Andrea Sanders, RMT
3340 Anchorage Ave V9C 1x2 Victoria, BC, Canada

This mum is a doctor with a son that wants to be a surgeon. So to have fun and encourage him to learn she creates playdough surgery activities!

"A grown man looms behind my three-year-old daughter. Occasionally he will poke or tickle her and she responds by shrinking. Smaller and smaller with each unwan...ted advance. I imagine her trying to become slight enough to slip out of her booster seat and slide under the table. When my mother views this scene, she sees playful taunting. A grandfather engaging with his granddaughter. Mae. My tone cuts through the din of a familiar family gathering together. She does not look at me. Mae. I start again. You can tell him no Mae. If this isn’t okay you could say something like, Papa, please back upI would like some space for my body. As I say the words, my step-father, the bulldog, leans in a little closer, hovering just above her head. His tenebrous grin taunts me as my daughter accordions her 30-pound frame hoping to escape his tickles and hot breath. I repeat myself with a little more force. She finally peeks up at me. Mama . . . can you say it? Surprise. A three-year-old-girl doesn’t feel comfortable defending herself against a grown man. A man that has stated he loves and cares for her over and over again, and yet, stands here showing zero concern for her wishes about her own body. I ready myself for battle. Papa! Please back up! Mae would like some space for her body. My voice is firm but cheerful. He does not move. Papa. I should not have to ask you twice. Please back up. Mae is uncomfortable. Oh, relax, he says, ruffling her wispy blonde hair. The patriarchy stands, patronizing me in my own damn kitchen. We’re just playin’. His southern drawl does not charm me. No. You were playing. She was not. She’s made it clear that she would like some space, now please back up. I can play how I want with her. He says, straightening his posture. My chest tightens. The sun-bleached hairs on my arms stand at attention as this man, who has been my father figure for more than three decades, enters the battle ring. No. No, you cannot play however you want with her. It’s not okay to ‘have fun’ with someone who does not want to play. He opens his mouth to respond but my rage is palpable through my measured response. I wonder if my daughter can feel it. I hope she can. He retreats to the living room and my daughter stares up at me. Her eyes, a starburst of blue and hazel, shine with admiration for her mama. The dragon has been slayed (for now). My own mother is silent. She refuses to make eye contact with me. This is the same woman who shut me down when I told her about a sexual assault I had recently come to acknowledge. This is the same woman who was abducted by a carful of strangers as she walked home one night. She fought and screamed until they kicked her out. Speeding away, they ran over her ankle and left her with a lifetime of physical and emotional pain. This is the same woman who said nothing, who could say nothing as her boss and his friends sexually harassed her for years. This is the same woman who married one of those friends. When my mother views this scene, she sees her daughter overreacting. She sees me making a big deal out of nothing. Her concerns lie more in maintaining the status quo and cradling my step-dad’s toxic ego than in protecting the shrinking three-year-old in front of her. When I view this scene, I am both bolstered and dismayed. My own strength and refusal to keep quiet is the result of hundreds, probably thousands of years of women being mistreated, and their protests ignored. It is the result of watching my own mother suffer quietly at the hands of too many men. It is the result of my own mistreatment and my solemn vow to be part of ending this cycle. It would be so easy to see a little girl being taught that her wishes don’t matter. That her body is not her own. That even people she loves will mistreat and ignore her. And that all of this is okay in the name of other people, men, having fun. But. What I see instead is a little girl watching her mama. I see a little girl learning that her voice matters. That her wishes matter. I see a little girl learning that she is allowed and expected to say no. I see her learning that this is not okay. I hope my mom is learning something, too. November 21, 2018 Fighting the patriarchy one grandpa at a time. By Lisa Norgren Connect with her here: https://www.facebook.com/lisanorgrenwriter/ Photo: TheGuardian #SacredSistersFullMoonCircle #Spirituality #WomensWisdom #WomensEmpowerment #RedTent #SacredFeminine #Goddess #GoddessCircle #GoddessStudies #SacredMasculine #CyclicalLiving #WheeloftheYear #Mythology #Magic #Folklore #FolkTradition #BeautyTruthandLove #Feminism #Patriarchy

