My fascination with the human body began when I was young and part of a swimming team. Due to the demands of my coach and high level of competition, I realized the unlimited potential of the body for strength, endurance and flexibility. At the same time, I understood that most of us don’t know how to harness this power. My interest in fitness led me to aerobic dancing, weight-training, long-distance marathon running and martial arts eventually obtaining a black belt in karate. In time I received certification with Can-Fit-Pro as a personal trainer.

After seeing Guylaine Vallée on her palmistry TV show Être bien dans sa peau, my interest peaked on how palmistry could help me become happier in life. I joined up for a self-development program at the Birla Center, and went on to study Vedic palmistry and astrology, eventually becoming a teacher. I was also introduced to ayurvedic massage, yoga and meditation. From my experience, I discovered yoga to be one of the most complete forms of exercise which encompassed strength, endurance, flexibility as well as balancing the mind. It was fascinating to see the changes taking place in the lines of my hands, confirming the changes I felt were taking place within me. Eventually I became a full-time massage therapist with the Center, happy to become part of a great team.

This past year I was fortunate to be presented the opportunity to follow further massage training with Kiné-Concept, one of the most renowned schools in North America for therapeutic massage. I have now incorporated several new techniques into my massage practice. I am especially excited about integrating myofascial therapy into my ayurvedic bodywork, seeing the effect in freeing up the body for more ease of movement.

Fascia is the soft tissue component of the connective tissue that holds organs, tissues, and muscles in place. Even if there were no bones in our body, connective tissue would still hold our body together, keeping everything attached in its place. This soft tissue can become restricted due to overuse, trauma, or inactivity, often resulting in pain, muscle tension, and corresponding diminished blood flow. The human body tries to make up for postural imbalances caused by poor work habits, physical traumas and emotional stress. As a result, the fascia will shrink or stretch as it tries to adapt to the stresses. The deep body work, sometimes done with the elbow or the knuckles, helps release these ‘holding patterns’ to relieve chronic tension and restore balance. The practitioner moves slowly through the layers of the fascia until the deep tissues are reached.

Everything in the body is connected. For example, in order to correct pain in the hip, massage can be applied directly to that area. Although it might result in temporary relief, the origin of the problem may be traced to a tear or lesion in the connective tissue in the upper chest area that is pulling on the hip, causing discomfort there. Consequently, the original problem, which has to be addressed, is re-aligning the connective tissue in the chest area in order to alleviate the pull on the hip. One of the founders of deep tissue, Ida Rolf, explains that deep tissue stimulates a parasympathetic response in our nervous system, leading to rest and repair.

I look forward to sharing all these wonderful techniques in order to help you feel better.