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By Randy Mar and Tamara Miller (This article originally appeared in the October 2022 edition of the New Edinburgh News)

Align Massage Therapy expands its portfolio

Like stock splits, dividends are being paid to New Edinburgh residents with recent changes at Align Massage Therapy. A female-founded health care service established in 2000, Align has been growing and is now about to offer New Edinburgh, Manor Park, Rockcliffe Park, Vanier, Overbrook, Lowertown, and Sandy Hill residents two new therapy environments!

Each Align Massage Therapy clinic is owned by an experienced Registered Massage Therapist.  This means they fully understand client needs as well as the business inside and out, and know how to support their therapist colleagues to achieve long-term career goals. Proudly, all seven Align locations are currently owned by women.

Align Massage Therapy has been part of New Edinburgh for the past 17 years at 16 Beechwood Ave., and positive changes of growth and accessibility are on the horizon as they prepare for a move to nearby Sandy Hill.  

Owner Elizabeth Eaton-Loken elaborated: “We have grown along with the community, and with growth comes change. We are excited to share our newest creations to serve our clients better.” Align Sandy Hill will be located in the newly retrofitted, multi-disciplinary healthcare and medical building at 168 Charlotte St. (at the corner of Rideau Street) in November. 

“We look forward to having a fully accessible clinic space to better offer equity in access. Many of our clients have braved our stairs for many years, and so it will be wonderful to offer an elevator, especially to moms with strollers, some of our seniors with limited mobility, and injured athletes,” Elizabeth tells the New Edinburgh News. The new location also offers street-level parking, and access to nearby bike paths and to four bus routes.

Align Sandy Hill will literally be up the road and around the corner from the current location on the Beechwood strip; only an eight-minute walk from the current location! Elizabeth explains that the therapist team had lots of input on the new layout to maintain the desired client-centric environment while ensuring their workspace continued to complement their needs.  You will see Elizabeth’s same team of therapists, who will continue to offer a full range of massage therapies, including expanded acupuncture (traditional Chinese medicine) treatments, osteopathy, and reflexology.

Other healthcare and medical services available in the building include a pharmacy and diagnostic clinic, as well as physio and occupational therapy, with more services to come.

As part of the upcoming changes, Krista Dicks, a long time New Edinburgh resident and RMT with Align, has taken on the challenge of operating her own clinic, Align Lindenlea. Her boutique wellness space – located in the former ORESTA Skincare storefront at 137 Beechwood Ave. – opened in early September (read more about ORESTA later in this piece).

Krista plans to continue the Align Massage Therapy philosophy of providing personalized, high-quality health care on an as-needed or preventative basis. The Lindenlea team includes skilled Registered Massage Therapists and a registered reflexologist; and Krista herself will continue to provide hands-on therapeutic and relaxation massages. She prides herself on bringing a calm and intuitive approach to her massage treatments which help relieve pain and muscle tension associated with desk posture, training, and the common “I just woke up with it” type of injury. She has training in lymphatic massage and lymphedema therapy recommended post-surgery to reduce swelling to affected areas.

Rounding out the Lindenlea team are Jade Arthur, a caring practitioner who restores mobility and reduces pain after motor vehicle accidents, including the treatment of whiplash and chronic back pain. Jade helps her clients relax by adding stretches throughout her massage to loosen tight muscles. Finally, Paulette Hébert is a certified reflexologist with a background in sports who knows first-hand the benefits of adding reflexology to health and wellness routines.  Her repertoire includes treatments for feet, hands, and cranium, as well as focused training in fertility and maternity reflexology for both men and women, aimed at empowering individuals on their reproductive and fertility journeys.

“I am fortunate to have found such wonderful space so close to home. The building has a historical charm and beauty that makes for a unique massage experience,” enthused Krista.  “As a new business owner, it is an honour to be within a space that has known success and is recognized for its quality of service and products, as well its contribution to the community.” 

Krista looks forward to new horizons as a local business owner, while maintaining balance of family life with her husband, Scott, and their two dogs Maxx and Kona. You will see them enjoying walks in Stanley Park! 

Both Elizabeth and Krista love the surrounding community and are thankful for the long-time support of their neighbours!  

Align Massage Therapy Lindenlea is located at 137 Beechwood Ave. Contact 613-276-4396 or visit alignyourbody.com. Until Nov. 1, Align Massage Therapy Beechwood is located at 201-16 Beechwood Ave.; 613-744-4604; alignyourbody.com. After Nov. 1, you can find them at 406-168 Charlotte St. (same contact info). –RM

Farewell to Oresta Beechwood

On July 30, ORESTA clean beauty simplified on Beechwood closed its doors after 11 years in our neighbourhood. An Instagram post from the company thanked patrons for all their kind messages and visits, as well as for all the support they received throughout the pandemic. ORESTA will continue to have a strong online presence, as well as two other bricks-and-mortar locations in the Glebe and Hintonburg communities. As the name implies, ORESTA clean beauty simplified is still committed to offering clients the highest-quality clean beauty brands and treatments with the skincare guidance and friendly service customers have enjoyed, both in-store and online.  

