Much like the strong and durable tree that dots the northern landscape, Golden Tamarack Wellness is only three years old but it is looking forward to a growth spurt post-pandemic.
Owner and registered massage therapist Sarah Slade opened the shop in June 2018 after moving North from Vancouver Island.
Since then has been building a clientele in the Hay River area and has been trying to become rooted much like the NWTSA国际影视传媒檚 favourite tree.
SA国际影视传媒淲hen I first moved to town I noticed the Tamarack trees because theySA国际影视传媒檙e so fluffy and so pretty,SA国际影视传媒� she said during a tour of her business, July 26. SA国际影视传媒淪o since I moved here I thought about how can I incorporate that name into my business.SA国际影视传媒�
Located in the Godwin Mall, the wellness centre is divided into three sections, a greeting and waiting room, a massage table area and a laundry facility in the back.
SA国际影视传媒淚 offer generally tissue type massage and my focus really is into injury rehab and injury maintenance,SA国际影视传媒� she explained. SA国际影视传媒淚 donSA国际影视传媒檛 do as much of the relaxation spa experience.SA国际影视传媒�
Her focus is myofascial massage, which involves stretching the connective tissue.
SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 more intense, itSA国际影视传媒檚 less oil and it involves stretching and breaking up of connective tissue,SA国际影视传媒� she explained. SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 a similar process to deep Swedish which most people know involves oil and recognize as massage. It is a little bit more specific injury rehab.SA国际影视传媒�
Each session is geared to the clientSA国际影视传媒檚 needs and is shaped through a common routine, which she said is important in helping a patient envision their healing journey.
Most of her clients are office workers and she tends to deal with people who have had neck injuries or pains in their shoulders or lower backs.
SA国际影视传媒淚t really depends on the situation, but say if it is a shoulder injury, usually I will greet the person at the door and we talk about their goals around treatment,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淲e talk about how the injury happened, how it has progressed, and what a recovery for them would look like.SA国际影视传媒�
Slade is currently the only worker at the business but she said she is aiming to have the company transition into a multi-disciplinary service.
SA国际影视传媒淲e are growing and so eventually ISA国际影视传媒檒l get in more practitioners,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淭hatSA国际影视传媒檚 the goal anyway.SA国际影视传媒�
The challenge is trying to recruit other trained massage therapists to Hay River where she says there is demand for all types of massage therapy.
SA国际影视传媒淚 think there is a desperate call for it in town because there isnSA国际影视传媒檛 anything really available, but itSA国际影视传媒檚 a slow process,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚 think people are still slow to move here. I have some ads out on various different forums in Alberta and BC, and the national Canadian RMT website too.
SA国际影视传媒淭hereSA国际影视传媒檚 just not a lot of interest but people I think are still hunkered down and recovering from the pandemic last year.SA国际影视传媒�
For the moment, because of the nature of the work, she only takes clients who have booked appointments ahead of time.
Once a session starts, she guarantees that they will be the focus of her attention.
SA国际影视传媒淏ecause ISA国际影视传媒檓 the only one here, when I have a person in here, ISA国际影视传媒檓 in treatment and so I canSA国际影视传媒檛 answer the door and ISA国际影视传媒檓 not going to interrupt the middle of a session to go and answer the door,SA国际影视传媒� she explained.
COVID-19 response
Slade said like other businesses she had her struggles with the pandemic and was in constant fear that she would catch the virus and spread it to others because her work is so dependent on working closely with people.
SA国际影视传媒淚t was just a rough year last year, especially when we were closed for two whole months,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淏ut now weSA国际影视传媒檙e pretty much back to normal.SA国际影视传媒�
Much of that stress has been alleviated and she has been able to work easily with the Office of the Chief Public Health Officer in meeting public health guidelines and restrictions.
She keeps a high standard of cleanliness on surfaces and other areas and protective wear is also common in her practice.
Clients upon entry are given a pre-COVID screening and are asked to wear a mask if they havenSA国际影视传媒檛 been vaccinated.
SA国际影视传媒淚 always wear a mask anyway just because ISA国际影视传媒檓 always working in such close proximity,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚 want to protect to them and protect myself.SA国际影视传媒�
WhatSA国际影视传媒檚 clear looking ahead is that Slade feels very much at home where she is located and is looking forward to meeting new clients and working with other like-minded businesses.
SA国际影视传媒淚 love my office,SA国际影视传媒� she said laughing. SA国际影视传媒淚t really is a great place to work.SA国际影视传媒�
