It all begins with Swedish Massage

The year is still young. It’s only February. And with all of the snow on the ground, now is a good time to strengthen your commitment to yourself, and the ones you care about - by enhancing your indoor activities. Consider making regular massage part of your wellness program this year. In fact, this determination is where many Canadians are heading!

“Massage use by Canadians (is) on the rise, report finds,” according to information published by Benefits Canada, in 2017. This article noted that in 2016, 44% of adult Canadians had tried massage - a significant increase from 2006 when 35% had reported utilizing the treatment, and in 1997, when that number was only 23%.

Central to massage treatment today is Swedish Massage - a popular general purpose massage technique, which was developed in Sweden in the 1830s, by Per Henrik Ling, a fencing instructor, who had injured his elbow. The treatment he developed cured his problem, the good word literally spread around the world, and now it is generally agreed that all massage therapy treatments have derived from Mr. Ling’s efforts.

The specific techniques used in this full body treatment centre upon long gliding strokes, friction, as well as kneading and tapping movements on the soft tissues of the body. Manipulation of the superficial layers of muscles improve one’s physical and mental wellbeing.

According to encyclopedia.com the physical and mental benefits of Swedish Massage are:

Physical benefits -

• loosens tight muscles and stretches connective tissues
• relieves cramps and muscle spasms and decreases muscle fatigue
• loosens joints and improves range of motion
• increases muscle strength
• calms the nervous system
• stimulates blood circulation
• firms muscle and skin tone
• relieves symptoms of disorders such as asthma, arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, chronic and acute pain syndromes, myofacial pain, headache, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction, and athletic injuries
• speeds up healing from injury and illness
• improves lymphatic drainage of metabolic wastes

Mental and emotional benefits -

• encourages mental relaxation
• improves the length and quality of sleep
• relieves stress, depression, anxiety and irritation
• increases the ability to concentrate
• fosters a sense of well being

“At Academy Massage, we offer a wide range of massage treatments,” explains owner Debby MacKenzie. “If you are unsure about which massage treatment would work best for you, explain your situation to our front desk staff. They will be certain to guide you.”

We look forward to comforting your body and soul soon!

Lots of love,

Academy Massage Therapy

• 
  

Imagine- what Shakespeare could have written had he been soothed with regular massage!

It’s Valentine’s Day, right in the middle of Valentine’s Month - a time to say and show love to a partner, special friend, or group of exceptional people in your life. There are many ways celebrate this relationship. At Academy Massage Therapy a gift card says mindful caring like nothing else.

And let’s saying your making or buying a card to go with that gift card. Here are a few lovely lines which might work nicely - written or spoken!

William Shakespeare

My bounty is as boundless as the sea,
My love as deep; the more I give to thee,
The more I have, for both are infinite.
                 - Romeo and Juliet

Hear my soul speak:
The very instant that I saw you, did
My heart fly to your service
                 - The Tempest


John Lennon and Paul McCartney

As I write this letter, send my love to you,
remember that I’ll always be in love with you.
Treasure these few words till we’re together
Keep all my love forever.
PS I love you, you, you, you.
                 - PS I love you

But of all these friends and lovers,
there is no one compared with you,
and these mem’ries lose their meaning
when I think of love as something new.
                 - In my life

Leonard Cohen

I loved you for a long, long time
I know this love is real
It don’t matter how it all went wrong
That don’t change the way I feel
                 - Ain’t no cure for love


Dance me to your beauty with a burning violin
Dance me through the panic till I’m gathered safely in
Lift me like an olive branch and be my homeward dove
Dance me to the end of love
                 - Dance me to the end of love


During this month in which we recognize significant people in our lives, we look forward to assisting you in your celebration. Call us.

Wishing comfort for the mind, body and soul to you and yours!

Much love,

Academy Massage Therapy

Ten Winnipeg ways - to please your love this Valentine’s month

Who do you honor with your love? It varies from person to person. It may be your partner, your wife, your husband, your girlfriend, your boyfriend. And then it may be that neighbor from just down the street - the one who turns her porch light on for you every evening. It could be your friend, who saves coupons for you and invites you to the theater. Or it could be your favorite aunt, who you garden with during gritty summer days.

Who ever your love, Academy Massage is here to help you in that celebration. Here are a few specific suggestions:

Read pages from Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus by John Gray - together! He says the most common relationship problems between men and women are because of fundamental psychological differences between the sexes. His examples are hilarious, and thought provoking!

Surprise your love with a Couples Massage at Academy Massage Therapy. It’s really important to book this massage well in advance of your preferred date and time, to ensure that one of our Couples Rooms has your names on it. This shared experience is a lovely way to strengthen your bond.

Experience our city’s Guinness World Record-holding longest naturally frozen skating trail The Red River Mutual Trail - for a skate, walk , run or sled along the frozen Red and Assiniboine Rivers. Check out the 5 new one-of-a-kind warming huts along the way, part of the Arts + Architecture Competition on Ice 2019.

Thank your love for marching side-by-side through life with you - with the gift of reflexology from Academy Massage Therapy. Reflexology applies pressure, stretching and movement to the feet and hands affecting the corresponding parts of the body through the nervous system.