Visit ORESTA Glebe at 464 O’Connor St., and ORESTA Hintonburg at 1121 Wellington St. Explore their website at oresta.ca – TM

A new space for Nuvo

Nuvo optometry was founded over 20 years ago and has two locations in the Ottawa East community with nine practicing optometrists! They have been in their 178 Beechwood Ave. location since 2009. However, they will be making a move to 156 Beechwood Ave. this October, according to Michelle MacDonald, who works in Nuvo’s marketing department. 

Nuvo has been fortunate to have outgrown the smaller location both in patient care and clinic needs, and they wanted to be able to offer a larger selection of eyewear. When the space in the adjoining plaza became available (the former dentist office next door to Subway), Nuvo jumped at the opportunity to move into a space that would accommodate their growing needs.

The new space will certainly be bigger. Nuvo will go from a location with only two exam rooms, limited room for additional testing equipment, and a small eyewear boutique, to a larger clinic with three exam rooms, ample space for additional tests and a larger dispensary and eyewear boutique.

If you need eye-care, Nuvo has you covered! They are a full-scope optometry clinic that offers routine and specialty eye exams, contact lens fittings and evaluations, a recycling program for used contact lenses, multiple myopic control strategies (including orthokeratology), and full optical services for all your eyewear needs.

Their clinics are proudly owned and operated by an all-women team. Dr. Corina Buettner has led the charge and guided Nuvo toward the ever-growing success of both locations and continues to promote a healthy and positive work environment for all her staff.

Contact Nuvo Optometry by phone at 613-749-0481 or by email at ottawa@nuvoeyes.ca. You can also book an appointment directly at nuvoeyes.ca/book. –TM

Unleash your creativity at Ply Studio

Ply Studio is a creative arts space located at the corner of Crichton and Dufferin Streets, conceived of by local fibre artist Carmen Bohn. 

Carmen has had a lifelong passion for creating weird and wonderful things with paper, paint, yarn, textiles, markers, and anything else that might be lying around, and so she left the corporate world in 2021 to follow this passion.

The emphasis of Ply Studio is creative workshops, from in-person to virtual, where people can come together to engage in regularly scheduled (and sometimes pop-up!) events and activities, browse a beautiful selection of fibre and workshop supplies, as well as local, one-of-a-kind gifts for sale.  

In recent months, as we slowly move out of the pandemic and see a social narrative about well-being and people increasingly needing connection, Carmen saw a gap that needed to be filled.  A big believer in the link between creativity and well-being, she decided to offer creative team-building retreats.

These retreats are get-togethers that will inspire, build connections, and make people feel better. In preparing for the retreat, Carmen will work with you to understand your team dynamics, challenges, and areas for creative collaboration. Based on her years of team management, as well as her experience as an arts entrepreneur, Carmen will create a five-star learning experience that will have your team connecting and working better together in no time, using methods with creativity at their core.

So, whether you are an individual looking to engage with others in your community, or a team looking for a creative way to build connections, Ply Studio has something for you! Connect with Ply Studio on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or check out their website at plystudio613.com. You can also reach Carmen by phone at 613-850-8485 or by email at create@plystudio613.com. –TM

Coffee “solutions” on the horizon

Amid supply chain and resourcing challenges, Acacia Tree Farms/Advanced Coffee Solutions has managed to slowly build its presence within the Beechwood coffee scene.

“Many curious residents and coffee lovers have been wandering in and getting to know us since we first opened our doors in December” said Amavit Rath.  But it has been slow as they experienced the struggles of starting a new storefront business venture in the middle of a pandemic, and are now emerging with a new sense of positive energy.

When co-owners Nikhil Rath and Karawan Ahmed first chatted with the New Edinburgh News late last year, they excitedly revealed their plans to introduce Ethiopia’s signature Harar coffee bean to Ottawa and Canada, to offer a superior line of home coffee machines, and to establish partnerships with name coffee brands to offer collaborative roasts, all based in the former BMO space at 14 Beechwood Ave.

Among the unique offerings in the works was a self-serve vending machine offering high-quality cold brewed coffee to go, along with roasted Happy Goat beans. Coffee aficionados will be pleased to hear that the parts and servicing challenges have been overcome and the “ATM” of coffee is running smoothly.  

As a locally founded and locally operated coffee enterprise, Acacia is especially proud to have forged partnerships with two purveyors of specialty coffees, local favourite Happy Goat, as well as Toronto-based Hatch Coffee Roasters.

Similarly, those stopping by the showroom will see a range of high-end home espresso units alongside commercial grade equipment.  They will also get a chance to learn more about the Acacia Tree coffee experience from Jeylene Suangco, who will be there during operating hours.

Acacia Tree Farm/Advanced Coffee Solutions is located at 14 Beechwood Ave. Learn more at acaciatreefarms.com, advancedcoffeesoluntions.com, or call 613-741-7272. ­-RM