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KLWNA Health & Wellness

ABOUT KLWNA HEALTH & WELLNESS

Nurturing Wellness in Pandosy Village

When you visit KLWNA Health and Wellness, you'll be in the hands of a seasoned team.

We offer a range of services and offer clients tailored techniques and taping for a wide range of injuries and chronic pain. We also provide professional advice on exercises, stretches, or equipment that will help speed recovery and manage chronic issues. Our team also is extremely knowledgeable about sports injury recoveries and pre, peri, and postnatal massage therapy techniques for women.

Focused on optimal health and wellness

Ashley Skermer, RMT

Ashley is very passionate about helping patients get back to whatever they love doing...

Ashley is very passionate about helping patients get back to whatever they love doing. Her goal is to find balance in their bodies by assessing and treating postural imbalances and faulty movement patterns.

She also is interested in women’s health and wellness and has worked with a globally recognized expert in maternity massage, Carole Osborne, to specialize in pre, peri, and postnatal massage. She was also trained in Myofascial Release with John Barnes Myofascial Release. Read more at ashleyskermer.com

Ashley has a bachelor’s degree in Physical Education from Vancouver Island University and attended the Okanagan Valley College of Massage Therapy to achieve her RMT designation. She has also completed 500 hours of Yoga Alliance approved training (via Red Door Yoga School) and a comprehensive 85-hour Prenatal Yoga Teacher Training Program, led by Teresa Campbell at Semperviva Yoga.

Ashley loves building communities around health and wellness. Her approach is to educate clients on how techniques can help heal. Her sessions offer a balance of customized, client-specific massage with take-home techniques for a holistic healing experience. When Ashley isn’t working with clients, you will find her outdoors with her family.

Focused on Neurological Patterns

David Skermer, RMT

David is passionate about facilitating a patient's healing process using various massage therapy techniques, including functional neurological rehabilitation.

David is passionate about facilitating a patient's healing process using various massage therapy techniques, including functional neurological rehabilitation. As a former National Track and Field Athlete himself, David understands the toll injuries can take on elite athletes and is sensitive to how hard it is for anyone on the road to recovery to deal with setbacks.

David graduated from the Okanagan Valley College of Massage Therapy and is the only therapist in Kelowna trained in Proprioceptive Deep Tendon Reflex® (P-DTR®). This modality is an in-depth look into the lasting effects of traumas and the nervous system's natural tendency to fall into compensation patterns.

He's excited about sharing his deep knowledge of massage therapy with patients and works closely with them to help speed up recovery times, improve range of motion, and build strength and resilience.

Focused on Full Body Integration

Kayli Anderson, RMT

Kayli graduated in 2014 from West Coast College of Massage Therapy in New West, BC.

Kayli graduated in 2014 from West Coast College of Massage Therapy in New West, BC. She has treated clients of all ages and various pathologies but works mainly with minor whiplash injuries, insomnia, migraines, stress-related tension and postural imbalances.

With previous schooling in visual arts, Master level Reiki, tuning fork therapy and yoga teaching training, Kayli is passionate about all avenues of wellness. Her approach to massage therapy comes from a place of compassion and offering a wide perspective on how to maintain a healthy body.

"My goal with each person is to establish full body awareness, bring a positive approach to rehabilitation and restore one to their optimal state of wellness."

Kayli's therapeutic style focuses on stress relief, full body integration, education around healthy lifestyle and what you can do to feel empowered in your body. Techniques used include, Traditional Swedish, Trigger Point Release, Myofascial Release and Visceral Manipulation.

Treatments with Kayli are available Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

FOCUSED ON FUNCTIONAL MOVEMENT

Mitchell Friesen, RMT

Mitchell was first introduced to massage therapy through his athletic trainer during his time with the Kamloops Blazers.

Mitchell was first introduced to massage therapy through his athletic trainer during his time with the Kamloops Blazers. His trainer, who was also trained in massage therapy helped Mitchell work through  his injuries and return to play during his time in the WHL.

After junior hockey, Mitchell pursued one of his passion’s for learning about the human body by studying kinesiology at the University of British Columbia. During his time at UBCO his wife had been receiving massage therapy treatments after several car accidents.  After speaking to the RMT and seeing how much knowledge the therapist had about the human body and how much he helped her improve, Mitchell knew he wanted to become a Massage Therapist. He switched out of kinesiology to attend OVCMT.

Through massage therapy, Mitchell’s goal is to help guide people through their rehabilitation while helping manage their pain to allow them to live an active lifestyle. In his spare time, you can find him cycling or paddle boarding in the summer and playing hockey in the winter.

Focused on Movement and Wellness

Terry Downs, RMT

Throughout my life I have been active in sport and in life. Combined with my love of movement and the outdoors, I have challenged my body in ultra endurance multi-day stage racing, long distance cycling and Ironman triathlons.

I am a Registered Massage Therapist based in Kelowna, BC.

