Force and Flow

I called up Ophra at 4:50pm on Saturday of November 7^th 2015. I was told that she no longer works in the Bklyn area and she then quickly referred me to another yoga business and abruptly hung up the phone while I was still talking. I was shocked. I gathered myself and questioned if I couldve said anything wrong, then I clld Ophra back to ask her why she so suddenly hung up on me. She proceeded to be very irate, threatening to have my phone traced if I dare to cll her back ever again. Wow, could it be because I sound like a professional blackman and not a whiteman. Ophra is running a business and this is not how you treat new customers. This wouldve been my first thai yoga session and I am very disappointed.

I never leave reviews, but in case there is someone out there like me that could really benefit from seeing Ophra, let me tell you: I cannot recommend her highly enough!
I have spent the last four years with serious stomach/​digestive problems. I have had an endoscopy, colonoscopy, ct scans, ultrasounds, and surgery to remove painful adhesions. I have a range of food allergies and I am on medication for Crohn’s Disease. I’ve been to sooo many specialists (traditional and alternative medicine) and nobody has ever really been able to tell me what is going on or how to stop it. In fact, things seemed to be getting worse and not better. If you’ve ever had these kinds of problems, you know that you spend so much of your life in bed or in the bathroom — never really knowing what food set you off this time. It is extremely frustrating and alienating and I had actually given up the hope of ever feeling like a normal person again.
After I had my second intestinal obstruction (one of the most painful things I’ve experienced in life), I went to the GI doctor who sent me to get an ultrasound (which was normal) and then sent me home with no further instructions. My whole body felt like it had been hit by a truck and forget about eating anything, so I searched through Unilocal to find a place to get a massage. I figured that if I couldn’t fix the problem I could at least get some R+R. I found Force and Flow because it was just a few blocks from my house, although it was clear that this was more than just a standard massage place. Nonetheless, I called anyway to see what it was about. Ophra talked with me on the phone for about 20 minutes, saying that she couldn’t promise that she could help me find relief but that she had some definite ideas of what might help.
It is not cheap, so I thought about it for a little bit. I’ve spent so much money on doctors and treatments over the years that I was hesitant to pay for another gamble. But Ophra listened attentively and asked lots of questions during our conversation, which was so different from other doctors and healers who they think they have all the answers and hardly let you get a word in. So I decided to go through with it, and I’m SO glad that I did.
We had four sessions together. The first was mostly talking about my issues, Ophra asked more questions, offered some suggestions, and also a lot of encouragement. Then she began to do work on my abdomen — and it blew my mind. She touched parts of my stomach and said things like, «it hurts here right?» «this is where your adhesions are» «when it hurts here, it’s because of XYZ.» It might seem like a small thing to someone else, but it was mindblowing to me that I had so many medical professionals putting their hands on my body over the years and not one person had explained things to me like that, and much less been able to tell what was going on just by touching my stomach. I started to feel relief after the first session.
The next two sessions were primarily bodywork which got increasingly more intense with increasing relief. I am not totally sure what was even going on, but before I went to Ophra my stomach was sore to the touch. Now it feels loose and light and I haven’t had any major episodes since. I wouldn’t say that I am completely without symptoms, but I do not have the daily pain and bathroom problems that I had before. It has been a HUGE improvement. I can go out to eat with friends, I am starting to gain weight (trust me, this is a good thing!), and I generally feel better. It is not an exaggeration to say that Ophra has changed my life!!!

I had a wonderful experience getting a Chi Nei Sang massage from Ophra. She was very intuitive and listened very intently to the problems I had and answered all of my questions. The Chi Nei Sang massage was so helpful and I have felt a distinct difference ever since. The studio is very peaceful and I can’t wait to go back!

Ophra is amazing! I have been taking classes (integrated yoga/​pilates/​qigong) with her on and off for a few years. With small class sizes and personal attention, someone like me – a novice who is not very bright to begin with and has trouble following direction – can get quite a bit out of her teachings through her extensive knowledge and guidance. And her studio is as warm and inviting as she is.
N.B. Try the sound bath.

