Squamish Wellness Directory

Thai Massage for Health Professionals - September 19-23

Yoga, Ayurveda & Thai Massage Retreat | April 30 - May 2, 2010

Expand and deepen your experience of yoga through Thai massage and Ayurveda, yoga's sister science of holistic wellness.

April 30- May 2, 2010

$480.00

Come and experience the rugged elegance of BC's coast, while you relax your body, quiet your mind and open your heart

Your 2-Night Yoga, Thai & Ayurveda Retreat Includes:

• 2 nights accommodation at The Sea to Sky Retreat Center
• West Coast Cuisine featuring fresh vegetarian fare
• Morning and afternoon daily yoga and meditation instruction
• Thai Massage simple treatment exchange
• Practical Ayurvedic principles and theory
• Hiking in a Coastal Rainforest amongst the Thai Buddhist Monastery
  

This program is suitable for:

• Anyone seeking knowledge and practical tools for a deeper integration
  

       of wellness in all aspects of daily living for yourself and your family.

• Yoga Teachers, wishing to enrich their instruction for their students.
• Health Care Providers looking to expand their knowledge of diet and
  

       lifestyle as seen through the Thai Massage Practices, Ayurveda and Yoga.
 
The Sea-to-Sky Retreat Centre
 
 The retreat will be held at the beautiful and rugged Sea-to-Sky Retreat
 Centre (SSRC) just south of Whistler, B.C. The SSRC was founded in 1993 by
 Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche. The site is secluded on 40 acres on the east
 side of Daisy Lake in the beautiful British Columbia coastal mountains. The
 centre was been hosting a range of events since 1995 including group and
 personal retreats for both Buddhists and non-Buddhists.
 
For more information regarding the Retreat and for Registration please visit our website at www.whistlerhealingarts.com
Email at info@whistlerhealingarts.com Colleen @604-905-0771 

What is Active Release (ART)?

Active Release (aka Myofascial Release) Techniques is a system of treatment for soft tissues such as muscle, tendon, nerve and fascia. Injury to these tissues occurs in many ways; such as, repetitive strain, acute trauma, and injuries from holding a position for a long period of time (such as poor posture).

When the body is injured, its response is to heal the tissue. This is accomplished by initiating an immune response. Our immune system sends cells to the damaged tissue to clean and protect against infection and then repair the damage. This is the stage of healing in which there is inflammation and acute pain.

Fibrous connective tissue, or scar tissue, is the main tissue involved in repair. When scar tissue develops, the body tries to lay it down as quickly as possible. It is not concerned with the direction the fibres are being laid down, rather its job is to mend the wound as quickly as possible to prevent further injury. The laying down of scar tissue is a natural and beneficial process and a necessary step that needs to occur when our body is wounded. The healing process requires time and rest and should be honoured.

Scar tissue, however, can become a problem. This type of tissue is depleted in blood flow and resistant to movement. Over time, it can start to pull on the surrounding tissue which, in turn, injures them and causes scar tissue to spread out over a larger area. It is imperative to keep scar tissue mobile and the surrounding tissue strong to prevent ongoing injury.

Once the tissue is healed enough to withstand touch, techniques such as active release are extremely beneficial in keeping it mobile. Active release involves a precise hand placement over the site of injury. During treatment, the muscle in which the scar tissue resides is first shortened by moving the limb; this creates slack in the muscle. A precise hand contact on the scar tissue is made which takes up any remaining slack and the scar is held against its own resistance. Then, either active movement performed by the client, or passive movement performed by the therapist lengthens the muscle in the opposite direction. This motion effectively sheers the muscle in the opposite direction of the scar tissue. The result frees up the scar from the surrounding musculature allowing for more free flowing movement.

This shearing motion is highly effective against nerve entrapments from tight musculature which cause symptoms of Sciatica, Carpal tunnel syndrome and Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. Massage therapists are trained in methods to address scar tissue using a variety of manual techniques. Active release technique is a method gaining increasing popularity. Rest assured that massage therapists who choose to specialize in this therapy participate in an intensive training program and are tested on the techniques before receiving certification to use them in practice. Consult your massage therapist if you are experiencing discomfort due to old scar tissue injuries. Taking an active approach to your health care may be the key to manifesting a better quality of life.

