Come spend the day with SIX expert health professionals who each have years of experience and are moms themselves. These ladies have all been there and know what that first year with baby feels like. This workshop includes handouts to keep, light snacks, water, coffee and tea. Moms are welcome to bring a lunch or go get lunch during the break.
Partners and babies are welcome to attend all presentations but please DO bring babies for the first two presentations!
Click here for more details!
Come spend the day with SIX expert health professionals who each have years of experience and are...
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Tracy Banister graduated from the University of Alberta with a Masters in Physical Therapy in 2015 and has been treating pediatrics since the beginning. Tracy has always had a passion for working with kids as she spent several years teaching dance to children. Outside of pediatrics, Tracy also has experience treating adults in private practice as well as in Neurology at the Foothills Hospital.
Prior to physiotherapy Tracy graduated from the University of Calgary with a Bachelor of Kinesiology. She spent the year prior to physiotherapy school working with exercise and breast cancer research as a research assistant at the University of Calgary.
Tracy believes movement is the best medicine and works with her patients to help them move to their full potential. Her treatment options include manual therapy, functional dry needling, taping, and custom home exercise programs.
On-going learning is a passion for Tracy. She has taken additional courses for gross motor development, torticollis and plagiocephaly, pediatric gait, pediatric toe walking, functional dry needling, and her Orthopedic Level 1 manual therapy.
Tracy enjoys living on an acreage with her husband, 2 children, and animals just East of Okotoks. She is thrilled to be working within her community!
In her spare time, Tracy enjoys spending time with her family, golfing, snowboarding, dancing, and vacationing in the Shuswap during the summer.
Tracy believes movement is the key to health and happiness. So let’s get moving!
Tracy Banister graduated from the University of Alberta with a Masters in Physical Therapy in 201...
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Dr. Taylor approaches chiropractic care from a patient-centred and evidence-informed perspective. She values connecting with her patients and helping them to reach their functional goals with treatment uniquely tailored to the individual.
Dr. Taylor approaches chiropractic care from a patient-centred and evidence-informed perspective....
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As a young adult, Dr. Annie found herself struggling with fatigue, weight gain, migraines, acne,
and low self-esteem.
As she went through university in the sciences, she started to learn about the importance of
healthy eating and exercise for immediate and long-term physical and mental health.
Though she had seen Naturopathic doctors her whole life, she finally started really listening and
was motivated to make a change. She turned her life around with the knowledge she had
gained and decided she wanted to share it with others by becoming an ND herself.
Dr. Annie completed a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from the University of Calgary, and
received her Naturopathic Medicine Diploma from the Boucher Institute of Naturopathic
Medicine, in beautiful BC, in 2016.
In practice, Dr. Annie loves supporting patients to uncover why they may be experiencing
difficult symptoms like exhaustion, weight gain, mood swings, hormonal issues and gut issues.
Dr. Annie is a registered naturopathic doctor with the Canadian Association of Naturopathic
Doctors (CAND) and the College of Naturopathic Doctors of Alberta (CNDA).
When Dr. Annie is not in work mode, she can usually be found hanging out with her husband
and two young kids, playing with their energetic dog Kona, cooking, listening to audiobooks,
netflixing, and enjoying some nature time.
As a young adult, Dr. Annie found herself struggling with fatigue, weight gain, migraines, acne,
...
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Dawn is here to help you heal and live a more energetic and authentic life. She has the pleasure of meeting people, assessing their current state of their health and discovering how their body wants to heal for a more energetic and authentic life. She is blessed to have found her calling and being able to share this healing with others.
Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy (BCST) is an intelligent, yet discriminating gentle approach which utilizes the human body’s natural ability to heal itself. Through negotiated connection light touch is used while Dawn gives support and encourages these natural, fluid systems to reestablish balance physically, mentally, and emotionally. BCST is a gentle therapy appropriate for a wide variety of patients: adults of any age, including the very elderly. Mothers receiving pre and postnatal treatments can accelerate the healing process for both themselves and their babies. Treatment for many different symptoms including pain, fatigue, stress and related difficulties. The “Health” spectrum includes improving overall physical, mental, and emotional well being.