I went with my romantic partner for Ophra’s Valentine’s Day Couples Thai Massage Workshop.
For starters, the affordable price of the session was very inviting. Because of this, I had an easy time saying «yes» to registration (plus, I trusted that the session would be good because I’d worked with Ophra once before). It’s not the only factor, but affordability is important for me.
I certainly got my money’s worth! The session was small and intimate (only 3 couples in a small room), and Ophra balanced her attention well between us as we practiced massage sequences. I appreciated beginning with a brief history and theory of Thai Massage (aka Thai Yoga) to set the scene and understand Ophra’s background.
The tone of «partnering» throughout the session was clear and useful — the «active» partner and the «passive» partner should BOTH be receiving benefit from the massage; it should not be draining for the «active» partner. Ophra pointed out some very useful details, such as «stick your tailbone up, like a yoga cow-​pose,» which helped me find new ways to get the right pressure.
Let’s be honest: I went into the session with a vested interest. I wanted my partner to feel more comfortable with – and be more effective at – giving me a massage. I wanted my partner to give me more weight and pressure, and be less afraid of hurting me. With Ophra’s guidance, I felt my partner’s confidence grow through her hands and her weight.
Communication is important in bodywork, and Ophra encouraged us to tell our partners what we like and don’t like. Ophra also helped me remember to relax, even when the massage is not exactly the way I want it, and to communicate to my partner what I would like to be different.
Thanks, Ophra, for a great session.
We would love to do this again.

I made an appointment for a private session at force and flow to work on my core which had been weakened during pregnancy. Ophra called me and carefully listened to my concerns and asked specific questions about my history and the current state of my physical self. We talked about what kind of work we could do, the frequency with which I planned to meet with her and pricing. I hung up the phone feeling confident that she really understood my concerns and would be able to create a regimen that would work. Before I could get there however, I threw out my back. By the time I had my appointment, I was discouraged and in a lot of pain. Ophra listened to me and my body and even though she tends to keep bodywork separate from pilates and yoga work (which we were slated to do together) she adjusted and we did a bodywork session which was exactly what I needed. I left feeling very confident that I was in good hands. Ophra is able to explain what she wants from you in an exercise or pose and to gently push you just enough to get results. She has a calm and caring manner which while quite professional, is also quite comforting. I feel so lucky to have stumbled across her here on Unilocal and I really, really recommend her to anyone who is searching for the right person for this kind of work.

Ophra at Force & Flow is absolutely amazing. I had never done Pilates and am not athletic or coordinated but she has made it fun and I feel so confident thanks to her patience and encouragement. She takes a lot of time to customize the instruction to my particular pace and weekly physical condition. I feel like I’m learned about Pilates and also stress-​reduction and I felt the difference from the first class. She also gives a fabulous Thai massage. The prices are super reasonable even with one-​on-​one training like I have but her classes are small and people get individual attention there too.

I went to Ophra for her Thai-​massage-​based bodywork and can thoroughly recommend it for anyone recovering from injury or simply in the need of a therapeutic massage. She has a wonderful kinesthetic awareness of the body and was able to quickly diagnose and address my various alignment issues with a firm, forceful yet gentle touch. She takes her time to do and explain the process properly, with a soothing voice, and I never felt rushed during, before or after the session.
Her studio is warm and inviting, with wood floors, colorful wall hangings and textiles and relaxed lighting in a quiet, lovely neighborhood.

Ophra’s studio is incredible. I have been taking the group pilates classes for about a month, and they are an affordable way to get personalized, one on one attention, whether you’re new to pilates (like me) or much more experienced. Because the classes are so small, she really gets to know each of her students and their capabilities. She pushes you just enough, and is funny and welcoming. She’s also SO knowledgeable about the body and anatomy, and explains the practical reason for every exercise we do. I couldn’t recommend force + flow more highly.

I really like the Force and Flow studio — I’ve taken Ophra’s Pilates classes, Thai couples body work classes, and gone for my own Thai body work sessions. I’ve had several «a-​ha» revelations in her classes, and she manages to keep the expectation high and the atmosphere safe and friendly, so it’s challenging but never intimidating. The body work is amazing, it’s all tingly-​relaxy, Ophra has great intuition. I highly recommend!

best pilates ever! ophra is a fantastic teacher, patient, kind and ass-​kicking all at the same time. the classes are small, so everyone gets personal instruction, and the studio is cozy and comfortable. i really can’t recommend this place enough!

I take the pilates classes with Ophra every week. First of all, she’s a great instructor and since her classes are small, everyone gets a lot of attention. She’s really in tune to everyone’s bodies, so she helps you focus on your weaknesses. She also talks you through all the movements and you end up learning a lot about yourself. Everyone that comes to the studio is really friendly and not pretentious at all. You can tell she has very loyal students. I’m really happy with Force & Flow and recommend it to anyone looking to strengthen all those little (but important) muscles/​ligaments/​tendons that don’t normally get any attention in a typical gym. Go! It’s great for your body and great for your mind and it’s very affordable!