Success Stories

Too many surgeries…..
In a 1 ½ year period, I had to have 3 major surgeries – the combination of which left me with a lot of pain in my hip, low back and pelvis. The pain was bothering me night and day, and seemed to get worse when I was walking. My sleep was very restless too; I would usually wake every 3 hours or so with pins and needles in my arms and an extremely sharp pain in my hip.

I enjoy exercising, so it was very upsetting to experience this pain, which caused me to lessen my gym routine and stop my regular walks. I had several physiotherapy and chiropractic sessions, and found that I got some relief. However, within a couple of days, the pain would always return. A personal trainer that I know suggested that I call Sonja. I really wanted my hip to stop hurting and hoped to be able to move easier again, so I was willing to give it a try.

Sonja’s treatment was gentle, and the pain lessened after, and in fact during the first session. The week following that first treatment, I was able to increase my gym workout, had better sleep and found the little day to day duties in my life became easier to do. After only 3 sessions with Sonja I am amazed at the relief I feel and the strength I have gained in such a short period of time. This treatment was different than anything I had ever experienced, it did not require deep penetration and manipulation like I have experienced with other treatments. That kind of treatment always hurt at the time and hurt even more after. With this treatment, the gentle and methodical treatment used caused me immediate relief and no after treatment pain or discomfort.

-S.W., 40 years old, owner of a fitness facility

Mysterious pain in an active woman…
I am in excellent health, and enjoy being physically active in my retirement. So, when I suddenly began to have pain in my arm I became concerned. By the time I went to see my Doctor, I felt constant pain and tingling from my shoulder all the way to my fingers. My hand was so weak that I couldn’t even hold a coffee cup, and I wasn’t able to get to sleep at night. My Doctor told me that I had a pinched nerve in my neck.

I began physiotherapy, and after several sessions there was no change. I also tried a couple of massage therapy appointments, but still no change. My personal trainer recommended that I go see Sonja, so I gave her a call.

At our first session I was surprised by how gentle Sonja’s techniques were. I honestly didn’t feel much of anything at the time, and I wondered if I would have to live with this problem forever. Well, in the days following my first session, I was amazed at the sensation changes occurring in my arm and hand. After my 2nd appointment, the pain was gone. I couldn’t believe it!

During my workout the next day, I told my personal trainer “I am healed! I tried everything else and nothing worked – after seeing Sonja a couple of times, I feel fine!”

It’s now been 6 weeks since my first appointment with Sonja, and I am still pain free – enjoying my hobbies, sleeping well and off to a wonderful summer!

- J.C., 61 years old, fitness enthusiast!

Nagging shoulder pain……
Over the past year, my right shoulder had been ‘catching’ during certain movements. It seemed to be getting worse, and started to throb at night, so I knew that it was time to get it looked at. Also, my left shoulder was starting to get the same idea, and I didn’t want it to become a problem as well.

Even though I live in Saskatchewan, my favorite Chiropractor is in Vernon, so when my wife and I travel there, I get a chance to receive my chiropractic treatments as well. I’ve received massage therapy before, and found it very helpful for my low back, so I thought I’d give it a try for this shoulder issue. Since Sonja’s office is in the same clinic as my Chiropractor, I decided to make an appointment with her.

Well after my first treatment with Sonja, my shoulders and back felt so much relief that I decided to extend my holiday a few days in order to receive another treatment! In the 2 ½ months since those 2 treatments, I have had no pain in my shoulders and no neck pain. Recently I started to become aware of tension beginning in the right side of my body, so the wife and I made another trip to Vernon so that I could come in for a tune up.

I’ve received a lot of massage over my lifetime, and I can feel that Sonja is working to find the problems in my body and then resolve them – it’s not just a fluffy massage with her and I’m happy to continue making Vernon our vacation destination so that I can continue to reap the benefits of these treatments!

-J.B., 67 years old, Welder, Mechanic, Machine Operator,
Husband of 45 years!

