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What Is Massage Therapy? The purpose of massage therapy is to prevent, develop, maintain, rehabilitate or augment physical function or relieve pain (Massage Therapy Act, 1991). Massage Therapy is recognized as one of the oldest methods of healing, with references in medical texts nearly 4,000 years old. It is a widely accepted and effective treatment for reducing stress, decreasing muscle pain and stiffness, and for aiding in rehabilitation and postural realignment. Massage therapists use a variety of techniques that, along with prescribed client self care, help to facilitate improved health and well being. How Can Massage Therapy Benefit You? Massage therapy can be tremendously beneficial for people of all ages and conditions. While it is known best to benefit the ill, the injured and the stressed, massage is also a great treatment in preventing illness and conditions before they develop. Regular therapeutic massage from a Registered Massage Therapist can be an excellent part of your health maintenance by;
Massage therapy not only treats those parts of you that are a problem, but also affects your whole body. It is not only your muscles that are treated during a massage, but also your circulatory and nervous systems. This helps to restore an overall feeling of well being. Many of today’s health problems arise from stress. Because stress upsets the delicate balance of all your body’s functions, regaining this balance requires a holistic (whole body) approach. Massage therapy is safe and effective for stress management, but is also highly effective for various other problems, including, but not limited to:
There are a few conditions where massage may not be recommended; acute inflammation (swelling), severe osteoporosis, hemophilia, red, irritated or rash on the skin, difficulty breathing or directly on varicose veins. A massage should be a relaxing, pleasurable experience. The pain or pressure felt during some types of massage should always be temporary Finding the right therapist and the appropriate style can be daunting. The following are a brief description of some of the more popular massage techniques available. If you are not sure if massage is right for you, contact your Physician, or call / e-mail us here at Sage and we’ll be happy to discuss it with you. Do I Need To Undress For My Massage? You are encouraged to undress to your level of comfort. It is much more beneficial to apply massage techniques directly to the skin and massage therapists are required to drape you with a sheet so that they only expose the portion of your body on which they are working. It is quite possible to work on a client who is partially/ fully dressed; although this will limit the type of techniques the therapist can use. Your choices will always be respected & you will never be made to feel uncomfortable. What Can You Expect From Your First Massage Therapy Visit? We ask that you arrive 10-15mins early on your first visit. You will be required to fill out a confidential health history form, which will help your therapist in creating your assessment and treatment plan. The therapist will then explain the massage process and answer any questions you may have about your condition or tension. Remember that your first visit will include the assessment in your treatment time. What Are Registered Massage Therapists’ Qualifications? Registered Massage Therapy is regulated by the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario (www.cmto.com). Massage students must complete 2200 hours of intensive anatomical, physiological and clinical studies, including practical instruction, at a massage therapy college. Graduation is a prerequisite to taking the provincial examinations; successful candidates then become licensed and registered under the Regulated Health Professions Act (RHPA). All current registered massage therapists (R.M.T.) are members of this College, and only members of this college may call themselves Massage Therapists or Registered Massage Therapists. Is Massage Covered By OHIP Or Extended Health Care Benefits Policies? Massage therapy is not covered by OHIP; however, many private insurance companies provide full or partial coverage under extended health care packages. Most insurance companies no longer require a physician’s referral. Please check your individual policy. We require our clients to pay for their treatments at the time of receiving the treatment, which we will supply an official receipt for you to submit to your insurance company. If you do not have extended health care benefits you may wish to consult with Revenue Canada or your financial planner to determine if claims for massage therapy under "Medical Expenses" on your income tax return will be permitted. Under the new "no-fault" automobile insurance, potential coverage has increased for treatment of injuries sustained in automobile accidents. Direct billing to the insurance company may be available in the case of motor vehicle accidents. Please speak to us about your individual case.
