Get to Know: Melissa Stuart-Fray
What inspired you to pursue a career in wellness and holistic health?
My inspiration to pursue a path in wellness was sparked by experiencing burnout and chronic stress during my 15-year career in the film industry, where I worked as a costume designer and wardrobe stylist. The physical and emotional exhaustion from life in film prompted me to seek out modalities and therapies to calm my nervous system and expand my mind. This journey led me to explore meditation, Yoga, Ayurveda and bodywork. Through a conscious re-orientation of my life towards wellness and holistic health, I discovered a passion for massage therapy and decided to become an RMT!
What are some common misconceptions about your field that you'd like to address?
Many believe that massage therapy must be painful in order to be effective. While some may find deep pressure in massage enjoyable, wincing or bracing doesn’t make it a more effective treatment. Painful experiences during a massage can fall under the umbrella of “good pain” and “bad pain”. Good pain feels like intense pressure that feels satisfying and is welcomed. Bad pain feels sharp, burning and difficult to breathe through; which does not provide any immediate benefits. It’s important to remember that not all painful experiences during massage are therapeutic, and at the same time not all therapeutic procedures are painless. It’s all about balance, finding what works for each individual.
What's your favourite piece of advice to give to your patients?
Movement is medicine! Dancing, shaking, rolling, running, lifting, stretching: the body loves to move. Finding ways to incorporate movement into your day is so important for mental, physical and spiritual well being.
Can you share a bit about your own daily wellness routine?
My daily routine shifts and changes with my cycle, but I always start the day by going outside for a walk. Viewing sunlight first thing in the morning helps regulate the body’s circadian clock which contributes to healthy sleep. I follow my morning walk with some movement and meditation. Before I go to bed I will usually apply a castor oil pack over my abdomen, to help with digestion and reproductive health and follow that with a self-abdominal massage (which I teach in my Abdominal Therapy sessions!)
What's your favourite relaxation or stress-relief technique?
I love giving myself an abdominal massage when I’m feeling stressed or out of sorts. It helps me ground, connect to my body, and calms my mind. I recently had trouble sleeping and found that abdominal massage was the key to soothing myself to sleep and getting my sleep schedule back on track.
What is one book or resource you often recommend to your patients for self-care and wellness education?
I often recommend Yoga Nidra for folks who are experiencing stress, pain, or difficulty sleeping. Insight Timer is a great resource for Yoga Nidra recordings, and other meditations as well.
What is one wellness trend you're excited about right now? Why?
I love that menstrual cycle charting and cyclical living is becoming popular and that more women and folks who bleed are tuning in to the magic and wisdom of their cycles.
Cyclical living (aligning one’s lifestyle and activities with the natural phases of the menstrual cycle) honours the body’s natural rhythms, promotes self-awareness, self-care, and self acceptance. It recognizes that our needs and capabilities vary throughout different phases of the menstrual cycle. In a society and culture that’s always pushing us to be go-go-go, I find it a beautiful practice to listen to the body and flow with it’s needs.
What is one thing you wish more people knew about [personal specialty question]?
I would love it if more people knew about Abdominal Therapy and the benefits of receiving abdominal work. Abdominal massage has roots in many cultures and healing traditions around the globe, however many people here haven’t heard of it, and it’s not a common practice in Western massage therapy. This treatment is holistic in its approach to health and well-being, and increases circulation in the abdomen, womb and pelvis. Circulation brings vitality to the organs, optimizing digestion, energizing the nervous system, endocrine system and supporting reproductive health. Additionally, these sessions facilitate a meaningful connection to the womb space and pelvic bowl, supporting overall physical and emotional wellbeing.
How has your understanding of wellness evolved throughout your career?
My perspective on healing and wellbeing has evolved by recognizing that it is a gradual and beautiful process, without quick-fixes or short cuts. I’ve come to see the importance of cultivating balance between focusing on healing and introspection with play, simple pleasures and enjoying connection and community.
If you didn't work in wellness, what would be your dream job?
For sure I’d be an astrologer living on an off-grid farm with lots of plants and animals!
If you were stranded on a deserted island and could only bring three items, what would they be?
My glasses! A blanket and a knife.
