Myofascial Release Center
Craniosacral Therapy in Glendale
3460 Ocean View Blvd Ste B, Glendale, CA 91208
4.8 ★ from 23 Google reviews, read 2026-08-28 — see them on Google
Myofascial Release Center is a private outpatient clinic in Montrose, Glendale. Its independent therapists offer John F. Barnes-style myofascial release, and two of them also offer craniosacral therapy. One-hour sessions run $95 to $170.
Background
The practice began in 2006, when a group of independent therapists, among them founder and lead therapist Frances Nicolais and Tom Hambright, came together to offer myofascial release in one quiet, private space. Its therapists page now introduces eleven therapists at five levels of experience, from the lead therapist to interns, and the practice is open seven days a week by appointment, roughly 9am to 9pm.
The main technique is John F. Barnes-style myofascial release: a slow, hands-on stretching method, used without lotions or creams, in which the therapist waits for guidance from the client's body rather than following a fixed routine. Sessions are done in loose shorts (and a sports bra or loose tank top). The practice suggests four to eight appointments along with stretches to do at home, and welcomes clients switching between therapists.
Craniosacral therapy is a smaller part of what is offered here. The practice lists it for two therapists: Frances Nicolais, who describes craniosacral training as a sister modality to myofascial release, and Olga Ivanilova, who holds Upledger Institute certifications. Frances sometimes adds it to a myofascial release session, depending on what the client's body needs.
Therapists
Frances Nicolais
Lead therapist and owner · Mon, Tue, Thu
Myofascial release · Craniosacral therapy · Visceral manipulation · Skin rolling · Deep mobilization · Sports therapy · Trauma release · Hypnotherapy · Life coaching
Founder of the practice and a massage therapist since 1993. A first John F. Barnes seminar in 2003 turned her toward myofascial release; she has completed over 500 hours of that training and has also been training in craniosacral therapy. She is Senior Staff Instructor at Hands on Healing Institute and a certified hypnotherapist.
New clients join a waitlist of about two months.
Tom Hambright
Advanced therapist, senior staff · Sun, Mon, Wed, Fri
Myofascial release · Trigger points · Skin rolling · Deep mobilization
Trained at Hands on Healing Institute (graduated 2005) and has taken many Barnes seminars. He spent several years in a physical therapy office, where he developed his focus on the structural side of myofascial release, and teaches trigger point and Focus on Fascia classes.
Tabitha Hersey
Advanced therapist and office manager · Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri
Myofascial release · Skin rolling · Visceral manipulation · Sports massage
Trained by Frances Nicolais at Hands on Healing Institute (graduated 2012). She studied psychology and mental health before turning to bodywork, and also runs the practice's front office.
The practice's request form lists a wait of one to two months.
Olga Ivanilova
Advanced therapist · Wed, Sat
Myofascial release · Craniosacral therapy · Visceral manipulation · Reflexology · Aromatherapy · Reiki
Completed the massage therapy program at Cerritos College in 2006 and moved to myofascial release after finding it helpful herself. She has taken most of the John F. Barnes seminars, holds Upledger Institute certifications in craniosacral and SomatoEmotional therapy courses, is a Reiki Master, and likes working with women's issues. Bilingual in English and Russian.
The practice's appointment request form currently lists her as unavailable; ask when you enquire.
Tana Gaudi
Advanced therapist · Tue, Fri, Sat, Sun
Myofascial release · Reiki · Skin rolling · Trauma release · Breathwork · Somatic Experiencing
Began with Reiki in 2009 and trained in massage at IPSB, National Holistic Institute and Hands on Healing Institute. She specialises in body-centred trauma release, combining myofascial release, breathwork, trauma recovery coaching and Somatic Experiencing.
New clients join a waitlist of about two months.
Trevor Flatin
Advanced therapist · Weekday evenings and weekends
Sports therapy · Myofascial release · Skin rolling · Trigger point therapy
Finished the Massage School of Santa Monica program in 2001 and worked as a private therapist for 15 years before completing the Hands on Healing Institute program and learning myofascial release, skin rolling and sports therapy. He tailors each session to the individual client.
Cynthia Yoshikawa
Intermediate therapist · Tue, Wed
Myofascial release · Skin rolling · Spinal Flow
Graduated from IPSB in 2012 and came to myofascial release through a class with Frances Nicolais at Hands on Healing Institute. She is also an esthetician, a yoga teacher with a myofascial release emphasis, and has 35 years of experience teaching children.
