MEET NATHALI AROSTEGUI, HOLISTIC RMT:
Embracing our wholeness through Somatic Massage Therapy.
Thank you for taking some time to read about me and for choosing to take care of yourself in the best way you can during these difficult times.
I come from a lineage of massage therapists, and medicine weavers, jump-starting my path into healing from a very young age. As an immigrant woman of colour and as a mother, I understand and experience the complexities of collective and individual intergenerational trauma as they live in the body as well as the resilience and wholeness that exists within the ecosystems of our lives.
Having experienced “trauma”, “chronic pain” “addiction” and “mental illness”, I believe in the power of somatic awareness through an animist, anti-oppressive, de-colonial lens. The wisdom of holistic healing is about re-connecting with all beings, human and non-human alike. I believe the medicine of our ancestors is found within our bodies, hearts and spirits.
In my practice I treat bodies as a network of fluid interconnected ecosystems and I strive to co-create courageous spaces and personalized treatment plans with each individual. I hope to share my experiences of resilience and wholeness with all who are committed to walk this path with me.
I’ve been practicing as an RMT since graduating from Sutherland Chan in Toronto, Ontario in 2011 but began my initiations as a holistic medicine weaver long before. I’ve been trained in swedish, pre & post natal massage, myofascial release, joint mobilizations and compassionate inquiry but my wisdom and passion come from the lands I stand on; the beings I’m in relationship with are the medicine I carry. I believe reconnecting body, mind, and spirit through intuitive therapeutic relationship allows openings for truth to emerge and therefore allowing all bodies to embrace their wholeness.
My work lives at the intersections of mindfulness, addiction, mental health, indigenous wisdom, somatic animist awareness, intergenerational trauma, decolonization and anti-oppression. I feel truly blessed to be supporting clients in reclaiming their wholeness, through the wisdom that flows in and around me. My intention is to walk with others as they discover the wisdom and power that flows through them.
MEET NATHALI AROSTEGUI, HOLISTIC RMT:
Embracing our wholeness through Somatic Massage Therapy.
T...
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Karly is a dynamic and intuitive healer, focusing on guiding her clients from pain and tension to empowerment and peace.
Karly has found that the key to overcoming injuries, anxiety, insomnia, and other ailments often lies in regulation of the nervous system alongside the transformative power of a healing touch. She cultivates a compassionate and safe space through a trauma-informed lens.
Karly specializes in Ayurvedic Scalp Massage, Trauma Release, Somatics, and Holistic Facials. Karly favours using a local hand-crafted skin care line, as well as a high-end Korean skin care products. Every facial comes with a luxurious Japanese Facial Massage. It’s a full body experience, healing and refining your skin while soothing and calming your body.
Karly is a dynamic and intuitive healer, focusing on guiding her clients from pain and tension to...
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Stephanie is a Registered Acupuncturist with a focus on family health and emotional wellness. She treats women and children using a variety of modalities from Traditional Chinese Medicine including acupuncture, acupressure, cupping and moxibustion.
As a member of the Obstetrical Acupuncture Association, Stephanie has lots of experience treating women during pregnancy and the postpartum period. She is also trained as a pediatric acupuncturist and works with children using acupuncture needles or needle-free techniques. She works with children of any age from infants to teenagers.
Stephanie is a trauma informed practitioner. She is passionate about the role that our experiences and emotions play in our physical health. She brings 12 years of mindfulness meditation to her practice, as well as training in movement and acupuncture strategies for supporting trauma healing. This has often benefited her clients who have suffered from traumatic birth experiences, and infant or pregnancy loss.
Stephanie graduated from the International College of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Vancouver, BC in 2014. Acupuncture is her second career and she loves it way more than the first one. When not working she loves spending time hiking, camping and hanging at the beach with her family.
Stephanie is a Registered Acupuncturist with a focus on family health and emotional wellness. She...
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I offer individual and group counselling for adults, and ground myself in the truth that my clients are the experts of their own lives. I work via a trauma-informed perspective, and seek to accompany my clients on their paths to healing, discovery, and personal growth. I strive to provide safe, nurturing, non-judgmental care for individuals from all backgrounds and identities.
My specialization is working with individuals in the perinatal time period. The time period between planning to conceive a child and the first few years of parenting is filled with physiological changes, hormonal fluctuations, relationship adjustments, communication challenges, and ever-growing responsibilities. I bring additional training in working with individuals during the perinatal period, as well as my own experiences of being a mother of two young children, both very different, with very different birth stories, to this work. In addition to working with individuals during this time period, I also provide facilitation for an 8-week “Becoming Mothers” group, which focuses on fostering connections with other women going through the same “life moment” and its resulting adjustments, including those of personal identity.
