Erin Whyte, RMT

09/26/2022

Proud to be a sponsor in the fundraising efforts of Women's Initiative for Safer Environments (Initiative des femmes pour la sécurité environmentale).

WISE is Holding its Annual Women's Safety Walkathon Fundraiser!

Women`s Initiatives for Safer Environments (WISE) is holding its annual walkathon to raise awareness about women`s safety in public environments in Ottawa.

PRIZES for greatest donation, best safety pics and highest kms!!!

If you are out and about, as you are walking, running, wheeling, or getting in your steps, take a look at the environment around you, click a few pics and send us information on areas that may require better lighting, signage, accessibility features, trimming of bushes, ...

The safety of our community is up to all of us. With your pics or comments, WISE will follow up on your safety concerns through our community safety audit program. Check us out at wiseottawa.ca to learn more about our work.

Get your friends, family and co-workers involved and walk together!

Those interested in obtaining sponsors can do so as well through our event page on Canada Helps.

Donation and registration can be made through the following Canada Helps link: https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/womens-initiatives-for-safer-environments-wise/p2p/wisewomenssafetywalkathon/

Get fit; Be safe!

Thank you to our generous sponsors: Erin Whyte (RMT), Algonquin College, Legacy Auto Centre, and Headquarters Hair Parlour - all of whom we will be featuring in the coming days!

06/01/2022

The essence of what I do gently captured by Sellick Event Photography.

06/01/2022

A huge thank you to Sellick Event Photography for the new clinic photos. They capture my treatment room beautifully!

04/29/2022

Mask mandates have been extended in select settings until June 11, 2022. This includes health care settings, and all RMT practice settings are considered to be health care settings for the purposes of the masking mandate. RMTs will continue to wear surgical/procedural masks and patients will be expected to wear a mask until June 11, 2022.

04/21/2022

Sometimes we need our own inner voice to be the kindest and gentlest. Be kind to yourself💜

02/25/2022

We can end gender-based violence

If you need help use the hand signal. If you don't know what it is or how to respond if you see it, download this guide. I just did.

Get your Action Guide now.

11/01/2021

Timeline photos

08/13/2021

I have opened up Monday, August 23rd for a few extra appointments in case you are trying to get in !

08/05/2021

Even massage therapists succumb to stress, contraction, and the feeling of being brittle! I am experiencing an episode of acute back pain (getting better!) that I attribute to my body being very rigid during the past couple of weeks. Like many of you, there was no big physical trauma. I was working, leaning forward putting a sheet on the table and felt this very mild twinge. The next day, acute, painful sensations surrounded by overall achiness and stiffness. While there may be some underlying biomechanical tissue irritation, I can honestly say that it felt like all the stress I was under just made my body so tight and rigid that something had to give. It doesn't really matter what it was because I know it will get better with my own self-care, supportive therapeutic work, rest and time. And it is usually a reminder that I am NOT taking care of myself as well as I should. So, I like the quote below from my most recent meditation to be more flexible because when we contract, we can crack!

06/29/2021

Two appointments opened up for tomorrow, June 30 at 12:45 and 2:30!

06/23/2021

New digs are coming along! Stay tuned for the full announcement of when I will be able to welcome you to the new space. Hint: should be early July.

04/19/2021

Vulnerability and courage show up in my treatment room all of the time and in so many different ways. Here are a few examples:
- booking that first appointment (and then showing up for it!)
- expressing feeling nervous
- deciding to leave shirt, bra, or pants on
- choosing massage because it feels good, not because something needs to be 'fixed'
- admitting something feels painful
-admitting something feels GOOD
- asking for a blanket because it will feel warmer or safer
- letting out a big sigh
- having a little cry

It can look different for everyone but it will always be met with respect and never met with judgement.

04/12/2021

Home | Erin Whyte Registered Massage Therapist

A huge thank you to the team at The Co. Lab for their creativity, flexibility, and patience in creating a new website that I just love!
www.erinwhyte-rmt.com

Erin Whyte RMT utilizes a trauma-sensitive approach to massage therapy where you can find peace of mind in your body. Here, massage care proceeds at your pace and your comfort level. I work with you to move toward well being.

