Since she graduated from the Edmonton campus in 2013, Vicki East has been collecting additional credentials and skills. She is a Certified Lymphedema Therapist, and regularly incorporates therapeutic hot and cold stone therapy and myofascial cupping into her therapeutic massage practice. Her clinic, Ebb and Flow Healing Therapy, is based out of her home in Camrose.
Why did you choose massage therapy as a career?
I wanted to make a difference, and I have always enjoyed learning about the body and health. Massage allows me to take that passion and apply it every day, to help someone learn about their body and what they can do to feel at their best. I enjoy helping people on their healing journey.
What sets you apart as a therapist?
I am a CLT, certified lymphedema therapist, which is a great niche to be in if you like that kind of massage. I also have a positive attitude and want to figure out what is causing someone’s pain. So I will do an orthopedic assessment to figure out what is going on and try different modalities to help decrease the pain. I combine therapeutic hot stone, myofascial cupping, MLD and therapeutic massage to give a unique approach to address the problem areas.
What self-care practices do you use to keep fit and healthy for your career?
I eat healthy. I teach yoga. In the summer I bike and in the winter I take a spin class and cross country ski. I do self-massage and get regular massages from other RMTs.
It is also important to take time to regenerate your energy, so that you have lots to give to others. You have to find what makes you happy and take the time to do that! For me, that is exercising in nature.
What are you most proud of in your career so far?
Reaching the goals that I set out in my business plan ahead of time – that includes training goals and increasing my business. I am also proud that many of the clients that tried me out when I was a student are still my clients.
To learn more about Ebb and Flow Healing Therapy and to book an appointment with Vicki, give her a call at 780-679-6725.
The Vicars Grads at Work blog series shines the spotlight on MH Vicars School alumni through short profiles and extended features. If you or someone you know would like to be featured on our blog, please contact Robin Collum.
https://www.vicarsschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Vicki-East-for-blog-small-e1505337688283.jpg133180Robin Collumhttps://www.vicarsschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/VICARS-School_rgb-300x124.jpgRobin Collum2017-02-22 16:00:002021-10-29 13:45:06Vicars Grads at Work: Vicki East
Oksana Pellerine has been practicing massage since 2014, and now runs Art of Healing Pains out of her home. She specializes in fascial work, and also offers raw honey massage, shiatsu techniques, and several types of myofascial cupping to help her clients get the most out of their treatments.
Keep reading to find out more about what she’s been up to!
What do you enjoy about being an RMT?
It’s an opportunity to help, educate and guide clients to reach their health and wellbeing goals; that’s my passion. I strongly believe, this is what I was created for—to help people heal through therapeutic touch.
What is the biggest challenge you’ve had to face?
Not being able to accommodate everyone that needs my help and healing touch, as I’m only one person. Having to say “I have no more openings for today, I’m sorry”—it kills me.
What self-care practices do you use to keep fit and healthy for your career?
This career made me very mindful of what I need to do in order to perform to the best of my abilities. It’s all about exercise, a balanced diet, staying positive and motivated, focusing on the goals I have set, etc.
What are you most proud of in your career so far?
My clients’ health improvements. I’m proud of the positive changes that we’ve been able to achieve together as a team. I feel honoured every time someone asks me to take part in their healing process. I love my job and I’m proud that I found myself in it.
The Vicars Grads at Work blog series shines the spotlight on MH Vicars School alumni through short profiles and extended features. If you or someone you know would like to be featured on our blog, please contact Robin Collum.
As an RMT, you’ve chosen to dedicate your career to helping and connecting with others. So, networking should come as second nature. But too many massage therapists write off the idea entirely without realizing its value. Maybe the term brings to mind images of midlevel executives in uncomfortable suits exchanging superficial pleasantries along with their business cards. Maybe it just doesn’t seem necessary for someone who’s self-employed, or has a full client list.
If that’s been your attitude towards networking, it’s time to think again! Networking is an essential tool for RMTs at all stages of their careers. Authentic, meaningful networking isn’t about impressing your peers, or keeping up appearances. It’s about making connections and building communities.
Don’t believe me yet? Keep reading for our top 6 benefits of networking.
#1: Keep up with trends and innovations in the industry
How do you stay on top of the latest massage news? If the answer is that you chat with your clients and fellow RMTs, then congratulations: you’re networking already!
While massage as a healing discipline is thousands of years old, as a modern career it’s experiencing rapid growth and change. From developments in regulation and school accreditation, to innovative treatments and modalities, there’s always something new to learn. By cultivating connections with other therapists and health professionals, you can keep up with all the latest news in this dynamic field.
#2: Make important referral contacts
Maybe you’re so busy that you have to turn potential clients away. Maybe you want to be able to recommend someone you trust when you have to refer your clients to another practitioner. In either case, it’s very helpful to know the therapists and health professionals in your area. Your clients trust you with their health when they’re on your table, and you owe it to them to be knowledgeable about their treatment options beyond your clinic walls. And of course, making this type of connection pays off in both directions. Wellness professionals like physiotherapists, coaches, and chiropractors are often called upon to recommend massage to their clients and patients. By getting to know them, you’ll both benefit – and so will your clients.
