Meet the Team
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Learn more about our Registered Massage Therapists - Read Full Bios Below
Tara Miller
Registered Massage Therapist (RMT)
As an active outdoor enthusiast with a physical occupation, Tara understands greatly the need for self-care and mind/body balance. The desire to achieve health and wellness in her own life, ignited a passion to help others enjoy optimal quality of life and gain greater ease and mobility in daily activities – both at work and play.
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Tara’s journey as an RMT began 15 years ago, and has involved continuous learning and expanding her knowledge. In recent years, she became fascinated and curious about fascia and the complex and dynamic healing ability of the body. This led her to study Bio-Dynamic Fascial Integration (BFI).
BFI is a holistic approach to treatment that looks beyond the site of injury and/or pain, integrates structure anatomy and function throughout the whole body and considers how they are interdependent to one another.
Tara will assess for mobility and ease in the tissues and understands when and how to integrate techniques such as fascial mobilization, visceral manipulation and cranial-fascial osteopathy to induce a change, increased mobility as well as a sense of ease in the body. Often the patient has a greater sense of well-being, increased quality of sleep, and movement.
This treatment approach has proven effective for headaches, back and neck pain, stress, repetitive strain injury and whiplash, as well as post concussion syndrome, digestion issues and womens health concerns, including endometriosis, dysmenorrhea and pre/post natal concerns.
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While full body relaxation massage is not usually part of Tara’s treatment plan, she feels that unveiling and addressing these issues in the body to be the most effective form of stress relief. After all, these chronic areas of tension are often where we hold stress in our bodies.
Ready to dive deep into this journey with Tara? Book an Initial BFI treatment online today. Curious but not too sure, book an Initial Assessment or 60 minute subsequent Massage therapy appointment and Tara will blend this approach with some standard massage techniques and tailor a treatment just for you.
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When Tara is not busy helping her patients stay mobile, pain free and performing at their best, she can usually be found enjoying her other life’s passions, mountain biking in the trails, sliding down a mountain on her snowboard or skis, practicing yoga or simply enjoying a forest walk with her dog.
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Certifications & Continuing Education:
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​Visceral Manipulation 1
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Visceral Manipulation 2
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Introduction to Osteopathic Techniques
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Biodynamic Fascial Integration Training 9-course series (Natale Rao RMT, Heather Gittens RMT):
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Course 1 - Craniosacral Therapy (Cranio-Fascial Mobilization)
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Course 2 - Visceral Connections
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Course 3 - Fascial Mobilization and Release
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Course 4 - Cervical spine-TMJ-Cranium Region
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Course 5 - Lumbo-sacral Region
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Course 6 - Thoracic Region
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Course 7 - The Extremities
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Course 8 - Advanced Visceral Connections
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Course 9 - The Tie that Binds – A Culmination of the Series
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Contact Tara at tara@cumberlandwellness.ca
Jen Ridout
Registered Massage Therapist (RMT)
Jen has been practising massage therapy for over 15 years. She enjoys fostering a relaxing space to de-stress while at the same time working with a therapeutic focus.
Jen has completed a variety of continuing education courses to add to her toolbox. She utilizes several techniques including myofascial release, cranio-sacral, manual lymphatic drainage, scar release, trigger point therapy, and Swedish massage to help patients tap into their body’s innate wisdom to heal itself.
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Some conditions that she regularly treats are neck and back pain, headaches, chronic pain, soft tissue injuries, pregnancy (pre and post-natal), caesarean recovery, and stress-related conditions​
Over the last year, Jen has been learning how to care for and treat people pre and post-breast and chest surgery through an intensive six-month mentorship program called the Mastectomy Guide. This includes advanced training and understanding of 18 types of surgeries, complications, and supportive, safe treatments for people going through chemo and radiation. This has led to a greater interest in Oncology massage in general, and she is excited to continue learning and working with this population.
Certifications & Continuing Education:
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Mastectomy Guide 6-Month Intensive – Eryn Price
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Foundations
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Level 1
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Level 2
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Mentorship
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Oncology Massage – Susan Shipton
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Craniosacral Level 1 – Upledger Institute
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Cranio-fascia Level 1 – Heather Gittens
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Myofascial Release – John F Barnes
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MFR 1 (x2)
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MFR 2
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Unwinding
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Fascial Pelvis
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Anatomy Trains – Mark Finch
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Stecco Fascial Manipulation Level 1
Contact Jen at jen@cumberlandwellness.ca
Laura Schroeder
Registered Massage Therapist (RMT)
Laura graduated from the 3000 hour program at the West Coast College of Massage Therapy in New Westminster in 2009. She has also been working towards her Diploma in Osteopathy Manual Practice for the past five years. She has taken many Myofascial, Cranio-Sacral, Visceral manipulation, and joint mobilization courses which she utilizes in the majority of her treatments.