Warm up at The Forks Market, a converted brick railway building filled with shops and food kiosks. Located at the junction of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers, this spot has been an Indigenous meeting place for over 6,000 years. Try the hot coffee at Fools and Horses, or munch on a hot cinnamon bun from Tall Grass Prairie Bread Company.

Arrange a special surprise for your love with an Academy Massage Therapy Swedish Massage! By far one of the most popular forms of massage, this treatment is also known as the “relaxing massage” because of the long flowing strokes, often in the direction of the heart, along with kneading and circular movements.

Toques, scarves and holding mittened hands is the way to make your way through Assiniboine Park’s Journey to Churchill with your love. A towering Inuksuk welcomes visitors at the start. Word has it that if you’re lucky you’ll see polar bears hard at play sliding down the hills. The Arctic Tundra Grill is great for coffee and grub afterwards.

Is your love like many others - searching for a more natural, holistic approach to self care? Academy Massage Therapy has just introduced Classical Homeopathy, with homeopath Nancy Graham, DHom. This is an individual holistic approach to health and wellness which considers a person in their entirety.


Bundle up your love and your pooch for a stroll in the neighborhood. Academy Road is teaming with wide range of wonderful, vibrant businesses. And if Spot needs a break along the way, pop into It’s Raining Cats and Dogs. The all natural pet food store has a water bowl and a chew for furry passers-by.

And then there’s real - that as much as you love your love - you’re a last minute person. Planning just doesn’t work for you. Did you know that Academy Massage Therapy welcomes walk-ins? Yes. You and your love can be just walking by, when you realize that a massage would be such a nice Valentine’s gift. Stop. Come in. We look forward to welcoming you!

Please let us know how we can make your Valentine’s gift extra special for your love.

As always, much love,
Academy Massage Therapy

This month celebrate your Valentine with a massage!

In 200 AD Roman Emperor Claudius II forbade soldiers from marrying, but a priest named Valentine secretly performed marriage ceremonies in spite of the ban, and in 496 AD St. Valentine’s Day was declared. It has been recognized ever since.

Today Valentine’s Day is a lovely way to celebrate your love throughout the entire month of February, particularly given Winnipeg’s frigid winter weather.

And Academy Massage Therapy is here to help you with your Valentine’s celebration. We have many options for you:

Consider a Couples Massage - there are two massage tables and two therapists. The massage allows each of the two people to receive individualized treatment simultaneously. This shared time can be both a foundational and enjoyable bonding experience. It is important to book your Couples Massage well in advance, to ensure your couples room is available for you on your preferred day and time.

Give a Massage Gift Card - like nothing else, it says that you are mindful of that person. Giving a massage tells them you care about their wellness, and their “me” time. You are essentially giving them motivation to take the time - to take care of themselves. A massage is a gift of well-being. Gift cards are available in any denomination, covering a single session, a series of treatments, or even regular massages throughout the course of the year.

Make a Massage Gift Basket - check out our must have products that are available in our clinic. Select from a choice of essential oils, massage lotions, bath tea, massagers and more. Our friendly and knowledge staff can provide you with additional information, and assist you in making your choices.

Wishing you a lovely Valentine’s Month!

Much love,
From Academy Massage Therapy

My first massage - I’m booking an appointment for a second

I don’t like to be touched.

But through circumstance, I had the opportunity to have a massage.

I hesitated. Or actually I hesitated, made excuses, said I would make an appointment, never did, and then came up with other reasons why this week, or next week wouldn’t work.

I’ve always been very self conscious about my body image, so the opportunity to have a massage caused me great anxiety.

I found it hard to breath - just thinking about entering a massage clinic.

During the Holiday Season, as the fates would have it, I received an Academy Massage Therapy gift card from my work.

I told my family about the gift card, and tried to give it to one of them, who I thought would happily go, in my place. Families being families - they teased and even laughed at me - because they knew this is something which I had been avoiding for many years.

My fate was sealed.

However, even when that realization hit me, I wasn’t going to make an appointment right away. I delayed it, and delayed it.

But during this period, I thought about the whole notion of having a massage, and even checked out online massage videos on the Academy Massage website.

One evening during a conversation with a close family member who gets massages regularly at Academy Massage, she told me about how great if feels after a massage, and that I should, “Go for it!” This conversation gave me a boost!

With a lot of courage and a lot of anxiety, I called Academy Massage and made an appointment for a massage for the coming week.

The day of my massage, I thought about my upcoming massage all day at work.

And soon, there I was at the door of Academy Massage. I wasn’t sure if I should go in, or turn around and go back home.

I went inside, and walked up to the reception desk. A nice lady greeted me with a smile. She asked me if I had an appointment, and then directed me to have a seat, while she arranged for my massage therapist to meet me.

After a couple minutes, I was greeted by a peaceful, calm person - my massage therapist. I was guided to a room where the music was pleasant, lights were soothing. The atmosphere was peaceful.

After a brief consultation with the therapist, I was given time to change, and settle myself on the massage table. In a few minutes, I was ready.

The entire massage experience was healing. I felt my stress dissipating. I felt my body thanking me.

As I walked home after my massage. I was so relieved and so happy that I had experienced my first massage. Of course, my family chuckled when I told them all about it.

And, you know what - I’m going to start getting massages on a regular basis, because my first massage made my body feel so good.

This is a true personal experience. The name of the writer is being withheld by request.