Meet Serr Max Bunting of Serrvasana in Ocean Beach

Today we’d like to introduce you to Serr Max Bunting.

Serr Max, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I was born and raised in New York and from a young age remember always being physically active. I participated in team sports (e.g., baseball, basketball, lacrosse, etc.) but also partook in perhaps riskier activities with my friends that tested my jumping or falling abilities as a child. Yes, I was the kid that rode my bicycle down that crazy hill, next to the highway, next to the canyon that had only but poison ivy decorating it. A lot of falling and recovery was involved. I enjoyed pushing my own limits…and still do. As I entered adulthood my childhood badges of courage began to manifest themselves more and more in my body as areas of discomfort. I could see others around me also complaining about physical discomfort. This was when I decided that I wanted to find a career where I could help alleviate pain and discomfort in people’s bodies.

I enrolled in the accredited and nationally recognized Swedish Institute in New York where I earned an Associate’s Degree in Occupational Studies. I approached my studies form a therapeutic point of view and sought out work opportunities with this in mind. I worked in medical offices with various providers including medical doctors, physical therapists, acupuncturists, and chiropractors. A few years later I was presented with an opportunity to start my own massage therapy practice treating car accident victims and handling workers compensation claims. This was a satisfying experience as I was able to help people who were going through an unpleasant life experience.

After 3-4 years of the hustle and bustle of New York City I came to realization that I needed to change my environment to focus on my own well-being. I decided to move to San Diego with the goal to find happiness and expand my services here. It was at this point that I made yoga a daily practice in my life. It helped me better understand the connection between the subtle mind and the physical body. The yoga student in me became interested in becoming the instructor. I successfully completed 200 hours of Yoga teacher training and became a certified yoga instructor 2014. Today, I own and operate Serrvasana with a mission to help others “realign their energy”. I am able to incorporate both Yoga and Massage Therapy into my treatment plan.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The most difficult step was to challenge myself personally. Moving across the country and taking a leap of faith with the intention of establishing myself in San Diego was empowering. I worked different side jobs including valet parking, dishwashing, and brand marketing gigs while I increased my client base.

Serrvasana – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I opened Serrvasana with a mission to help others “realign their energy”. I’ve worked in other settings where there hasn’t been enough focus on client’s specific needs. I treat every client individually and explain that there isn’t simply one method to cure his or her ailment. Well-being encompasses self-care and I educate my clients on things they can do themselves away from the massage table. As their Massage Therapist, my commitment is to find the source of discomfort using all my tools and working on that problem. I’m capable of doing full body massage but my strengths are deep tissue massage, trigger point therapy and myofascial release. I don’t rush clients on the table or out the door afterwards. My appointments always include intake and suggestions
pertaining to posture and exercise for you to take with you afterwards. I value my client’s time from beginning to end and make sure they receive the full service they have paid for.

What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
There was woman who once walked in to see me who comes to mind. She had not had many positive experiences with massages in the past. She had undergone multiple surgeries involving the spine and hip and was therefore in constant pain. Additionally, she was going through a lot of emotional suffering after a tragic life experience. I asked her what she wanted to focus for that appointment. She was surprised as she said no one had really asked her before. I used various massage modalities to help alleviate her discomfort. After the massage ended she scheduled a follow-up and inquired about my private Yoga instruction. I began to see her as a regular client for both massage therapy and yoga. After a few weeks of treatment she was able to go about her day without the constant discomfort and worry that the pain would return. She expressed her gratitude to me with a thank you card and a gift. This made me feel tremendous joy. She is now one of my biggest supporters and continues to refer people to me. It feels great to know that some count of me to help them feel better.

Pricing:

• 60m Session – $85
• 90m – $125
• Packages and Gift Certificates available

Contact Info:

• Address: 2317 Ebers ST
• Website: serrvasana.com
• Phone: 619-363-3377
• Email: serrbunting@gmail.com
• Facebook: facebook.com/serrvasana
• Yelp: yelp.com/biz/serrvasana-san-diego

Getting in touch: SDVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.