Kelley Hughes
Intermediate therapist · Sun, Mon, Tue
Myofascial release · Trigger points · Lymphatic treatments
Certified at the Santa Monica School of Massage in 1996, she worked with sports massage for figure skaters and as a private therapist, went full-time in 2019 and attended her first John Barnes seminar in 2021.
Diana Bohan
Staff therapist · Wed, Thu
Myofascial release · Deep mobilization · Skin rolling · Sports therapy · Trigger point therapy
Trained at Hands on Healing Institute, then studied further with Frances Nicolais, including breast care and TMJ work. She also applies myofascial techniques on the face, and teaches yin yoga.
Meghan Reilly
Intern therapist · Mon, Tue, Wed
Myofascial release · Deep mobilization
Graduated from Hands on Healing Institute in June 2025 and went straight into Frances Nicolais's myofascial release classes. She first tried the work as a client of Tabitha's at the center in 2023, and spent twelve years as a makeup artist and special effects technician.
Stephanie Dai
Intern therapist · Thu, Sat
Myofascial release
Graduated from Hands on Healing Institute in 2025 and has since completed several myofascial release courses with Frances Nicolais. A professional dancer for over 20 years, she brings a background in biomechanics and somatic work.
As introduced on the practice’s own therapists page, read 2026-09-30. Days and waitlists change; confirm before booking.
Approaches offered
Myofascial release
- The practice's main technique, in the John F. Barnes style: a sustained, interactive stretch held until the tissue softens. Every therapist is trained in it, and Frances Nicolais teaches it at Hands on Healing Institute.
Craniosacral therapy
- A gentle, light-touch method the practice describes as working with the membranes and cerebrospinal fluid around the brain and spinal cord. Offered by Frances Nicolais and Olga Ivanilova only.
Spinal Flow
- A gentle, non-invasive technique that the practice says makes contact with the nervous system through access points at the sacrum and cranium. Offered by Cynthia Yoshikawa.
Visceral manipulation
- Gentle manual work on the digestive organs and their connective tissue. Offered by Frances, Cynthia, Olga, Tana, Trevor and Tabitha.
Trigger point therapy, skin rolling and deep mobilization
- Structural techniques used alongside myofascial release: sustained pressure on tender points, rolling and lifting the skin over scar tissue, and slow deep work through restricted layers of fascia.
Sports and fitness fusion
- A blend of myofascial release, shiatsu, Thai, muscle energy and trigger point work for tension from repetitive movement, done in workout clothes. Developed by Frances Nicolais.
Somatic trauma release
- Body-centred work to calm the nervous system, added to myofascial release by Frances Nicolais and Tana Gaudi for $20 per hour session. The practice says it needs at least eight to ten sessions over several months.
Other offerings
- Reiki (Olga, Tana), aromatherapy (Frances, Olga), reflexology (Olga), breathwork and Somatic Experiencing (Tana), sound therapy (Frances, Cynthia), lymphatic treatments (Kelley), and hypnotherapy and NLP life coaching (Frances).
Sessions and prices
Lead therapist — Frances Nicolais
- First visit with evaluation$180
- 1 hour$170
- 1 hour with check-in$160
- 45 minutes$128
- 30 minutes$85
Advanced therapists — Tom, Tabitha, Olga, Tana, Trevor
- 1 hour$140
- 1 hour with check-in$130
- 45 minutes$105
- 30 minutes$70
Intermediate therapists — Cynthia, Kelley
- 1 hour$125
- 45 minutes$94
- 30 minutes$63
Staff therapist — Diana
- 1 hour$110
- 45 minutes$75
- 30 minutes$55
Intern therapists — Meghan, Stephanie
- 1 hour$95
- 90 minutes$142
Add-on
- Trauma release with Frances or TanaAdded to a session with Frances Nicolais or Tana Gaudi, $20 per hour session.$20
- Rates are effective 3/1/26 and are the cash, check or direct-pay price. Credit and debit cards cost 4% more.
- You pay your therapist directly. Health savings and flex-spending Visa or Mastercard cards are accepted, and some therapists also take Venmo, Zelle and PayPal. Gratuity is generally 15–25%.
