What Massage Therapy can do for you

 O Reduces back/shoulder/neck pain         O Increases circulation
O  Improves lymphatic circulation                O Decreases menstrual pain
O Decreases joint pain                                 O Relieves tension headaches
O Reduces overall stress                              O Decreases sciatic pain
O Prepares the body for deep tissue massage  

O Promotes increased well-being and vitality 

                                                Insurance Coverage

Massage Therapy is regulated under the Regulated Health Professions Act (RHPA) in the province of Ontario. As a health care professional, my services are covered in part or full on many health care policies. I am registered through the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario (CMTO). Check to see if you and your family qualify for coverage.

                                                 Types of massage

Swedish Massage:  A term heard a lot. There are 5 different styles of long, flowing strokes. Effleurage (sliding or gliding), petrissage (kneading), tapotement (rhythmic tapping), friction (cross fiber) and vibration, Rocking & shaking.  This type of massage is usually used when someone is experiencing pain, joint stiffness, poor circulation, hypertension or tight muscles.

Pregnancy Massage: The techniques used here are similar to Swedish Massage. What is the difference between Pregnancy Massage and regular massage? Click here

Deep tissue Massage:  Most of my clients enjoy a deep tissue massage. But it doesn’t necessary mean I’m going to show you how strong I am! The basis of this technique is to address the deeper muscles, not to feel pain with massage. Deep pressure should be applied within a person’s pain tolerance. If this technique is too deep, you will react by guarding and contracting your muscles, so you won’t get the benefits of this technique. Trigger point therapy (ischemic compression) and muscle stripping are some of the techniques I use to reach those deeper structures. Ulnar border kneading (using the forearms instead of my hands or thumbs) help breakdown the tight connective tissue (found underlying the skin and wrapped around muscles and organs) is a firmer form of deep tissue massage.

Hotstone Massage:  Balsalt stones are heated in a water-filled heater. If the stones are too hot for me to handle, they will not go near you. I have a container full of cold water to cool stone down until I can handle them.  I slowly introduce one stone to your body (I tend to cool the first stone down to a lukewarm temperature to slowly introduce the temperature variance to your body.) Each stone afterwards won’t be such a temperature difference. The first time anyone experiences a Hotstone massage, they cannot help but feel a little uneasy, because it is hard to know what to expect, unless you have already experienced a Hotstone Massage. Benefits

TMJ Therapy: there are intra-oral and working the muscles of mastication (chewing muscles). I shy away from the intra-oral, as I find it a little too invasive. Working on the face muscles, especially around the TMJ and jawbone as well as the sub occipitals (tiny muscles located on either side of base of the skull).

             Direct billing for most group and private insurance companies

                                                  (ask for details).

           **  A doctors note will be required for direct billing  **

                 Motor Vehicle Accident Victims welcome. (HCAI)

                         Must have Dr approval (Dr note)

                   Workers Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) welcome.

                                    (Accepting new WSIB claims)

 

 

Melissa TsuLin Thompson RMT