For more information about this treatment, we invite you to meet with Dawm for a complimentary 15-20 minute Meet & Greet appointment.
Dawn is here to help you heal and live a more energetic and authentic life. She has the pleasure ...
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Erinn is a mom to four (nearly grown) children and has spent a great deal of her career working in the non-profit sector. Erinn has worked in group homes, addictions treatment programs, youth shelters, foster care and family resource centres. As such, she has a passion for ensuring, first and foremost, that her clients feel safe, supported and heard. Erinn’s approach to treatment is honest, forthcoming and enthusiastic.
With an unquenchable desire for ongoing learning, Erinn has been deep diving into fascia and how important a role it plays in healthy movement patterns. She has also been known to indulge in audiobooks about various health conditions as they come to her attention in the treatment room. Her massages are surprisingly gentle, yet simultaneously firm - ultimately aiming to be calming to the nervous system.
As a busy mom, Erinn tries hard to make best use of her spare time between work and school. When she isn’t hanging out with her children, she has been known to be out walking, riding her bike, taking photos and spending time with her two very active dogs.
Erinn specializes in deep tissue and relaxation massages.
Erinn is a mom to four (nearly grown) children and has spent a great deal of her career working i...
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Leona Ham graduated from the University of Alberta in 2002 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Physical Therapy. Initially as a Certified Athletic Therapist, Leona began her career with a focus in Sports Physical Therapy. After experiencing her own pelvic health struggles, Leona realized her passion for women’s health. She has been seeing patient’s with Pelvic Floor Dysfunction since 2009.
Leona has attended numerous conferences that focus on pelvic pain, pelvic medicine and continence. She has spoken to various mom groups, doctor’s, the Primary Care Network nurses, female ministry groups in her community and has presented at the Alberta nurses neonatal education day. Leona does free presentations on Pelvic Floor Dysfunction at the Okotoks Library 2-4 times/year. In addition to seeing patients one on one, she teaches prenatal exercise classes and provides a seminar to educate pregnant women on exercise, posture, movement mechanics, injury prevention and pelvic floor health during and after pregnancy. Leona also enjoys educating others, she consults to the University of Alberta Rehabilitation Medicine Satellite Campus Team in Calgary to help assistant teach in the Bridging Program. Leona has and continues to volunteer as a therapist in a variety of sports and events in her community.
Her Highlights Include:
(1) traveling to Germany with the Canadian Trampoline and Tumbling team for their world championships in 2003. This was a special moment as Karen Cockburn, one of Canada’s most decorated Olympians, won her first World Championship.
(2) Training the men’s hockey team that won Gold for Team Alberta at the 2003 Canada Games.
(3) Medical trainer with her son and daughter’s Hockey Team in the Okotoks Minor Hockey League.
Leona has a sincere and empathetic approach towards all of her patients. Exercise and activity are important to her and she understands the frustrations women have when their favourite activities are limited due to pelvic health issues or other injuries. Because of this, Leona created her own practice operating as Finishline Physiotherapy with a mission of “Helping individuals Maintain an Active Life.”
Leona has certificates in:
Women’s Urinary Incontinence
Bowel and Bladder Dysfunction
Pelvic pain
Level 2 Certification in Hypopressive technique
Anatomical Acupuncture Certificate
Level 1 Visceral Therapy
Paediatric Pelvic Floor Dysfunction Certificate,
Level 1 Certificate in Visceral Fascial Treatment for Pelvic Floor Dysfunction
PYTI-c Yoga Therapy Certificate
Rost Therapy Pregnancy Related Pelvic Girdle Pain Certificate
Antony Lo Courses – Bullet Proof Your Pelvic Floor and The Female Athlete
Level 3 Certificate in Manual therapy from and accredited International Federation of Orthopaedic Manipulative Physiotherapists (IFOMPT).
