, we encourage and invite donations. 80% of donations go to the MELT Mutual Aid fund, and 20% of donations go to operating costs such as donations to the venue.
100% of the MELT Mutual Aid Fund is redistributed to support community members to receive professional healing work.
Apply for funding
Apply for funding here: bit.ly/4oSZ3cj
Donate to the fund
Venmo @sticky-pan and include “melt fund” in the description. Suggested donation of $10-30. Every donation helps! Thank you for supporting our community.
Examples of how the funds can be used:
$265 covers one physical therapy session
$108 covers one yoga therapy session
$250 covers one acupuncture session
About the fund
The MELT MAF (Massage Exchange & Learning Together mutual aid fund) supports community members in accessing treatment for long-term pain management. Rather than focusing only on temporary relief, we prioritize treatments that empower people with skills, knowledge, and practices they can carry with them for life. We have chosen these modalities based on our knowledge as healing practitioners, knowing that movement, strength building, and nervous system regulation are essential for effective pain management.
Thus, the main treatments we aim to cover are various forms of physical therapy, occupational therapy, and somatic education. 80% of the MELT MAF will go towards these services. 20% of the fund is reserved for complementary care like massage and acupuncture, which can offer vital relief and awareness that supports the healing process. This balance allows us to invest in both immediate relief and lasting change.
We believe that even just one professional appointment can be very impactful in starting a healing journey. We prioritize individuals who have less or no prior experience with professional treatment.
We have compiled a list of trusted practitioners whom you can choose treatment from, but you may also request treatment from a different practitioner if you wish. The following practitioners are trans and queer friendly, consent aware, and personally trusted by MELT.
FAQ
Q: How do I know if I should apply for the fund?
Anyone is invited to apply for the fund. If you are experiencing chronic pain and unable to afford care, you qualify for the fund. We are not looking to scrutinize or interrogate you for requesting funding -- we aim to distribute the funds indiscriminately. We trust that if you are asking for help, you need it! And we will do our best to meet your need.
Q: I haven’t attended a MELT, can I still apply?
A: Yes! Anyone may apply for the fund. You do not need to have attended a MELT to apply.
Q: Can I apply for the fund more than once?
A: There is no limit on how many times you can apply. Since the fund is aimed at individuals with less experience with professional treatment, other requests may have higher priority than a return request. We ask that you wait at least 1 month after your previous MELT-funded appointment before reapplying.
Trusted practitioners
Physical Therapy
SMART Physical Therapy
Dr. Jaimie Harrow
https://www.smartmovementpt.com/
Location: East Bay
From Dr. Harrow’s website: I received my doctorate in physical therapy from Samuel Merritt University after I discovered alternative movement arts like circus. Partner acrobatics, hand balancing, rock climbing, pack rafting, mountain biking - one thing has led to another until no more free time remains. I love movement, I love what our bodies can do, and I love helping people move beyond their injuries and limitations.
I firmly believe that bodies are meant to move and that pain or difficulties can be logically traced and remedied.
I am an avid researcher, writer, and teacher, and I often spend time at international conventions and festivals sharing my knowledge of partner acrobatics, physiology, and more.
My practice is 100% direct PT to patient time. This means there are no aides or assistants, it's just me. I find this lets me provide the level of detailed care so many complex injury recoveries require. I'm also a direct-pay PT meaning payment is provided directly to me at the time of the session. I'm happy to provide a superbill afterwards with all the proper codes for you to seek reimbursement from your insurance company.
Somatic Nature SF
Dr. Priscilla Park
https://www.somaticnaturesf.com/
Location: SF
Dr. Priscilla Park, DPT, is a physical therapist and naturopath, who brings into her practice a wealth of knowledge with over 25 years of experience and passion for helping her patients heal from their injuries and illnesses naturally.
As a dancer and yoga practitioner most of her life, she has a keen eye for even the most subtle movement compensations or malalignment that can contribute to pain and injury and/or lead to recurrent/chronic injuries. She is an expert in movement and biomechanical analysis, and can help identify your movement pattern faults, complex biomechanical problems, and muscle imbalances that are keeping you in pain and preventing you from reaching your fitness goals. Dr. Park will develop a personalized treatment plan that will address the root cause of your injury, body mechanics faults, strength and flexibility imbalances, and train proper muscle recruitment and coordination to ensure proper neuromuscular function. Not only will Dr. Priscilla help you recover from your injuries, but you will learn how to activate and strengthen your weak muscles that keep your injury at bay. Furthermore, she will teach you how to move with ease and with good body mechanics to prevent further injuries.
Dr. Park incorporates a holistic and naturopathic approach to her patients' healing process, by helping create an optimal environment for healing to take place. As an adjunct to your healing process, she may recommend nutrition tools, e.g. anit-inflammatory diet, dietary supplements and herbs.
Pelvic Floor Therapy
Bodyful Physical Therapy
https://www.bodyfulphysicaltherapy.com/
Location: East Bay
Bodyful Physical Therapy and Wellness is a somatic movement and trauma-informed pelvic health and chronic pain focused practice for all body identities. We are sensitive to stories of persistent pain, and we respect that trauma, whether physical or emotional, heals with a scar that needs tending to. Your engagement with us is met with attuned presence, for a minimum of 60 minute sessions, and we listen to you to understand what you would consider a completeness and conclusion of PT care. We support your quest and help you to understand your pain, strengthen your physical confidence, and feel at home in your core.
Occupational Therapy
Dr. Sindhu Muthusamy
Location: East Bay
Sindhu (he/they) is a South Indian queer trans massage therapist and doctor of occupational therapy who wants to create safe spaces for folks to heal and connect with their body and spirit.
Dr. Muthusamy's work is rooted in the belief that the right to safe and effective pre- and post-surgical support is a human right.
