Rhiannon Major, Registered Massage Therapist
10-182 Wellington St. L1C 1W3 Bowmanville, ON, Canada

For anyone that saw the CBC interview, the information was incorrect and has now been corrected and clarified. Massage therapists are regulated healthcare professionals, therefore our services have been deemed essential. Massage therapy IS ALLOWED to operate within all regions of Ontario, including those in lockdown. We have strict guidelines and standards we have to follow, both from the CMTO and RHPA.

COVID-19 UPDATE As many of you know, Durham Region (including Clarington, Scugog, Brock, etc.) will be entering the RED - Control colour stage tomorrow. As it stands right now, these new restrictions do not apply to regulated health care professions - including massage therapy. We are open and operating as we have been since re-opening in June. Massage therapists are constantly monitoring the situation and referring back to the College of Massage Therapists of Onta...rio (CMTO) and the Chief Medical Officer/Public Health Ontario for guidance. HOW WE’RE KEEPING YOU AND OUR FAMILIES SAFE All patients and massage therapists wear face masks during all aspects of treatment. We wear medical grade masks and change our masks between every appointment. Everything is cleaned then disinfected with Health Canada approved disinfectants between every appointment. This includes treatment rooms, common areas, washrooms, POS machines - basically anything that gets touched. All patients and massage therapists are screened using the Public Health screening guidelines before every appointment. Please continue to complete our screening survey before your appointment. If you are feeling sick or developing any symptoms of illness, we ask that you please reschedule your appointment ASAP. I want to thank everyone who has been supporting my practice during this time and making this situation as bearable as possible! As much as many of us disagree with the lockdowns and restrictions, these are things we must comply with in order to remain open and to keep our businesses kicking. See more

NEW HOURS Effective December 1st I will adding full-time hours to @somacollectivehealth! You can now find me in-studio 3-4 days out of the week. Tuesdays 7AM to 3PM... Wednesdays 10AM to 6PM Fridays 10AM to 8PM Saturdays (alternating) 10AM to 2PM If you don’t find an appointment that works for you, you can add yourself to my waitlist through our online booking site! My new hours are up and open for booking. 2021 hours will be coming in November. See you in studio!

Great tips here! I’ve seen a surge in back and neck pain lately since most of my patients have been working from home since March. Try these tips at home!

ANNOUNCEMENT To my valued patients, effective November 21st I will be leaving Wellness Path. Although this was not a planned decision, I couldn't be more excited to move full-time into my own businesses @blyssfulessence and @perinatalmobile. If you are currently under my care, I am still taking appointments up until my last day with many openings available. I will do my best to reserve times specifically for patients who are currently undergoing a treatment plan.... If you would like an in-house referral, please don't hesitate to send me a message or ask me at your next appointment. You will now be able to find me at my private practice inside @somacollectivehealth and at my mobile practice @perinatalmobile. I am accepting new patients at both practices. I hope to see you soon.

This may be a controversial post because I've recently been seeing a lot of people advertising prenatal massage. Not all massage therapists have the same education when it comes to perinatal care. If you're looking for a prenatal massage, always look into the credentials of your RMT. Do they perform perinatal treatments regularly? Do they specialize in this field? Are they still practicing with the same education they got from a 2-hour class in third semester of school? Mass...age therapy is SO beneficial for mom and baby during pregnancy but your RMT should have additional education on positioning, pillowing, and perinatal related conditions. The most common education programs I have seen to date is Trimesters Massage Therapy Education and @perinatalmassage_education. Things I like to educate my patients on: I do not use pregnancy pillows. They can cause unnecessary strain on your lumbar spine, sacral ligaments, and most importantly your round ligaments. The risks are higher depending on the positioning of the baby - mostly transverse positioning. Side-lying doesn't have to be the only option. We can do sitting, semi-reclined, you name it. I've learned how to drape linens in all kinds of positions to make sure you are as comfortable as possible. High-risk doesn't disqualify you from massage therapy. Depending on the condition I will ask you to check with your primary care physician before pursuing massage, but in general massage therapy is safe if you are considered high risk or on bed rest. There is no link between massage therapy and first trimester miscarriage. There is no link between heating pads and first trimester miscarriage. Heat is safe and I use it during my treatments if it's indicated and your comfortable. This is actually still taught in massage programs but is not backed by research.

Taking preventative measures to maintain your health > Trying to fix something after it becomes a problem.

Perinatal mobile appointments available!

YOUR FIRST APPOINTMENT At my practice, I encourage new patients to always book an initial assessment, regardless if you've had a massage before. Your first visit is a chance for me to get to know you, your concern, and what your expectations of me include. During your first visit there will be a verbal consultation followed by an orthopedic assessment. This is so I can get a better understanding of your primary complaint. Assessments may include a postural scan, range of moti...on, etc. The consultation and assessment can take anywhere between 10-20 minutes depending on your concern(s) and will be followed by a treatment for the remaining time. After treatment, I will prescribe homecare. This can look like stretching, strengthening exercises, or rest. I will often refer you to additional healthcare providers such as chiropractors or pelvic floor physiotherapists if I feel it's necessary. It's important to note that not all massage therapists operate the same way or have similar techniques when it comes to treatments. That's why I provide you an opportunity to tell me what your preferences are, negative past experiences, your positive experiences, and most importantly what you want to get out of massage therapy. Online booking available, link in bio. I look forward to seeing you in the studio.

