Swedish massage is the manipulation of the soft tissues of the body, including skin, muscles, ligaments, tendons, and fascia. It is most often performed with oil or lotion. Techniques include effleurage (light long strokes), petrissage (circular manipulation), tapotement (percussive techniques), rocking and vibration techniques.

The bones of the skull and face (cranium) and the tailbone (sacrum) are linked via the membranes and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) that protect the brain and spinal cord.  Once an imbalance is detected, the body and the bones are used as levers to decrease bony and/or membranous restrictions. CranioSacral Therapy is a gentle, hands-on modality that uses the body’s own wisdom and therapeutic tools to facilitate natural health.

Craniosacral therapy (CST) is a treatment that can be applied to infants who’ve experienced head trauma and injuries. It’s often used for infants who underwent a difficult delivery which resulted in birth injuries, but it’s also effective for an array of other common problems that babies may experience including nursing and feeding problems, colic, teething issues, and more.

Acupuncture is a holistic approach to wellness that involves a comprehensive assessment and a hands-on body treatment. This treatment employs a range of techniques, such as gentle needle insertion, laser therapy, microcurrent stimulation, cupping, and ear seed application, either individually or in combination, to promote deep relaxation and rejuvenation.

Cupping, a notable component of acupuncture, is a technique that involves the application of special cups to the skin’s surface. These cups create a gentle vacuum or suction effect that helps to improve circulation and release tension in the muscles and connective tissues. By doing so, cupping can relieve muscle soreness, promote the body’s natural healing processes, and enhance overall well-being. The unique sensation of cupping is often described as a pleasant, soothing pull on the skin.

In the context of prenatal care, acupuncture offers expectant mothers a pathway to embrace their journey into motherhood with greater comfort and well-being. It provides relief from discomfort and pain, instills a sense of calm and empowerment, and assists in preparing the body for an optimal birthing experience and postpartum recovery.

The goal of cosmetic acupuncture or facial rejuvenation acupuncture is to reduce premature aging naturally without surgical interference and with little pain or side effects. By inserting incredibly fine, disposable sterilized needles into specific points on the face, skin is stimulated creating a healing response from the body including the production of collagen and elastin. Treatment will improve circulation, encourage lymphatic drainage, release tense muscles (jaw/neck etc.), sculpt contours, and give skin a beautiful healthy glow.

SER is a variation of CranioSacral Therapy that acknowledges and treats the emotions linked with tissue memory.  This could be the result of an injury, illness, traumatic incident or a life process.  An SER treatment often incorporates dialoguing: with the client, their Inner Physician (aka Inner Wisdom) and sometimes with the tissues themselves.

When indicated, and with expressed consent, this massage session targets specific breast issues experienced by women in all walks of life.  Outcomes from the treatment, draping of the body and the unique techniques used are all discussed prior to the actual massage to ensure you feel safe and comfortable with the overall direction of the session. Indications for breast massage include:

• Breast congestion
• Sore or painful breasts
• Large breasted women suffering neck and back pain
• Women recovering from lumpectomies or mastectomies who may experience lymphedema
• Scar tissue adhesions
• Loss of range of motion around the shoulder girdle

The muscles of the body are enveloped in several thin layers of fascia. Myofascial Release works to stretch and reshape the fascia and help restore full range of motion. Based on the body’s feedback, the therapist can determine how much force to use, the direction of the stretch and how long to stretch.

MLD is a gentle massage technique designed to promote the flow of excess lymphatic fluid in the loose connective tissue. It is a non-invasive, painless therapy intended for conditions such as swelling, neuromuscular disorders and congestion. It is also beneficial for decreasing some types of edema caused from trauma or scarring.

TAS is an ancient system of reflexive pressure point healing, which accesses the body’s natural corrective energies in order to bring balance to the body as a whole. The technique is non-invasive and the effects are profound. TAS can be used in treating specific conditions including chronic pain, mental distress or the overall well being of the body.

Offered exclusively at the Merivale location with Andrew

Pregnancy massage is offered to pre-, peri- or postnatal mothers. It addresses the specific needs of pregnant women such as discomfort in the lower back, feet, and legs.  Labour support is also available.

Trigger points are painful or irritated spots within a band of muscle  which often show a predictable referral pattern of pain. Treatment involves stretching and the application of heat, along with specific manual manipulation.

Hydrotherapy makes use of the healing properties of water to affect the soft tissues of the body. By applying heat or cold, the circulation can be increased or decreased, thereby relieving pain and promoting relaxation. Frequently used hydrotherapy tools include heating pads, cold packs and steams.

RMTi originated in Sweden in the 70’s when Kerstin Linde started using rhythmical elements for people with movement and development challenges. The series of movements are based on the same movements infants do in their earliest  months after birth to integrate reflexes. Primitive reflexes lay the foundation of development for posture, learning, emotions and behaviour.

RMTi has had success in many cases with development and movement issues like:

• ADHD
• Schizophrenia
• Psychosis
• Autism
• Cerebral palsy
• Brain injury
• Parkinson’s
• Multiple sclerosis
• Neural development delay
• Sensory processing disorder
• Eating disorders
• As well as many more conditions that affect movement and development.

RMTi is done on the floor to mimic the movements babies naturally and automatically make.  People who find it hard to have the rhythm actively, or who have jerky and uncoordinated movements with asymmetry of their body, can indicate dysfunction of the cerebellum and active primitive reflexes that are unintegrated.

Practice and passive movements (someone helping with the movements) can help the person feel and work on getting the rhythm and coordination to do the movements actively. The movements daily are less than 5-10 minutes to start out and work up slowly to 10-15 minutes daily or every second day. Short periods of time is all that is needed to benefit; too much will overstimulate the brain. The rhythmic movements are needed for the brain to link up its parts and act as one unit.

In infancy we need to be touched, hugged, rocked and allowed to move around freely. This signals the brainstem for tactile, vestibular, and proprioceptive senses. Without this there will be developmental delays. For example, babies born prematurely or the use of baby props that prevent infants from moving freely can limit the stimulation to the brain and affect development and primitive reflexes to be integrated.

Also any kind of injury or trauma, like whiplash or concussion, can cause these primitive reflexes, which are for survival, to need integration again.

RMTi has been used in Sweden for over 25 years.  The movements improve posture, breathing, endurance, and will gradually normalize muscle tone and over flexible joints. There are only 11 professionals in Ottawa trained in this form of brain remediation so far that we know of; 2 of which are Registered Massage Therapists that work at Kneaded Touch.

To make an appointment for assessment and treatment, contact our office and schedule with Stephanie Bergeron.