She will take into account the whole body when assessing and treating people, for the location that pain is felt may not be the only contributing factor. She works specifically to create movement between adjacent tissues be it muscles, bones, ligaments, or organs to maintain or restore functional movement.
She understands how pain affects a person’s daily life as she has learned a lot from rehabilitating her own chronic pain problems.
Laura is looking forward to meeting you and helping your body restore its optimal health.
Contact Laura at laura@cumberlandwellness.ca
Kirsten Werner
Registered Massage Therapist (RMT)
Kirsten, owner of Cumberland Village Wellness, is an experienced Registered Massage Therapist (RMT) based in Cumberland since 2009. Residing within the traditional unceded territory of the K’ómoks, Eiksan, and Pentlatch people, Kirsten is deeply connected to the community where she lives and works.
With over two decades of experience, she's committed to client wellness. Certified in Aromatherapy Massage in 2001, Kirsten then completed the three-year RMT program in 2008 at the West Coast College of Massage Therapy.
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As a skilled RMT and compassionate guide in therapeutic care, Kirsten offers a mindful approach to treatments for various surgeries. She has completed all levels of training with the Mastectomy Guide for Health Professionals and the MG mentorship 6-month program. ​
​Kirsten is happy to offer pediatric massage for Kids Under 12. Kirsten understands the unique needs of children and tailors her approach to ensure a comfortable and enjoyable experience. Parents, you're welcome to stay in the room—it's all about making massage a positive experience.​ Kirsten teaches lessons in infant/toddler and labour massage. In her 1:1 lessons you will learn the benefits and techniques to massage your loved one. In Kirsten's community classes you will be at ease and learn in a comfortable group setting the delights of baby massage or the hands on help for your partner to prepare for labour & birth.
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Her goal as an RMT is to provide physical relief and calming support while empowering clients to actively participate in their self-care. Outside work, Kirsten cherishes family moments in the Comox Valley, actively contributing to the local business community.
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Additionally, Kirsten provides business coaching for Wellness Practitioners, assisting them in achieving balance and wellness in both their personal lives and businesses.
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Certifications & Continuing Education:
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International Association Infant Massage Instructor 2009
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Continuing Education Training (Paula Jaspar, MEd, RMT):
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Part 1: Pregnancy (14PE
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Part 2: Labour, Birth and Postpartum
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Part 3: The Complicated Pregnancy
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Part 5: Post Caesarean Section Treatment
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Part 6: Breast Treatment -Intro
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Part 7: Breast Treatment -Advanced
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Mastectomy Guide for Healthcare Professionals:
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Foundations: Therapeutic Breast Massage
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Level 1: Post- op Complications
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Level 2: Post- op Complications
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The Science of Scar Tissue Course 2023
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MG Full Mentorship Program 2024
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Cumberland Business Association Chair Board Member from 2020-2022
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DEEP NIC Digital Training
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Contact Kirsten at kirsten@cumberlandwellness.ca
Kristi Wood
Registered Massage Therapist (RMT)
Kristi has more than 20 years experience as an RMT graduating from the 3 year program at West Coast College of Massage Therapy in 2002. She works with her clients to achieve optimum and realistic musculoskeletal goals based on each individual's specific needs. She listens carefully and intently to get any clues from the medical history to help get a good sense of where one is at in their healing journey.
Kristi believes that our bodies have a story to tell and it is a privilege for her to be a facilitator catering her treatments to focus on what is happening in the present moment. She mostly uses traditional Swedish and Myofascial techniques combined with more gentle Craniosacral type work as the body presents itself.
Kristi is new to the Island and spent many years in Nelson and the Sea to Sky area doing massage while also working as an Education Assistant. She is looking forward to becoming more a part of the Cumberland community and enjoying all that living here has to offer especially exploring all the natural beauty that Vancouver Island is known for.
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​Contact Kristi at kristi@cumberlandwellness.ca
