Massage Therapists 
Click on the banner below to search for on-line bookings with any of our Massage Therapists! For more information about our Massage Therapy Services, click here.

Karina Ackert, RMT 
Registered Massage Therapist & Yoga Instructor
(Founder / Clinic Director)
Karina practices massage therapy and therapeutic yoga full time at Metta Massage & Yoga Clinic. She has been teaching yoga for 16 years, and has been a registered massage therapist for over 12 years. Karina has specialized training in Yoga for Children, Recovery Yoga, personal training and advanced massage therapy techniques. Karina created Metta Massage & Yoga Clinic so that people would have a place to learn and have fun in a safe and healthy environment. Karina currently practices massage therapy Mondays through Fridays at Metta.

Leona Alexander, RMT 
Senior Registered Massage Therapist, Yoga & Journey Dance Instructor
Leona has been a Registered Massage Therapist for over 18 years, and has been teaching yoga for the past 5 years. Interweaving principles of mindfulness based stress reduction with a deep understanding of physical movement and anatomy, Leona guides clients to be more at ease with the moment and facilitates a process of healing and opening. Through workshops like "Journey Dance", explore the joy and beauty of free flow movement with Leona. Massage with Leona is available at a Senior Therapist rate of $85 per hour on Thursday evenings and Friday mornings at Metta.

Christopher Boyd, RMT
Registered Massage Therapist
As a graduate of the International Academy of Massage, Christopher has over 2200 hours of clinical study and experience. With a particular interest in sports massage and myofascial release, Christopher looks forward to participating on-site at local sports events and fundraisers. As an avid competetive skiier in The Canadian National Championships, Christopher found that Massage Therapy was an effective way to overcome injuries. Christopher practices Massage Therapy at Metta full-time.

Craig Curran, RMT 
Registered Massage Therapist
As a Massage Therapist, Craig takes a particular interest in putting together the puzzle pieces of myofascial pain and dysfunction. Treating a variety of clients including athletes, prenatal clients, people with chronic pain and other injuries, Craig offers a knowledgeable and compassionate approach to massage therapy treatment. During his 3 years of study at Algonquin College, he learned in-depth knowledge of anatomy and physiology. Through hundreds of hours of hands-on training and practice he developed the necessary skills to become an effective health care practitioner in different environments ranging from neonatal work at hospitals, treating seniors in their homes, and on-site sports massage for varsity athletes at Carleton University. Craig practices Massage Therapy at Metta full-time Monday through Friday.

Angela Hayward, RMT
Registered Massage Therapist
Metta welcomes Angela to our team! With 2 years of clinical experience as a Massage Therapist, Angela brings with her a willingness to explore challenges and is at her best when using her critical thinking to assess a client's condition. Angela has seen great results through Massage Therapy in particular with conditions such as TMJ syndrome, nerve lesions and enjoys the opportunity to treat families and children. Angela practices Massage Therapy at Metta Tuesday to Friday from 2pm-8:30pm and Saturdays 9am-4:45pm. 

Christine Liebregts, RMT
Registered Massage Therapist & Yoga Instructor
We are pleased to welcome Christine Liebregts, RMT to the clinic team at Metta Massage & Yoga Clinic- both as a Registered Massage Therapist and certified yoga teacher. Christine has over 10 years experience as a Registered Massage Therapist in Ontario and Alberta. Most recently from Lake Louise, Alberta, Christine brings to Metta an integrated massage practice of hot stone, spa applications and therapeutic treatment to her massage therapy practice at Metta. Look for yoga classes with Christine in the new year! Book a massage therapy appointment with Christine by using our on-line booking service, or calling (613) 724-4747. Christine practices Massage Therapy at Metta full-time. 

Yoga Instructors

Brandi Borsten
Yoga Instructor & Yoga Program Coordinator 
a native of Ottawa, Brandi has returned after 10 years working in Outdoor Education and Health & Wellness programs around the world. As an Outdoor Educator & Certified Hatha & Yoga Therapy teacher, Brandi is excited to bring forth & share these skills as the Yoga Program Coordinator within the community at Metta Massage & Yoga Clinic. Physical and emotional issues inhibiting positive health and wellness such as illness, depression, stress & anxiety have been the driving force behind Brandi’s passion to share and teach Yoga in a therapeutic setting. Brandi’s intention at Metta is to create a supportive environment and to enable all people in any state of health to explore and strategize methods of coping with these illnesses through the practice of Yoga, Meditation & Breath work. Brandi welcomes any questions, inquiries or thoughts regarding Metta's exciting Yoga Programs. “If you have breathe flowing through you, you are already practicing Yoga!”

