Intent Health
Massage Therapy Blog

Sazanami Gentle Massage by Masumi

Sazanami Gentle Massage by Masumi

1 min read

A gentle massage is perfect for those who want to reconnect with their body, and take a moment to breathe. Have you ever had a massage that was too painful? In my practice, I choose to use a gentle approach because I understand what it feels like to have a sensitivity to touch....

Intent's website now has accessibility features

Intent's website now has accessibility features

2 min read

Website visitors can now click the icon on the bottom left corner of the website to select options that help make the content easier to read and navigate. It means that our website is now more accessible for folks with epilepsy, vision impairments, ADHD, cognitive disorders and motor impairments....

The Scientific Benefits of Massage Therapy

The Scientific Benefits of Massage Therapy

2 min read

Current research tells us that massage therapy can reduce anxiety, depression, pain and improve quality and duration of sleep. Improvements in sleep, mood and pain levels can create windows of opportunity where you feel better and can move and socialize more....

How Does Massage Therapy Work?

How Does Massage Therapy Work?

2 min read

Knowledge about how massage therapy works has changed from tissue-based explanations to more evidence-based ones. A variety of interesting things happen in the body, brain and nervous system to create the benefits of massage....

Massage techniques: Which are best for you?

Massage techniques: Which are best for you?

10 min read

While massage techniques vary, they all work in the same way; they interact with the body, mind and nervous system in layers of context. In this article we present current research findings on common massage techniques such as Swedish massage, myofascial release, trigger point release and more....

Pregnancy and massage

Pregnancy and massage

3 min read

Sore hips, aching feet, back pain, hand and wrist pain are commonly experienced during pregnancy. Receiving prenatal massages can help alleviate pregnancy-related aches and pains and be a wonderful form of self-care....

Can massage therapy help with insomnia?

Can massage therapy help with insomnia?

3 min read

One in three Canadian adults are not getting enough sleep. In fact, 50% are experiencing insomnia. Luckily, massage therapy can help. Research shows that massage therapy can improve quality and duration of sleep, and decrease pain levels associated with a variety of health conditions....

What is trauma-informed massage therapy?

What is trauma-informed massage therapy?

7 min read

Trauma-informed massage therapy is an approach to practice and not a massage technique. It’s built upon four principles: trauma awareness, safety and trust, collaborative choice and connection, and strength-based skill-building. Our RMTs have taken additional training in trauma informed care....

Can massage therapy help with pain?

Can massage therapy help with pain?

2 min read

Exciting new discoveries in neuroscience are changing the way we view the pain experience. Pain serves to protect and heal, but can persist if and when the body’s alarm system remains on high alert. Massage therapy and movement can boost safety signals, helping to reduce pain....

Persistent pain, an overview

Persistent pain, an overview

1 min read

We know that acute pain is a protective response to injury that encourages tissue healing in the short-term; however, most tissue heals after three to six months, so what happens when pain lasts beyond this timeframe?...

The brain and pain

The brain and pain

1 min read

When deciding whether to create pain or not, the brain receives information from your body, the environment and your past experiences and beliefs....

Coping with pain and anxiety during COVID-19

Coping with pain and anxiety during COVID-19

1 min read

In this webinar, Dr. Angie Ji explains how anxiety and pain interact with each other. She reviews thinking traps that we may fall into when under stress, and offers coping statements and tips for how to calm our nervous system. Helpful breathing strategies are explored....

Featured Blog Posts


The Scientific Benefits of Massage Therapy

The Scientific Benefits of Massage Therapy

2 min read

Current research tells us that massage therapy can reduce anxiety, depression, pain and improve quality and duration of sleep. Improvements in sleep, mood and pain levels can create windows of opportunity where you feel better and can move and socialize more....

Massage techniques: Which are best for you?

Massage techniques: Which are best for you?

10 min read

While massage techniques vary, they all work in the same way; they interact with the body, mind and nervous system in layers of context. In this article we present current research findings on common massage techniques such as Swedish massage, myofascial release, trigger point release and more....

What is trauma-informed massage therapy?

What is trauma-informed massage therapy?

7 min read

Trauma-informed massage therapy is an approach to practice and not a massage technique. It’s built upon four principles: trauma awareness, safety and trust, collaborative choice and connection, and strength-based skill-building. Our RMTs have taken additional training in trauma informed care....

"With great respect and gratitude, we practice massage therapy on the traditional, ancestral and unceded territory of the Coast Salish Peoples –Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) And Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) Nations."

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