"Massage therapy is a hands-on manipulation of the soft tissues of the body, specifically, the muscles, connective tissue, tendons, ligaments and joints. Massage therapy treatment has a therapeutic effect on the body and improves health and well-being by acting on the muscular, nervous and circulatory systems. Physical function can be developed, maintained and improved and physical dysfunction and pain can be relieved or prevented through the use of massage therapy." College of Massage Therapists of Ontario ©2002

Massage therapy is a regulated health profession in only three provinces: BC, Ontario, and Newfoundland/Labrador. Registered Massage Therapists in Ontario are regulated health professionals requiring 2-3 years of training and over 2,200 hours to acquire certification from a recognized school. An RMT holds a Certificate of Registration from the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario (www.cmto.com) and adheres to practices regulated by the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991 and the Massage Therapy Act, 1991. RMTs (or MTs) are required to adhere to ongoing professional development in order to maintain a high professional standard and quality of care.

At your first massage, you'll be asked to fill out a short patient health-history form. It is important that your Massage Therapist know if you have any health issues, allergies or are taking medications as these might impact your treatment. You'll also be asked to identify the reason you've come in for a massage.

After the form is filled out, your RMT will talk with you about any additional concerns you may have. This is the perfect time to discuss specific pain or tension areas, ask the Massage Therapist about the kinds of massage they would recommend or ask more questions about massage therapy. Once your RMT understands what you need, she can create the right treatment plan for you.

Your RMT will bring you to a massage room, explain how to prepare for a massage, how to position yourself on the massage table and she will leave the room while you set up. Please note that to alleviate pulling on your skin, RMTs typically use lotion or oil. If you have specific skin conditions preventing the use of either, please inform your Therapist.

The purpose of massage is not to hurt, but to relax and/or speed healing. Your RMT will ask you about the amount of pressure and your comfort level before, during and after your massage. It's very important that you tell them your expectations and make them aware if you are feeling discomfort.

Some types of massage may cause discomfort. For instance, a deep tissue massage intended to release the tension from a sport- or injury-related muscle spasm may be uncomfortable at the time, but will feel better after therapeutic massage.

Remember, the intent of massage is always to speed healing, help you relax and get you back to your regular, active self as quickly as possible.

Typically, a Massage Therapist works best with direct skin contact, which means you will remove some/all of your clothing. However, RMTs are required to cover/drape patients to ensure your privacy and comfort. If you choose to wear some clothing, please bring items you can move easily in (like a bathing suit, workout gear, short/tank top). Note: these items may get lotion or oil on them.

It is very important for your Massage Therapist to know your comfort level regarding clothing. Please make sure you discuss at time of booking or soon after you arrive for your appointment.

You can book a 30-, 45- or 60-minute appointment. Our ability to give you the amount of time you request depends on the openings we have during the day. Our baby massage/massage lessons are 20 minutes long.

After a massage it is very important to hydrate. Drink plenty of water (1-2L) and avoid dehydrating beverages like coffee and alcohol. Your RMT may recommend other types of follow-up like icing the treated area, applying heat, stretching exercises, and/or a hot shower or Epsom Salt bath. These suggestions will be based on your RMT's professional assessment and the type of treatment you have received.

If your condition is chronic or sports related, there are stretches and/or exercises you may be able to do at home to help. Ask your RMT!

We do!

Please call us at (519) 571-7292. If we are in a session with another patient, you will be directed to leave a message for us. In your message, make sure you tell us your name, phone number where we can reach you, if you'd like to hear back from a specific RMT and how long a session you would like. If you are comfortable, you can leave information about the kind of help you are looking for (for example; pregnancy massage, treatment of an injury, arthritic relief, etc.).

Yes, we will call you back as soon as we can! If our RMTs have back-to-back appointments (no pun intended), it may take us a while to call you, but we definitely will! Just make sure you leave us the number where we'll most likely reach you.

Absolutely! All of our Massage Therapists are professional practitioners registered with the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario and are members of the Registered Massage Therapists Association of Ontario. Every member of our team is capable of providing excellent care.

That said, if you would like a specific type of massage (like pregnancy or myofascial release) or an alternative treatment, please specify. Our RMTs have different specialties and we will make certain you have an appointment with the right person.

If you know which type of massage you would like, you can specify when you call or leave a message. For information on different types of massage or alternative treatments we offer, please visit our other pages.

Your extended health care plan or insurance may cover massage treatment by a Registered Massage Therapist. Many plans or insurers require a referral from a doctor before they will cover you. You will need to check with your plan administrator/insurer.

A Natural Alternative does not bill directly to extended health care plans/insurers. We bill you, the patient, directly at the time of your massage. You are then responsible for submitting the receipt/claim to your health care plan/insurance provider.

Note: Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) does not cover Therapeutic Massage.

We require 24-hours notice for appointment cancellations. If you are a no-show or do not give us time to re-book your spot, we will charge you the full amount for your appointment. Please see the Rates & Hours page for the amount.

Please call (519) 571-7292 and speak to one of our RMTs or leave a message informing us you wish to cancel. Don't forget to include the details of the appointment (time, date, your name)!

If you can't make your appointment and do not notify us, we will assume you are a no-show and charge you the full amount for your appointment in accordance with our cancellation policy. We don't really want to do that, so please do your best to call us and let us know if you cannot make your appointment!

Yes we do! If you'd like to give a friend or loved one the gift of a relaxing or therapeutic treatment, we can definitely help. Our gift certificates are perfect for baby showers (baby massage lesson or pregnancy massage), birthday or celebratory gifts.

Our offices are located at 660 Frederick Street. There is angled parking for 4 cars in front of the building. There are two doors at the end of the driveway, the massage clinic door is on the right and is marked "Office". Please see our Contact Us page for more information and directions.