About Athletic Touch Therapeutic Massage

Athletic Touch Therapeutic Massage is a premier professional massage therapy office in Albuquerque, New Mexico, founded by me, Ruth Z Cummings in 1994.

My office is up by the Sandia mountains, on the northeast quadrant of our city.

I massage all ages, from the unborn breeched baby to our most wise and precious bundles of joy who are over 100 years old, and every age in between.

I started my massage business by myself in a small office in a 12 x 12 room on a major road here in Albuquerque. Eventually, Athletic Touch grew into bigger spaces and up to 100 employees over the years.

I believe that massage is an integral part of overall health and fitness and I focus on producing the results you seek.  

Starting A Massage Business In Albuquerque

I’ve always massaged hands, arms, backs and necks as a kid.  It was only natural to persue a career in massage therapy.

Athletic Touch Therapeutic Massage started in 1993, right after I graduated from The New Mexico School of Natural Therapeutics. (I explain the changing in the founding dates later down the page.)

In those years, the New Mexico School of Natural Therapeutics was busting at the seams, and my class had more than 60 students at the beginning of the 6-month full time program.

The teachers were incredibly knowledgeable, full of passion for natural ways of healing, ways to protect yourself energetically during massage sessions and many other amazing gems of information.

There was a huge range of styles of natural healing ideas and theories from this rich group of brilliant intellect at NMST.  I am very fortunate to have been in a class with so many different high level teachers, the likes of which would not be together again.

It’s hard to know that you are LIVING A ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME educational experience.  Those times in our lives are easy to take for granted.

Your Massage Appointment

If you have questions or concerns, just text me 505-332-9292.

You mighht find these pages helpful: 

• New to Athletic Touch?
• First Massage?
• Frequently Asked Questions

Each treatment is tailored to suit your individual requests.

I try to listen carefully to your needs.

I specialize in Sports Massage and injury recovery.

My focus is on regaining and maintaining health & fitness through massage, stretching, corrective exercises and breath work.

“Longevity of pain-free movement” is my goal with each client.

Some of the modalities I use have an emphasis in rehabilitation from injury, surgery, repetitive movements, standing or sitting in the same position for hours at a time, over-exertion and emotional tension.

A few tips, (if you don’t want to visit the FAQ page): 

• Wear comfortable clothes
• Don’t rush
• Turn your phone off
• Foam roll before
• Drink water AFTER.  

Ask around and you will hear over and over that Athletic Touch Therapeutic Massage is a sacred place, a sanctuary, somewhere you feel at home, safe, welcome and comfortable; a place where you get results.

Specialize in Sports Massage

My experience includes athletes from almost all forms of sport, including the NFL, UFC, many college sports, almost all high school sports and New Mexico weekend warriors.

From the beginning of my massage career, I have worked on athletes.

I have a knack for finding and helping chronic injuries, which helps athletes get back to their sport at 100%.

This involves not only specific muscles, but specific stretches, recruited muscle groups, and an entire movement pattern which is unique to every single person.

I am an athlete, I understand athletes and athletes understand me.

My main sport was soccer, but I also enjoy tennis, golf, hiking, canoeing and so much more.

“Action” is one of my top core values.

When I started massage school, my goal was to start a Sports Massage business, exclusively.

Sports Massage is a different form of massage therapy, especially in my office, because I understand injuries well from all the injuries I have been through.

The name “Athletic Touch” not by accident and was the idea of my brother who was on several Cycling Teams at the time.  He was helping me find a name that would be first in the Yellow Pages!  Remember those??

My first business name, “Blue Dolphin Therapeutics” (I love dolphins) didn’t show up in the A’s in the Phone Book and didn’t communicate that I was an athlete doing Sports Massage on athletes.

Ironically, a hair dresser called me to say that HE was going to use “Blue Dolphin Hair Design” and if I could please change my business name! (it’s no longer open)

So, Athletic Touch Therapeutic Massage was born.

Athletes Make Great Sports Massage Therapists

When people who want to start a massage business ask me my advice, one thought I offer them is that athletes make great Sports Massage Therapists for other athletes!

