Types of Massage We Offer
Your registered massage therapist (RMT) starts by asking about your health, what is bothering you and what you want from the session. They explain the plan and ask for your consent before they begin. You stay covered with a sheet except for the area being treated, and you can ask for lighter or firmer pressure at any time.
Deep Tissue Massage
Deep tissue massage uses slower, firmer pressure to reach deeper layers of muscle. It is often chosen for ongoing muscle tightness, for example in the neck, shoulders or low back. Some soreness for a day or two afterwards is common, but it should not cause sharp pain, so tell your therapist if the pressure is too much.
Therapeutic and Relaxation Massage
Therapeutic massage focuses on a specific concern, such as tension from desk work, stiffness or muscle aches. Relaxation massage uses lighter, flowing strokes over larger areas, and many people find it helps them unwind and feel less stressed. Your therapist can blend both styles in one session.
Sports Massage
Sports massage targets the muscles you use most in your sport or training. It may be used before an event, after hard training, or as part of injury rehab with your physiotherapist. See sports physiotherapy.
Massage and Physio Together
Massage therapy and physiotherapy can work well side by side. Your physiotherapist assesses the cause of your pain and builds an exercise and rehab plan. Massage focuses on easing muscle tension and helping you feel more comfortable as you work through that plan.
Because both are offered at our Downtown Airdrie clinic, your care can be coordinated in one place. With your consent, your physiotherapist and RMT can share notes so treatment matches your goals. For example, someone recovering from a sports or workplace injury might see a physiotherapist for their exercise program and book massage for muscle tightness between visits.
Massage is not a substitute for an assessment. If your pain is new, getting worse or came from an injury, see a physiotherapist first. Our RMTs work alongside our physiotherapy team, led by founder Harman, a registered physiotherapist in Alberta. Meet our team.
Insurance Coverage and Direct Billing
Many extended health plans cover registered massage therapy, but plans differ a lot. Alberta Health Care does not cover massage therapy, so coverage comes from your work or private plan. After each visit we give you a receipt to claim. Ask us whether we can bill your plan directly.
Massage therapy is not yet a government-regulated health profession in Alberta. An RMT is a massage therapist registered with a professional massage therapy association, which has its own training and practice requirements. Many insurers ask for this before they pay a claim.
Before you book, check:
- Whether your plan covers massage by a registered massage therapist
- How much is covered each year and for each visit
- Whether you need a doctor’s note to claim
- Whether your therapist must belong to a certain massage association
Is Massage Right for You?
Massage therapy is low risk for most people, but it is not right for everyone or every day. Tell your therapist about your health conditions, medications (especially blood thinners), pregnancy, and any recent injury or surgery. Your therapist may change the treatment, or suggest you wait and see a doctor first, if you have:
- A fever, or you feel unwell with an infection
- A recent injury that is still swollen, hot or badly bruised
- A known or suspected blood clot (deep vein thrombosis). Pain, swelling and warmth in one leg, usually the calf, needs a doctor’s check before any massage
- Some skin conditions, open wounds, burns or rashes in the area to be treated
- A recent fracture, or bones weakened by osteoporosis or cancer
- A bleeding disorder, or cancer treatment, where lighter pressure may be needed
Massage Therapy in NW Calgary
Our NW Calgary clinic in Ambleside offers private, one-on-one care by appointment. Massage availability there may differ from Airdrie, so please contact the NW Calgary clinic at 403-617-7407 to check before you book.
Sources
- NCCIH (U.S. National Institutes of Health): Massage therapy, what you need to know
- Massage Therapist Association of Alberta: Regulation updates
- NHS: DVT (deep vein thrombosis)
Updated October 2026 by the Healers Physiotherapy team. This page is general information, not a diagnosis; your physiotherapist will assess you before recommending treatment.
