Whether you seek relief from chronic pain, assistance in injury rehabilitation, or wish to unwind after a busy work week or weekend of sport, you’ll be delighted to meet The Alignment Studio’s latest recruit, Olivia Hawthorne.
A skilled and caring remedial massage therapist, Olivia has recently relocated from South Australia to Melbourne to build on her qualifications by completing an Advanced Diploma of Myotherapy at the Melbourne Institute of Massage Therapy & Myotherapy. Dedicated to continuous learning, she is deeply committed to staying abreast of the latest advancements to deliver exceptional care to her clients – and we can’t wait for you to experience the benefits of her therapeutic touch!
To learn about Olivia’s journey into allied health, her unique treatment approach, hobbies and hidden talents, read on.
WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO BECOME A REMEDIAL MASSAGE THERAPIST?
I first became interested in Massage Therapy as a modality to instantly impact people’s physical and emotional state of being. It’s also a field that has endless opportunities for learning about all facets of the body.
HAVE YOU ALWAYS BEEN INTERESTED IN HEALTH AND WELLNESS?
Not as much as I am now! I always participated in sports in school and adopted a vegetarian diet quite early – but during the pandemic when the world embraced a more health-focused approach to living, so did I. At the end of the day, the quality of our physical and mental health is equivalent to our quality of life, making it a worthy investment.
WHAT’S THE BEST PART OF YOUR JOB?
Having people notice the impact of my treatments on their mind and body and seeing them commit to their health by becoming regular clients.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR DECISION TO STUDY MYOTHERAPY.
While working in my hometown, I became eager to achieve better results for my clients with more complex issues by expanding my scope of practice to include advanced techniques (such as dry needling), as well as more specific post-treatment advice.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE AREA OF MASSAGE?
In my work, I see a lot of people who suffer from the effects of prolonged sitting and working with screens – namely upper back and neck pain, headaches and migraines. Whilst this is the most common type of client, they are among the most rewarding to treat as I know how debilitating these effects can be if left unaddressed.
In addition to massage, I like to give these clients practical strategies they can implement to alleviate the underlying causes of their condition.
IS THERE ANYTHING UNIQUE ABOUT YOUR TREATMENT APPROACH?
I enjoy the challenge of tailoring each treatment to individual clients. I do this by communicating with them about the exact nature of their pain or tension, their goals for the treatment and their likes and dislikes from past experiences.
I also draw a lot from relaxation massage, even in remedial treatments, as it’s no secret that stress has a physiological impact on muscles – it’s not always ‘no pain, no gain’. I find I can use firmer pressure to target deeper tension when the client is well and truly relaxed.
WHAT ADVICE DO YOU WISH CLIENTS LISTENED TO?
You’ll get better results from each treatment if you commit to making changes to your lifestyle in between – like being more aware of your posture throughout the day or adopting a stretching routine.
WHAT’S YOUR PERSONAL APPROACH TO WELLNESS?
My approach is quite simple. Whenever I feel off-kilter, I usually assess how well I am meeting my own basic needs – eating healthy, staying hydrated, getting quality sleep and exercising regularly. I never underestimate the power of switching off the phone and doing any sort of physical activity to get out of a mental rut.
Research also shows that the quality of our social connections correlates to the quality of our health, so I love to catch up with friends and family whenever possible.
MY SECRET TALENT IS…
I’m not a bad artist! My favourite medium is drawing with ink, graphite and charcoal.
Book an appointment with Olivia online, or call reception on 9650 2220.
Pete Hunt is a highly skilled physiotherapist with nearly three decades of experience working in sports physiotherapy and private practice. The Director of The Alignment Studio, he has a special interest in musculoskeletal and sports injuries, orthopaedic rehabilitation and postural syndrome. With a caring, communicative approach, Pete uses a combination of joint and soft tissue mobilisation and exercise prescription to treat his clients. He’s also passionate about education for injury prevention and lasting results.