Helping people comes naturally to Michelle! As a highly skilled Acupuncturist, Massage Therapist, and Advanced Care Paramedic she is widely recognized for developing unique care plans which draw on her knowledge and therapeutic touch gained across each of these specialized disciplines. Having over twenty years of combined expertise in caring for her patients, Michelle has had a front row seat to observe how stress and emotion affect the mind and body. Complementing her acupuncture services at Red Leaf Wellness, Michelle offers a variety of therapeutic and relaxation massage therapies, including pregnancy massage, myofascial release and myofascial cupping.

Michelle began her health career as a massage therapist, graduating the 2200hr Massage Program at Macewan University in 2001. Being active in competitive sport in her youth, Michelle understood the benefits of massage on sport performance, recovery and injury prevention. She subsequently branched into emergency care and became an Advanced Care Paramedic where she was able to offer a calming presence in stressful, emergent situations. Michelle has always believed that soft skills, an extra moment spent with family, or a hand to hold on the way to the hospital, can be as healing as the specific medical interventions themselves. Working as a Paramedic Michelle saw, and began to question, how it is that people differ in disease and the aging process and why the same drug benefited one person, but not the other. Her lifelong learning journey had her begin to look for these answers in the time-tested practice of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Acupuncture, thus kicking off another quest for knowledge at MacEwan University’s Acupuncture Program.

Education:

Diploma – Acupuncture, Macewan University Diploma – Emergency Medical Technician (Paramedic), Augustana University Honors standings Certificate – Massage Therapy Grant MacEwan College

Licensure:

RAc, College of Acupuncturists of Alberta (CAA) RMT, National Health Practitioners of Canada (NHPC) ACP, Alberta College of Paramedics

Kristel loves helping people on their wellness journey and, through massage therapy, she has witnessed the impact healing touch plays within holistic care. Kristel studied massage therapy at Mount Royal University in 2003 and has been practicing in different clinical settings for the past 15 years. Over the course of her career she has experienced just how connected the body really is. Wanting to expand her knowledge and skill sets she returned back to university studies. In 2016 she attended the National Manual Osteopathic College in Red Deer, Alberta where her studies focused on utilizing all available modern manual medicine techniques to assess injury and diseases of muscles, bones, joints, organs and nerves.

Kristel uses her massage therapy skills, focusing on fascial release, visceral manipulation, cupping and craniosacral therapy to help her clients return back to being able to accomplish the things they love doing and to live in as pain free a manner as possible.

Kristel likes to treat a wide variety of neurovascular, musculoskeletal, and obstetrical syndromes such as low back/pelvic pain, traumatic brain injury (TBI), concussions, whiplash, pregnancy, temporal mandibular joint (TMJ) disorders, structural and posture improvements. Her focus is on chronic care and rehabilitation.

Kristel loves to learn from and experience other regions. She has travelled around the world for work, studies, and personal growth. She grew up in small town Saskatchewan and has lived in Calgary, Halifax and Edmonton. Kristel also enjoys spending time with her great dane Odin.

With a foundation in Psychology and a certification in Holistic Nutrition, Shannon is also a level III Reiki practitioner and an aspiring Registered Massage Therapist. Her diverse skill set allows her to adopt an integrative approach to promote holistic well-being for her clients.

Currently, in the final year of her massage therapy studies, Shannon is committed to creating an environment where clients feel safe and free from judgment as they embark on their healing journey. She customizes each session to meet individual needs, drawing upon a wide array of techniques she has acquired through her educational journey. Whether you’re seeking therapeutic relief or relaxation, Shannon employs a variety of massage methods, with a special affinity for fascial and non-Swedish modalities. She eagerly anticipates the mutual learning experience that each session brings.

Education:

CERT – Certified Holistic Nutritional Consultant

Licensure:

C.H.N.C, Canadian School of Natural Nutrition

Manuela provides a sanctuary for her clients, a place where they can relax and rejuvenate. As a dedicated somatic practitioner, she believes in the body’s inherent wisdom and intelligence. Her compassionate approach and healing touch set the stage for relaxation, vitality, and energy flow. She is committed to optimizing your health in the most effective ways possible.