With a focus in gender affirming surgery, they offer consultation, pre- and post-operative planning, home adaptation, and post operative massage/scar remediation
He uses the framework of occupational therapy to make recommendations in adaptive equipment, wound care/scar care, body positioning, mobility, mental health, meal preparation, herbal support regimens, bathrooming, social support, and spiritual care.
Pay what you can and sliding scale exchange for services.
Contact: [email protected]
Call / text: 510-578-8858
Somatic Education
East Bay Alexander Technique
Location: East Bay
Evelyn Hess has been teaching the Alexander Technique for over 18 years. Currently she teaches in person in Oakland, California, and everywhere on Zoom. Evelyn works with performers, athletes and everyday people who want to correct their posture, eliminate chronic pain, and move with ease.
Originally named “Psycho-physical re-education,” the Alexander Technique taught me to use just the effort I needed to do anything - walk, sit up, lift weights, etc. I had more energy, and simply felt better — all day. I improved so much, but wanted to learn more. After two years of private lessons, I moved to Santa Monica and enrolled in a three-year teacher-training course. Now I have the pleasure of helping people move easily, improve their posture and eliminate their chronic pain as they learn how to shed life-long harmful habits that hold them back and down.
Yoga Therapy
https://integralyogasf.org/yoga-therapy-clinic/
Location: SF
At the Yoga Therapy Clinic, you'll work one-on-one with a certified yoga therapist to address physical, mental, or emotional challenges affecting your well-being. Your journey begins with a 75-minute intake session, where you'll discuss your concerns and goals while exploring how therapeutic yoga can support your health.
Based on your needs, your yoga therapist will design personalized sessions incorporating various techniques, such as movement, restorative poses, guided imagery, relaxation methods, breath-work, meditation, sound, touch, dietary suggestions, and yoga philosophy.
Our 60-minute follow-up sessions help you build independence, overcome challenges, and take an active role in your self-care. Whether you're recovering from an injury, managing illness, easing anxiety or depression, coping with stress, or navigating life transitions, yoga therapy empowers you to create meaningful change and enhance your overall well-being.
Complementary treatments
Acupuncture
Ross Acupuncture
Location: East Bay
Jennifer is a California state licensed acupuncturist, herbalist and massage therapist. Her specialization is in orthopedics and pain management. She is also experienced in women’s health and fertility, digestion, allergies, and respiratory ailments, including quick resolution of colds and flus.
Jennifer completed her Master’s degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine from Five Branches University in Santa Cruz. She completed an externship at the Zhejiang Chinese Medical University in Hangzhou, China, where she focused on classical acupuncture techniques.
Jennifer is a Diplomat in Canonical Chinese Medicine® at ICEAM®, and was certified as a Diplomate in Canonical Chinese Medicine® where she studied with Dr. Arnaud Versluys. L.Ac., Ph.D. Canonical Chinese Medicine is the style of Chinese medicine that is wholly based on the canonical writings of the Chinese Han dynasty. As a DCCM, Jennifer is able to treat her patients using an authentic and very effective herbal medicine system. Her emphasis is the promotion of proper physiology from a classical Chinese perspective.
Jennifer studied Integrative Orthopedic Acupuncture with Anthony Von Der Muhll, L.Ac, DNBAO. This is a comprehensive orthopedic and sports medicine program integrating western diagnosis of musculo-skeletal disorders with eastern treatment principles. Here, she extensively studied various orthopedic techniques such as integrative orthopedic acupuncture, dry needling, prolo-acupuncture, cupping (myofascial decompression), gua sha, massage and kinesiology taping. She combines this knowledge of ancient eastern and modern western concepts to specialize in sports medicine, orthopedics, pain management, and scar tissue repair. Jennifer regularly works with Cal Berkeley athletes, Olympic athletes, NFL and MLB players.
Jennifer has worked in the Integrative Fertility network, and at UCSF and Pacific Fertility Center integrating assisted reproductive technologies with Traditional Chinese Medicine. Jennifer is co-founder of the non-profit East Bay Integrative Pregnancy Project which provides low-income East Bay residents with prenatal and postnatal care, including acupuncture, health education and community support.
The Root and the Branch
https://www.rootandbranchcenter.com/
Location: SF
At the root & the branch, we strive to support our clients by providing the highest quality holistic, complementary and integrative care within a warm and nurturing environment. As skilled acupuncturists and health professionals, we know that it is within a healing space like ours that the seeds of change are planted and can grow.
Massage
Psoas Massage and Bodywork
https://www.psoasbodywork.com/
Location: SF
Psoas Massage + Bodywork is a team of talented, experienced, and well-educated bodyworkers, committed to the highest quality of treatment.
Founded in 2003, Psoas was born out of a desire to aid athletes and people in pain, and to provide the best bodywork available from every member of the Psoas team. Owner Jenny Lightstone, also a trained therapist, is grateful to have the opportunity to play a part in this process.
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Apply to receive funds: bit.ly/meltmafapply
Contact Us
If you would like to collaborate or help, we would like to chat!
- Email: [email protected] and [email protected]
- IG: @hiddencabbage and @gloomybloob
Here are some examples of reasons to hit us up…
- You run a similar event or do related work and want to exchange wisdom
- You are a bodyworker and are interested in leading a skillshare or helping at a jam
- You have community in a different city and are interested in running a similar MELT there
- You massaged your friend after attending MELT and are happy about it (we're happy about it too <3)
- You have a connection to an event space that we could use for free or low cost
- You know how to get $$$ to sustain community projects like MELT (grants??? donors?? help!)
- You have advice on how to make our event accessible for elders
- You know communities that could benefit from attending MELT
- …etc!
Thank you for reading <3
May you be well.
With care and community,
Whitney + Vicki
--IMAGE--
Photo by Jun