From recordings in ancient Egypt and Greece, to Homer’s writings in The Odyssey and The Iliad, massage therapy has benefitted many people across history. As massage therapy joined conventional medicine, research has shown the range of therapeutic benefits of massage to be vast, from alleviating symptoms of anxiety and depression to improving rehabilitation outcomes after injury or surgery. Doctors prescribe massage for a number of reasons, but primarily to improve circulation, tissue healing, range of motion and flexibility, and to reduce pain; however, most of our patients keep coming back because it feels great and helps them to stay active. So, instead of asking your significant other or friend to give a half-hearted poke at the knots in your back, it’s time you treat yourself to a professional massage. You won’t regret it.

All of our massage therapists are highly-trained, passionate professionals, many of whom have gained additional skills and certifications. Each therapist is licensed in good standing with the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario, but we also just think they’re wonderful people with a diverse set of skills. From cupping to deep tissue massage, we can meet all of your massage needs.

We offer the following types of massage, whether you strained your back, are about to have a baby, or just need to relax, we can help:

Relaxation Massage – when you’re stressed, your muscles are tight and your nervous system is in overdrive, making healing of any kind more difficult for the body. Gentle relaxation massage puts both your mind and body in a calmer state, which can help rejuvenate the mind and bring the body back into balance. Whether you’re stuck in high-stress mode or feeling depleted and burned out, this type of massage is nurturing and healing

Deep Tissue Massage – you may have nagging pain in different areas of your body, deep tissue massage is an excellent compliment to chiropractic or physiotherapy, and we highly encourage our patients to have both kinds of treatments to help each one work better. This type of massage can be intense, involving strong, deep pressure to release trigger points, or “knots”, and other types of tissue that are stuck together causing pain.

Cupping – popularized by athletes and celebrities alike, cupping has gotten a lot of attention lately, and for good reason. This Chinese Medicine technique uses silicone or glass cups to suction the skin and draw circulation closer to the surface of the body, relieving tension, moving energy, and drawing out toxins. The therapist may move the cups around or leave them stationary. When getting a cupping treatment, be sure to warn anyone who might see your back, as the marks from cupping, while not painful, can look quite alarming to the uninformed.

Sports Massage – If you’re active, you need regular massage therapy to keep your body in peak performance condition, much like you change the oil in your car to keep it running smoothly. Some of our massage therapists are athletes themselves and understand the unique needs of the active individual. Whether treating or preventing injuries, improving range of motion, or addressing muscle imbalances, our therapists will not only provide expert hands-on therapy, but will also recommend exercises that can keep you injury-free.

Prenatal Massage – pregnancy can take its toll on the body’s muscles and joints. Back pain and swelling become daily nagging issues as pregnancy progresses. While these changes are normal they don’t have to be a burden for you. Massage can help you feel more comfortable in the later trimesters.

Some Unexpected Benefits of Massage

Lymph drainage – your lymphatic system helps your body get rid of inflammation and infection, but it doesn’t have its own pump. Massage can help move lymph around the body, which can reduce swelling where lymph has pooled.

Mood improvement – although relaxation is an expected benefit of massage, therapeutic touch can help improve mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression. Scientific research shows that massage can help regulate stress hormones which are out of balance in depression disorders.

Scar treatment – sometimes, scars can be the source of pain as they disrupt the tissues around them. Scars can pull on and distort layers of fascia and cause pain in other areas of the body. Therapists can help mobilize scars so that they can move more freely and cause less pain and dysfunction.

Detoxification – moving the lymph and other tissues around can help liberate toxins from the body. Massage can move the muscles and lymph even when you can’t move around much yourself.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Does massage have to hurt?

Not at all! It is crucial that you have an honest conversation with your massage therapist about the type of massage you are looking for. Everyone’s pain threshold is different, and massage therapists rely on client feedback to determine how much pressure to apply. Please do not suffer through something, communicate with your therapist.

I’m nervous about a male massage therapist, can I have a female therapist?

Pending availability, you can absolutely choose whichever therapist you like. However, you should know that we have several male massage therapists who are regularly busy because of their expertise, professionalism, and approachability. Massage therapists are highly regulated and are not allowed to massage certain areas of the body, such as gluteal muscles, without explicit permission, including a signed form from each patient.

What if I want to try another therapist?

Each therapist has their own individual style, strengths, and personality. If that style does not match with what you need, please speak up! Do not hesitate to try another therapist, as the next therapist might be the perfect person for you. We just want what’s best for you.

How often should I get a massage?

Your massage therapist should let you know when you should follow up next, especially because different people with different complaints need their own treatment regimens. Other times, a referral may be necessary to work with another practitioner. For most people, twice monthly is a reasonable goal, but anything counts.

Do I have to do the exercises?

You don’t ever have to do anything, but your therapist may recommend exercises to help increase the lasting benefits of your massage. One of the main reasons we develop pain is due to muscle imbalances, and corrective stretches or exercises addresses the pain at the cause. You should not postpone your follow-up massage just because you didn’t do your homework, but do know that our therapists recommend them for the sake of your good health.

Tips to Make your Massage More Effective

Drink plenty of water – water lubricates all of your body’s tissues, and dehydration can cause the soft tissues of the body to tighten. Water is your best friend. Drink the best quality water you can get.

Keep active – motion reduces inflammation and increases circulation of blood and lymph, which helps tissues heal. In addition to good quality sleep, movement such as walking, tai qi, yoga, cycling, dancing, etc. will help your body heal faster and prevent injury down the road. Staying strong is the secret to living well.

Do your stretches – at the risk of sounding repetitive, you may have corrective exercise suggestions from your therapist. Following these instructions can help prolong the effects of your massage and address the structural reasons for your injury or discomfort.

See a physiotherapist or Chiropractor – keep getting the same injury? In this case, massage may be an excellent treatment to get you out of pain, but there may be some underlying issue that needs to be addressed to keep you injury-free. We have a full team of professionals at our clinic to help you stay at your healthiest.

We look forward to seeing you at your next massage!