Gregory Serdahl has built a professional life defined by steady involvement in creative work, community leadership, and therapeutic wellness. His career did not develop through a single discipline but instead grew through practical experience across multiple fields. By moving between leadership roles and direct client care, he established an approach rooted in responsibility, adaptability, and long-term commitment to human wellbeing.
Across several decades, Gregory has taken on roles that required both organizational oversight and hands-on practice. His work includes managing nonprofit arts organizations and founding and operating a national wellness company. These experiences put him in contact with professional athletes, institutional partners, and public figures. Each role expanded his understanding of how systems function while reinforcing the importance of direct, person-centered service.
Gregory’s academic foundation began at the University of California, Irvine, where he completed a Bachelor of Arts in Theater between 1983 and 1986. His education emphasized performance theory, collaboration, and disciplined preparation. These skills later supported his professional work by strengthening his communication abilities and his awareness of physical presence. During this period, he was a member of Phi Beta Kappa, which further supported his academic engagement and structured thinking.
A formative part of Gregory’s early education included spending a year abroad at Bergen University in Oslo, Norway (1983-84). This experience exposed him to different cultural norms and daily practices. Living in an international environment helped him develop independence and flexibility, qualities that later proved valuable in both leadership and client-focused roles.
Following his academic studies, Gregory entered the nonprofit arts sector and became artistic director of the Alisal Center for the Fine Arts. The center served a predominantly Hispanic migrant farmworker community by providing cultural access and educational programming. From January 1986 to January 1989, he managed daily operations, budgeting, fundraising, and community relations. This role strengthened his ability to lead mission-driven organizations while remaining attentive to the needs of underserved populations.
Gregory later shifted toward wellness after participating in massage programs at Michael O'Shea's Sport Training Institute. In 1991, he founded Serdahl Associates, which later became Massage America, Ltd. His goal was to build a massage and wellness organization capable of working within large institutional settings. Under his leadership, the company managed massage programs for Crunch Fitness, several New York Sports Club locations, and the New York Football Giants during the Dan Reeves era.
Massage America also partnered with Mount Sinai and NYU hospitals, the Printing House Athletic Club, and the Manhattan Athletic Club. Gregory was responsible for staffing, operations, and maintaining service standards across diverse environments. This work reinforced his understanding of how wellness services can be integrated into athletic, medical, and corporate systems without losing professional integrity.
Alongside his business responsibilities, Gregory maintained an active clinical practice. His clients came from politics, professional sports, media, and the arts. On one notable day, his schedule included Ed Koch, Lawrence Taylor, Edgar Bronfman, Katharine Hepburn, and Arthur Ashe. These experiences reflected trust earned through consistent work and discretion.
Gregory’s therapeutic background includes deep tissue massage, Swedish techniques, trigger point therapy, myofascial release, and craniosacral therapy. He also incorporates yoga, Pilates, Yogic Neuromuscular Therapy, as taught by the late Dyal Singh Khalsa, Gyrotonics training, and certification as a Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapist. Having employed more than 500 massage therapists over the course of his career, he continues his professional work today while serving as President of the Kenneth G. Mills Foundation, honoring the legacy of the late Canadian Poet and Philosopher Kenneth George Mills.
