Meet Michelle
Michelle Ebbin is a leading expert in touch therapy and natural wellness, dedicated to helping people live healthier, more balanced lives through the power of healing touch. She founded Basic Knead in 1994 and has since become a trusted voice in holistic health, advocating for the physical and emotional benefits of mindful touch.
A frequent guest on tv shows such as LIVE with Kelly and Mark, The View, and The Dr. Oz Show, Michelle shares practical tools and insights on stress relief, relaxation, and overall well-being. She is the author of four massage books, creator of award-winning DVDs, and served as a spokesperson for SOOTHE, reaching audiences worldwide with her message of accessible, everyday wellness.
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Michelle has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Columbia University and advanced training in all touch therapy modalities. Her passion extends to philanthropy through her work with City of Hope, where she helped develop massage programs for patients and healthcare professionals—bringing comfort and connection to those in need.
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With decades of experience, media recognition, and a heartfelt mission to make wellness a way of life, Michelle continues to inspire others to embrace the healing power of touch.
Q&A
HOW DID YOU GET INTERESTED IN MASSAGE AND WELLNESS?
As a ballet dancer growing up and later in MTV music videos, I was always interested in new ways to keep my body strong. During my freshman year at Columbia University, I took an acupressure workshop and started using natural, self-care techniques to stay healthy. My curiosity with touch therapy grew when I experienced the healing effects of massage after a painful leg injury I suffered on a video shoot. Once I realized how powerful touch can be, I immersed in the world of massage therapy and learned everything I could about touch, from reflexology and Swedish Massage to Rolfing, Cranial Sacral Therapy, and more. I became a total massage geek.
HOW DID YOU START YOUR COMPANY?
Initially, I founded Basic Knead as a Los Angeles-based massage therapy practice, consisting of private clients as well as movie studios and companies that brought massage therapists into their offices. Years later the company evolved when I created products to teach people about massage. I never had a real business plan. All I had was a sketch I made of reflexology points on the feet and a friend who owned a sock company. I printed the design on a pair of socks and gave a few pairs to my favorite clients. Within a few weeks I received a call from an editor at InStyle Magazine who had seen my Reflexology Sox and wanted to feature them in the next issue. A few months later, InStyle, Time, The New York Times and many other news outlets featured the Sox. I secured a national sales rep and within a year sold over 20,000 pairs.
HOW DID YOU START WRITING BOOKS AND CREATING MASSAGE VIDEOS?
After the success of my Reflexology Sox, things started to fall into place. I had been modeling for a catalogue called Living Arts (now Gaiam) and they decided to expand their video production from mostly yoga videos to include a massage series. They asked me to work with them creating and hosting videos on reflexology, acupressure, baby massage, pregnancy massage, partner massage, and therapeutic touch. Around the same time, a literary agent in New York proposed the idea of writing an instructional book based on the success of my Reflexology Sox. Within a few months, I wrote a book proposal that she could shop to publishers and the next thing I knew, I was writing a book!
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO NEXT?
My goal now is to build a platform from which I can educate people about the benefits of touch and inspire them to try touch remedies. Right now I’m focused on promoting awareness of the power of touch therapy. I’m excited about my work with City of Hope bringing more massage therapists into hospitals to help people when they need touch the most. I also have some new book ideas in the works.