I have seen great evidence that healing occurs through a combination of connection, empowerment, and meaning, and am honoured to support clients as they find and understand the strengths they have within them. I work together with clients, providing support and guidance, as they explore their values, develop self-compassion, tune-in to their bodies’ messages, and explore difficult feelings
I offer individual and group counselling for adults, and ground myself in the truth that my clien...
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Paulinka (she/her) has been working in the healthcare industry for about 10 years, doing everything from personal and group training to kinesiology and rehabilitation. Her passion for travel has had her working all over the world, and what she noticed was that preventative healthcare shared a lot of similarities no matter where it was practiced.
She graduated from the Ontario College of Traditional Chinese Medicine in 2020, and was practicing acupuncture in Toronto until moving to the island this year. Her love for nature has made it a very easy transition, and she believes that living closer in tune with the elements will strengthen her practice even more.
Paulinka’s approach to therapy is simple; she believes that the body has the innate ability to heal itself, although sometimes, there may be obstructions that prevent it from being able to do so. Through her experience, she believes that acupuncture has a way of bringing the body the tools it needs to get back into its natural balance.
Paulinka (she/her) has been working in the healthcare industry for about 10 years, doing everythi...
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After many years of exploring other interests, Michelle discovered her passion in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Her upbringing was built upon a strong foundation in natural healing modalities and she adores Acupuncture and TCM. She is interested in supporting individuals through various techniques including acupuncture, moxibustion, gua sha, cupping and bodywork.
Michelle completed her Diploma of Acupuncture Summa Cum Laude at Pacific Rim College in 2023, and is a Registered Acupuncturist with the College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturist’s of British Columbia (CTCMA). She is certified in Prenatal Acupuncture, Facial Gua Sha and Unique Points Protocol, and Ontake Moxibustion which is a technique using bamboo and moxibustion to treat pain. Michelle also has a Business Diploma and a Baking and Pastry Arts Diploma, which she accomplished while playing five years of post-secondary volleyball. After college, she then moved to the Czech Republic to play a year of professional volleyball. Later on she received a Natural Chef Diploma from the College of Naturopathic Medicine in London, England which compliments TCM nutrition and diet therapy recommendations for her patients.
Professionally, Michelle is interested in treating pain, MSK (musculoskeletal), sports injuries, gynaecology and general practice.
She is determined to help patients through connection and listening; seeking to understand each person on an individual level and provide a safe environment for care and comfort. When she’s not in the clinic, Michelle enjoys baking and cooking, brewing kombucha, hiking, knitting, beach walks and playing volleyball.
Please note, Michelle is not taking ICBC clients at this time
After many years of exploring other interests, Michelle discovered her passion in Traditional Chi...
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Hello! My name is Sasha Ormiston and I am a Registered Acupuncturist and owner of Nurture and Flo.
I am greatly inspired by the magic in nature around me, the beauty in every day life, and my experiences through pregnancy and being a mother. I aspire to bring all these elements into my clinic and treatments, taking my practice to another level and offering an experience like no other.
Since completing my acupuncture studies I have further been certified in Facial Rejuvenation Acupuncture, a natural, painless and non-surgical procedure to help treat anything from fine lines, rosacea, acne and early signs of aging. This is one of my absolute favourite treatments to give and people walk out feeling incredible and absolutely glowing. To me natural beauty is so much more than cosmetic appearance. I love working with clients to find their confidence and nourishing their health from the inside, producing a truly beautiful reflection on the outside.
Additionally I have also taken further training to support prenatal patients from conception up until birth and postpartum. Supporting pregnancy has become a core part of my practice, treating anything from morning sickness, insomnia, aches and pains, heartburn, labour support and preparation and everything in between. Not only was I inspired by the extra training I have done, but my own experiences with pregnancy and becoming a mother and how incredible acupuncture supported me is something I love sharing back with the community.
I am very passionate about what I do and love sharing the magic and efficacy of this medicine. I am so proud of the heart-centred practice I have created and take pride in the success of my patients and the enjoyment they receive from being in my care.
Hello! My name is Sasha Ormiston and I am a Registered Acupuncturist and owner of Nurture and Flo...
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Andrea Penagos is a Registered Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner (R.TCM.P.), Medical Herbalist, and Reiki Master. She holds a Master’s degree in Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine from Yo San University in Los Angeles and a Diploma of Western Herbal Medicine (Phytotherapy) from Pacific Rim College in Victoria.
Andrea is passionate about helping patients uplevel their quality of life and well being through the tools of Traditional Chinese Medicine, lifestyle medicine, and individualized holistic care. Andrea’s practice is based on the understanding that the body innately knows how to heal itself and its potential can be optimized through acupuncture, herbal medicine, nutrition, movement, and everyday habits. Other modalities in her toolkit include cupping, gua sha, moxibustion, tui na, and energy healing.
