Asha Mokrosz
RMT, CDT, HBA
Asha graduated from the Sutherland-Chan School & Teaching Clinic as a Registered Massage Therapist in 2002. She enjoys working with a diverse clientele, helping them find relief from a wide range of physical conditions. She uses a blend of different techniques to help increase overall health and well-being.
Asha offers three of our specialty treatment types. She specializes in Fascial Remodeling (connective tissue/structural work), and is also fully certified in the internationally recognized Dr. Vodder method of Manual Lymph Drainage & Combined Decongestive Therapy. This makes her one of approximately 1,000 certified therapists in North America. Asha also offers Breast Massage Therapy for all types of breast health issues. She tailors all her treatments to a client’s specific condition, always with a rehabilitative and preventative aim in mind. Please click here to read more about these treatment types.
*Whenever possible, Asha will compliment your treatment with lifestyle suggestions to help prolong the massage benefits between visits.
Fascial Remodeling is a massage therapy technique that treats fascia, the connective tissue that holds the body together. Fascia is a 3-dimensional network that provides form and structure to every cell in the body yet allows for flexibility and movement. It includes the sheets, bands and sacs that wrap and contain muscles, bones and organs. Fascia also encompasses tendons, ligaments, bursae, and the membranes of the nervous system.
Our fascia is designed to move, glide, and stretch but when it hardens and sticks together it results in various unwanted symptoms. These symptoms include:
- Long term pain
- Congestion and unresolved swelling
- Weakness and fatigue
- Decreased flexibility
- Joint and movement restrictions
- Poor breathing and shortness of breath
- Poor posture and mental state
There are multiple causes of fascial restriction including:
- Trauma/accidents
- Old or unresolved injuries
- Scar tissue from surgery
- Postural habits
- A sedentary lifestyle
- Overuse and repetitive motions
- Long term illness
A Fascial Remodeling treatment will open, soften, and release the restrictions in the fascia with the help of positional and conscious breathing techniques. In most cases trigger point therapy, deeper muscular work, General Swedish Massage, and cupping is combined with the Fascial Remodeling technique to prepare the body for the fascial work.
A Fascial Remodeling treatment works at the level of the tension, restriction, and pain already found in the tissue. As the fascial layers softens and open, the discomfort is reduced and eliminated.
The number of sessions needed depends on the issue, how long it has been present, and the client’s tolerance for the depth of the work. Generally speaking, this treatment approach produces faster results for clients since its goal is to restore vitality to the fascia that can be maintained for longer stretches of time.
Most women experience breast pain at some point in their lives. Breast tissue is susceptible to restriction, congestion, and pain like any other soft tissue in the body. Symptoms can show up as mild to severe discomfort, tenderness, soreness, sensitivity, swelling, or pain. Massage Therapy is a natural approach to relieve these symptoms. Since breast tissue responds very quickly to treatment, clients can often feel a significant difference after only one session.
*Registered Massage Therapists are trained and regulated in Breast Massage, however our RMT Asha Mokrosz has advanced training and over 20 years experience treating all types of breast health issues.
Breast Massage Therapy helps prevent and relieve the pain, discomfort, and congestion associated with:
- Premenstrual/menopausal tenderness
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Bra compression/chronic restriction
- Drainage problems
- Breast Trauma (accidents, falls)
- Poor quality scarring
- Benign breast diseases (non-cancerous issues)
- Surgical procedures (cosmetic, diagnostic, medical treatment)
- All phases of breast cancer treatment (pre and post-operative) *Please see below
Breast tissue is treated using a combination of Fascial Remodeling, General Swedish Massage, and in some cases Manual Lymph Drainage depending on the presenting condition. Each treatment is tailored to your specific issue and health history. Breast Massage Therapy always includes preliminary work in the surrounding areas of the body to optimize circulation and drainage as we reduce any upper body restrictions that may be impacting the health of the breast tissue.
A thorough case history intake will be done to ensure a safe treatment specific to your condition. Any questions you may have will be answered so you have a clear understanding of what is involved. We will discuss your treatment options, goals and priorities, positioning and draping, and self care if needed. At any time you can change the treatment plan and make adjustments to suit your comfort level.
For more information please call the clinic to schedule a free 10 min consultation either over the phone or in person with Asha.
*Breast Cancer Rehabilitation
For breast cancer rehabilitation Fascial Remodeling is a great pre-operative technique to help prepare the body for surgery, and maximizes post-operative recovery. Pain and/or restriction felt in the chest wall, armpit, shoulders, and/or arms can be alleviated once adhesions in the fascia are reduced. Fascial work produces a more pliable and functional scar, thereby easing the long-term effects of medical treatment. Additionally, the health of the fascia has a significant impact on the ability of the lymphatic channels to function and drain the body properly.
Manual Lymph Drainage (MLD) increases lymph flow through the application of precise, gentle, and rhythmic movements applied according to the flow of the lymphatic vessels.
Indications for Manual Lymph Drainage:
- Lymphedema following cancer treatment (surgery/radiation)
- Post-operative edema (cosmetic, diagnostic, medical treatment)
- Traumatic edema (falls/accidents)
- To help with wounds, burns, scar tissue, fibrosis
- To decrease pain
- To restore fluid equilibrium in the tissue
- To promote relaxation/reduce anxiety
- To strengthen lymphatic function
Apart from increasing lymph flow, Manual Lymph Drainage also has a pain relieving effect, and is gentle enough to be used with even recent trauma such as surgeries. MLD is a superficial skin technique, and is most effective when light minimal pressure is applied to the treatment areas. The treatment is painless, soothing, and relaxing with no side effects. It is therefore effective and safe enough to begin as soon as swelling is either anticipated or already noticeable.
*Asha uses MLD mostly for Lymphedema following breast cancer treatment, and acute injuries. She has found that clients who want to feel less congested but have no lymphatic system pathology or acute injury get much better results from a Fascial Remodeling treatment. Clients report feeling ‘lighter’ after addressing their fascial restrictions. Fascial Remodeling achieves this ‘lighter’ result because the lymphatic vessels are suspended within the fascia. When a client has a healthy intact lymphatic system, restrictions in the fascia are what typically cause that congested feeling, not the lymphatic system itself.