Hard, physical labour had taken a toll on my body……
I work a physically demanding job, and over the years I have gradually felt pain creep in to many areas of my body. My low back, neck, shoulders, arms and knees were constantly bothering me. The tingling in my arms was especially getting worse and was happening every night. My right knee was in constant pain, at all times of the day, and my neck was constantly stiff and sore.

My Mom and sister suggested that I try massage therapy with Sonja, and even though I was doubtful that she could help me, I thought it was worth a shot because I just wanted to feel better in general.

When I first came in for a treatment, I noticed that I wasn’t feeling much of anything as Sonja was working – I guess I was used to ignoring my body in order to deal with the pain. By the 3rd session, I began to feel every little thing during the sessions - it was like my body was waking up! I started to realize the layers of chronic problems that my body was holding, and I also started to notice changes happening.

No longer was I just in constant pain - now I could pinpoint the problems better during my days by recognizing certain postures and movements that were not good for me to do and with that information, I had the power to change the chronic patterns I was in.

After 5 sessions, I was feeling a lot better. The low back pain was gone, my neck wasn’t sore, and my arms only went a little tingly once in awhile.....the pain was nothing like it used to be. My right knee was then the main issue, and Sonja managed to discover the problem and explain it to me in a way that made sense.

Sonja helped me to become aware of the movements in my daily activities that were causing me problems, made suggestions for ways to improve my movements and she taught me exercises to help relax my body at the end of my work days. Now I am able to see the little things that I’ve been doing which have been irritating my joints, and I am finding other ways to move that don’t cause me pain. My knee is doing really well and only acts up with certain movements now.

I feel like I’ve regained control and have confidence that I will continue to feel good. I have also been sleeping better than I have in years – I have never felt better! To think that massage would fix all my pain, it’s amazing to me.

-T.S., 42 years old, Millwright, Devoted Husband and Father

A sedentary lifestyle caught up with me....
During my youth I didn’t have a regular exercise routine and I realize now that this would have been helpful for me. However, I was so busy with the day to day hustle bustle of raising a family and working as a librarian that it wasn’t until I retired that I started to realize the toll that my lack of self care had taken on me. I noticed pain in my low back quite often during my working years. So, soon after my retirement I had some X-rays taken and that was when my doctor diagnosed me with Osteoarthritis, Osteoporosis and some mild disc compression in my low back. I wanted to make sure I could enjoy my retirement years in physical comfort, so I surrendered and began a regular exercise class – wow, has it ever made a big difference in how I feel! I also decided to try some massage therapy treatments to see if that would help me to feel better.

My first appointment with Sonja included an assessment of my low back area and also my neck and shoulders. The treatment was thorough, and I actually felt a little sore for the first few hours after this first appointment. But Sonja mentioned that this might be the case, so I was reassured. She recommended that I take an Epsom salt bath that evening, which I did, and by the next day, all of my pain had lessened, and I was able to move freer and further than before the appointment. I went for 3 more sessions, once each week, and each time I felt better than before. I did the homecare that Sonja recommended to me each week, whether it was to go for a gentle walk, to apply heat or cold to my muscles or to do some light stretches. After 4 appointments I said to Sonja, “I feel more robust! All of my movements are easier to do. Whatever you did worked wonderfully!"

Now, over 2 years later, I am still free of the terribly nagging low back pain that I initially was complaining of. I am aware of the importance of self-care and make sure I do my exercises regularly. I still receive massage therapy treatments from Sonja when needed, whether it is for relief from stiffness in my shoulders, to help me lower my stress or to stay on top of it when I feel tension building in my low back and SI joints. I am thankful for Sonja’s superb treatment freeing me from pain. I couldn’t ask for more.”

-P.H., 62 years old, retired librarian, active wife,
mother and grandmother

Generalized aches and pains….
I began seeing Sonja for massage therapy in hopes of finding some relief from headaches, neck pain, hip and sciatic pain, shoulder pain, and a tingly arm. At the first session I was delighted when my headache went away, and my hip and low back pain diminished.