#3: Get motivated
No matter how much you love your job – and we hope you adore it! – it’s still work. It’s natural for your drive and enthusiasm to ebb and flow.
One sure-fire way to jumpstart your passion for the career is to meet with fellow RMTs and talk about the job! Sharing ideas, tips, funny stories, and lessons learned can remind you why you chose this career in the first place, and will leave you re-energized about your practice.
#4: It’s an opportunity to find or become a mentor
I wouldn’t be where I am today – with a fulfilling job that I love – without the help and advice of a lot of different people, and I expect the same is true for you. Interestingly, I didn’t connect with the people whom I consider my most important mentors and teachers through formal mentorship programs. Rather, they’ve been bosses, professors, senior colleagues, and even friends who simply took the time to share their thoughts and experiences with me. It may have been a small thing to them, but it has been precious to me. I hope that someday, I can play a similar role in someone else’s life.
And these casual, organic mentor relationships are just as important for RMTs as they are for writers like me. By connecting with the rest of the massage community, you can meet people to learn from, and people to teach. Because we’re never too old to do either!
#5: Look for a new job, or find new employees
If I were writing this for another school’s blog, I would probably have put this one at the top of the list. It’s the most obvious benefit of formal networking. But if your clinic is fully booked, or you happily work for yourself, it might be the benefit you’re most likely to discount. If you’re not actively looking to switch jobs or hire anyone, cultivating employment contacts might be pretty low on your to-do list. And fair enough!
But this is an important strategy for students and new graduates, and those of you who are still building their practice. And even if you’re comfortable where you are right now: the right time to have this kind of connection is before you need it.
#6: Socialize and have fun!
This one isn’t an afterthought, I promise! Massage therapists are good people (and I’d know!). All the RMTs that I know are in this business because they care about others, and want to have a positive influence on the world. And who wouldn’t want to hang out with people like that?
When it comes down to it, “networking” is just connecting with other RMTs and wellness professionals. It’s spending time with people, be they old classmates or new friends, with whom you have a lot in common—and helping your career at the same time. What could be better?
Can you think of any benefits to networking that I’ve missed? What have been your best networking experiences so far? Please share them in the comments!
https://www.vicarsschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/networking.jpg213320Robin Collumhttps://www.vicarsschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/VICARS-School_rgb-300x124.jpgRobin Collum2017-02-08 21:52:272021-10-29 13:45:38Networking for RMTs: Why Does It Matter?
Since graduating from the Edmonton campus in 2015, Terri Polowick has set up Intuitive Therapeutic Massage, a thriving home-based clinic in St Albert. In addition to her Vicars diploma, Terri has Myofascial Cupping Levels 1 and 2 certification. She particularly enjoys treating her clients’ low back pain and plantar fasciitis.
Why did you choose massage as a career?
I didn’t choose it, it chose me!
What do you enjoy about being an RMT?
Massage therapy is a non-invasive, drug-free modality with a very high rate of success in treating symptoms/conditions. And also, I have a nerd-like fascination with how the body works!
What self-care practices do you use to keep fit and healthy for your career?
STRETCHING! Every day. Eating well, daily walks, resting when I need, and of course monthly massages!
What do you feel sets you apart as a massage therapist?
I firmly believe in working with a client to find the root cause of the problem and treat that, not just the symptom or symptoms.
What are you most proud of in your career so far?
That I followed a passion, something I truly believed in, and succeeded in making a career out of that.
The Vicars Grads at Work blog series shines the spotlight on MH Vicars School alumni through short profiles and extended features. If you or someone you know would like to be featured on our blog, please contact Robin Collum.
Kirsty graduated from the Edmonton campus in 2012. She owns Purple Lotus Therapeutic Massage & Esthetics in St Albert. She and her team of RMTs and estheticians, which includes a fellow MH Vicars grad, refer to Purple Lotus as a “splinic”: it’s not just a spa, and not just a clinic! Kirsty travelled to Hawaii for further training after graduating from Vicars, and now specializes in Hawaiian Lomi Lomi massage.
What do you most enjoy about practicing massage?
I love helping people. I love that a healing touch can do so much for someone.
What has been your biggest challenge as an RMT?
Not knowing when to say “No!”. I do not like to say no to clients and often come in to work even when I am not working, and as a result I overwork myself. I need to learn to say no!
What self-care practices do you use to keep fit and healthy for your career?
The other RMTs I work with and I swap massages. I also go to physio and chiro when need be. I work out and swim to try and stay fit!
What advice do you have for people interested in a career in massage?
If you have a passion for people and helping others, do it! Take the plunge into massage. School will not always be easy: there will be tears and moments of frustration. But it is all worth it; every bit of it. Seeing the way you affect someone’s life is the most rewarding feeling you will ever have.
