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the Knots wellness team

We're a team built on our core values, mission, and vision. Through constant communication and a dedication to team work, we're known for our friendliness, welcoming energy, and positivity. Our therapists and practitioners are passionate about always putting your health and wellness as top priority.

 

You will be cared for from the moment you walk through the door until the time you leave. We strive for your experience to be as personal as possible, regardless of if this is your first experience with us, or if you're a returning client.

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Knots RMT & Wellness has grown exponentially in Kitchener-Waterloo since its inception, from only offering massage therapy, to now offering physiotherapy, reiki, reflexology, acupuncture, full-time reception, boutique shopping, our own brand of wellness products, and a yoga studio for private 1x1 yoga classes and private group yoga classes.

TAYLOR DIRSTEIN

CEO & Owner of Knots, RMT, Certified Reiki Practitioner, Certified Meditation & Mindfulness Teacher

"It was a dream of mine to cultivate a space that felt like a home away from home. Somewhere you’d visit & all of your worries would disappear from the moment you walked in the door, as if you were entering your home or safe space. I wanted to provide a place to let everything go & just relax.

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Having a multidisciplinary clinic and yoga studio where people feel comfortable enough to be their authentic selves, feel safe, seen, and heard was always my intention. 

 

Knots attracts really awesome people with great energy, including my team. I believe that the kind of energy you hold in a space makes all the difference in the environment. It attracts the energy that you want to be a part of."

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The RMTs at Knots

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Michelle Baker

RMT

Michelle graduated from the massage therapy program and became licensed in 2015. She used to spend hours sitting in an office chair, and coupled with declining physical activity and healthy nutrition, this caused her to develop pain. After an amazing massage therapy treatment, her pain was gone, and she decided to become an RMT. Michelle has taken extra courses, including cupping, fluidity of fascia, Clinical Methodology, and assessment courses. The wealth of knowledge each therapist brings is why she loves working at Knots, and the camaraderie displayed creates a wonderful work environment. Michelle finds having her own regular massages keeps her tuned up and primed for daily life. She believes in injury prevention by not pushing her body beyond its limits. As a self care tip, she recommends everyone strengthen their muscles, preventing aches and pains that lead to potential injuries. Michelle loves that KW is full of amazing businesses, and loves to support knowledgeable and compassionate business owners.

TYPE OF PRESSURE & TREATMENT STYLE:

light to moderate pressure using relaxation/therapeutic technique

SERVICES OFFERED:

Registered Massage Therapy, Indie Head Massage, Myofascial Cupping

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Victoria Wells

RMT

Victoria studied at the Canadian College of Massage and Hydrotherapy, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, graduated from the Ontario College of Health and Technology in September 2020. Victoria is trained in techniques such as General Swedish Massage, Myofascial Trigger Point Release, Fascial Release, Manual Lymphatic Drainage, Remedial Exercise and more! Victoria also took the Trimesters Massage Therapy for Pregnancy course where she gained experience in the High-Risk Antenatal Unit and the Post-Partum Unit at Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto. Victoria has a passion for helping others to overcome their injuries. Victoria became interested in Massage Therapy after experiencing its benefits first-hand. After being involved in a car accident and struggling to find a way to recover, she was introduced to Massage Therapy. She felt immediate results and instantly fell in love with the profession. Victoria takes an empathetic approach to treatment and uses her experience both as the therapist and client to build the safest and most effective treatment for you. Victoria looks forward to continuing her education and furthering her massage therapy knowledge to help you live your happiest, healthiest and pain-free life!

TYPE OF PRESSURE & TREATMENT STYLE:

light to deep pressure using relaxation/therapeutic technique

SERVICES OFFERED:

Registered Massage Therapy, Indie Head Massage, Myofascial Cupping, Prenatal & Postnatal Massage

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Amy Gibson

RMT

Amy has been an RMT since 2019, after completing her diploma in Massage Therapy at Fleming College in Peterborough, Ontario. She chose massage therapy after realizing she enjoyed learning about physiology and anatomy. Amy enjoys meeting new people and has a passion for helping people and enjoys doing this everyday as an RMT. Amy loves working at Knots as she's constantly surrounded by amazing people - an awesome group of talented RMTs as well as her incredible clients. Her top self-care tip would be to get massages! Through her own experience, Amy's learned just how important massages are. Whether you have a specific problem you need addressed, or if you just want to de-stress with a relaxation massage, everyone can benefit from getting massages!