I now include regular massage therapy treatments into my health care. Massage therapy with Sonja has helped my joints to be less stiff, takes away my aches and pains and gives me great stress relief. I love the way my body lets go from head to toe throughout my sessions, and the wonderful sensation of tension releasing! I have a better awareness of my body, and can listen to the cues when it’s time for a tune up!

I like the multi-method approach that Sonja uses. She is always open, friendly and fun. She is always up to all the challenges I send her way and makes me feel so good!

-A.D., 56 years old, Elementary School Teacher

After Living In Pain For So Long, It Is Liberating To Find Relief……..
Even though I am an active woman, I had been living with chronic pain ever since my car accident 26 years ago. The neck pain was so severe that I was unable to lift my arm to wash walls without holding my neck to ease the pain. To make matters worse, I also had a fall a few years ago that resulted in a bruise so bad that my entire leg was discolored for 2 years! I then began experiencing regular low back pain, which was worse at night when and prevented me from having a good nights sleep. After my doctor diagnosed that I have degenerative joints in my neck and a blocked carotid artery, I resigned to live in pain.

After my first session with Sonja I was pleasantly surprised that it eased some of my pain. I have received regular sessions in the last few months, and I am now sleeping more peacefully because turning in bed is not painful anymore. When I’m physically active, I can move my body more comfortably now and turn my head further from side to side. There are many daily activities that I can now do that bothered me before - for instance, when my son and daughter-in-law moved, I was able to wash the walls without neck pain for the first time in 26 years!

-M.N., 83 years old, Retired Nurse

Depressed and Limited in my Golf Game, I didn’t expect massage therapy to turn me around……
Before I started massage therapy with Sonja, I was experiencing pain and limited movement in my joints because of an ankle and shoulder injury that I had suffered earlier in the year. I tried to hurry up the healing, and began weight training - hoping to strengthen the injured areas - instead I ended up experiencing muscle pain and fatigue that seemed too intense to allow me to go further in my training. I was depressed because of the injuries and needed help to understand why my body was failing me. I am young and have dreams of athletic success, so I want to take care of my body and I thought massage therapy was worth a try.

Working with Sonja has helped my body to heal and has empowered me to listen to my body’s signals and pace myself in my training. My spirits are high, my body is strong and I feel positive about my life. Best of all, my golf game has improved immensely – and golf is my greatest passion, so I am thrilled with that!

-M.P., 30 years old, Bookkeeper, Hair Stylist, Sports Enthusiast

I Ignored My Aches and Pains for Many Years, While Taking Care of Everyone Else But Me…….
I have spent my life working hard and keeping busy, ignoring the aches and pains that my body had over the years. I’ve had a variety of surgeries and injuries, and now that I am retired, I decided it is time to take care of myself and see if I can ease some of these old pains. My main complaint when I came to see Sonja was the Osteoarthritis in my hip that seemed to cause sharp pain in my low back and thigh. Sitting for any length of time was very painful, getting up from a chair was painful, turning in bed was difficult and I couldn’t walk for long without pain in my low back, hips and legs.

After only 4 sessions with Sonja, I am happy to report that my movements are easier and the intense pain is gone! I am able to do my daily activities without pain and have learned how to adjust some of the awkward postures that I have been in for so long. Sonja has taught me that there are many small changes that I can make in my day which will help to improve the way my body moves and feels. I had the pleasure of a leisurely shopping date with a friend today, and we did a lot of walking – I was surprised and delighted to find that I noticed only a little aching in my low back at the end of our visit – a month ago that would not have been possible!

-D.F., 69 years old, semi-retired, office cleaner

I thought I would just have to live with the constant pain of Bursitis……
Before starting to see Sonja, I was dealing with regular intensely painful and debilitating flare-ups of Bursitis in my shoulder, as well as a nagging, constant ache in my low back and hips and muscle spasms in my upper back and neck. I have had many sports injuries over the years and have received lots of massage in the past to help me take care of my body.