Lynne Cardinal
Yoga & Meditation Instructor
has been teaching and giving lectures and seminars on subjects related to Stress Management, Yoga, Relaxation and Meditation for over 20 years in Canada, Europe and India. She studied Eastern Philosophy from the International Meditation Institute in the Himalayas from where she received a Ph.D. in Eastern Philosophy. Lynne is the co-author of several books and tapes on the philosophy of Yoga. She studies the scriptures directly from the Sanskrit, and has created booklets and tapes and a recently production of a Learning Kit (CD and Booklet) on the philosophy of Yoga (Yoga Sûtras). Each Sanskrit verse is translated word-by-word and explained. This philosophy contains many direct meditation techniques plus insights into the workings of the human mind, as explained by the author of Yoga. Click on Lynne's photo to see her current Meditation & Yoga schedule at Metta. Find out more about Lynne at www.kaivalya.ca

Lori Chamberland
Yoga Instructor & Therapeutic Programs Co-Ordinator
Lori is a certified reflexologist through the School of Complementary Therapies and is registered with the Reflexology Registration Council of Ontario. She has been practicing and teaching a variety of relaxation techniques since 1985 as an integral part of her fitness programs and is a certified relaxation therapist. Lori holds a degree in recreation and is a certified fitness, Hatha yoga (Upward Dog Yoga Centre) and Yoga Ed instructor. Lori joins Metta Massage & Yoga Clinic as a skilled Yoga Instructor in the Therapeutic Yoga Program (Heart-Wise Yoga) and is Metta's co-ordinator of new programs and team developments at the clinic.  

Nathalie Chartier, PT 
Physiotherapist, Therapeutic Yoga Instructor
Nathalie has been a physiotherapist for the past 12 years and is presently working in private practice in downtown Ottawa. She has worked for 6 years as the travelling physio for Cirque du Soleil which gave her a unique understanding of the creative extremes that are physically possible. Having had various injuries herself as well as chronic pain, she has a deep understanding of the body-mind relationship. She uses that background as her base in her treatments and classes. Her knowledge of Acupuncture also plays a role in her approach to understand the complexity of the human body. Join Nathalie for an introduction to yoga with insights far beyond basic alignment skills and meditation- prepare to learn more about where you can move and grow from where you are now. Click on Nathalie's photo to see her current Therapeutic Yoga schedule.

Joyce (Lagasse) Hardman
Yoga Instructor (Workshops only)
with a wide range of life experiences from which she has learned the importance of compassion and a yoga teacher for over 30 years, Joyce currently leads "Yoga for Wise Bodies," a class for students aged 50+. She has grown in openness and acceptance through her commitment to spiritual practice, and she has come to value tender forgiveness and humour through the adventures and mishaps of passionate experiments and embarrassing choices... She now draws upon this rich and varied background to help others create a more grounded, balanced, and abundant life for themselves. Find out more about Joyce at

Melanie Younger
Yoga Instructor & Marketing Co-ordinator
Melanie (Aaschcaryavat) comes from an eclectic, multi-disciplined healing and spiritual path with a background in Reiki, Shamanic Studies and Metaphysics. A graduate of The University of Ottawa’s Theatre Department, Melanie brings dynamic energy and the philosophy "BE the yoga you want to see in the world" to her classes. Child-like wonder and enthusiasm are a part of Melanie’s personal philosophy of life and her curious nature led her to study holistic nutrition at The Alternative Medicine College of Canada in 2005 and to Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health where she did her Yoga Teacher Training in 2006. As a teacher, Melanie’s desire is to create soft places to land and a sanctuary for her students to recharge, to lovingly challenge their bodies and to spend time with themselves. The core of her teaching is the belief that yoga should be a fun and personal experience.  In addition to teaching yoga at Metta, Melanie is a regular contributor to AlternativeMed.ca (Canada's online alternative medicine journal), is featured in Dashama Konah Gordon's upcoming yoga literary collection "Journey to Joyful" and co-stars in television series "The Restaurant Adventures of Caroline and Dave" currently airing on the W Network. Find out more about Melanie recently updated at: http://youngeryoga.yolasite.com/ 

Thai Yoga Massage
Search for appointments through our on-line booking system (click on banner below)

Nikki Manzie
Workshop Leader & Yoga Program Advisor
Nikki is a certified Yoga Teacher, Traditional (Northern) Thai Massage Practitioner, and teaches Yoga Teacher Training, as well as several advanced-level practitioner trainings in Thai Massage and Ayurvedic Medical techniques. Nikki offers courses related to massage and yoga therapies that center around healing energies and ancient traditions (visit her website at www.threewinds.com for more detail). Nikki has relocated to Victoria, BC and will be back in Ottawa annually to teach Thai Yoga Massage Certification at Metta (May 2009). Check our Workshops page and Thai Yoga bookings screen for Thai Massage availability & trainings with Nikki.

Lushan Silva
Thai Yoga Bodyworker 
Lushan has studied with masters in his home country of Sri Lanka, as well as Chiang Mai, Thailand, over the past decade to become a Traditional Thai Therapeutic Bodyworker. His unique skills, endless energy and inspired integrity are a reflection of his hope to bring balance to people’s lives. Lushan is available for Thai Yoga Massage on Friday evenings and Saturdays. Click the banner below to search for Thai Massage booking availablity with Lushan.