03/24/2021

Did you know that even a 1% decrease in our body's overall water content can negatively affect our cognitive ability and mood? Additionally, our bodies need water for many physiological activities like lubricating our joint, protecting our spinal cord, transporting nutrients for digestion and toxins for waste. Is it any wonder then that when we don't drink enough water we can experience mood swings, fatigue, muscle cramps, headaches, dizziness and have difficulty concentrating?

So get that liquid into you either in its purest form, with flavour added (cucumber and mint is nice), or juices (mind the sugar content). We KNOW we need it to survive, but it just might help us thrive a little more each day!

03/21/2021

In a recent post I spoke about the physiological effects that trees provide, we also need to recognize that, around the world, we rely on forests for shelter, work, food, recreation, environmental stability, and health. Feel free to post a photo or share a story of what forests mean to you, either here or at . And, maybe, hug a tree today🌳💜

03/05/2021

Trees, forests, nature are where I find my solace. They are a refuge for me and an analogy for life- not always straight, bumpy, rough, smooth, gnarly, fully of beauty, vibrant, branching, reaching, rooted. You can see life in trees, your own that is.

I always feel more at ease, grounded, focused, and human after being out in nature. Now there seems to be evidence-based literature that suggests why. Not that I need the science to know and feel for myself the therapeutic effects of taking in nature's beauty!

In recent literature, but known for centuries on some level, are the beneficial physiological effects of shinrin-roku or forest bathing. No need to get undressed for this shower! The same chemicals that help trees fight off bacteria and fungi are beneficial to humans, helping boost immune function and lowering stress responses.

Here are some of my own photos of trees and forested areas from walks, skis, camping trips, and outings. I am always drawn to the trees and find their companionship to be very uplifting. We are blessed with many wooded areas here in Ottawa-Gatineau, so try to find your way to one and enjoy the free therapy!

02/25/2021

Health and Wellness

Wondering what a trauma-informed approach is in massage therapy? Here is a 2016 podcast where I talk about what brought me to work with people who have experienced trauma and what that looks like in the treatment room.

https://socialwork.buffalo.edu/social-research/institutes-centers/institute-on-trauma-and-trauma-informed-care/trauma-talks/trauma-talks-health-wellness.html#

The following interviews are both personal accounts of trauma in the health and wellness systems and service providers from various health fields talking about their work with survivors. All interviews highlight the role of strength and resilience in survivor's journeys toward growth and healing.

02/12/2021

The 8 Best Hip Flexor Stretches, According to a Physical Therapist

We sat a lot in the past but I have so many clients who tell me that they are moving even less and sitting LONGER as they work from home. Low back pain has been a primary complaint and much of it has to do with tight hip flexors and weak gluteals (your butt). Because we all have different ways of being able to move our body, here are a few different stretches to target hip flexors, quads, and glutes. It really DOES make a difference!

https://www.byrdie.com/how-to-stretch-hip-flexors-4774207

You can avoid tight-feeling hips with some simple stretches. Here, physical therapists share the best hip flexor exercises to loosen muscles and relieve pain.

02/02/2021

Most people think that when you come for a massage treatment that you will be expected to undress (while the therapist is out of the room) down to underwear or even to be fully naked. This is not necessarily the case. Everyone has the choice as to what they remove when getting on the table. From a trauma-informed perspective this is a conversation I have when clients book for a Safe Hands treatment. We discuss and determine your comfort level from the very beginning. I am able to work with you completely dressed or with a bra still on. Your sense of safety and comfort is paramount as it is the only way your body will even consider relaxing. Email me or post in the comments below if you have any questions.

01/28/2021

Hmmm....I noticed that booking a massage isn't part of any of these activities. I may be a little biased, but it is a fact that touch can help release feel-good hormones that allow us to feel more socially connected!

01/28/2021

More ideas!

