About Me

Sydney was born and raised on the lands of Southern Alberta. She is a long term student of yoga, and has a background in Traditional Thai Massage. She moved to Victoria, BC, in 2015 to pursue her massage therapy diploma. She graduated from the West Coast College of Massage Therapy’s 2200H program and worked for a number of years in BC.  She recently returned to Alberta to continue her massage practice while attending school for acupuncture.

Sydney discovered the healing potential of bodywork through yoga and Thai Massage. In 2015, she sold her car and used her savings to travel to ashrams in India in desperation due to a health crisis. She sought at minimum mental and emotional refuge in yoga from a debilitating digestive illness. With no clear diagnosis from western medicine, and experiencing chronic pain throughout childhood she followed what was helping and pursued a path of yoga practice. On this trip she practiced yoga and meditation at a 300 hour yoga teacher training in India and a 200 hour yoga training in Thailand. She also visited various ashrams and meditation centers which allowed her to heal at a subtle, mental and emotional level to help manage and accept the pain from the condition of her body. In her journey she eventually found a resolve to the constant pain and dis-ease when an abdominal/intestinal blockage was released while receiving an intensive Chi Nei Tsang session at the Tao Garden in Thailand. She experienced what the absence of constant pain was like for the first time in her life, and she went through an ‘identity shift’.

Sydney came to understand eastern Yogic philosophy parallels Traditional Thai massage theory and Chinese Meridian Theory. These practices aim to access the free flow of life energy pathways to allow balancing of life force (Prana or Qi), thus creating freedom and ease in the body. They also look at emotional/spiritual factors that can cause blockages. Through the process of her own healing and deepening understanding in these practices over the years, Sydney has developed an intention to utilize compassion and empathy to support others who are suffering. Sydney’s role is as a humble facilitator for these bodywork practices. She recognizes the privilege she had in being able to learn these practices in their countries of origin at the time. As a massage therapist, she is not here to “fix” anyone, however she can hold space for others so they may deepen awareness in their own body’s wisdom within and listen to what the body is teaching them. One of Sydney’s yoga teachers at Yasodhara ashram would say, “What are you learning from the body? What is the message, what did that bodily experience teach you?”

Sydney completed her professional certificate at the Thai Massage School of Thailand in 2015. From this experience Sydney hopes to witness others in their own self- discovery to rise above limitations and uncover their own, unique version of health. Sydney incorporates Thai compressions/stretching, acupressure, postural assessment, myofascial release, trigger point therapy, joint mobilizations, abdomen massage, fascia stretch therapy and more in her treatment. Sydney strives to combine Eastern and Western knowledge to massage when treating patients from an individual-based approach. She has an interest in using massage as an embodiment practice to treat emotional and mental health challenges, high levels of stress, chronic pain and digestive disorders. Sydney is also passionate about educating patients in corrective compensation-pattern exercises, self-abdomen massage, postural awareness, breathing (pranayama) and yoga postures. As a practitioner, Sydney’s aims to provide a supportive environment in which clients have complete permission to slow down, feel whatever arises in the moment and as a result cultivate a feeling of safety in the body with time. Sydney studied the first year of the Somatic Experiencing Program which allows for a trauma informed lens to her practice.

Sydney is currently focused on studying a style of Chinese Meridian Acupressure the past two years and is excited about how it is influencing her view of holistic bodywork. She plans to pursue an Acupuncture Diploma program in Fall, 2024 in Calgary, AB. Sydney enjoys various hobbies; climbing, cycling, yoga, dance, cooking, playing harmonium/chanting, drawing, backpacking, herbalism and relating with plants, animals and humans.