Leona Ham graduated from the University of Alberta in 2002 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in P...
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Everyone deserves the opportunity to feel heard, understood and supported in making the changes they want in their lives. Jennifer aims to create a safe, welcoming non-judgmental environment for you to explore what you are going through. As a counselor, Jennifer’s passion is to help you live a fulfilling and balanced life. Her style is rationale, direct, integrative and practical.
Throughout Jennifer’s clinical training, she has helped people of all ages with various issues. If you struggle with emotion regulation, relationship issues, communication, anxiety, depression, boundary setting, life transitions, and more, she would like to support you in making meaningful changes. Together we will build on to your current strengths and abilities, work towards changing patterns, and take steps towards the life you want to live.
Jennifer has 12 years experience working with Indigenous communities and agencies.
She holds her Master of Clinical Social Work and comes to us with in depth experience working with Metis Community Service Society and Child and Family Services.
Everyone deserves the opportunity to feel heard, understood and supported in making the changes t...
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Matt graduated with honors with distinction from the Alberta College of Massage Therapy in 2022. He is a member of the Canadian Massage and Manual Osteopathic Therapists Association (CMMOTA).
Matt focuses on therapeutic massage and uses techniques such as Myofascial release therapy and joint mobilization in combination with diaphragmatic breathing to provide a treatment catered to the individual. Matt believes that relaxation is an important aspect of a massage treatment and works to communicate with you to adjust pressure and accommodate different positions/bolstering you may require.
Having worked in a variety of careers known for being difficult on both the mind and body; Matt gained a deep appreciation for massage and its many benefits. After many years of contemplation and a growing interest in health and wellness. Matt changed careers to massage therapy to pursue something he was passionate about and to provide a better work/life balance.
Matt is intrigued by movement and the mind-body connection. He lives an active lifestyle, training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Yoga, running, hiking, and rock climbing as a means to further his understanding of his body.
Some of Matts recent certifications and interests are:
Registered Massage Therapist (2200 Hour) and Fascia Decompression Workshop (Seminars for Health)
Matt graduated with honors with distinction from the Alberta College of Massage Therapy in 2022. ...
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MUSCLE ACTIVATION TECHNIQUES – MATm, PTS
Sarah works with compensation patterns that have led to stiffness, loss of range, or debilitating pain and delivers a cutting-edge treatment called Muscle Activation Techniques which helps to reset the neuromuscular imbalances that the body exhibits.
Sarah Kuindersma
Muscle Activation Techniques Master Specialist
Meet Sarah Kuindersma, a passionate Muscle Activation Techniques (MATm) specialist and Personal Training Specialist (PTS) dedicated to helping individuals reclaim their optimal health and revive their favorite activities. Sarah believes in a patient-centered approach, and is committed to delivering active and comprehensive care, addressing compensation patterns that result in stiffness, loss of range, and/or pain.
Muscle Activation Techniques (M.A.T.), is a specialized approach dedicated to identify and correct muscular imbalances.
Over time, the wear and tear of stress, trauma, or overuse can lead to inflammation, compromising your muscular system’s efficiency and neuromuscular function. This breakdown in communication between your nervous and muscular systems can result in altered mechanics, muscle tightness, pain, and other physical concerns often associated with aging.
Ever catch yourself saying, “I feel so much older than I actually am”? This sensation often signals that your body is fatigued from overcompensation, making M.A.T. an ideal solution for you. Our goal is to re-establish communication pathways between your nervous and muscular systems, ultimately restoring your muscle contractile capabilities. One of the primary signs of inefficient contractile abilities is limitations in your range of motion. A.K.A. feeling stiff or like you’ve lost your flexibility.
