Valerie Lafranchise, RMT, CYT500
Education:
I am a graduate of The West Coast College of Massage Therapy, located in Victoria B.C. The school's 3000 hour program included training in advanced techniques such as: myofascial release, muscle energy, joint mobilization and manual lymph drainage. As part of my continuing education, I have also taken courses in neuromobilization, rhythmic techniques, soft tissue release, and advanced myofascial courses, all of which I incorporate into my treatments, utilizing the best techniques to achieve the desired results. My approach to treatment is very holistic; I am always looking at the ways in which posture, activities of daily living and stress factor into a patient's condition.
My treatments extend beyond massage to include patient education, such as postural awareness and stress reduction techniques. I have created individualized stretching and strengthening programs for patients and have participated in wellness workshops on subjects such as ergonomics and stretching in an office environment.
I am a Yoga Alliance certified yoga teacher, having completed my 500hr teacher training under the mentorship of Marla Eriksen at Empower ME Yoga. Yoga and massage therapy are wonderfully complementary practices, and both are powerful tools to bring about and maintain good health. My yoga practice informs my massage therapy practice and of course my understanding of anatomy and physiology from my training as an RMT benefits my yoga practice. I have helped design and teach the asana lab for Empower ME Yoga's 200 hour yoga teacher training, and am continually exposing myself to new learning experiences through continued mentorships and continuing education.
My treatments extend beyond massage to include patient education, such as postural awareness and stress reduction techniques. I have created individualized stretching and strengthening programs for patients and have participated in wellness workshops on subjects such as ergonomics and stretching in an office environment.
I am a Yoga Alliance certified yoga teacher, having completed my 500hr teacher training under the mentorship of Marla Eriksen at Empower ME Yoga. Yoga and massage therapy are wonderfully complementary practices, and both are powerful tools to bring about and maintain good health. My yoga practice informs my massage therapy practice and of course my understanding of anatomy and physiology from my training as an RMT benefits my yoga practice. I have helped design and teach the asana lab for Empower ME Yoga's 200 hour yoga teacher training, and am continually exposing myself to new learning experiences through continued mentorships and continuing education.
I appreciate the fact that balance is not always easy to achieve in our lives, and I am constantly having to remember to pause, reflect and re-orient when things get hectic and I find myself off the path. My goal is to help you find and maintain a healthy balance in your body, heart, and mind by giving you the space to pause and reconnect. Whether you find yourself on the table for a massage therapy treatment or on the mat as a yoga student, you will find my approach holistic; I am always looking at the ways in which posture, activities of daily living and stress factor into your overall health and wellbeing.
My Philosophy:
The term therapeutic massage means different things to different people; for some only deep tissue massage, or having a therapist focus on an injury constitutes "therapy". It is my belief that all the treatments that I provide are therapeutic. For some, a lighter touch or more generalized massage is what is needed, whether that person is dealing with a lot of mental/emotional stress, or the physical stress one would see in an athlete at the peak of their training. Other times treatment works best if it is focused and challenges the tissue. Most often it is a combination of challenge and relaxation that provides the most benefit. The body is a fascinating and complex entity that is influenced by our mental and emotional states as much as the physical stresses put upon it, which means there is often not just one way of treating dysfunction or facilitating good health. I strive to really listen to each person, to treat according to the needs of each individual, and to provide each person with the opportunity to find a moment of pause to connect with yourself.
My approach to yoga is to continue to forge the connection between the body and mind, to learn what it is like to inhabit the present moment and to leave behind unconscious and habitual reactivity to what life presents. On my mat I hope to challenge my strength and flexibility with kindness and wisdom. I hope to deepen my ability to be compassionate and to respond to life with love, thoughtfulness and courage. My hope is that this translates to each one of my students through my teaching. My goal as a teacher is that each of my students learns to be kind to themselves, to open and strengthen their minds and bodies to meet the challenges of life with grace, courage, and compassion, and to find happiness in this moment.
My approach to yoga is to continue to forge the connection between the body and mind, to learn what it is like to inhabit the present moment and to leave behind unconscious and habitual reactivity to what life presents. On my mat I hope to challenge my strength and flexibility with kindness and wisdom. I hope to deepen my ability to be compassionate and to respond to life with love, thoughtfulness and courage. My hope is that this translates to each one of my students through my teaching. My goal as a teacher is that each of my students learns to be kind to themselves, to open and strengthen their minds and bodies to meet the challenges of life with grace, courage, and compassion, and to find happiness in this moment.
