Now, he is—inside his two-bedroom apartment.
Dahms has been licensed for almost three years and has a customer base of men and women ranging in age from their 20s to their 50s—including a large contingent of gay men.
“I’m a healer,” Dahms said. “Massages encourage blood flow, which brings more oxygen to the limbs and creates overall relaxation.”
Dahms gives up to five massages daily, each for a minimum of 60 minutes. He charges $1 per minute, which he calls “a blue-collar massage,” because he feels everyone should have access to a massage to help maintain their health, not just the affluent.
Ironically, Dahms has never had a professional massage himself.
In addition to massages, Dahms also offers the healing energy work of reiki.
His massages usually focuses on deep tissue and/or trigger-point—and the atmosphere includes candles and New Age/ambient music or Bob Marley songs, a stark contrast to Dahms’ personal musical interests, which are “harder and faster—the more experimental, the weirder the better,” he said.
Photos by Ross Forman
THE STATS
Name
Ryan Dahms
Hobbies
Writing, painting and
working out
Home
Has lived in Germany and five states in the United States
Fashion
Is a jeans-and-T-shirt guy
Relationship status
Single
Tattoos
Three, including an abstract design on his left leg that he personally did. “Thank God it came out OK,” he said. Also has an abstract tat on his right arm.
Education
Received his degree from The Soma Institute in Chicago
Favorite Chicago restaurants
India House and El Gallo Bravo
Favorite all-time
musical group
Guns N’ Roses