After my first session with Sonja, I said, ‘Other massage therapists massage you; Sonja fixes you!’ Her approach is different than what I had experienced in the past, and since receiving regular sessions with Sonja, all of my pain has decreased. My low back and hips don’t bother me anymore, and the Bursitis that I thought I’d always be living in pain with rarely flares up now. I hardly ever have to use pain medication anymore. When I am under stress or working too much my body will talk to me, and thanks to Sonja, I now have some useful self-care that I can do at home to help keep me balanced so that I avoid falling back into chronic pain. Regular massage therapy with Sonja is a part of my health care – helping me to feel great and continue being an active, working Mom.

-M.M., 33 years old, Mother, Wife and Dental Hygienist

When my Chiropractor Suggested I Contact Sonja, I was Hesitant……
I have had injuries too numerous to mention…but after having a discectomy surgery to my low back 1½ years ago, the constant pain was too much even for me to ignore anymore.

My chiropractor suggested that I begin massage therapy with Sonja, and though I was hesitant and skeptical, I thought I’d give it a try. When I came to see Sonja my leg was numb and painful. I wasn’t getting much sleep, my headaches were too irritating to ignore and my digestive problems were getting worse as well. I had to stop doing my sports because of the pain in my low back, and I like to be able to keep up to my kids, so I was willing to try anything that might help!

Much to my glee, after my first massage therapy session my leg pain went away completely! My headache also dulled to a tolerable level, and I thought that maybe there was something to this massage therapy business! So, now I have had a few sessions, and the pain is lessening more and more each day. After each session I am becoming more and more conscious of what is happening in my body – up until now, I had simply become numb in order to deal with the pain. Things have improved so much so, that my daughter and I pulled our bicycles out last week, and enjoyed a competitive ride on the hills! I am thrilled to be free of constant pain for the first time since my surgery!

-S.B., 37 years old, Mother, Wife, Labourer - AKA Clydesdale!

As a Caregiver and Farmer, I demand a lot of my body……
The nature of my work challenges my body, both on the farm and in providing care for my husband who is confined to a wheelchair. When my workload is increased, I experience muscle strains and stiffer joints. I can usually alleviate the discomfort with Feldenkrais, a movement therapy which assists my body in staying balanced, flexible and strong, helping me to maintain wellness. I also incorporate other self-care tools into my life, such as massage therapy.

I decided to receive a treatment from Sonja during a busy time when my workload had caused some imbalance in my body. After one session I was aware of the shift in my hips and low back – it seemed that my spine was straighter! This became increasingly obvious over the next 5 months, because I didn’t injure myself once – and this is unique for me because of the many awkward postures demanded of me in my daily life. I attribute much of my good fortune with a balanced and pain free body to my massage therapy treatment with Sonja!

-CR, Farmer, Feldenkrais Practitioner, Caregiver

Stress related symptoms were disrupting my life…..
When I came to see Sonja, I was suffering from stress-related insomnia, regular headaches, and chronic, achy and burning pain in my back, right hip and right shoulder. After many years of repetitive twisting in my job, I had become used to living in constant pain. I tried massage therapy in the past, but found that I was too sensitive to the treatments, and only ended up in more pain that led to me having to take prescription pain killers to find some relief! So, I was a little hesitant to see Sonja, but a friend referred me to her, and reassured me that her treatments are different and that it was worth a try.

I was astounded at the pain relief I achieved after only 1 treatment! I said to Sonja, ‘I feel so good there should be two of me!’ My headaches disappeared, and ALL of the pain in my body was greatly diminished! I am now able to handle the stressors in my life better because I am not in a state of constant pain anymore. By maintaining this pain-free state with regular treatments, I have also been able to challenge myself by increasing my exercise and stretching routines because I feel stronger and healthier than I have in many years.

-L.K., 44 years old, Dental Hygienist