*Reminder of COVID-19 Protocols* Preliminary screening: It is required that you fill out your COVID-19 online pre-screening form 48-24 hours before your appointment time. The online screening form will always come in an email at the same time as your two day Appointment reminder.... Secondary screening: Upon your arrival to the clinic I, your therapist, will text you a secondary screening that you must respond to prior to being welcomed into the space to sanitize and continue on. If you have are having issues finding your online pre-screen, have arrived early to your appointment and want to notify me you're here, or any other questions related to our COVID-19 screening protocol please send me a message at (250) 639-6924 Thank you for your continued support, I look forward to serving you at your next appointment.

Need a touch up? 30 minute appointment available tomorrow at 2:00pm!

**Booking for the remainder of 2020 is OPEN!** Please be mindful when booking that circumstances change rapidly and your appointment may be changed or adjusted accordingly.

FILLED ** 4:00pm A V A I L A B I L I T Y T O D A Y ! ** Text Andrea at (250) 639-6924, first come first serve.

Regardless of your feelings toward gendering babies, this is darn cute.

*Appointment Availability Tomorrow* (Friday the 14th) 12:30pm - 60 minutes

Two appointments available tomorrow! 12:30 - 60 minutes 2:00 - 60 minutes Bookable online at JaneApp

Please do your part Be safe

* Appointments Available * Tuesday July 21st 12:00 pm - 60 minutes

Why has pressure diminished?

*ADVISORY* RE: Change to APPOINTMENT TIMES In order to accommodate our new sanitation protocol during our gradual transition back to work your therapists have had to increase the time in between their appointments. We have lengthened the previous 15 minutes to 30. Your June schedule will now reflect that. Please check your JaneApp schedule and cross reference this with what you had booked previously. I understand that this may come as an inconvenience to some of you, and I’m... very sorry. Please cancel as you need, and check back frequently for appointment times that suit you better. Appointment starts are now as follows: 9:00am 10:30am 12:00pm 1:30pm 4:00pm 5:30pm 7:00pm Please note: We have temporarily disabled the ability to book 90 minute appointments. We hope all of this to be a short term solution and can’t tell you how much we appreciate your understanding and flexibility. Much love, Andrea and the Pure Ellements team.

Dear valued patients, I am excited to announce our gradual return to practice this June. Though things will look much different than they did prior to March 15th, we look forward to serving you again. Please expect an email in the next couple days that will contain important information about our new location, sanitation protocol, and how you can help us through this transition. We need you to be in the know about our new treatment flow so that we can come together in a u...nified manner and provide a safe treatment for you, your family, and us and ours. PLEASE NOTE: - Appointments booked from the week of May 25th - 29th will be cancelled. Your therapists intend to begin their gradual return the first week of June. - Appointment times may change or be cancelled in order for your therapist to accommodate the new locations booking schedule and the new 30 minute sanitation breaks. Please keep an eye on your schedule through the Jane App software and expect changes to be reflected in the coming weeks. We appreciate your understanding and flexibility. Looking forward to seeing your (masked) faces!

*COVID 19 UPDATE* The CMTBC has provided it’s registrants with COVID 19 approved guidelines. We are working to develop and integrate these into our business model. As it stands, treatments for the week of May 19th - May 22nd will be cancelled. Your safety and our communities is of utmost importance to us. We want to ensure seamless sanitation protocols and work flow before we open our doors again to the public. ... I am optimistic for a full start to the week of the May 25th - 29th, but please be aware that there WILL be adjustments to the schedule and your appointment times to allow for these new changes. We appreciate your understanding and flexibility in the upcoming weeks. Wishing you and very happy and SAFE May long weekend!