Imagine a world where movement is effortless. M.A.T. aims to provide your brain with a more efficient solution for recruiting muscles to move, making you feel better and perform better. If you’re actively training, M.A.T. can also play a pivotal role in helping you recover faster between intense sessions, translating to quicker gains. Elevate your well-being, experience the benefits of M.A.T., and book a session with Sarah today. Let’s embark on a journey where movement becomes synonymous with joy and vitality!
MUSCLE ACTIVATION TECHNIQUES – MATm, PTS
Sarah works with compensation patterns that have led to...
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Devan has been in the health and wellness industry as a Registered Massage Therapist since 2009 and has worked in a variety of different spaces with many types of clients. Since her initial graduation, she has taken Craniosacral and SomatoEmotional Release classes through the Upledger Institute, classes in trauma-informed relational somatic therapy, shamanic healing, and poly vagal theory. Through all these teachings she finds she gets the best results in massage when it is slowed and deeply intentional. Working with the clients’ tissues in a careful way she doesn’t force or brutalize when looking for a release. She enjoys working with people who are interested in learning how to better care for their bodies, minds and souls and are dedicated to furthering their health.
Devan’s treatment style has evolved with her education and she loves working on children of all ages, our elders, and the stressed. Specializing in Relaxation massage, she keeps the pressure under your pain threshold to allow for your tissues to let go of their stress guarding. Her Therapeutic treatments allow for a firmer pressure and include techniques that are more localized to problem areas. Devan’s Face, Head, Hands and Feet treatment is for those wanting attention turned to the bits of us that are mostly ignored in conventional therapeutic treatment but feel the absolute best.
When she’s not with clients in clinic, she can be found engrossed in nonfiction books, on top of a mountain or throwing herself down it on a snowboard. She enjoys wandering deep in the forest, donning a wetsuit somewhere in a body of wild water, facilitating workshops, mediations and journeys, or dancing in her kitchen.
Devan has been in the health and wellness industry as a Registered Massage Therapist since 2009 a...
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After her career as an equestrian athlete came to an unexpected end, Rachel Torn wasn’t sure what would come next. It wasn’t until she completed her second yoga teacher training that she developed a deep passion for anatomy, which eventually led her to a career in massage therapy. Initially uncertain about the hands-on aspect of the profession, Rachel quickly discovered the power of therapeutic touch in helping people move better and feel their best.
Rachel graduated from Mount Royal University’s 2200-hour program with a focus on optimizing athletic performance, injury prevention, and recovery. Since then, she has expanded her expertise with certifications in Evidence-Informed Clinical Cupping, Advanced Kinesiology Taping, Advanced Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization, and Percussive Therapy.
Known for her dynamic, client-centered approach, Rachel tailors each session to meet the body’s needs on the day of the appointment. Whether working with athletes, active individuals, or clients managing chronic conditions like Hypermobility Syndrome or Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, her treatments are designed to enhance movement, reduce pain, and achieve long-term results.
If you’re looking for a typical relaxation massage, we suggest booking another RMT. Rachel’s focus is on performance, recovery, and injury prevention—not on simply making you feel relaxed for an hour. While the vibe in her treatment room is laid-back, with great music and zero fluff, her treatments are built around getting you real results. She takes a dynamic approach to each session, treating the tissue as it presents itself on the day of your appointment. Your body changes, so your treatment should too. Instead of sticking to a rigid plan that ignores your current needs, she tailors each session based on how you’re feeling and what your body requires at that moment. This flexible approach allows her to adapt to what’s actually happening in your muscles and joints, leading to better results.
When not in the treatment room, Rachel enjoys hiking, working out, and spending time with family and friends.
Rachel specializes in therapeutic and sports focused massage and does not do relaxation, prenatal or non-athletic pediatric massage.
After her career as an equestrian athlete came to an unexpected end, Rachel Torn wasn’t sure what...
