Therapeutic Massage is the hands-on manipulation of the soft tissues of the body including muscles and connective tissue. Massage Therapy treatment aims to develop, maintain, rehabilitate or augment physical functioning, relieve or prevent physical dysfunction and pain, as well as enhance the well being of the client. Depending on the needs of each client, treatment sessions can range from light and soothing, to deep tissue work.

 

Massage Therapy may effectively treat many conditions, including: headache, migraine, neck and back pain, injuries (sprain/strain, muscle spasm, tendinitis, etc), arthritis pain, whiplash and accident-related injuries, pregnancy-related discomfort, poor circulation, high blood pressure, and of course, stress-related issues.

 

Is this your First massage?
Here is how a session will go: after completing a Health History form, we will discuss your needs and your medical issues to ensure that it is safe for you to receive Massage Therapy. We will agree on a treatment plan, and I will explain the steps involved for your session, like what clothing to remove, how to get on the table, and what parts of the body we will be treating. You will have privacy for removing clothing and getting on the treatment table.

 

YOUR comfort is the first priority!

Massage Therapy treatments are generally done with the client lying on a treatment table, without clothing but covered with a sheet and blanket. Massage works best directly on the skin, but if you are not comfortable with this, the treatment could also be done through clothing or through the sheet. There is no time that your private areas will be exposed, and we will only uncover one treatment area at a time, for example: one leg, or just your back, and the sheet will always be tucked in well to respect your privacy.

 

This is YOUR treatment, so if there is anything that you are not comfortable with, just let me know and we will change it, or stop the treatment. Also, you can let me know how you are doing with the pressure of the massage: sometimes discomfort can be beneficial and have a positive therapeutic result, but not always, so we will be in frequent communication regarding your perception of the pressure.

 

After your treatment, you will again have privacy to get up off the table and get dressed. We will then review how you are feeling, discuss any homecare or exercise recommendations, book your next appointment, and exchange payment. You are encouraged to follow the homecare suggestions as they can frequently prolong the positive effects of the treatments.

 

You might have some tenderness the following day, but drinking water, doing some stretching or taking an Epsom salt bath will help minimize this. Again, we will discuss these issues.

 

Training
Massage Therapists in Ontario are required to complete a minimum of 2200 hours of training at a government-approved massage school, before writing Licensing exams administered by the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario. (In comparison, most of the American States only require 500 hours of training.) Areas of training include Anatomy, Physiology, Pathology, Principles of Treatment, Kinesiology, Massage Therapy, Hydrotherapy, Remedial Exercise, Microbiology, Public Health, Hygiene, Ethics and Jurisprudence, plus, of course, clinical experience.

 

Post-licensing, Therapists continue to be closely regulated by the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario, and we are required to seek post-graduate, professional development courses to further expand our learning. My training –

 

Swedish Massage
All Registered Massage Therapists in Ontario are trained in classic Swedish Massage, with the addition of more advanced techniques learned in school, or post-graduate training. Swedish Massage is the manipulation of the tissue through various methods including kneading, rolling, light touch called ‘effleurage’, or firm pressure.

 

Chronic Pain
Massage can be very beneficial in cases of chronic pain and we will discuss your particular condition to determine what effect we wish to attain: increase circulation, reduce tension, decrease scar tissue or adhesions, improve posture, or many other goals.

 

Sports Injuries

 

Again, we will discuss your injury in detail to establish what goals we wish to accomplish, including addressing the compensating muscles which are currently taking the load off of the injured area.

Pregnancy Massage
Is it safe to receive massage during pregnancy? ABSOLUTELY! And most moms-to-be LOVE getting massage. We will discuss all of your concerns, and tailor the treatment to your stage of pregnancy, your health issues (if any), and your comfort. And by the way, you do not have to lie on your stomach once you start to show!!

Massage and Cancer
Yes, in most cases, massage is safe during cancer treatments, and after. There have been numerous studies which show how beneficial massage can be for someone during their “cancer year” primarily to reduce anxiety and tension to help create a more positive outlook, which Physicians are finally starting to admit can have a significant impact on the healing process. We will discuss your case in detail, and make any accommodations required to suit how you are feeling on each given day.