Source:

Leahy DC, Michael P. (1998). Active Release Techniques Soft Tissue Management System For Lower Extremities (2^nd ed.) Active Release Techniques, LLC.

 204-38026 Second Ave. Squamish BC 604-892-5557 www.seatoskymassage.ca

Sacredasia Thai Herbal Compress Massage Training March 27-29

Tuition $495+gst, includes training manual & herbs for the weekend.

Join us in Squamish at The Spectacle Conference Room for a weekend learning the therapeutic herbal poultice massage of Thailand. This treatment incorporates deep heated compression massage along the energy channels with acupoint work and Thai stretches. This treatment may be done on the mat or on the table and is an easy add on to any treatment as an adjunct to an existing practice. *Massage experience is not required to take this course.

Benefits & Select Herb Properties

* reduces swelling  (turmeric)

* increases circulation & flushes lactic acid (ginger) 

* tonifies the skin (kaffir lime)

* reduces muscle pain - analgesic (camphor)

(Other herbs included are cinnamon, lemongrass & eucalyptus. Packs can be modified for allergies or sensitivities.) 

**This program is eligible for Continued Competency Credits with The NHPC & Thai Healing Alliance International.

CONTACT: Kristin at Sacredasia : 604.905.9452 or info@ancientthaimassage.ca

Sacredasia Thai Massage Practitioner Training, April 29- May 29

^{Photo by Jimmy Martinello}

~Recognized Program with Natural Health Practitioners of Canada & The Thai Healing Alliance International~

Tuition: $2225+gst, $325 deposit required to hold your space.

Nestled under the mountainous backdrops, we will spend 5 weeks studying the foundations of Nuad Thai Paen Boran, which translates from Thai language as 'ancient revered touch with the intention of imparting healing'. There is daily morning practice of either Mediation, Ruesi Dut Ton (Thai Hermit Self Stretching Exercises), Yoga or Qi Gong. A strong emphasis is placed on self care and balanced practitioner development through intake, assessment, anatomical highlights & physiological conditions, ethics and more. Learn 225 positions in the Northern lineage. Graduates are given skills for practice management and experience in a professional setting through our practicum clinic. New and experienced students welcome! See website for more details.

* This program will be held at Earth-Wisdom Yoga Studio, Pemberton BC with a delectable Raw food cuisine lunch bar...

Contact: info@ancientthaimassage.ca or 604.905.9452     
www.ancientthaimassage.ca
 

Grand Openings for: Garibaldi Health Clinic & Squamish Therapeutic Massage

The opening of two new health clinics at the Galleries in the Garibaldi Estates was a great time on Friday night. Both clinics were packed with people that were mingling, snacking, sipping and having a great time. The Garibaldi Health Clinic created by Ashely Gordon ND and Squamish Therapeutic Massage's second clinic created by Susan Chapelle RMT are both lovely new clinics with a very holistic feel. They both did a great job of creating welcoming, warm and nurturing centres. There is bound to be a lot of healthier clients coming out of that building.

The two clinics are located at Galleries building: #106 and #108 – 41105 Tantalus Road in the Garibaldi Estates.

whistlerRMT

The realms of manual therapy continue to expand and surprise me while working with French Osteopath, Jean-Pierre Barrral www.barralinstitute.com. Manual therapy techniques of this sort are highly effective for long-standing chronic pain conditions. The understanding is that myofascial pain and tension can lodge in tissue and create psychobiological restrictions resulting in decreased nerve firing, decreased circulation and muscle action. These techniques are gentle and deeply relaxing/ The results are improvement in localized lymph drainage, improved emotional and mental patterns that no longer serve us and increased awareness to any postural compensations. 

Colleen Fraser, RMT

cgfraser@shaw.ca

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Enjoy good health,

The Squamish Wellness Practitioners