01/28/2021

Now more than ever, during our cold, often bleak days of winter we need to seek out one small action that can lift our spirits, or at least shift them from the darkness. The following are some activities that you can plan in a month or at least look at for ideas on how to help yourself or another get through a tough day, week, or month. Keep talking!

01/25/2021

My gratitude today goes out to all of my clients. To those seeking Safe Hands for a trauma-informed approach to treatment, I acknowledge the courage it takes to book that appointment and put your trust in me to keep you safe. To those seeking relief from injuries, tension, and pain in general, I acknowledge the desire to seek wellness and live life more fully. To those who have sought out my services since my re-opening and to those that have not, I appreciate your situation and decisions you make to stay at home or to come in for treatment.

At the beginning of the pandemic I was profoundly struck my how important a resource you are to me in my own well-being, in being able to employ touch as part of my work everyday. So, today I acknowledge each of you as my heroes for helping me through this strange and difficult time whether it has been through booking at appointment, sending me a little note, or even by staying at home to reduce the risk of transmission. Thank you and much gratitude to each of you!

01/14/2021

Is that nagging pain making you not feel like yourself? Consider a massage to help ease your tension and discomfort, sleep better, and keep peace in the family!

01/11/2021

People often think that when they come for a massage that it means they are giving permission for any part of their body to be touched. But that is not the case, especially from a trauma-informed approach. When I sit with you to determine what your goals are for treatment one of the elements we discuss is where and how it safe for me to touch you. Maybe you don’t like having your neck touched. Perhaps having your left arm treated is uncomfortable, but you are okay with the right one being done. Having this discussion is one of the ways that I ensure that we are working in a way that allows you to feel at ease. One way to look at this is by using the familiar colour codes of green, yellow, and red.

Some areas you may know right off the bat; okay here (green), not okay here (red). Other areas you may be unsure or a bit wary of (yellow). It is normal to have different areas that have different signals. It’s also okay to feel that you are comfortable with all areas that you want to be part of your session. Everyone’s experiences are different, and nothing dictates whether you will have an area that you find triggering, unsafe, or merely uncomfortable. Many people find that simply being able to say “I don’t want to be touched here” allows them to relax and eventually have that area treated with no problem.

Can these areas change? Of course, they can! But, together, we determine when it is time to explore a different zone. And what is important to know is that just because one area was green in one treatment doesn’t mean it can’t be red in the next. Your bodies boundaries are flexible, and we always need to honour and respect that. This is a small part of what it means to have a trauma-informed approach to your massage treatment.

If being able to discuss where and how you will be touched is important to you then consider a Safe Hands massage treatment. If you have more questions, please contact me at [email protected] or 613-261-7473.

01/08/2021

ABOUT – SJAM Winter Trail

For me, winter is all about being outdoors. Right now it is all about exploring and taking advantage of the trails we have around Ottawa. My first skate ski was on the SJAM trail- a winter gem that allows you to walk, ski, snowshoe or bike along the Ottawa River. Take advantage of it if you haven't done so already!
http://www.wintertrail.ca/about/

The SJAM Winter Trail is... A groomed multi-use winter trail along the Sir John A. Macdonald (SJAM) multi-use pathway (MUP) that will promote active living, provide access to the Ottawa River shoreline, and welcome a diversity of users, whether they are walking, on skis, snowshoes or a snow bike. Th...

01/05/2021

What All That Touch Deprivation Is Doing to Us

I was very moved recently by a young client who came in specifically because they wanted massage to help fill the void of not having any touch in their life. For those living alone during the pandemic or without a close social bubble that would allow hugging or close contact the lack of touch is palpable (pun intended). Even without distancing restrictions, living alone and not having intimate or social touch can have an affect on mood, sense of connectedness, and physical well-being. I found this article in the New York Times interesting as it speaks to those affects and provides some suggestions on what you can do.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/06/style/touch-deprivation-coronavirus.html

It’s going to be a while before we can hug freely again. What does that mean for our mental health?