A senior discount, referrals and scheduling

I’ve been mentioning for the past few months that I’ll be scaling back a bit at work once I’m in school full time. Summer has flown by and I’m on the home stretch of my time as a full-time worker. Starting September 1st I’ll only be in the clinic 2 days a week - Sundays and Thursdays. I have extended my hours a bit on Sunday, to accommodate a couple of extra appointments though.

I’ve had a few seniors ask me whether or not I offer a senior rate, as they’ve noticed I’ve always offered a student rate. I understand with retirement from the workforce and the related changes to insurance coverage that can come with that, massage can seem like something that is no longer as accessible. With that in mind, I’ve made the choice to shift the student discount to a student & senior discount. If you feel like this is something that would help make massage more available to you, please use the student/senior massage menu when booking your next appointment! You’ll just need to scroll down the list of booking options about half-way.

Also, I won’t be accepting new clients for the foreseeable future. I don’t think it’s fair to my existing client base, who I’m still trying to make enough time for, and it wouldn’t be fair for new clients, who I likely wouldn’t have the availability for over the next few years. But! We have a wonderful team at Wintersweet Wellness Collective and I’ve got some info about the other therapists at the clinic in case you’re new to us and looking for someone, or if we’ve been working together but my new schedule no longer works for you.

Jennifer Semeniuk is my business partner, co-owner of the clinic, and a dear friend! Jennifer specializes in therapeutic treatments tailored to individual needs, whether deep or moderate pressure is required. With additional certifications in RAPID NeuroFascial Reset, CranioSacral therapy, Myofascial Cupping, Therapeutic Hot Stone, Reflexology, and traditional techniques like orthopedic massage, she offers comprehensive care for those struggling with chronic pain or complex medical issues. She deeply believes in education and emphasizes the importance of clients understanding what is happening in their bodies. She is trauma-informed and holds a safe space for all people. Jennifer works on Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays.

Lloyd Chung is someone who is communicative but doesn’t mind quiet. He works with variable pressure - often finding that medium level of work that isn’t so light it feels ineffective but isn’t so deep as to cause you to want to push back against it. He tries to be therapeutic but relaxing, and always focuses on the whole body not just the symptoms. Lloyd practices massage therapy and is also a manual osteopathic therapist. Lloyd works on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.

Fenrir Guthrie is the newest addition to the collective. His style is communicative. He is focused on injury recovery and mobility, medium to deep pressure with a deep tissue focus. By the time I am back in school, Fenrir will be a manual osteopathic therapist as well as a massage therapist. Fenrir works on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.

The birthday bath bomb for the month of August is the Goldfish bath bomb, full of lavender absolute, bergamot oil, and glitter!

a pile of bath bombs shaped like goldfish

More Fall Updates!

I have decided to officially extend the reduced pricing for those facing financial constraints a bit further. Going forward, you’ll notice that it’s now labeled student/senior. I have had some seniors mention to me that with their reduced insurance/fixed income that massage was something they felt they had to limit in their lives. I think that our health is something we should be able to prioritize - so the student discount ($1.33/minute, versus the regular $1.66/minute price) is now clearly labeled to include seniors.

Due to my reduction in work hours for the school year my schedule will be Sundays (10am-6pm) and Thursdays (9:30am-6pm). With the reduced work hours I have made the choice to stop accepting new clients, until I can extend my workdays again over the summer holidays. I think this is a fair decision for my current clients as I want to afford them as smooth a transition as possible.

As well, in the coming weeks I will be posting a referral list for new clients who are looking for a massage therapist or current clients who are open to seeing another therapist at our clinic. I’ve had treatments with most of our massage therapists and I will vouch for all of them! The three other therapists at Wintersweet have varied treatment styles and I’m sure that one of them would be a good fit!

Fall news and scheduling updates

Some of you have noticed that my online booking has become a bit less available. For the past many years, I’ve let clients book up to 3 months in advance and that has been working wonderfully. There are a few changes happening at the clinic this year which has resulted in my decision to only allow bookings 1 month ahead.

As of a few weeks ago I found out I had been accepted into the Acupuncture program at Grant MacEwan University and will be starting classes in the fall. On the 15th of this month, I was able to enroll in classes and I have a good idea of what my school schedule will be for the first year. I do have my work schedule set for September through to the end of December - I will be taking appointments on Thursdays and Sundays! I’m still unsure of what my schedule will look like in 2025, but I think it’s likely that I will still be available Sundays and hopefully one other day.

During all of this, Jennifer and I have started looking for new therapists for the clinic. When we started looking, I was still unsure about my school standing, but we felt we had the space to fit a new team member in anyway. Now, the hope is to find one or two wonderful folks to add to the mix. Hopefully, among all the therapists at the clinic, I’ll be able to suggest one who would be a good fit for you if you cannot find a time that works to book with me.

Also, if you know a wonderful massage therapist looking to work at a collective clinic send them our way! By a collective clinic, I mean that while that we all share the space and physical resources, the therapist owns their own business and has more autonomy than working as an employee - it’s a system that isn’t for everyone, but I can’t imagine my career any other way.

I will be maintaining my online booking system, website, and newsletter for the duration of my time at school. Once I graduate, the plan is to go back to Wintersweet Wellness Collective full time but with the ability to offer acupuncture and massage therapy in some capacity. 3 years is a long time, so I have a while to figure out what that will look like!

February 2024

I hope this newsletter finds you in good health and high spirits! After that cold snap I hope you’re out enjoying the mild and sunny weather we’ve been having lately.  

This month, I'd like to emphasize the importance of incorporating at-home self-care practices to complement your massage therapy sessions. In today's fast-paced world, it's easy to find ourselves glued to our desks or seated for extended periods. Remember, taking short stretch breaks and incorporating small walks into your routine can do wonders for your overall well-being. These simple habits can help alleviate tension and promote circulation, enhancing the benefits of your massage therapy sessions.

I'm excited to highlight the birthday bath bomb from Lush for February: the Love Letter. Infused with coconut milk powder and cocoa butter, the Love Letter bath bomb offers a sweet, strawberry scented experience.

In other news, I'd like to inform you about a few upcoming changes to my schedule starting in May. Rest assured, there won't be fewer days available for appointments; rather, there will be some adjustments to the days I'm available. I will still be in Mondays and Fridays as usual but will be trying out Thursdays (9:30-6) and Saturdays (10-3) instead of Tuesdays and Sundays. I appreciate your understanding and flexibility during this transition period.

Thank you for being a valued member of our massage therapy community. As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to reach out. Wishing you a tranquil and rejuvenating month ahead!

See you soon,

-Katherine