The Massage Experience At Root To Crown Connection Centre
By Danielle Hauck, Vibrant Systems
“I personally envision muscles, and I see arrows in your body of where your muscles are going to be going and attaching. I feel tension and energy. [I’m] thinking ‘okay this is the muscle I am working on, this is the intention, how do we make it better’.” – Tori Daradich, RMT
Root to Crown Connection Centre invites you to walk up a set of stairs and into a calm and relaxing atmosphere. The group work room connects to a hallway of offices where the various practitioners can set up their equipment, allowing them to work with their clients in support of their holistic well-being.
Today, I was meeting Tori Daradich, RMT for my first ever professional massage.
My only experiences with massage prior to this appointment involved backrubs from romantic partners, attempts at massaging my own sore shoulders, and using massage tools like balls and rollers. These experiences were frustrating and usually left me more sore than relaxed.
I really wasn’t sure what to expect from a professional massage. Would it be any different?
When we entered the massage studio, Tori immediately put me at ease. She ran me through questions about my health history, any sensitivities I have, and explained how the massage process would work. Her openness and professionalism set the tone for the session. At the merest mention of potential sensitivities to scent, she let me smell her massage lotion, which she bought at a shop just down the street.
Knowing that I was in the hands of a professional who would be responsive to my needs and limitations allowed me to relax into the following massage.
When I spoke to Tori after our session, she emphasized how the assessment and intake prior to the massage treatment is an important part of obtaining consent for the session. By reviewing medical history, allergies, and sensitivities, it assures that the clients can receive the best treatment possible in that session.
“My goal as the therapist is to tailor my treatment to what you’re wanting but also what you might not realize your body is needing.” – Tori Daradich, RMT
Tori’s compassion, gentleness, and professionalism were also evident in the massage itself. I had shared with her that I was carrying a lot of tension in my shoulder blades. As she worked through the knots, she checked in regularly, ensuring I was comfortable with the pressure she used.
Needless to say, by the end of my first massage, I was ready to sing the praises of this service as a way to support wellness and holistic health.
From Walking Through The Door To The Table: The Massage Process
If you’re like me and have not indulged in a professional massage before, you may be nervous about what this process looks like. After all, you do end up lying on a table, partially clothed, while a stranger touches your body.
Tori was always a professional guide through this process, cultivating a sense of safety in the room.
Generally, the process of any massage is the same:
You are greeted by name when you arrive.
In the massage room, you are asked to take a seat in a nearby chair.
Tori walks you through the intake process and questions. She asks about medical history, surgeries, allergies, and sensitivities to make sure the massage is both safe and helpful.
You are asked if you consent to the massage process, and what your own expectations are for the treatment.
Afterwards, Tori leaves the room so you can get undressed and lay on the table, beneath a sheet that keeps the body covered.
Tori knocks before coming back into the room to begin the massage.
Each person’s massage may look different depending on their personal needs. However, the sheet covering the body is only moved when Tori is working on a certain set of muscles.
Following the massage, Tori leaves the room so you can take your time getting dressed. There is no rush to hurry away and make space for the next client.
Afterwards, she speaks to you about a tailored treatment plan and booking your next session, concluding the appointment with a friendly goodbye.
Throughout the process, I never once found myself questioning my decision to commit to this massage and was easily able to relax into enjoying the treatment. Tori’s own professionalism and demeanor were a significant part of putting me at ease.
“We are trained professionals. We’re doing a job here for a reason, and a lot of that has to do with genuinely caring about your well-being and your wellness.” – Tori Daradich, RMT
Benefits of Massage: For Every Body
While I tend to consider myself a fairly healthy person and do regularly stretch, I was shocked by the tension my body was carrying. As Tori worked through my muscles in the massage treatment, I could feel the knots in my body releasing and relaxing.
Every body, whether you do heavy labour, sit at a desk, raise kids, or anything in between, can benefit from a massage treatment.
In our interview following my massage, Tori listed off a handful of the conditions she is trained to treat as a Registered Massage Therapist, including:
Tension headaches
Carpal tunnel
Sciatica and hip pain
“Massage goes so much more beyond relaxation. We’re trained to help assist in treating lots of different chronic aches and pains. It plays so much into every aspect of your body, mind, and soul.” – Tori Daradich, RMT
In addition to physical aches and pains, the relaxing process helped me ground back into my body. The benefits of this one session stayed with me throughout the weekend, and I was better able to manage my stress levels and personal anxieties that tend to creep on me during a busy weekend.
Tori herself is also trained to work with a wide variety of health conditions and sensitivities. Over the course of our interview, her commitment to creating an inclusive practice for all bodies was clear.
Off The Table and Moving Forward
Naturally, our conversation switched to massage home care and the value of regular treatments.
To get the best out of this one session, Tori recommended I take the time to stretch, alternate ice and heat if needed, and drink plenty of water. It’s fairly normal – after the first few massages especially – to feel sore for a day or two after the treatment. Over time, however, as your body gets used to regular massage, you’ll experience less soreness and even greater benefits.
And how regularly might we need massage treatments?
While there are individual choices, and some may choose to come in for a treatment more than once a week, Tori recommended getting a maintenance massage every 4-6 weeks after the initial treatment. This can help manage chronic conditions and prevent previous tension from returning to the same level it may have been at your first massage. If this level of treatment is not feasible, taking the time to work through tension by regularly stretching can help extend the benefits you receive.
Alongside working in Root To Crown Connection Centre, which offers an open and inviting atmosphere complete with large windows and other likeminded practitioners, Tori Daradich also offers her own mobile massage business. This allows her to travel to your home and gives her the ability to help all the clients who seek her out.
If you would like to book a massage with Tori, check out Massage Services here. You can also connect with Tori through her Facebook Page, Tori Daradich RMT.
About The Writer
Danielle Hauck wears many hats in her business, Vibrant Systems. Through her writing, she seeks to help her community and clients deepen their connection to self, connection to others, and connection to their environment. Why? Because well-being and community are each holistic, multi-level concepts, and it’s by nurturing the connections between them that the transformation happens.
If you’re interested in hiring Danielle to share your story, you can send her an email at danielle.vibrantsystems@gmail.com. Let’s make your story a vibrant one.