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.

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

In a world that is constantly moving, in which we continually push ourselves to achieve more, do more, and be more, Dr. Moynihan believes that a gentler approach with ourselves and our bodies will achieve an overall greater well-being, and that all else flows from there. Acupuncture is the modality she uses to help people explore and heal deeper issues within their bodies, opening up their capacity to truly thrive.

After working in the health and fitness industry as a Personal Fitness Trainer for many years, Dr. Moynihan bore witness to the many patterns of roadblocks that clients can face in their quest for wellness. Working closely with her clients’ bodies for years she observed the undeniable and powerful energy the body has. This insight, coupled with her innate desire to help others attain a deeper level of physical, emotional, and mental healing, led her to become a certified Reiki Practitioner, Crystal Healer and Doctor of Acupuncture.

Dr. Moynihan is widely known for her therapeutic touch, gentleness and compassionate approach. Her main treatment goal is to create an environment where all her clients feel comfortable, and have an understanding of what is occurring within their body and why. Accomplished in the art of traditional Chinese medicine, she is able to assist with a myriad of ailments and disease states such as pain management, digestion, insomnia, and anxiety. Dr. Moynihan has completed additional highly specialized, Cosmetic and Facial Rejuvenation Acupuncture training from leading Oriental Medicine practitioners, and has also attained Subconscious Imprinting certification. Subconscious Imprinting Technique is one of the most effective ways to discover and remove subconscious beliefs, decisions and patterns that are negatively influencing your health, relationships, and the way you show up in your life.

Education:

• Diploma of Acupuncture (Dipl.Ac) Reeves College

Licensure:

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

It’s easy to get lost in an ocean of advice concerning food. “Do this but don’t do that!”. When it comes to your health, each body is unique and requires a unique approach.

Alicia is a Certified Nutritional Consultant who used both Eastern and Western philosophy and science to create a balanced approach to health. Deciding what to eat shouldn’t be a source of stress, with the help of a Nutritional Consultant you can choose the right foods that will balance your unique constitution, and don’t worry, we don’t ever leave the flavour out of it!

Alicia’s journey to health started after years of being sick with illnesses that the doctors couldn’t help her with. She struggled with PCOS, adrenal fatigue, extreme deficiencies, brain fog, poor memory, anxiety, digestive issues, depression and was told by medical doctors that these issues were normal.

She decided to take matters into her own hands and after years of experimenting with diet, herbs, and supplements, she diminished all of her symptoms and finally felt amazing in her body.

Alicia decided to go to school for Holistic Nutrition and Herbalism so that she could make it her life’s work to help others heal the same way she did. She has ever since been successfully helping others use food and herbs as medicine!

Education:

• CERT – Certified Holistic Nutritional Consultant

Licensure:

• C.H.N.C, Canadian School of Natural Nutrition

Shannon has a background in Psychology, is certified in Holistic Nutrition, has completed her level III Reiki training, and is on her way to becoming a Registered Massage Therapist as well. She uses this combination to form a multi-disciplinary approach to help her clients achieve holistic health, with an emphasis on mental health.

Mental Health is becoming increasingly important to prioritize as stress levels and mental health concerns continue to rise. Having struggled with her own mental health in the past, she has experienced this firsthand and continues to explore and learn new ways to practice self-care. This has led to a passion for helping people in supporting their mental health, ADHD, nervous system, gut, and hormone regulation.

Shannon believes that pain and other bodily symptoms, whether it be physical or mental, has a root cause and she uses this as a guide when treating her clients. With that in mind, she found a passion in nutrition and fell in love with Reiki. She believes that it is a powerful healing practice that is beneficial to everyone, always.

Shannon’s ultimate goal is to draw from her personal experience as well as her education to offer support and make a positive impact in the wellbeing of others. By cutting through the noise of what works and what doesn’t, she is able to provide her clients with effective tools and resources to help them help themselves more efficiently, whether that be through Reiki, Nutrition, or a combination of both.

In her nutrition practice, Shannon’s plans are tailored to each client as an individual. She understands that a cookie-cutter approach to nutrition is not realistic or effective for many people, especially those with mental health concerns.

Shannon’s priority is providing a safe space for you so that you can fully relax and let go. This means your time with her will be free of judgment, and full of kindness and support. Shannon genuinely looks forward to meeting you, and to learning from each other in her sessions with you.

Education:

• CERT – Certified Holistic Nutritional Consultant

Licensure:

• C.H.N.C, Canadian School of Natural Nutrition

Manuela creates a safe space for her clients to rest and restore. She supports the body through gentle Craniosacral touch to release held tensions and constrictions and to re-orient towards health. Bringing the system naturally back into balance and vitality.

Manuela has the gift to support her clients to come into a deeper relationship with their bodies and the Intelligence embedded in it. Her gentle approach to movement and healing touch invites relaxation, sensitivity, and energy flow. The modalities she works with; Qigong and Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy, deeply acknowledge our physical, mental, and emotional interconnections.

Manuela grew up in Germany where she received advanced training in Somatic Movement Therapy, Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy, Dance, and Qigong. She taught rhythm and developmental movement classes, including workshops for early childhood educators, as well as Qigong and Somatic Movement Education for adults. Manuela knows the body from the inside out and is inspired by the healing effect of the methods she teaches. Her practice evolved over the years, blending movement skills with therapeutic techniques. These learnings have led to a more integrated, holistic approach where sensitive hands are used to discover and release nerve, tissue, and orthopedic movement restrictions and support healing from within.

Education: 

• Somatic Movement Therapist (SMT), Moving On Center, Oakland, USA
• Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapist (BCST), BodyIntelligence, Canada
• Qigong Instructor Certification (ASS Institute, Germany)
• Training in Continuum Movement (USA)
• Registered Massage Therapy – Presently a second year student (Reflexacademy, Sherwood Park)  

Licensure: 

• RBCST, Pacific Association of Craniosacral Therapists (PACT)