The Vicars Grads at Work blog series shines the spotlight on MH Vicars School alumni through short profiles and extended features. If you or someone you know would like to be featured on our blog, please contact Robin Collum.
https://www.vicarsschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Kirsty-MacIntosh-small.jpg300600Robin Collumhttps://www.vicarsschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/VICARS-School_rgb-300x124.jpgRobin Collum2017-02-01 16:00:002021-10-29 13:45:57Vicars Grads at Work: Kirsty MacIntosh
Christine has been working as an RMT since she graduated from Vicars in 2014, and last year she took the exciting step of starting her own practice. She works out of her home and does mobile massage, specializing in pregnancy and therapeutic massage. This has allowed her more freedom to balance her career with her responsibilities as a mother of three.
Why did you choose massage therapy as a career?
I fell in love with massage while I was pregnant with my second child. I used to get debilitating migraines. I would often lie in bed with a cold compress on my head to try to diminish the pain. I would continue to try several remedies with no success. I was only able to find relief with massage. This made me ecstatic! With massage, I was able to function again and was able to go about my daily routines. I knew I wanted to help other get the relief from chronic pain and discomfort that I was able to get through massage.
What do you most enjoy about practicing massage?
What I enjoy most about being a Registered Massage Therapist is when the client leaves my home-based business they feel uplifted, de-stressed, and have less pain and discomfort. I enjoy knowing I’ve helped them and was able to release discomfort in some area in their life.
My passion is helping women prioritize self-care through regular massage.
What self-care practices do you use to keep fit and healthy for your career?
When starting my career as an RMT I began to get overwhelmed and stressed with everyday wear and tear of being a working mom of three. I was having trouble juggling work and home and self-care was on the bottom of my list. I would end up with no energy and have a variety of aches and pains that wouldn’t go away. Self-care now my first priority.
Now, my self-care practices include limiting the number of hours I work per week. I also stay organized, work out, read scripture, practice meditation and my favourite: getting massages.
The Vicars Grads at Work blog series shines the spotlight on MH Vicars School alumni through short profiles and extended features. If you or someone you know would like to be featured on our blog, please contact Robin Collum.
Henriette graduated from our Edmonton campus in 2015. She now owns her own clinic – System Health Centre in Morinville, Alberta – where she provides relaxation and therapeutic massage as well as Contemporary Cupping and foot reflexology treatments.
What do you most enjoy about being an RMT?
“I love working one-on-one with clients to address their individual needs. Seeing a person’s progress and hearing that they feel much better is truly what I love.”
How do you keep yourself well and fit for such an active career?
“The physical demands of being a massage therapist has made me far more physically active than the desk job that I used to have. I have also started eating more healthful foods.”
How did MH Vicars School prepare you for a career as an RMT?
“MH Vicars School prepared me fully for my career as a Massage Therapist. We learned anatomy, practical massage, the emotional component of working with people, business management, administration and so much more…”
What sets you apart from other RMTs?
“I am a more mature therapist (age wise) so I have extensive experience working with people over the years. This has prepared me for interacting with many people of all different ages with many different health concerns.”
What are you most proud of in your career?
“My clients’ successes! I love nothing more than knowing a client feels better.”
The Vicars Grads at Work blog series shines the spotlight on MH Vicars School alumni through short profiles and extended features. If you or someone you know would like to be featured on our blog, please contact Robin Collum.
https://www.vicarsschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Henriette_Smith-small-e1505337017151.jpeg136227Robin Collumhttps://www.vicarsschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/VICARS-School_rgb-300x124.jpgRobin Collum2017-01-18 22:32:352021-10-29 13:46:14Vicars Grads at Work: Henriette Smith
One of my favourite things about working here is getting to know our students so well. Even as the school has grown, we’ve been able to maintain a really warm, open relationship between students and staff and instructors. I think it comes from a combination of our small class sizes, open door policy (and in the Edmonton offices, a “no door” policy), and drive to always put students first.
Anyway, knowing our students so well means we really miss them when they graduate, and love to hear what they’re up to once they begin their careers. Which is why I was so pleased to come across these videos we made in 2011!
Then and now, we’re constantly bragging about our amazing grads, and we commissioned these for our website. They didn’t end up making the transition when we revamped the site last year, but we’re adding more alumni success stories at the moment so I dug them up again.
And they’re so fun! Check out Bree and Jordan telling their stories about attending Vicars:
Some of the information is out of date — for instance, we now host public clinic instead of having students do practicum placements, but it’s great to see so many familiar faces! I also enjoyed those shots of the old Edmonton location. It’s hard to believe that it’s been more than two years since we moved from Roper Road to Calgary Trail.
Watching these has made me want to hear more alumni stories! Take to the comments and tell us about what you’re up to! And hey – do you want to be profiled on the blog? And remember: I’m always on the lookout for interesting massage tales. This blog can be an opportunity to share your experiences and learn from each other. Email me at robin@mhvicarsschool.com with suggestions!
https://www.vicarsschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/alumni.jpg345795Robin Collumhttps://www.vicarsschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/VICARS-School_rgb-300x124.jpgRobin Collum2014-11-17 22:06:052021-10-29 13:53:38Blast from the past: alumni profiles
How do you stay on top of the latest massage news? If the answer is that you chat with your clients and fellow RMTs, then congratulations: you’re networking already!