COVID 19 Update: Hello all! I am very excited to relay the news that BC's provincial government has included registered massage therapy in Phase 2 of the restart plan. Phase 2 begins no sooner than May 19th, the Tuesday following May long weekend. ... Our college (CMTBC) has given us follow up clarification about what this means for us as a profession. They are currently working with medical consultants to give us Provincial Health Officer (PHO) APPROVED protocols to follow during our gradual return to work. We still have quite a few considerations before giving an official date to start treatments. PPE, patient volume, sanitation protocols, touch less facilities etc. Jane App is open for booking as of May 19th (with myself), however a more REALISTIC date for a return to work is the week of June 1st. At this time, I encourage you to book your next treatments being mindful of a few things: Backflow - There are a lot of patients, like you, who have had their appointments displaced and cancelled. Please be mindful when booking large volumes of appointments to allow others who are in need of treatment access to their therapists. Liability and consent - Not only will we have new, extensive consent and screening protocols, you WILL be asked to sign a release of liability waiver for all COVID and illness related claims against your therapist. You are coming to a treatment at your own risk, and MY risk. Start date: It is very possible if you book before June, and even into the first couple of weeks of June, that your appointments will still be cancelled. I encourage all of you to read the statement that our governing body has given us re: yesterdays announcement. It will give you an idea of what treatments moving forward might look like, and the considerations that each of your therapists and other personal care providers must professionally and ethically consider before we deem it's safe to return. All this being said, I am SO excited to start working again. I also encourage you to email me with any concerns you'd like me to take into consideration before resuming. With MUCH love, Andrea and the Pure Ellements team. https://www.cmtbc.ca//covid-19-information-for-registrants/

#daysofgratitude Thursday April 9th: The quiet moments listening to easy tunes ironing a favourite outfit, simple pleasures. Friday April 10th: A brilliantly sunny walk, saying hello to animal friends on the way! Saturday April 11th: An indulgent day, being a couch potato, eating as many snacks and treats as my heart desired!!! Sunday April 12th: A beautiful home cooked Easter meal with my favourite dish, scalloped potatoes ... Monday April 13th: A SECOND MEAL OF SCALLOPED POTATOES?! Also finishing a fiction book, which I haven’t had a moment for in years! Tuesday April 14th: A peaceful run around elk/beaver lake, everyone gave space and the temperature was JUST right. Wednesday April 15th: A day on the beach in my fort, painting rocks and reading. Getting a SUNTAN! LIFE IS WONDERFUL. LIFE IS A GIFT. THIS DAY IS A BLESSING!

#2daysofgratitude #daysofgratitude I am grateful for having access to fresh delicious veggies to start my day with a full belly and a healthy breakfast!

#daysofgratitude #1daysofgratitude: Today I am overwhelmingly grateful for the support of my patients, family and friends. I said previously I'm making lemonade out of this, but it's not always easy. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for sharing your kind thoughts and lifted spirits, even when its been hard to do on my own. I'd like to extend an invitation with all of you. Until I get the green light to reopen practice, I'd like to share a moment of gratitude from each day. I challenge myself to update this every day, and I'd love for you all to do the same

COVID 19 Update: Massage Therapy Practice Ceased Hello all, as per recommendation of the PHO and our regulatory body, my massage therapy practice is indefinitely on hold. I am cancelling appointments a week at a time, but it is extremely likely that we will not be practicing until May at the earliest. I appreciate your continued patience and loyalty in this uncertain time. I am so grateful for every one of you. Wishing you love and and health.

Hello all, It is with sadness and concern that I report my decision to suspend my massage therapy practice. The CMTBC (college of massage therapists of British Columbia) have issued a statement strongly urging it’s registrants to cancel their appointments for the next 14 days, effective immediately. While this is not yet a federally and legally mandated request, I feel it is my responsibility as a health care practitioner to set an example for the public in this confusing tim...e. It’s easy to feel helpless when these ongoings seem so much bigger than us as individuals. But, it’s important to recognize there is much within our power we can do, and it’s our duty to do so. I encourage each of you to seriously observe the Canadian Governments guidelines for social distancing and self isolation. Appointments will be removed from the schedule March 18th - March 31st. It is my current hope to reopen practice as of April 1st. If anything should change, and if it becomes safe to treat earlier, you will be immediately notified and your appointments will be reinstated. I encourage you to look ahead in the schedule and ensure you have appointments coming up for yourself so that you won’t go too long without care.