Craniosacral Therapy ~ takes a whole-person approach to healing and the inter-connections of mind, body and spirit are deeply acknowledged. It is an effective, gentle & non-invasive form of treatment for a wide range of illnesses helping to create the optimal conditions for health, encouraging vitality and facilitating a sense of well-being. It is suitable for people of all ages including babies, children and the elderly, and can be effective in acute or chronic cases. What is the CranioSacral system? CranioSacral Therapy (CST) is a gentle, non-invasive approach that focuses on the CranioSacral system of the body. This system consists of the bones of the cranium; the skull, face and mouth and extends down to the sacrum, or tailbone. Membranes attached to the bones enclose a fluid called cerebrospinal fluid which circulates within this hydraulic system providing nutrients for your brain and spinal cord. As the fluid moves, bathing the brain and spinal cord, the membranes containing the fluid move. The bones of the cranium and sacrum also move to allow for these fluctuations of fluid pressure. This system plays the vital role of maintaining the environment in which the central nervous system functions. Since the brain and spinal cord are contained in the central nervous system it is easy to see that the CranioSacral system has a powerful influence over a wide variety of bodily functions. What will happen during a session? The client lies clothed on a table while a trained therapist evaluates for movement in various parts of the system. The therapist will generally begin at the feet and move up the body to the head testing the CranioSacral rhythm at different points. Seldom does the therapist apply pressure which exceeds 5 grams, or the weight of a nickel. The CST therapist works with the patient to assist the body's self-correcting mechanisms and to help the body release restrictions which it has been unable to overcome on its own. These restrictions inhibit the body's normal self-correcting tendencies. Rather than deciding how these changes should be made, the therapist follows cues from the body on how to proceed. When the therapist follows this gentle approach, the method is extremely safe and effective. What can CranioSacral therapy do? For over 30 years, CranioSacral therapy has been shown to be effective for a wide range of medical problems associated with pain and loss of function including; migraines, headaches, chronic neck and back pain, chronic fatigue, TMJ syndrome and many other conditions. CST is useful as both a primary treatment method or combined with other complementary techniques. This therapy has been effective in evaluating and treating problems associated with pain and dysfunction, lowered vitality and recurring infections. The light touch employed in this approach encourages your own natural mechanisms to improve the functioning of your brain and spinal cord, to dissipate the negative effects of stress and to enhance your general health and resistance to disease. While the focus of CST is to uncover the source of the problem, symptom relief is also achieved. The length of time and number of sessions needed is variable and depends, among other factors, on the complex layers of injury and trauma that may mask the original cause of the problem as well as the body's defence mechanisms. Due to its gentleness and effectiveness, many people include CST as a component in their personal wellness program. They report having more energy, sleeping better and being sick less often. Due to its influence on many body functions, CST is being used by various healthcare professionals including osteopathic physicians, medical doctors, naturopathic doctors, chiropractors, physical therapists, dentists, speech therapists and registered massage therapists. If you would like more information or to book an appointment please call 416-926-8794 or e-mail us: info@sageclinic.ca
What Is Hot Stone Massage & How Does It Work? Hot Stone Massage is an ancient healing art using the application of heated or cooled basalt or river stones to the body using a variety of principles and techniques. The stones have a strong magnetic field due to their composition of calcium and iron and as a result are efficient at restoring the body’s natural energy flow (called Qi pronounced “Chi”). Unobstructed flow of Qi helps to promote a healthy mind and body and an overall feeling of well being. The stones are cleaned between each client and heated to 120 – 150 degrees. The therapist uses traditional Swedish massage strokes and holds the stones with their bare hands. The therapist may also leave heated stones on specific points along your spine, on the face, in the palms of your hands or between the toes. The warmth of the stones will induce a state of deep relaxation as soothing heat flows within the body along the spine, radiating into the shoulders and flowing into the legs, down into the feet. If you have muscular injury or swelling/inflammation, cold stones may be used. How Long Is A Hot Stone Treatment? The duration of a Hot Stone Massage is can be from an hour to an hour and a half in length, allowing the entire body to be treated and therefore equally balanced. Sessions will flow with ease as the stones become an extension of the therapists’ hands. The therapist can also include hands-on Swedish massage techniques to the heated muscles for a deeper treatment. How Can Hot Stone Massage Benefit You? Primarily the goal of Hot Stone Massage is reducing or eliminating stress; however, Hot Stone Massage is also beneficial for decongesting lymph flow and providing relief for those with chronic muscular pain. There are a few conditions that would be contraindicated to hot stone massage therapy, please inform the therapist when booking so they can advise you. If you would like more information or to book an appointment please call 416-926-8794 or e-mail us: info@sageclinic.ca
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