The therapeutic techniques Manuela specializes in—Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy, Massage Therapy, and Qigong—emphasize the interconnectedness of our physical, mental, and emotional states. Through her gentle Craniosacral touch, she helps to release long-standing tensions and restrictions. She places a special focus on balancing the central nervous system, enabling your body to achieve a state of rest, recovery, and optimal functioning.

Having recently graduated from the 2200-hour Massage Therapy Program at Reflexacademy in Sherwood Park, Manuela has broadened her range of services. She now offers Massage Therapy as a standalone treatment or in combination with Craniosacral Therapy. Her nurturing touch and massage skills work to dissolve muscle tightness and tension, restoring your energy and vitality to a harmonious state.

Beyond her hands-on treatments, Manuela offers additional resources to support your well-being. She consistently provides body meditations, exercises, and practical tips to help you maintain your health between sessions. Her extensive background in somatic techniques, which focus on the internal experience of movement and bodily awareness, equips her with invaluable tools to help you manage day-to-day stress and self-regulate both body and mind.

Schedule an appointment with Manuela to experience a range of benefits: from stress and anxiety reduction, pain and muscle stiffness alleviation, to enhanced relaxation and improvements in digestive, respiratory, and joint health, as well as circulation, energy flow, and immune system function. Her treatments aim to deepen your connection with your body, leaving you feeling peaceful and revitalized.

 

Education: 

Somatic Movement Therapist (SMT), Moving On Center, Oakland, USA Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapist (BCST), BodyIntelligence, Canada Qigong Instructor Certification (ASS Institute, Germany) Training in Continuum Movement (USA) Massage Therapy at Reflexacademy Sherwood Park, AB, Canada 2200hrs

Licensure: 

RBCST, Pacific Association of Craniosacral Therapists (PACT) Natural Health Practitioner Canada / NHPC (RMT)

Fluency: ?? – English | ?? – German

Royston is a registered massage therapist with a two-year advanced clinical massage therapy diploma from MaKami College. This program is the highest comprehensive massage therapy program of its kind in the province of Alberta, providing 3,000 hours of classroom and practical work experience.

Over a decade Royston has practiced various forms of meditations as well as energetic and vibrational modalities. These modalities include Jin Shin Jyutsu, Acupoint Therapy, Qi Gong, Reconnective Healing and a modality similar to Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy which he coined “Bio-Dynamic Energetic Therapy”. Royston specializes in chronic pain management through the balancing of the body’s energy fields and various energy systems.

These modalities help:
People who are sensitive to touch therapies and needling, reduce anxiety, stress and depression, relieve acute and chronic pain, increase the body’s energy and body awareness, and promote better circulation and improve mental focus.

Royston is also a certified NMT (Neuromuscular Therapist) and holds level III certificates in both Usui Reiki and Reconnective Healing. With both knowledge and experience, Royston uses energy and vibrational therapies to invoke the body’s natural ability to heal, bringing back balance to your mind, body, and soul.

Education: 

RMT, Registered Massage Therapist Diploma, Makami College NMT, Neuromuscular Therapist Certificate, International Academy of Neuromuscular Therapies Traditional Japanese Reiki (Third Degree) Certificate – Usui System of Natural Healing Reconnective Healing (Level III) Certificate Craniosacral Techniques

Licensure: 

RMT, Canadian Massage & Manual Osteopathic Therapists Association (CMMOTA)

Having successfully completed the Vicars School of Massage Therapy program, Keara holds a diploma backed by 2200 hours of rigorous clinical practice. Her proficiency in massage therapy encompasses a range of techniques such as trigger point release, alleviating fascial restrictions, intra-oral manipulation, and classic Swedish massage.

Keara has carved a niche for herself in addressing ailments like migraines and tension headaches, temporomandibular joint disorders (TMJ), whiplash injuries, insomnia, postural misalignments, and stress management through her specialized approach. She is continuously driven by her thirst for knowledge, and you can expect her to soon diversify her array of modalities to provide an even wider spectrum of care.

Beyond her professional life, Keara nurtures a passion for travel and yoga. While at home, she dedicates her time to tending to her abundant plant collection and caring for her two canine companions.

Education: 

RMT, Registered Massage Therapist Diploma, MH Vicars School of Massage

Licensure: 

RMT, Natural Health Practitioners Association of Canada (NHPC)