* A V A I L A B I L I T Y T O M O R R O W * 11:15am - 60 Minute Massage Therapy

* A V A I L A B I L I T Y * I have opened up a few more appointments available in the coming week. September 23rd - 10am, 11:15am, 1pm, Septemeber 26th - 12:45pm... September 27th - 3:30pm September 30th - 8:45am Please follow the link and go ONLINE to book

A Midwife possess, The HANDS of a Lady, The EYES of a Hawk, & the HEART of a Lion.... I am honoured to know you, humbled to work alongside you and grateful to be able to show our community and the world the work that you do Happy International Midwives Day Midwives Association of British Columbia Cowichan Midwifery Collective Midwife Elizabeth Morrison, Matraea Midwives Sooke Midwifery Uta Emmi Herold Old City Midwives Matraea Midwives Yvanne Faught Canadian Association of Midwives Ten Moons Midwifery- Powell River

A 3:15pm appointment today has opened up! Send me a message or call if you’d like this to be yours A 3:15pm appointment today has opened up! Send me a message or call if you’d like this to be yours

Come check out this amazing powerhouse duo of women educating on pelvic health! This is an amazing opportunity that you surely won’t want to miss

Little life Spring is coming *knock on wood...* Next year, when I reflect on 2019, I hope to congratulate myself for taking on more environmental stewardship. Sow. Grow. Compost. Harvest. ... Cook happy healthy organic veggies to feed and keep yourself happy and healthy. These bad boys only took 48-60 hours to sprout on our heated floors. Romaine, salad mix and broccoli. Cauliflower, red pepper and tomatoes soon to be promoted from ground level to sunlight as well.

Living here on the Wild West coast it’s often difficult not to be awe stuck frequently. Not only does this emotion relate to increased life satisfaction, it even balances the immune system. Awe was the single positive emotion most likely to be linked to these lower levels of proinflammatory cytokines on a chronic basis. Have a quick read through this article for even more reasons to add wonder and awe to your life.

Friday, fri-yay! I love having graduated on to proper two day weekends. I’m a Monday to Friday gal now! Still accepting patients to my wait list for Sunday’s when I decide to open them up Have a rocking weekend all! ... #vancouverisland #massagetherapy #massagetherapist #friday #friyay #wellness #yyj #victoriabc

Praise be to this amazing man!

Nothing to do on snow days but a little home improvement! Thanks to @jamieferguson88 the early frameworks of our home office is settling into place. Stay tuned for new and exciting services I will be offering you in this coming year #sookebc #massagetherapy #dogmom #therapydog #registeredmassagetherapist #birthdoula #doulalove #mindbodyspirit #fitness #lifestyle

A coveted Sunday afternoon appointment has become available! 2:45pm for one hour. Hop online to book my friends!

- Y O U R S , T O M O R R O W - Friday, December 7th - 9:45am Hop online, email me at [email protected] or call the clinic at (250) 590-9610 to book your treatment

December sunrise on the sea #westcoast #bestcoast #sunrise #holistichealthcare #holistic #sunbathing #vitimind #positiveions #yyj #massagetherapy #victoriabc

Hello all! I am now accepting births for 2019! I can't wait to meet all the wonderful people this career path will lead me to. Message me today to find out how I can support you. Please share if you know someone who could use some loving touch this year,

- A V A I L A B I L I T Y T H I S W E E K - Only two more weeks until we tuck away to reset with our families and welcome in the new year. I’ve got 2 appointments available this week, head to my Facebook page and click Book Now or send me a message for your opportunity to catch up with yourself. Monday 2:00pm - 60 minutes *BOOKED*... Tuesday 10:30am - 60 minutes *BOOKED* Tuesday 2:00pm - 60 minutes *BOOKED* Friday 9:45am - 60 Minutes Friday 11:00am - 60 minutes *BOOKED* See more