Throughout my life I have been active in sport and in life. Combined with my love of movement and the outdoors, I have challenged my body in ultra endurance multi-day stage racing, long distance cycling and Ironman triathlons. I have felt pain, discomfort and the physical limitations that my body was capable of. I learned first hand that taking care of myself was essential so that I could continue to enjoy all the activities and adventures I loved to do.

Incorporating massage therapy into my recovery and maintenance program assisted me in reducing the physical effects of training, recovering from injuries and the negative consequences of prolonged stress so that I could remain active and functional in my daily life.

I am passionate about helping others improve their physical well being. I view massage therapy as a partnership between therapist and client. Beginning with a thorough assessment; injuries, physical compensations and imbalances are evaluated. Based upon the goals of my clients and the nature of the physical limitation, a treatment plan is developed and implemented so that clients can return to their activities and daily lives with as little pain as possible.

In my free time you will find me in the outdoors volunteering in the community with the Central Okanagan Search and Rescue, and training my civilian search and rescue dog Barrett.
As a trained NCCP Community Coach in cycling and triathlon, I enjoy coaching, leading cycling adventures and enjoy the many recreation activities of the Okanagan.

FOCUSED ON A WHOLE BODY APPROACH

Melissa Dessaulles, Physiotherapist (Pelvic Health)

It’s my goal to educate and help you on your journey to optimal pelvic health using a whole body approach.

Melissa Dessaulles

It’s my goal to educate and help you on your journey to optimal pelvic health using a whole body approach. With 15+ years’ experience as a physiotherapist, my mission is to help women and men adopt a proactive approach to their pelvic health so they can feel empowered as they weather the changes that come with aging, pregnancy, child birth, menopause and living a generally active lifestyle.

I am the founder of Mommy Berries, an online platform to educate and support women throughout pregnancy, birth and recovery after baby.

I am also the host of The Pelvic Floor Project Podcast, aimed at providing evidence-based information through conversation with experts in their field.

I’m a lifelong learner and advocate for collaborative health care.

I live in Kelowna with my husband and 2 kids.

I look forward to working with you.

Focused on Pelvic Health

Ali Brooke, Physiotherapist (Pelvic Health)

Ali is a passionate advocate for the mind-body connection and uses an active, mindful and trauma-informed approach to help people heal themselves.

Ali is a passionate advocate for the mind-body connection and uses an active, mindful and trauma-informed approach to help people heal themselves. Motion is lotion and Ali is keen to get you moving in a way that feels safe, comfortable and most importantly - enjoyable! Ali loves to teach her clients how we are all capable of healing and uses her compassionate nature, manual therapy, and education to help people overcome their personal barriers to pelvic health.

She works in partnership with people who have pelvic health concerns such as incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse and pelvic pain, regardless of cause.

Ali enjoys working with a diverse clientele and recognizes there is always more to learn when it comes to inclusivity and accessibility. She welcomes anyone and hopes she can support you to live the life you wish to.

Ali originally trained as a physiotherapist in the United Kingdom, graduating in 2016 from the University of the West of England. She immigrated in 2019, fell in love with the mountains, and is now grateful to call the Okanagan home. Since then, she has completed additional training to provide pelvic health physiotherapy and to teach Pilates.

Outside of physiotherapy, Ali enjoys adventuring in the mountains, deep conversations, and even deeper mugs of tea!

Focused on Injury Rehabilitation

Shelby Chittick, Physiotherapist

Shelby’s focus is to get you back doing what you love. She understands how frustrating injuries can be...

Shelby’s focus is to get you back doing what you love. She understands how frustrating injuries can be, and always wants to be apart of the recovery process to see you reach your goals. Her treatment style involves a one-on-one approach to look at the body as a whole and address underlying causes. She uses a combination of manual therapy, IMS, rehabilitative exercises and education during treatment. Shelby is very passionate about her job and wants to come up with the best individualized plan to get you back moving!

Shelby grew up on the Sunshine Coas, where she spent most of her free time playing volleyball and dancing in a pre-professional program. She completed her Bachelor's of Kinesiology at UBC, and during that time she was the head athletic trainer for the UBC Men’s Volleyball Team and UBC Women’s Basketball Team. In addition, she trained rugby, senior A lacrosse, and U-13 provincial soccer teams.

Continuing her education at UBC, Shelby obtained a Master's degree in Physical Therapy in 2016. To expand her knowledge of different treatment styles, she has taken courses in functional dry needling (IMS), anatomical acupuncture, manual therapy, kinesio-taping, exercise prescription, and vestibular issues such as vertigo. She is a lifelong learner and is always eager to learn new skills. In 2021, Shelby was honoured to receive “Best of Kelowna” (Bronze) for Physiotherapy.

When not in the clinic, you can find Shelby spending time with her husband, her dog, and her new baby girl! They love exploring all the Okanagan has to offer.