TYPE OF PRESSURE & TREATMENT STYLE:

light to moderate pressure using relaxation/therapeutic technique

SERVICES OFFERED:

Registered Massage Therapy, Indie Head Massage, Prenatal & Postnatal Massage

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Lindsay Laflamme

RMT, AT, BAHSc

Lindsay grew up in KW and moved back once she finished school. She graduated with a Bachelor of Applied Health Sciences in Athletic Therapy in 2020, and went on to graduate with a Diploma in Massage Therapy in 2021. She is passionate about helping people which is why she chose this career path. Whether you are recovering from an injury or coming in for a maintenance massage, she wants you to feel your best self, and return to an active daily lifestyle. She does this by using her knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and biomechanics from her schooling, and integrating different techniques that are tailored to the patients' needs. She has treated a wide variety of patients and conditions from the general population, adolescents, and amateur + professional athletes. She values that every person is different and no treatment is the same. Lindsay loves that Knots is close to the community where she grew up. This community has so much to offer and she’s happy that she is able to work in a place that she knows so well. Away from Knots, Lindsay enjoys golfing and staying active by going to the gym. She also loves to shop, hangout with friends and family, and bake!

TYPE OF PRESSURE & TREATMENT STYLE:

light to deep pressure using relaxation/therapeutic technique

SERVICES OFFERED:

Registered Massage Therapy, Indie Head Massage, Myofascial Cupping, Athletic Therapy

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Eric Vanderheide

RMT

Eric wanted to become an RMT to make a positive impact in the lives of others. As a child, Eric massaged family members because he found the tissue responses interesting, and it allowed him to stay up past his bedtime. He enjoys online and offline gaming, and watching a good movie or nature/history documentary. Eric loves working at Knots because of how friendly, down-to-earth, and welcoming everyone is. It never feels like going to work, and instead feels like coming home. Eric's best self-care tip would be to remember that everyone is different in what they find most effective to unwind. The best way Eric can decompress is to go on a walk through the woods, and to really focus on that experience. His favourite thing about the KW community, beyond its rich history, is how collaborative and welcoming everyone is during times of need.

TYPE OF PRESSURE & TREATMENT STYLE:

light to deep pressure using relaxation/therapeutic technique

SERVICES OFFERED:

Registered Massage Therapy, Prenatal & Postnatal Massage

 

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Crystal Metham

RMT, RYT

Crystal graduated from Mohawk College massage therapy program in 2021 with honors and placements in chronic pain, hospice, and HIV/AIDS support. She's committed to dedicating her massage practice to serving & healing community. In January 2023, she began her studies in Traditional Chinese Medicine and is beyond excited to bring these offerings to her clients. She loves the patient, kind, whole person approach of TCM to health. Open, honest, intuitive, and knowledgeable, she uses her skills to help foster comfort, security, safety and ease, as she aids clients in reaching their health and wellness goals. Attentive and affirming, skilled in deep tissue, trigger point release, swedish techniques, joint mobilizations, fascial release, and facilitated stretching, Crystal looks forward to supporting you in your health or wellness goals! As an RMT, Crystal has a particular interest in advancing massage research, the lymphatic system, massage as CAM for those with neurodivergence, chronic pain conditions, and the mind-body connection. Before becoming an RMT, she obtained a BA in Classics and English Literature from Queen’s University and went on to never use it once. Instead, she fell into the world of agriculture. She's worked on market gardens across Ontario and BC. Crystal loves gardening, learning about plants, herbalism, and reading.

