Comprehensive Guide to PTSD Treatment in Military and Veterans

Helping people comes naturally to Michelle! As a highly skilled Acupuncturist, Massage Therapist, and Advanced Care Paramedic she is widely recognized for developing unique care plans which draw on her knowledge and therapeutic touch gained across each of these specialized disciplines. Having over twenty years of combined expertise in caring for her patients, Michelle has had a front row seat to observe how stress and emotion affect the mind and body. Complementing her acupuncture services at Red Leaf Wellness, Michelle offers a variety of therapeutic and relaxation massage therapies, including pregnancy massage, myofascial release and myofascial cupping.

Michelle began her health career as a massage therapist, graduating the 2200hr Massage Program at Macewan University in 2001. Being active in competitive sport in her youth, Michelle understood the benefits of massage on sport performance, recovery and injury prevention. She subsequently branched into emergency care and became an Advanced Care Paramedic where she was able to offer a calming presence in stressful, emergent situations. Michelle has always believed that soft skills, an extra moment spent with family, or a hand to hold on the way to the hospital, can be as healing as the specific medical interventions themselves. Working as a Paramedic Michelle saw, and began to question, how it is that people differ in disease and the aging process and why the same drug benefited one person, but not the other. Her lifelong learning journey had her begin to look for these answers in the time-tested practice of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Acupuncture, thus kicking off another quest for knowledge at MacEwan University’s Acupuncture Program.

Michelle provides care at Red Leaf Wellness as an independent contractor.

Education:

• Diploma – Acupuncture, Macewan University
• Diploma – Emergency Medical Technician (Paramedic), Augustana University
  • Honors standings
• Certificate – Massage Therapy Grant MacEwan College

Licensure:

• RAc, College of Acupuncturists of Alberta (CAA)
• RMT, National Health Practitioners of Canada (NHPC)
• ACP, Alberta College of Paramedics

Dr. Yoko Masuda is a master practitioner – skilled in the rare craft of Japanese style acupuncture – where she incorporates and tailors gentle needling, moxibustion (specific deep heat), therme (heat massage) and cupping into her acupuncture treatment plans. These skills, as well as her reputation for delivering tangible results, make her a sought-after provider, especially in the areas of pain management, sports injuries, orthopaedic injuries and emotional health. Yoko firmly believes that the mind and the body are intertwined in healing and she continually advocates for a healthy lifestyle alongside of the care she provides.

Yoko received her acupuncture degree in Japan and, after working at several clinics in Tokyo, she accepted a staff acupuncturist position with the world renowned Cirque du Soleil touring show. For nearly twenty years, she went on to travel the far reaches of the globe, working on several other productions, and earning the respect of an international group of artists, staff and athletes before eventually selecting Edmonton for her permanent clinical practice. As a former high school physical education teacher, and also as an alumnus of the Japanese national rhythmic gymnastics team (where she competed internationally on numerous occasions), she has amassed an impressive background in sports therapy and physical education, uniquely positioning her to address all manner of orthopedic and performance related concerns.

Outside of work, Yoko enjoys travelling, the outdoors, and spending time with her husband and two elementary-aged daughters.

Yoko provides care at Red Leaf Wellness as an independent contractor.

Education:

• Diploma of Acupuncture, Hanada College, Tokyo, Japan

Licensure:

• RAc, College and Association of Acupuncturists of Alberta (CAA)

Fluency: 🇬🇧 – English |  🇯🇵 – Japanese

Cora Rennie is a Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapist who helps people feel safer, more regulated, and more present in their bodies. She brings more than two decades of personal experience with this gentle healing work into every session. What clients notice most is the sense of calm, clarity, and renewed ease that continues well after they leave the table.

Cora’s journey with craniosacral therapy began over twenty years ago when a single practice session left her body deeply relaxed in a way she had never before experienced. That moment opened her eyes to how profoundly the nervous system responds to safe, informed touch. It also became personal when she saw dramatic improvement in her mother’s migraines and vertigo after just a few sessions with a practitioner.

After completing a rigorous two-year Biodynamic CranioSacral Therapy (BCST) training, Cora has developed a deep understanding of how the body’s own innate healing intelligence can be supported. She holds certification and registration with the Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy Association of North America, and her work is grounded in respect for the body’s natural rhythms and its drive toward health.

Clients come to Cora for many reasons, from ongoing stress and overwhelm to persistent tension patterns, sleep disruption, and emotional holding. Many people report:

• A sense of nervous system calm and safety
• Better sleep and less reactivity to stress
• A feeling of being more settled in their body
• Enhanced capacity to engage with life rather than just survive it
• Support through major life transitions like perimenopause and menopause

Because BCST works with the nervous system itself, clients often find that their whole system begins to feel more coherent and resilient. This can lead to better outcomes with other forms of care too, as the body becomes more able to integrate changes and treatments.

Cora believes that every symptom is part of the body’s effort to protect and to adapt. Her role is not to “fix” you but to offer a supportive environment where your system can experience safety, resource, and deeper regulation. She feels honored to witness the shifts that happen when a body is finally allowed to come into balance.

Her approach is warm, perceptive, and grounded in connection, inviting you to be an active participant in your own healing. Whether you are navigating stress, transitioning through hormone changes, or seeking a more integrated sense of well-being, Cora’s work offers a space to be met, supported, and held with care.

Cora provides care at Red Leaf Wellness as an independent contractor.