Busy season has begun! End of year means end of 2020 insurance benefits. October-December is our busiest time of year as everyone is trying to use what's left of their coverage. If you would like to guarantee your spot, please book in advance! I will not be extending my hours this year to accommodate last minute insurance bookings. I want to ensure my patients can continue their care during this season, therefore I will do my best to reserve times for those who are currently ...following a treatment plan. I will be offering evenings after 6PM starting October 1st on Wednesdays and Fridays at @somacollectivehealth by request only. New patients are always welcome. General massage treatments are always welcome. I look forward to seeing everyone in my treatment room.

WELCOME I've gotten quite a few new followers so I have decided to re-introduce myself. Hi! I'm Rhiannon. I have been a Registered Massage Therapist since October of 2019. I have a special focus in perinatal care and pelvic health - treating conditions such as incontinence, sciatic pain, mastitis/breast pain, hypertonic pelvic floors, and c-section scarring.... Perinatal and pelvic health care has come along way in the last decade. My goal is to help my patients with their pregnancy and postpartum related musculoskeletal concerns. Massage therapy is safe and effective in all trimesters, including higher-risk pregnancies. I’m here to support you during pregnancy, labour/birth, and postpartum. Although this is the primary focus of my practice, I do offer non-perinatal treatments (because EVERYONE can have pelvic health concerns - including men), and general massage appointments. My mission is to provide you with the best possible care by using an evidence-based approach that aligns with your treatment goals. I'm located in Bowmanville, Ontario at my NEW private practice inside Soma Collective Health and at @perinatalmobile. New patients are welcome. Online booking available. I look forward to working with you.

I still have some openings for tomorrow! Book online at https://somacollectivehealth.janeapp.com/#/staff_member/3.

UPDATED HOURS As I slowly move into my new private practice at @somacollectivehealth my hours have been updated to reflect this transition. Online booking available for booking at Soma - click the link in my bio. New patients will be automatically sent a health intake form and perinatal intake form. You can also call me or send a DM/text to book. ... I am now booking into September, thank you to so my amazing patients for supporting my practice! I can’t wait to be able to provide you with more resources as my practice continues to grow. Stay tuned for a NEW treatment option later this month (it’s pretty big and I cannot wait to share). @ Soma Collective Health

I still have some openings for tomorrow! Book online using the action button on my page.

NEW LOCATION ALERT I'm very excited to announce that I will be moving my practice from Hand & Stone - Whitby to Soma Health Collective in Bowmanville! I will be setting off on my own starting August 7th, 2020. I couldn't be happier to be moving my business into a completely independent space and being able to say I own 100% of my practice (hello total self-employment). As I slowly transition from Hand & Stone, I will only be offering Fridays 9-3pm for August 2020 ...and opening up more hours as I go. Direct billing will not be available, however insurance receipts will still be provided. You can book appointments online (see link in bio) or by sending me a DM/text. You will now be able to find me at @wellnesspath.ca and @somacollectivehealth in Bowmanville. Pricing varies per location. See my IG highlights for pricing and schedules. Are you one of my patients at Hand & Stone - Whitby? I will still be taking appointments into September with very limited availability. I will no longer be at H & S as of October 1st, 2020. Call the front desk to book an appointment and for any in-house referrals. @ Soma Collective Health See more

Did you know there's multiple positions and draping methods that we can use in massage therapy? Pregnancy, postpartum, breast massage, and abdominal massage each have their own protocols when it comes to ensuring patient comfort while on the table. SWIPE to see how I use different positioning and draping in my practice.

THE JELLYFISH AS YOUR PELVIC FLOOR Understanding how your pelvic floor and breathing relate to each other is important when it comes to training core activation. Think of your pelvic floor, diaphragm, and abdomen as a jellyfish. The top of the jellyfish is your diaphragm, the tentacles are your pelvic floor (swipe for my DIY diagram). ... 1. As you inhale your diaphragm drops, the pelvic floor relaxes, and your abdomen expands outward. 2. As you exhale your diaphragm contracts, your pelvic floor lifts, and your abdomen pulls in. Always think about engaging the pelvic floor as your exhale, pairing the contraction with your breath. It's important to remember that although contracting your pelvic floor is important, so is learning how to relax those muscles. Constantly keeping your pelvic floor contracted and engaged can also cause muscular dysfunction. Hypertonic (excessively tight) pelvic floors are not better than hypotonic (weakened) pelvic floors. See more