TYPE OF PRESSURE & TREATMENT STYLE:

light to deep pressure using relaxation/therapeutic technique

SERVICES OFFERED:

Registered Massage Therapy, Indie Head Massage, Prenatal & Postnatal Massage, Hot Stone Massage

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Carol Culhane

RMT

Carol was an experienced shiatsu therapist when she decided to become an RMT to deepen her knowledge and skills to help others. She genuinely enjoys using hands-on techniques to help people feel better. Carol has lived in the UK, USA, South Africa, Kuwait, and Australia, but has now happily settled in KW with her partner, 7 year old son, and 2 cats. Her hobbies include playing guitar, gardening, reading and drinking good wine. Carol's favourite part about working at Knots is getting to work with wonderful clients and colleagues in a relaxed, collaborative environment. Her best relaxation tip would be to take a nice bath, and to find practical ways to incorporate self-care into your day to day life. Her favourite thing about the KW community, after moving from Toronto, is the access to gorgeous wild spaces and a slower pace of life.

TYPE OF PRESSURE & TREATMENT STYLE:

light to deep pressure using relaxation/therapeutic technique

SERVICES OFFERED:

Registered Massage Therapy, Prenatal & Postnatal Massage

 

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Nalkila Mehta

RMT

Nalkila graduated from the Canadian College of Massage and Hydrotherapy in 2009, and is a registered member in good standing with the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario. As a Registered Massage Therapist, she strives to understand the causes of her clients’ ailments and provides complete care through her experienced massage techniques, as well as the exercises that she recommends. All of her clients can expect treatments that are tailored to their individual bodies and ailments. Nalkila is passionate about her profession and provides deep tissue to relaxation massage. She is specialized in pre and postnatal pregnancy masage. With over 10 years of experience as an RMT, she has seen a wide range of clients from injury rehabilitation, scoliosis, lower back pain, stress to everyday aches and pains, plantar faciatis, frozen shoulder, sciatica, carpal tunnel syndrome, and many more.

TYPE OF PRESSURE & TREATMENT STYLE:

light to deep pressure using relaxation/therapeutic technique

SERVICES OFFERED:

Registered Massage Therapy, Prenatal & Postnatal Massage​

The Wellness Staff at Knots

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Katy Dale

Reflexology, RRPr

Katy has been a certified and registered Reflexology Practitioner since 2018 and is a member of The Reflexology Registration Council of Ontario (RRCO). She discovered Reflexology when she was having pain caused by Plantar Fasciitis. After trying Reflexology and it being very effective, she wanted to learn more about the history of Reflexology and its benefits. She offers this treatment to others to help facilitate the self-healing ability of the body. Katy’s favourite self-care tip is to try to relax in a way that is most suitable for you. Katy’s self-care involves spending time with her dog, reading, and walks in nature.

SERVICES OFFERED:

Reflexology

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Amanda Schmidt

Yoga Manager, RYT, Certified Reiki Master Practitioner

Amanda is our Yoga Lead & questions related to yoga can be directed to amandas@knotsrmt.ca. Amanda is also our newest Certified Reiki Master Practitioner. Amanda has received and completed her Reiki level 1, 2, and 3. Yoga has been a part of Amanda's life for over 10 years, and her practice has helped her grow stronger, more flexible, and in tune with herself, both on and off the mat. It's inspired her to live each moment more mindfully. Amanda's favourite styles of yoga to practice & teach are yin and restorative. She will always be a student of the practice and is deeply grateful for the loving wisdom her teachers have shared with her. Through teaching yoga, Amanda can share what she has learned from her own practice and learning, helping to guide others through their own journeys, using yoga as a tool. Amanda seeks to help others to thrive by nurturing body, mind, and soul with yoga, reiki, and the akashic records. Her desire is that after a practice or session they feel refreshed, nourished, and balanced. Amanda is so excited to be joining the Knots wellness team and is looking forward to meeting her students on the mat!

SERVICES OFFERED:

Restorative Yoga, Yin Yoga, Reiki, Private Yoga

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Erin Seaton

Physiotherapist, MSc. PT, BSc Kin.

