As a leading clinic for premium massage and manual osteopath services in Red Deer, Alberta, Black Rock Therapies offers a range of services that cater to clients’ individual needs. Whether you require massage therapy to help you recover from an injury or deep tissue massage to assist in pain management, our trained staff can help. When considering the benefits of manual osteopath versus massage therapy, there are some key differences to consider. What is manual osteopath? While both forms of treatment can aid in stress reduction, pain relief, and general relaxation, manual osteopath employs a holistic approach that aims to address the root cause of the problem rather than just alleviating symptoms. Manual osteopath is a hands-on therapy that involves the manipulation and stretching of the body’s soft tissues, joints, and fascia. This form of therapy uses a wide range of techniques, including myofascial release, craniosacral therapy, and visceral manipulation, to assist in the restoration of balance and function in the body. What is massage therapy? On the other hand, massage therapy focuses predominantly on the soft tissues of the body and aims to relieve pain, improve circulation, and promote relaxation. Techniques employed in massage therapy include Swedish massage, deep tissue massage, and reflexology, all of which can be tailored to meet clients’ needs and goals. At Black Rock Therapies, we understand that every client has unique needs and preferences when it comes to therapy. Our team of experienced and trained professionals can work with you to determine the best strategy for your individual needs. We offer a range of services, including deep tissue massage and reflexology, to help you achieve optimal health and wellness. Whether you require a soothing massage to help you recover from an injury or a therapeutic massage to assist in pain relief, our team is equipped to provide the care and attention you need. We pride ourselves on providing a clean, safe environment and friendly, professional service to ensure you feel comfortable and relaxed throughout your therapy session. For those searching for massage near Red Deer, look no further than Black Rock Therapies. Our expert massage therapists and manual osteopath services can help you accomplish your wellness goals with a customized plan that addresses your unique needs and preferences. So why not book an appointment with us today? You’ll be one step closer to achieving optimal health and wellness!

Dear Clients and Community Members, Gratitude, Connections, and Grapes. These are the three words that come to mind as I reflect on 2022 and look forward to 2023. Gratitude Every time I walk through the doors of Black Rock Therapies there is an immense feeling of gratitude that fills me. Yes, every time. And I will share with you in a list why I feel this way. How my amazing team saw my vision at the start and created a location environment beyond my expectations. I love walking into Black Rock Therapies. How my amazing team of administrators and therapists hold true to my vision of presenting an Exceptional Client Experience. Sometimes we don’t get it completely right but I am grateful that we are all doing our best every day. The thousands of clients who have walked through our doors and find a safe, healing and result oriented space to connect and form a community that truly wants the best for each other. We do what we do because We Care. Our therapists who are “growth driven”. Being leaders in our community and in our industry means being open to growth. Having EIGHT of our therapists complete their level 1 certification in NeuroKinetic Therapy and TWO of those therapists complete their level 2 certification in NKT is an example of driving the growth of our therapists, our clinic and our community. Black Rock Therapies is now the only Central Alberta clinic to offer a designated NKT team. (Check out https://neurokinetictherapy.com/ to learn more about this ‘missing link’ in assessment therapy) Having something to share such as business knowledge, clinic knowledge and client management knowledge. Possessing knowledge is a good thing but sharing that knowledge with others is a great and powerful thing. At Black Rock Therapies, we focus on sharing our knowledge both internally with each other and externally with other therapists. Sharing is Caring and we do it because We Care. Gaining the knowledge has at times been a painful experience but sharing the knowledge is a joyful privilege. Connections This last year has been remarkable in the community connections we have made and I am looking forward to next year which I am sure will be even more remarkable. We earned the highest achievement award of Platinum for Massage Therapy and Gold for Reflexology in the Red Deer Community Votes awards this last year. We joined the Red Deer Chamber of Commerce and submitted our entry for the Business of the Year. Congratulations to Red Deer Mechanics who were the recipients. We continued our Business Networking International membership with Debbie Manary doing an amazing job representing us at the Sunrise chapter. Raising awareness and donations for local charities such as The Mustard Seed, CAWES and the Red Deer Food Bank have been great ways of connecting us together with people around us who are truly doing amazing feats each and every day of the year. Grapes The area of Australia we lived in was saturated with local boutique family owned and operated wineries. Each winery had different varieties of grapes and each winery had their own interpretation of what the wine should taste like. A characteristic I appreciate of wine is, when shared with others, the notes and taste seem to be amplified. Like wine, the feeling of gratitude is amplified when it is shared with the connections we have within our community. Thank you for reading this and allowing me to share my gratitude for 2022 with you. Having you as one of our connections and part of our community is really appreciated. Happy New Year! - Dwayne

