Why Visit Patrick at Grit City Health?

Grit City Health exists to create space. Space for you to show up as you are. Space to move, recover, and explore what your body needs… without judgment, pressure, or expectations.

We’re not lacking information in today’s world. Most of us already know what we should do. What’s often missing is support that fits real life? Support that respects your capacity, your stress, and your goals as you define them.

That’s where my work begins.

Your session is your session

At Grit City Health, sessions aren’t rigidly siloed by service type. The names you see when booking — bodywork, fitness, Pilates, coaching — are simply a way for you to signal your initial intention. They help me understand what you’re hoping for when you walk through the door.

Once you arrive, the session is yours.

That might mean hands-on bodywork, movement, coaching conversation, or a combination of all three. The work adapts to what you need that day, not the other way around.

You’re not booking a technique.
You’re booking my time, attention, and experience. All in service of you and your goals.

You stay in the driver’s seat

I don’t see myself as the expert on your life — you are. My role is to support you, ask good questions, and help you explore what you’re ready for right now. Whether we’re working through bodywork, movement, or coaching, the goal is always the same: to help you build confidence, agency, and self-trust in your own body. There’s no forcing progress here. Growth happens when it makes sense.

Movement as support, not pressure

Movement is often treated as a tool. Something you do to fix yourself, chase a goal, or earn results. I see movement differently…

When accessible, movement supports mental, emotional, and physical regulation. It helps circulation, hormone balance, blood sugar regulation, and stress resilience, and so much more. It’s not a moral standard or a requirement for worth — it’s a support system.

If you’re in pain, we start there. Pain-free movement comes first. Only then does it make sense to talk about enjoyment, goals, or progress.

Massage that keeps movement accessible

Massage at Grit City Health isn’t about fixing you or chasing a perfect body. It’s about reducing friction. Pain, stiffness, and tension are often what cause people to stop moving — not a lack of motivation. My massage work is movement-informed and focused on helping your body feel safer and more comfortable moving again.

Sessions often combine:

• Hands-on bodywork

• Simple movement assessment

• Practical strategies you can use between visits

This work lives in the space between relaxation and rehabilitation. All while supporting recovery, awareness, and long-term consistency.

Stress is more than just physical

I work with a simple framework built around three types of stress:

• Mental

• Emotional

• Physical

If two of those are already high and we pile on the third, something usually breaks — and we don’t get to choose how. That breakdown might show up as injury, illness, burnout, or strain in relationships. A big part of my work is helping people recognize those patterns early and adjust before their body forces the issue.

As the saying goes: Take a rest before your body forces you to.

Fitness, coaching, and community — all connected

Everything at Grit City Health is part of the same ecosystem.

• Fitness builds capacity and confidence without extremes

• Bodywork supports recovery and access to movement

• Coaching helps you connect goals to real life

• Community, including Team Grit City Health, offers belonging and support

You don’t have to prove yourself here. These are simply different doors into the same room.

Who this is for

Grit City Health is for people who want support — not pressure.

You don’t have to identify as an athlete.
You don’t have to be pain-free.
You don’t have to know exactly what you want yet.

If you’re curious, willing to show up honestly, and interested in building a healthier relationship with movement and your body, you’re in the right place.

Why Patrick

Because this work isn’t about protocols or prescriptions.
It’s about how I’ve learned people actually grow — when they feel supported, respected, and in control of their own process.

I don’t bring answers.
I don’t bring permission.

I bring space — and support — so you can build something that lasts.

About the Clinic

Located in the heart of Tacoma, Washington, Grit City Health offers a welcoming space dedicated to helping clients move well, feel strong, and live healthier lives. Since opening in 2015, the clinic has combined movement, massage, and coaching to support everything from injury recovery and pain relief to athletic performance and long-term wellness.

Our approach is rooted in personalized care. Every session is tailored to your needs by blending Pilates-based functional fitness, therapeutic massage, and health or performance coaching as needed. Whether you're prepping for a race, working through chronic pain, or simply wanting to move and feel better, Grit City Health is here to support your path forward.

We work with a diverse range of clients. Everyone from athletes and weekend warriors to individuals seeking complementary care alongside traditional massage or physical therapy. Whatever your goals, you’ll find an approachable, supportive atmosphere where your needs come first.

As part of our continued evolution, we’ve organized our services under three focused arms: Grit City Massage, Grit City Pilates, and Grit City Endurance. These names reflect the same care we’ve always offered with a bit more clarity and room to grow. Whether it’s hiring another massage therapist, Pilates teacher, or endurance coach, this structure allows us to expand without changing what makes GCH unique: thoughtful, individualized care anchored by a whole-person approach.

About the owner:

"Physical fitness is the first requisite of happiness. In order to achieve happiness, it is imperative to gain mastery of your body. If at the age of 30 you are stiff and out of shape, you are old. If at 60 you are supple and strong then you are young"  
                              -Joseph Pilates

Patrick McCabe, LMT/Owner

WA State Massage License #MA60596045

My journey in health and fitness began with a Pilates session that left me feeling more connected to my body than ever before. I didn’t want to leave the studio. That transformative experience inspired me to pursue a career in movement and wellness, and in 2007, I began teaching Pilates. Over the years, I’ve explored a variety of methods, tools, and approaches to understand what truly helps people move and feel better.

In 2015, I completed over 700 hours of training at Alexandar School of Natural Therapeutics, gaining a deep understanding of massage, bodywork, hydrotherapy, and more. As a licensed massage therapist, I approach every session with a focus on listening to the body and tailoring care to each client’s needs. But for me, certifications and techniques are just tools. The real work is about meeting people where they are, understanding what their bodies are telling them, and finding the right combination of movement, manual therapy, and coaching to help them thrive.

At Grit City Health, I blend elements of Pilates, yoga, functional strength training, trigger point therapy, deep tissue massage, sauna therapy, and more to provide a truly individualized experience. Whether someone is recovering from an injury, preparing for an event, or just looking to move with less discomfort, my goal is to offer practical solutions that make sense for their unique situation.

My professional journey didn’t start here, though. Before founding Grit City Health, I explored a variety of creative and entrepreneurial paths through my company, Grit City Creative. From managing sales at a local rock climbing gym to running small-scale production ventures like upcycled candles and handmade dog leashes, I’ve always been passionate about building things that connect with people. That creative, entrepreneurial spirit continues to shape how I approach health and wellness today.

Outside of work, I’m a “stay-outside dad,” happiest when I’m outdoors with my wife, kids, and dogs. I’m also an avid cyclist who loves everything from mountain biking to gravel and cyclocross racing. What started as a personal passion grew into Team Grit City Health, a community-driven cycling team that brings people together for fun, fitness, and camaraderie.

Whether it’s movement, massage, or coaching, my work is rooted in a simple belief: when we pause, create space, and truly listen to what the body is saying, the right path forward becomes clear.