Erin holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Kinesiology from the University of Waterloo and completed her Masters of Physiotherapy at the Manchester Metropolitan University, in the United Kingdom. She is passionate about physiotherapy and the profound effects it can have on improving one’s quality of life. Whether it be working alongside high-level athletes, in a hospital setting, or within the community, Erin’s experience as a physiotherapist has cultivated a love of human movement. She believes whole-heartedly that movement can be healing, empowering, and fun! Erin offers a wide variety of treatment techniques including manual therapy, acupuncture, evidence-based modalities, soft-tissue techniques, and exercise. When booking an appointment, you can be sure that you will always receive her full undivided attention throughout the session. Dedicating her time and expertise towards an uninterrupted physiotherapy appointment is what sets her apart. Erin believes in working collaboratively with the Wellness Team at Knots. In this way, she makes up an integral part of your health team that can develop a treatment plan that is specific, measurable, and achieves results. She has further enhanced her clinical practice through the completion of additional training in concussion management, chronic pain management and continues to work towards further specialization in manual therapy, as recognized by the Canadian Academy of Manipulative Physiotherapy. In her down time, Erin is an avid yogi and enjoys spending time with her partner and her two dogs Mira and Mochi! Erin brings a strong sense of professionalism and enthusiasm to the Knots Team and is excited to contribute to the promotion of a healthy lifestyle for all.

SERVICES OFFERED:

Physiotherapy, Manual Therapy, Shockwave Therapy, Acupuncture

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Jelena Nagraisalovic

RYT

I tried yoga throughout my life, the first time when I was solo travelling and living abroad. Yoga never stuck. I had some kind of mental block keeping me from doing it regularly. I was impatient and didn’t understand the value. Fast forward 7 years later after moving back to Kitchener-Waterloo, I joined a local studio and quickly fell in love. That same year I did my 200 HR Yoga Teacher training and have been incorporating it with my regular clients as an RMT ever since. Now I’m on a new journey of teaching yoga to others for mental health and improved mobility. Everyone’s time is different when it comes to change and growth, I encourage you to continue to try even if it doesn’t work the first time! It has been a wonderful addition to my life.

SERVICES OFFERED:

Restorative Yoga, Yin Yoga, Private Yoga

 

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Irene Palacios

Reception & Administrative Manager

Irene is the smile that greets you when you enter Knots. She is here to help you with all of your billing, bookings, questions or concerns and is always focused on ensuring that Knots is running smoothly. Irene enjoys working at Knots because of the wholesome and welcoming work environments along with flexible hours. Irene is currently working towards obtaining her degree in Psychology and Family studies. In her spare time she enjoys listening to music, gardening, painting, or unwinding with her cats Dante and Cleo.

SERVICES OFFERED:

Amazing Customer Service

 

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Anna Ronai

RYT

Anna Ronai is a compassionate and student-centered yoga teacher with over fifteen years experience in yoga and meditation. With over 600 hours of teacher training, Anna’s teaching is firmly grounded in healthy movement, embodied learning, and a connection to the self. Anna combines her thorough understanding of the human body with compassionate active listening to personalize her teaching for each student, ensuring that her instruction is accessible for beginning and advanced yogis alike. She empowers each student to discover their own sense of movement, intuition, and wellness, and considers it a great privilege to witness her students’ journeys. Anna is also highly trained as a musician, having performed at major venues across Europe, North American, and China, as well as holding two Master’s degrees, one in Piano Performance and another in Collaborative Piano. Her musical background informs and integrates with her yoga practice through a focus on holistic embodiment, connected breathing, authentic self-expression, and consistent practice.

SERVICES OFFERED:

Restorative Yoga, Yin Yoga, Private Yoga

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Maddie Parsons

Reception, Owner of Typically Oily

I was born and raised in Waterloo, Ontario and am the proud small business owner of Typically Oily, where I pursue my passion for aromatherapy and organic, clean living. I love connecting with others in the community by regularly participating in local events. I am currently furthering my knowledge and working towards becoming a licensed clinical aromatherapist. When I’m not keeping busy with work, you can find me spending time with family and friends, my fur and feather babies, baking, or taking care of my house plants!

SERVICES OFFERED:

Amazing Customer Service

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