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Alison is a registered provisional psychologist who specializes in working with clients primarily struggling with anxiety, depression, trauma, grief/loss, and addictions. In addition, Alison has received extensive training in trauma informed care, DBT, narrative therapy, polyvagal theory and numerous other client centered approaches. Most recently, Alison has received Perinatal Mental Health Certification. Her areas of focus include infertility, pregnancy and infant loss, anxiety during pregnancy, PTSD, postpartum depression, grief, and adjusting to life as a blended family.
In sessions with Alison, expect to feel supported by her level-headed, keep-it-real approach. Alison is here to validate, affirm, help reduce stress, and hear whatever it is that’s truly weighing on you during this stage. You will be heard, learn tangible strategies to navigate your challenges, your boundaries will be respected, and you can finally move through the difficult part of this chapter.
Alison’s qualifications won’t fit on her business card so we’ve listed them here:
Registered Counselling Therapist - Association of Counselling Therapy of Alberta, soon to be the College of Counselling Therapy of Alberta
Canadian Certified Counsellor - Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association
Provisional Psychologist - College of Alberta Psychologists
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology and Sociology
Masters of Counselling Psychology
Alison is a registered provisional psychologist who specializes in working with clients primarily...
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Meet Deanne. Your Holistic Registered Dietitian.
Deanne Wiseman, RD, CHN believes helping your family achieve greater health starts with supporting mothers to feel connected and empowered. With over 10 years’ experience educating and advocating for healthy nutrition and lifestyles for all ages, she has a first-hand understanding of the challenges to nourishing oneself as a mother, let alone with a busy growing family.
Learn how she can help you feel energized and balanced through individualized nutrition counselling and thoughtfully curated products.
Meet Deanne. Your Holistic Registered Dietitian.
Deanne Wiseman, RD, CHN believes helping your f...
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A new approach to family and sports chiropractic in Okotoks!
Dr. Sarah Wuest is excited to bring her style of chiropractic to Okotoks. Her practice is strongly patient-focused with longer, non-rushed visits that include a more specific and detailed diagnosis, a wide variety of treatment options, and collaborative care. She approaches treatment goals WITH you – every treatment plan is individually tailored both to your body as well as your preferences. Her treatment options currently include spinal joint manipulation, extremity joint manipulation, Active Release Technique, therapeutic exercise and Medical Acupuncture. She is also proud to be one of the practitioners offering baseline concussion testing, treatment and rehab with Complete Concussion Management.
Dr. Sarah is thrilled to have the opportunity to help you achieve your full potential, whether you are an elite or recreational athlete or just simply needing devoted care for your hardworking body. As a mother of two, she also has a special interest in the effects pregnancy has on our bodies – both during and after pregnancy.
Dr Sarah has been practicing in Calgary in a family and sports-based practice since 2008. She began eleven years of post-graduate education with an undergraduate degree from the University of Alberta and a four-year Doctor of Chiropractic degree from the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College in Toronto (summa cum laude with Clinic Honours). She then went on to complete a three-year post-graduate degree in Sport Sciences also at the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College. She is currently the only female Chiropractic Sport Specialists in Alberta.
As an evidence-based health care professional, Sarah is committed to on-going education and staying current on medical research and literature. Research is a passion for her. She has worked in the Human Performance Lab in the Kinesiology Department at the University of Calgary on a number of projects and co-authored three published research papers exploring the topic of neck manipulation and stroke. She has also been a member of the teaching faculty at the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College.
Her interest in helping high-performance athletes reach and maintain their potential is rooted in her thirteen years as a national level show jumper. Dr. Sarah has been honored to be a member of several sport medical teams including the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games, the Canadian Professional Rodeo Sport Medicine Team, the Western Canada Summer Games, the International Club Crew Dragonboat Championships, and Junior A hockey teams (to name a few).
Working with Olympic and professional athletes in a variety of sports, Dr. Sarah also works with equal enthusiasm with amateur athletes, recreational athletes, and anyone in need of musculoskeletal care.
A new approach to family and sports chiropractic in Okotoks!
Dr. Sarah Wuest is excited to bring...
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