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came after running into Magic Johnson while she was in L.A. ough he was with the Lakers, Selzer says she approached him, telling him, "You need to get a massage from me. I'm the best," she says. "And he was like, 'Yeah, right.'" But it was a strong enough pitch that Johnson did book a massage. Later, she says, "I got a phone call, and this voice said, 'You're right.' And hung up. And I thought, who the heck is that? And then I realized it was him." Her business, called Massage Extraordinaire, is based out of San Diego Tennis & Racquet Club, where she, along with her talented team, works her magic on plenty of regular, non- professional athlete clients. Additionally, her work with elite players across the San Diego pro landscape as well as those who visit spans everyone from rugby players to Olympic athletes, tennis players, and currently, the San Diego Football Club, which recently reached the Western Conference Finals in its inaugural season here with Major League Soccer. She's also the longtime traveling massage therapist for the competitors of the Rebelle Rally off-road navigation rally. With nearly five decades under her belt, Selzer has learned that there are many pieces of the puzzle that make for healthy bodies. "Basically, the people whom I massage, whether it's a weekend warrior or the tennis players [at San Diego Tennis & Racquet Club], or a professional athlete, it's the combination of mind and body," she says. "You know, nutrition, stretching, strengthening, caring about your body, but also wanting to be passionate and be challenged with what you do with your body." Now 71, Selzer is beginning to embrace idea of life beyond work. "I've been working Saturdays my entire life," she says. "I would like to have a Saturday-Sunday-Monday off, or go away someplace." But true to form, she won't let anyone push her into a next chapter until she's ready to make the call on her own. "People keep on wanting to make me have a decision," she says. "It's like, 'Well, I'll let you know when.'" sandiego-massage.com W ell, first of all, I probably never considered it a job," Marsha Selzer says of her career as a massage therapist. "It's been an amazing experience. I think it's more destiny than something that I chose." ough she says she originally wanted to be a veterinarian, massaging racehorses evolved into a 48-year career that began at e Watergate Hotel in Washington, D.C., and brought her to San Diego in 1980, where the self-proclaimed "tenacious" therapist built a clientele that included some of the most famous athletes in Southern California and beyond. At e Watergate, she says, "e Kennedy Center was next-door, so I massaged all the performers of the New York Ballet and the American Ballet and the Dance eatre of Harlem — they were all my clients when they performed there. I realized quickly that I liked stretching and being physical and working hard." at brought with it the awareness that she appreciated the work of these athletes and performers because of that shared ethic. "e reason I really enjoy working with athletes is because they're passionate," says Selzer. "ey wouldn't be professional athletes if they weren't passionate about what they do." Following her move to San Diego, her own passion empowered her to approach the city's sports franchises, including the Chargers and the Padres, and she was hired by both as their team's massage therapist. She went on to approach or was recommended to other organizations and groups, including the America's Cup and even Cirque du Soleil when they came into town, who became clients. "ere weren't a lot of people doing 'sports massage,'" she recalls. "I kind of created it." As her reputation grew, so did her client list. She became the first NBA massage therapist after the Clippers, having already moved to L.A., discovered her while in San Diego for training camp, and she began traveling to L.A. regularly to work with the team. One particularly memorable experience [Athletes] want to get back on that field, they want to get back on the pitch, they want to get on the court, and will do whatever it takes to get well @ranchandcoast RANCH & COAST MAGAZINE JANUARY 2026 37