A 'hands on' kind of job
Massage therapist says the profession involves more than just giving a rub down

Darren Campbell
Northern News Services

NNSL (Sep 10/99) - The T-shirt Mary Wasylycia wears to the interview bears a simple message -- Hands Heal.

Wasylycia knows all about the power of human hands because she makes her living with them. She is a massage therapist who's been offering massage therapy to Yellowknifers at Mary's Therapeutic Massage since 1997.

Some people might think they know what is involved in Wasylycia's work just from the term, massage therapist. But those people would be wrong, according to Wasylycia.

"The biggest misconception people have is they think all we're going to do is ask them to lay on the table and we'll rub their muscles," said Wasylycia. "We offer more than people expect."

Those who book an appointment with her or fellow massage therapist, Barry Kilpatrick, quickly find that out. During the initial one-hour visit, Wasylycia will do a complete assessment of the patient. That includes a written and oral review of their medical history, structural and functional testing, forming a treatment plan and hands-on therapy.

The hands-on therapy is what patients expect when they come to her. Many do get the traditional massage, commonly known as the Swedish massage, depending on their ailment. But Wasylycia may prescribe any of a number of treatments such as hydrotherapy or remedial exercise.

Because 90 per cent of the people come to her because they have some sort of pain, not for a relaxing massage, such a thorough assessment is needed. Trying to find out what is wrong with a patient and help them is one of the aspects she enjoys about the job.

"We play detective, which makes our jobs fun and different," said Wasylycia.

To become a registered massage therapist, Wasylycia took a two-year, 20-month program at the Okanagan Valley of Massage Therapy in Vernon, B.C. She has been in Yellowknife since 1987 and was working for the city as a program co-ordinator when she decided to change careers.

She added it is a good time to be in the field. She said more people are turning to people like her who specialize in treating deep tissue pain, rather than going to their family doctor. Massage therapy can provide relief from conditions as varied as headaches, low back pain and poor digestion.

But along with the physical benefits of massage therapy, that doesn't mean people still don't come to her because it just plain feels good. The proof of that comes every time she finishes a massage therapy session.

"The most common response I get from clients is, 'Is it over already?'" said Wasylycia.