Breathing is the most common movement pattern we experience as humans. There are many different breathing techniques but the most important practice for our health is that we experience a variety of breathing techniques. Below is an explanation of a breathing technique used to inhibit the sympathetic nervous system and activate the parasympathetic nervous system. This “Pursed Lip” technique has proven effective in counteracting the effects of anxiousness and panic attacks. Most of our breathing is done by our autonomic nervous system which activates our breathing based on the environment around us and within us. Pascal’s law states that pressure applied to an enclosed fluid will be transmitted without a change in magnitude to every point of the fluid and to the walls of the container. The pressure at any point in the fluid is equal in all directions. An example of this is pushing a water filled balloon into a countertop with our hand, the pressure applied against the water balloon will be transmitted without a change in magnitude to every point of the fluid within the water balloon as well as on the balloon itself. Our bodies are the container in which there are many enclosed mini-containers of fluid found within. A principle in Osteopathy is that optimum health is achieved by improving the efficiency in which fluid transports nutrients and waste products into and out of the cells of the body. One of the most beneficial effects of massage therapy is due to Pascal’s Law. When tension is felt within a muscle, the tension reduces the muscles ability to fully contract and relax resulting in a restricted movement pattern. As the massage therapists applies pressure to the tensed muscle, there is a transmission of that pressure throughout the entire body utilizing the same magnitude of the pressure applied. This is a powerful principle for the therapist to use as it can elevate the effectiveness of the treatment just by integrating a specific applied pressure against a dysfunctional muscle with deep breathing. In Osteopathic Cranial treatments, we focus our attention on the functional patterns of motion within the cerebral spinal fluid or CSF. As the CSF is being produced and absorbed, there is a rhythmic motion felt as the CSF bathes the brain and spinal cord with this nutrient filled fluid. This tidal motion is further facilitated by our breathing which according to Pascal’s Law, pushes the fluid within our bodies to reach the outermost and innermost cells. Much like pushing our hands down on one corner of a waterbed mattress will result in the water being pushed out against the entire mattress. Take a few moments today and stretch out flat on your back on the floor. Place your hands on your thighs and feel the tissue of your legs expand and swell with each deep rhythmic breath you take. Then experiment and place your hands on different parts of your body and feel the movement with each deep breath in. Even without touching your toes, you should be able to feel your breath in at your toes. There will be a pressure effect throughout your entire body just from breathing deeply. Pursed Lip 1:2 Breathing Exercise Remember, INHALING will excite your sympathetic nervous system while EXHALING will stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system. The Pursed Lip Breathing Exercise will be done in a 1:2 ratio of breathing. As example, if your INHALATION is counted at 2 seconds then your EXHALATION will be counted at 4 seconds. Learn the technique: Sit or lie somewhere comfortable and INHALE deeply through your nose. Begin with an inhalation of 2 or 3 seconds long. EXHALE through your mouth but with pursed lips to create a counter pressure to the breath out. Your exhalation should be either 4 or 6 seconds long. INHALE and EXHALE counts as one repetition, aim to perform between 5 to 8 repetitions. Tips: During the INHALATION phase, make sure the breath goes all the way down into the bottom of your core allowing your ribs, diaphragm, belly and low back to fill with the breath. EXHALE the stress and relax into a state of bliss. Relax. Repair. Restore. - Dwayne

Gasoline Alley Centre West. The day we were to open last year was the same day we closed down due to Covid19. For the first three months that we were in our new location, we did not open our doors nor did we see any clients. We did what we could to support our community, our clients and our Black Rock therapists and staff from a distance. Our Mission Statement is; To Help Our Clients Do More Of What They Love To Do . One Year Anniversary How do we accomplish this? All of our therapists have a calling and a purpose to help each client they see with this one goal in mind; Relax, Repair and Restore each client we have the privilege to treat. It is through helping your body relax from the daily stresses and repair itself from the physical or emotional traumas that your body will restore some of the movement it has lost over the years. Being a small business owner is a very unique calling. Under normal circumstances, it is a calling that comes as a roller coaster ride. Every day we ride the emotional roller coaster of highs and lows. This last year has been beyond words and comprehension but there has been one PHRASE that has gone through my mind nearly every day this year. THIS! has inspired me to keep going and stay the course… “STANDING ON THE SHOULDERS OF GIANTS”. What does this phrase mean to me? It means that I am lifted up and motivated to keep going by all the amazing ‘giants’ who make up our awe-inspiring team at Black Rock Therapies. Because of each and every one of them, Black Rock Therapies is what it is today. Debbie and I want to publicly say “THANK YOU” to our team for letting us help you do more of what you love to do. So, for the next couple of weeks we will be celebrating our amazing Black Rock Therapies team on our Instagram and Facebook pages. Follow us so you can get to know the faces behind the masks of our amazing team. We also know that this last year affected many small businesses here in central Alberta. So in celebration of our one year new location anniversary and our five year in business commemoration we are wanting to give back to the community and to some local small businesses. For the next 9 months, starting in April until December of this year, we will put $1 for every new client at Black Rock Therapies towards the purchase of a gift certificate from a locally owned and operated business. This gift card will then be given away to one of our new clients from that month in a random selection draw. As we look forward to the year ahead, I propose we look forward with hope in our thoughts and Love in our Hearts. Thank you, it is an absolute honour to serve you! Love From Dwayne and Debbie Manary and the Black Rock Therapies Team