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Whether
you're pregnant, feeling achy from having a toddler use you as a
pillow all night, or just need an hour for yourself to decompress,
a good massage can yield a diaper bag full of benefits for your body
and mind. However, finding the right massage therapist is like finding
the perfect pair of shoes. If you're going to go through the trouble
of arranging for a baby sitter and possibly pumping in preparation
for your time away, the experience had better be worth it, right?
Firstly,
there is the question of style. Keep in mind that what fits one person
perfectly may not suit another. Then there is the question of quality.
Qualified massage therapists are highly skilled and trained professionals.
With so many places offering massages, the selection can be a little
overwhelming. So, what exactly should you be looking for?
Rachel Bouthillier, our resident infant massage instructor,
Certified Massage Therapist, and owner of Quanta Wellness Center in
Pointe-Claire has some insider information to share.
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The inspiration for this blog came
about after I decided to venture out to see what kind of massage services
were out there. I went for two massages at two different locations;
both were disappointing.
In Quebec, massage therapy is not officially recognized by the provincial
government, so theoretically anyone can call themselves a massage therapist,
whatever their experience and training. However, those that are serious
about the profession will seek their training from the best schools.
My hope is for more standardized training
and certification, which will help bring the profession closer to government
recognition and accreditation. This would promote awareness
in the massage therapy field and maintain that it can offer a host of
benefits for clients with many different problems and situations.
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When
looking for a massage therapist, do your research! Don’t be afraid
to ask what type of training and certification the therapist
has. If the therapist is well qualified, they will be more than
happy to talk to you about it. They will be able to clearly state
the amount of hours they have trained within their field of study,
where they have trained, and who they have trained with, as well
as any specific certifications or specialty courses.
Hint, hint, hint! In Montreal, the KineConcept
Institute is the leader in teaching and research of massage therapy.
They continuously improve and update their programs and courses,
providing the best quality training for therapists to integrate themselves
and be successful in the massage therapy profession.
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Word of mouth! The
best way to find someone who is amazing at their job, knowledgeable,
and with great intuition, is to get a referral, either from a family
member, friends, co-workers, and even other health professionals.
Professional environment! Make sure the work space
is in a professional, clean, and comfortable environment. Also make
sure that you feel comfortable and safe with the therapist. Trust
and respect is necessary, because you may share a lot of personal
information as well as need professional advice. |
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Most importantly, look for someone who practices
what they preach. A massage therapist should know how to maintain
their own physical, mental, and spiritual health and wellness. This
will allow them to care for and support their clients with their
full potential. Before your first massage with a new therapist,
please make sure that a health status report is completed WITH
THE THERAPIST!! Here is a list of a few things that should
be covered: reason for consultation, injuries past and present,
surgeries, medical conditions, medication taken, allergies.
To wear or not to wear underwear? Every professional
massage therapist has been taught how to drape the sheets, whether the
client is wearing underwear or not, to ensure that only the part of
your body being worked on is exposed. Therefore, it is up to the client’s
comfort level.
Good luck and have fun in your search!
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Massage is the study of anatomy in
Braille.
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-
Jack Meagher |
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Rachel
has always visualized an active lifestyle with a career to match.
She graduated from Concordia University with a Bachelor of Science,
Specialization in Exercise Science in 2004, which became the starting
point to a passion she was soon to discover.
Rachel attended the Kiné-Concept Institute
in Montreal, where she graduated in Kinetic Swedish massage
in 2005. She quickly became excited about her new education of natural
healing and health, and felt she needed more. She continued
studying, and graduated in Masso-Kinésitherapy in 2007. With
over 1000-hours of training in Massage Therapy, she continued
to enhance her education with courses in Craniosacral
Therapy, Fasciatherapy, and Massage adapted for pregnant women.
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For three years, Rachel was the head Massage Therapist
for a pre and post natal center in the West Island. She gained a lot
of experience working with moms-to-be, new moms, and babies. She also
enjoys teaching various baby massage courses, which provide new mothers
with techniques to help their babies with constipation, colic, sinus
congestion and much more.
Rachel is certified with the Association des Massothérapeutes
Professionnels du Québec (AMPQ) and the Association des Naturothérapeutes
du Québec (ANQ).
Her objective is to help rebalance the body (proper
postural alignment), and help regain fluidity and flexibility of the
tissues with a therapeutic touch. The ultimate goal being long-term
pain relief and/or injury prevention/rehabilitation, so her clients
can maximize their enjoyment of an active and healthy lifestyle.
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WIN A 60 MINUTE MASSAGE!
The
givewaway is open to Facebook fans of Quanta Wellness Center and Moms
Near Me.
Contest closes Thursday March 7th at midnight. Winners
will be announced on Friday.
Good luck!
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Enter below
and don't forget to share the link with your friends!
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