- The first appointment is pre-paid through the link in the confirmation email; later visits are paid on the day.
- Full payment is due for a cancellation with less than 24 hours' notice, a late arrival or a no-show.
- Up to two therapists can work together in one session; ask the practice for the rate.
- Alumni of Hands on Healing Institute get $10 off sessions with the lead and advanced therapists.
- Insurance is not billed and no lien is accepted. A superbill for your own reimbursement is $5 per page, and a brief patient summary report, where a therapist provides one, is $25.
Prices as published on the practitioner’s own site, read 2026-09-30. Confirm before booking.
Training and credentials
- Every therapist is trained in John F. Barnes-style myofascial release. Frances Nicolais, who first attended a Barnes seminar in 2003, has completed over 500 hours of it, and several of the team have taken Barnes seminars.
- Most of the team trained in massage at Hands on Healing Institute in Tujunga, where Frances Nicolais is Senior Staff Instructor and developed the Focus on Fascia series (over 250 hours), and where Tom Hambright also teaches.
- Olga Ivanilova holds certifications in craniosacral and SomatoEmotional therapy courses through the Upledger Institute, and completed Visceral Manipulation courses through the Barral Institute.
- Frances Nicolais is a certified hypnotherapist and has been a certified massage therapist since 1993.
- Ten of the eleven therapists list a California CAMTC certification number on the practice's site.
Questions about working with Myofascial Release Center
What is the Myofascial Release Center in Glendale?
A private, quiet outpatient clinic at 3460 Ocean View Blvd, Suite B, in the Montrose area of Glendale, between Pasadena and Burbank. A team of independent therapists offers John F. Barnes-style myofascial release, a hands-on stretching method used without lotions or creams. It is open by appointment only, seven days a week, roughly 9am to 9pm.
How much does a session cost?
The price depends on which therapist you see. One hour is $170 with lead therapist Frances Nicolais (first visit with evaluation $180), $140 with an advanced therapist, $125 with an intermediate therapist, $110 with the staff therapist and $95 with an intern. Shorter 45- and 30-minute sessions start at $55. These are cash or check rates effective 3/1/26; cards cost 4% more. Confirm current rates with the practice.
Is craniosacral therapy offered at the Myofascial Release Center?
Yes, but it is a secondary offering. The practice's main technique is myofascial release. Its treatments page lists craniosacral therapy for two therapists, Frances Nicolais and Olga Ivanilova, who holds Upledger Institute certifications. Frances sometimes adds it to a myofascial release session, and her wait for new clients is about two months. The practice's appointment request form currently lists Olga as unavailable, so ask when you enquire.
Does the Myofascial Release Center take insurance?
No. None of the independent therapists bills insurance or third parties directly or accepts a lien. Your therapist can give you a superbill on request ($5 per page) to submit for your own reimbursement; most need a diagnosis code from your physician.
What should I expect at a first visit?
Complete the online intake form at least 24 hours ahead, and pre-pay the first appointment using the emailed link. The first session includes a discussion of your health and injury history, then hands-on work and instruction in home stretches. Bring loose shorts, and a sports bra or loose tank top, and come showered without body lotion. The practice suggests four to eight appointments, and you can switch between therapists.
How do I book, and what is the cancellation policy?
Send the practice's appointment request form, call (818) 945-9731 or email mfrcenter@gmail.com, and the practice replies with therapist recommendations; several therapists also have their own online booking page. Full payment is due for less than 24 hours' notice, late arrivals and no-shows. You can cancel through the confirmation email or by texting your therapist.
Details
- Session length
- 30 min / 45 min / 60 min / 90 min
- Sessions
- In person
- Price
- $$
- Insurance
- Not billed directly; superbill provided
- Hours
- Evenings or weekends
- Parking
- Free street parking on Ocean View Blvd (curb your wheels to avoid a ticket), or on Sunview.
Opening hours
- Mon
- 09:00–21:00
- Tue
- 09:00–21:00
- Wed
- 09:00–21:00
- Thu
- 09:00–21:00
- Fri
- 09:00–21:00
- Sat
- 09:00–21:00
- Sun
- 09:00–21:00
By appointment only.
Contact Myofascial Release Center
About this listing
Compiled from Myofascial Release Center's own website and their public Google listing, and checked by hand. Google listing last verified 2026-06-25. Page updated .
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