Niki West RMT

Biography

After going back to University to complete her Bachelor of Arts degree, Niki graduated with honours from the Vancouver College of Massage Therapy of Utopia Academy.

Having completed the RMT program, Niki realized her desire to help people recover more effectively from chronic and acute pain and/or injury, and started learning techniques to promote structural integration. Structural integration is a type of manual therapy that focuses on the connective tissue, or fascia, of the body, and is used to relieve trauma, stress, postural imbalances, chronic and acute aches and pains, while integrating the body/mind connection.

To complement her knowledge and clinical practice, Niki completed a two and a half year mentorship program in Manual Therapeutics (MT) with an advanced Rolfer, where she learned effective fascial techniques that promote structural integration.

Niki also has training in Visceral Manipulation (VM), which is used to locate and solve problems throughout the body. VM encourages the body’s natural healing mechanisms to improve the functioning of organs, dissipate the negative effects of stress, enhance mobility of the musculoskeletal system through the connective tissue attachments, and influence general metabolism. VM also assists functional and structural imbalances throughout the body, while increasing the proprioceptive communication within the body, thereby relieving symptoms of pain, dysfunction, and poor posture.

Niki is passionate about her role as a healthcare provider and her main objective is to facilitate the body’s natural healing process and return each patient to a pain free lifestyle. Niki provides a holistic, individual approach to assessment, treatment planning and home care and is committed to enhancing the health and wellness of each patient.

Niki utilizes a wide variety of techniques during treatments, including dynamic deep tissue fascial release, as well as strengthening and stretching exercises to promote structural integration. She has experience in both pre– and post natal massage and treating patients with various orthopaedic concerns, such as headaches, whiplash, thoracic outlet syndrome, carpal tunnel syndrome, piriformis syndrome and sciatica, degenerative disc disease, rheumatoid and osteoarthritis, scoliosis, scar tissue, tendinitis, sprains, strains, frozen shoulder, temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJD), neurological conditions such fibromyalgia and multiple sclerosis, and other acute and chronic pain related conditions.