Shopping in the Arsenal: Shen Jing Holistic

Benicia Patch periodically profiles businesses located in the Industrial Park and the Arsenal. Patch interviewed herbal practitioner and massage therapist Susan Lucas, owner of , at her Historic Benicia Arsenal office.

How long has Shen Jing Holistic been located in the Historic Benicia Arsenal?
I opened for business March 1, 2010. Prior to that, I had worked independently at .

What is your most popular service?
My most popular services are my massages. I offer massages  ranging from a half hour up to 90 minutes. I also offer Pampering Packages, usually used for gift certificates, which include a mini-facial and or a foot scrub.

What types of massage do you offer?
I like to think of my massages as therapeutic massage. My personal technique has been developed over the years as I studied.The massage can be customized for each individual. The baseline is Swedish massage, but also available to tailor the massage are circulatory massage, deep tissue, reflexology, pressure point, Thai massage techniques and more.

Can you tell me about the herbal products you offer?
I have training as an herbal practitioner. I am working on developing products people can use in conjunction with or after their massage to continue the healing and relaxation process when they go home. Many of the herbs used in the products I grow at my own home. I make my own massage oils and products for skin care. I am also working making salves and liniments that can be used for muscle aches and pains. As with the massage, I can customize a product for each person’s needs.

How did you get in to the business?
My mom was a physical therapist so I grew up around health awareness, but it wasn’t until I was in my 20s — I had a BFA in photography and had worked in a variety of positions — that I felt I was done with that. I wasn’t thrilled about sitting in front of a computer doing digital editing because I had loved the darkroom. I didn’t know what I wanted to do.

Because I always had a passion for gardening, I went with a friend to a botanical garden in Southern California and saw a presentation on what you can do with herbs. The presenter was also offering a 100-hour technician’s certificate for massage. From there I continued to get more and more education.

What are the advantages to your Arsenal location?
I love the atmosphere, the karma, and the building. It is affordable. I enjoyed that I could make the space my own and decorate for my clients in my own way.

What is different about your approach?
With my herbal products and my massage, I treat each person as an individual. I can create a massage and products for them depending upon their needs.  

How do you get the word out about your location?
I am a member of and , but most people find me through online services like Patch and Yelp, Google searches, and Facebook. People have been kind in reviews, and so others read the reviews and say, “Oh, I’ll try her.”