I have now been to see 3 different RMT's at Kanata Massage Therapy since June 2013. Upon my first visit Wendy had suggested "trying out" different therapists in order to find the one best suited to my needs which I thought was a great idea.
My first appointment was with Nancy Aubin. She was very skillful and applied just the right amount of pressure leaving me feel great. The only downside is that I had mentioned at the outset that I didn't want to talk much as I'd had a long day at work and wanted just to relax. Unfortunately she kept me actively chatting throughout my massage and it wasn't very light talk either so it wasn't as relaxing an experience as it could have been.
My second appointment was with Dana Mellway and I must say she is my favourite RMT so far. She is technically skilled and was a very nice and upbeat person to spend the hour with which made it a more relaxing experience.
My third and most recent appointment was with Helen Anderson and sadly I found the entire experience very disappointing. Unlike the other two RMT's, I found her to be not as warm and friendly from the outset. In addition, she didn't ask me what problem areas I had and therefore did not focus on them during the massage. She made me feel incredibly rushed even though I arrived early and I was far from relaxed by the end of the appointment. I mentioned during my massage that I had swollen lower legs and feet due to pregnancy related fluid retention but she told me that she could not massage them because of the risk of inducing labour. Upon researching this after my appointment (it was the first time I'd heard that) I found sources stating that although the ankles can stimulate pelvic muscles, there was no mention of the calves or feet themselves (for the third trimester) and also, being a low risk pregnancy it was unlikely to cause any issues. I was extremely disappointed as one of the main reasons I was looking forward to the massage was to help with this swelling which has become almost debilitating. Instead, she spent more time on my neck and head which was not at all an equivalent replacement in my opinion. The way she massaged my neck caused immediate pressure and I could feel my vertebra moving - it felt more like chiropracy and made me nervous. My neck was sore for a few days afterwards and I've never had neck issues. Unfortunately she was also very chatty so in all in all the entire experience was quite upsetting. She may have been having a bad day but given my one experience, I definitely DO NOT recommend booking a massage with Helen Anderson.
My next appointment is with Wendy Parker and I'm very much looking forward to it given the other reviews I've seen.