Andrea has a special interest in fertility, hormonal health, mental health, and facial rejuvenation. She also treats a range of conditions including acute injuries, back pain, joint pain, sciatica, headaches, migraines, fatigue, anxiety, depression, digestive disorders, and more. Andrea is bilingual and offers her services in Spanish when requested.
Outside of the clinic, Andrea enjoys daily Gorge walks with her rescue pup Archer, strength training, meditating, writing, medicine-making, cooking, and the occasional adventure abroad.
Andrea Penagos is a Registered Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner (R.TCM.P.), Medical Herb...
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Book appointments with Nicole HERE
Nicole is a pelvic health physiotherapist blending evidence-based expertise in pelvic health and intimate personal experience to empower, support and enhance well-being throughout the journey of trying to conceive, pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.
Concerns I can help you with:
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Prenatal + postpartum pelvic health
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Preparing for birth and recovery post birth (both vaginal and C-section)
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Pelvic floor and core health throughout pregnancy and postpartum
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Support and education for exercise during pregnancy + returning to exercise postpartum (including weightlifting and running)
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Urinary Incontinence, urgency, frequency (overactive bladder)
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Bowel health: constipation or fecal incontinence
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Pelvic organ prolapse (feelings of heaviness/pressure)
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Pelvic pain, including: dyspareunia (pain with sex), vaginismus, vulvodynia, endometriosis related symptoms, interstitial cystitis / bladder pain syndrome)
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Diastasis recti
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Pelvic girdle and/or low back pain in pregnancy/postpartum
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Perimenopausal pelvic health
I aim to create a safe and welcoming space where you can openly discuss your experiences, concerns, fears, and aspirations, as well as, a reliable place to ask those pelvic health questions you can’t find the answer to anywhere else.
If you have any questions, please reach out at: nicole@upliftphysio.com
Book appointments with Nicole HERE
Nicole is a pelvic health physiotherapist blending evidence-b...
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Kayla Scheck is from Haida Gwaii, BC and has recently completed her diploma in Massage Therapy at Camosun College. She is dedicated to providing her clients with personalized treatments to address their individual health needs and goals. She feels that client education is important so they may feel empowered to make informed decisions on their treatment plan.
Her approach to treatments employs a diverse set of techniques including myofasical work, trigger point release, Swedish massage, and joint mobilizations. Kayla understands that it can be hard to press pause during the day for self-care, and is happy to provide individualized homecare to help elevate your health journey.
Outside of clinic, Kayla enjoys spending quality time with her cats, various mediums of art, reading and connecting with nature.
Kayla Scheck is from Haida Gwaii, BC and has recently completed her diploma in Massage Therapy at...
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Hi there! I am Rebecca Waterman CNP, and I want you to eat well. I believe that food has the power to heal and transform. As a Holistic Nutritionist my focus is on supporting individuals with goals centered on realigning hormonal health, stress and the connections to digestive health. I am excited to join the Opal Wellness team!
My own health journey started with burnout, digestive issues and hormonal imbalances while working multiple jobs, attending school and experiencing complex personal stressors - life! After experiencing burnout, I knew I needed to take control of my health and started to heal my relationship to food and my body. As I healed my body, I took this momentum quickly into rigorous nonprofit work which inevitably led me to experience burnout once again as I was not considering a whole person approach for myself. As this was not my first rodeo with burnout, and I knew I needed to make a change, I decided to seize this opportunity to formalize my experience in holistic health and nutrition through attending the Institute of Holistic Nutrition. This education gave me the tools to more directly serve the wellbeing of my community.
As a member of the 2LGBTQIA+ community and through my history of working supporting food security, sovereignty and wellness in non-profit spaces, I knew it was important for me to create a practice that is inclusive, trauma-informed and takes into account intersections of wellness that exist in all individuals including marginalized communities. In addition to this, I bring over 10 years of experience in the health and wellness industry, where I have done recipe creation, menu design, conducted job skills training programs, skin health consultations and more.
This journey to improved health, while not easy, has informed the compassion that I carry into meeting individuals, and truly believe the path towards healing is one that takes a whole person approach. This means that I see individuals for who they are beyond their diet, and make meaningful recommendations that fit the lifestyle of the individual while providing options that are both delicious and informed. Rooted in empathetic listening, together we will create personalized protocols and spend time learning and honouring you and your health journey. I believe we all have the innate power within us to transform, and I look forward to walking alongside you on your path to greater ease.
Hi there! I am Rebecca Waterman CNP, and I want you to eat well. I believe that food has the powe...
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