Updated on Jan. 6, 2026

Your Pain Is Personal to Me: How My Own Injury Led Me to Becoming RMT

When Your Neck Hurts, I Understand More Than Just the Anatomy

More Than a Therapist—A Guide Who Has Been in Your Shoes

If you're reading this in Ontario—maybe in downtown Toronto—while typing "massage therapist for neck pain" into your phone, I want you to know something immediately: I understand the fear that comes with pain.

I'm not just a Registered Massage Therapist following textbooks. I've lived through the shock of an injury that made me genuinely wonder if I'd ever move without limitation again. My journey to this treatment room wasn't straight—it was shaped by my own stress, a significant injury, and a profound lesson in empathy. That lived experience is what I bring to every session with someone like you, struggling with neck and shoulder tension.

From Engineering Stress to a Healing Touch: My Personal Journey

My story has chapters that taught me crucial lessons about the body and pain.

For years, I was a manufacturing engineer. The mental stress settled physically as constant, stiff tightness in my upper back and neck. I'd leave work feeling like I carried literal weight on my shoulders. My Choy Li Fut kung fu practice became my first teacher in release—a way to physically process stress before it cemented into chronic pain.

Then came a harsher lesson. During kung fu training, I tore my right hamstring. For two weeks, I needed a walking cane. I'll never forget a kind stranger on the bus offering me the priority seat—a stark reminder of lost mobility. The pain was one thing; the underlying fear was another: that this might be my new normal.

That vulnerability became my most important teacher. Later, being laid off from engineering felt less like a loss and more like a nudge toward a door I was meant to walk through—leading me to become a Registered Massage Therapist (RMT) registered with the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario (CMTO).

Your Safety First: The Smart First Step

If you're uncertain about your neck pain's cause, you're not alone. The best foundation for our work is clarity and safety.

I encourage every new client to consult their doctor for persistent neck pain. This isn't a hurdle—it's a cornerstone. Medical clearance helps rule out conditions needing specific attention and allows collaboration with your healthcare team. It's the key to building a safe, effective, personalized treatment plan.

What to Expect: A Partnership for Healing

You'll never feel like just another body on the table. Your session is a collaborative partnership.

Step 1: The Conversation – Listening to Your Story

We begin by talking. I'll ask about your pain—location, character, triggers. But I'll also ask about your life. Your daily routine, work setup, and activities. When you describe computer-induced tightness, I recall my engineering office. This connection helps piece together your discomfort puzzle.

Step 2: The Investigation – Uncovering Root Causes

With your consent, we do simple assessments. My engineer's problem-solving meets clinical training as I observe posture, assess neck/shoulder mobility, and perform tests. Often, this reveals "Upper Crossed Syndrome"—the modern postural dysfunction from phone/desk lifestyles with forward head, rounded shoulders, and tight chest muscles.

Step 3: Your Custom Blueprint – Co-Creating a Plan

Based on our talk and assessment, I'll explain what I believe is happening and propose a treatment plan—possibly including myofascial release, deep tissue work, or Fascial Stretch Therapy (FST). I explain the why behind each choice. We begin only after you understand and are comfortable. You're in control.

My Hands-On Approach: Treating You, Not Just Pain

I don't use one-size-fits-all routines. Techniques respond directly to what your body's tissues tell me.

The Whole-Body Connection: Why I Might Treat Your Arm for Neck Pain

This isn't just theory. I had a client who came in with persistent neck pain and received FST. Instead of focusing solely on their neck, I used gentle, rhythmic stretches through their arm and shoulders. The neck restriction melted away immediately. The tightness root was in the connected fascial web, not just the pain site—a powerful testament to treating the whole picture.

Why My Path Makes Me a Different RMT

Being your Toronto RMT is my second act—built on rigorous CMTO standards but animated by empathy from my own story.

The Engineer's Precision + The Martial Artist's Discipline: My engineering background gives a systematic, analytical approach to diagnosing pain. My 30+ years of kung fu provide intuitive understanding of biomechanics and resilience. This fusion is your advantage.

Rigorous Training, Regulated Standards: As a CMTO-registered RMT, my practice follows strict professional, ethical, and safety standards. Your care is evidence-informed within a trusted framework.