About Us

Andrea began practicing massage in 1995, receiving Massage Therapy training in the UK and Toronto. She continued her education at the Canadian College of Osteopathy, completing her diploma in Osteopathic Studies.

Over her many years as a massage practitioner, Andrea developed a special interest in postural alignment and biomechanics. Now, as a Practitioner of Osteopathic Manual Therapy, she continues to deepen her understanding of the body’s ability to function as a unit. Her techniques range from the very deep, to the very subtle as she employs both direct and indirect techniques to support the body in restoring balance; each treatment being unique to the patient and their needs and comfort. Ongoing education has given Andrea the skills to complete a thorough assessment, facilitating the creation of a treatment plan to address underlying issues contributing to both acute and chronic pain scenarios. Andrea has a special interest in perinatal and paediatric care, as well as helping patients find solutions to recurring pain and injury. See “Our Approach” for more about specific approach to treatment.

What is Osteopathy?

From the Canadian Federation of Osteopaths:

Osteopathy is a patient-centered approach to health. It is guided by principles relating to the patient as a whole. The body is a self-regulating, functional unit in which function and structure are inter-related, and healthy tissues require proper circulation of all body fluids. Skilled palpation and a detailed knowledge of anatomy, physiology and biomechanics guide the Osteopath to assess and restore balance within and between all the systems of the body; musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, neurological, cranial and visceral.

Note: In Canada, practitioners of osteopathy are called Manual Osteopaths and practice only the manual therapy aspect of osteopathy, and not medical osteopathy as practiced by Osteopathic Physicians (US).

What is Massage Therapy?

From the CMTO website:

The Massage Therapy Act, 1991, the provincial legislation for Massage Therapy in Ontario, defines the practice of Massage Therapy as “the assessment of the soft tissue and joints of the body and the treatment and prevention of physical dysfunction and pain of the soft tissue and joints by manipulation to develop, maintain, rehabilitate or augment physical function, or relieve pain.” This is referred to as the “Scope of Practice.”

Massage Therapy treatment has a therapeutic effect on the body, general health and overall well-being. Massage Therapy may be used to maintain and improve physical health and can also ease the effects of physical pain.

Massage Therapy is popularly considered a beneficial treatment for sore and tight muscles, and research shows that it can help reduce inflammation and ease pain associated with soft tissue injury. Some studies also show that it can have beneficial effects on a wide rage of conditions including: prenatal depression, preterm infants, full-term infants, autism, skin conditions, pain syndromes including arthritis and fibromyalgia, hypertension, autoimmune conditions including asthma and multiple sclerosis, immune conditions including HIV and breast cancer and aging problems including Parkinson’s and dementia.