As athletes, we understand pain from a workout vs pain from an injury.  Non-athletes don’t understand this distinction.

By comparing my own pains and soreness after a hard soccer game for example, I compare the same areas of pain in fellow soccer players or my brother.

Another way I have been able to find pain patterns is to mimic my clients movements or the way they stand.  If you are a beginning therapist and having trouble solving a clients’ pain patterns, I highly recommend trying this technique.

Then, notice where your own body feels taxed, uncomfortable or tight, and pinpoint that area in your clients body.

Trust your own body and the pain it feels, and you can use it to help others.  If nothing else, you can have SINCERE EMPATHY of what they are going through.

Massage Can Bring Hope

Though I specialize in Deep Tissue and Sports Massage on professional athletes, college & high school athletes and weekend warriors, I also love relieving any type of pain or anxiety.

After so many different people hurting in a very similar way and the same treatment from me helps them feel better, there is a surprising similarity.  And, to me at least, it was unexpected.

When the body starts to trust and relax, an amazing thing happens to the person.  They gain HOPE.

This is THE most rewarding part of my massage career:  being a conduit of HOPE.

Because I believe in God, I consider that I am a vessel for that hope to arrive for those who are hopeless.

I love these very challenging puzzles.

The more complicated and/or hopeless, and hard to figure out, the better!  If you have a long list of weird pain, just can’t seem to heal from a nagging pain or injury, or can’t figure out why you can’t find your NORTH… bring it on, I can help!

I feel very lucky to have a career where I continue to love what I do.  From day one I was excited and still today, there is more to learn during each treatment.

I get the privilege of seeing pain go away right in front of me!  How cool is that?

Truly, massage can increase your range of motion and an added bonus I see is how massage can make self-awareness come to life.

Starting A Massage Business

Starting any business is not easy, and starting a massage business is very challenging!

But, if you put the hard work in, get some good guidance, it’s a wonderful career full of helping people, getting decent pay while still maintaining time with family or other passions you may have.

If you are starting a massage business, I can help you as your Business Coach.

I made it through my first year with pure grit and determination.

Living from massage payment to massage payment got old quickly.  Many of my classmates had already given up and were working other jobs.  Others had moved on to other forms of healing arts like Ayurveda or Acupuncture.

My positive results in massage kept me excited about what I was doing, and STILL keeps my awesome clients coming back.

After reluctantly taking The Landmark Forum in 1995, within 28 days from completing the course, I went from an average of 10 clients per week to 40 clients per week!

My business was moving quickly, so I needed some guidance.

I hired a Life Coach, and with her help, moved from my 12 x 12 room to a 3000 square foot building and hired 5 employees.

Athletic Touch grew from there and moved several times.

Best Massage Plan For Results

My suggestion is for people to come in 3 weeks in a row, 1 massage per week, depending on your pain level and where your pain is.  After those 3 sessions–and you may only need one or two sessions– then we make a plan.

We try to get you out of pain for a longer and longer period of time.  At first we try to get you pain free for one week, then 10 days apart, 2 weeks apart, 3 weeks apart, etc, until you can go at least 6 weeks without pain.

Then, you “graduate”!

And I don’t get to see you very much  (sad face, lip out) until you do something silly like step weird off a curb during your next run, gardening in one position all day or reaching wrong for groceries.

Have patience!  I’m full for about 1-3 weeks in advance, but I have a cancellation list and can spontaneously text you with a cancellation!

Keep trying if you don’t get through the first time or if all my appointments are full.  I have a rotation of people, coming in until they are out of pain.  Some pain takes longer to “massage” than others.

Also, full disclosure, I get a D- for calling back.  Texting is much easier for me, FYI.   And, fuller disclosure–I don’t always get back to those right away either.  Keep trying!

I’m coaching soccer and tennis, even during the pandemic, and I get easily side tracked. 🙂  If you are lucky and I answer the phone (a miracle in itself!) I probably will schedule you right away! (maybe)

Please call 505-332-9292 or click this button to make an appointment.  Then text me.