Jacqueline Juchuk, RMT, C.Ac.

I absolutely love my career and only wish I had started earlier. When asked why I became a massage therapist my answer is an immediate, “I wanted to help others as I was helped years before.”

I was 27, with 2 toddlers of my own and babysitting a 5-month old baby. Unfortunately my back was in very bad shape. Mornings, I would roll out of bed onto my knees and work myself slowly up to a standing position. Dressing was a nightmare. My doctor prescribed muscle relaxants and bed rest. I had to refuse because of the children and the quality of care I wanted to give. His next suggestion was massage therapy.

I tried a few before I found someone with whom I was comfortable. We worked together once every week for a couple of months, then less often as my back improved. Amazingly, within 3 months I was popping out of bed and dressing normally. I continued on once-a-month maintenance which made it easy to keep up with the children. One day, during a treatment I thought how rewarding it would be to help others this way.

The seed was planted and every now and again I would think about it. Meanwhile, I took a part-time job at Zehrs. After 7 years, still longing to do something to help others, I began to investigate schools for massage therapy. A friend told me about the Canadian College of Massage and Hydrotherapy here in Kitchener and I immediately went to visit. I tentatively enrolled in their Anatomy and Physiology prep course and swore that if I got over 90%, I would take the full course. And here I am.

I have no regrets. I love my work and can think of nothing I would rather do.

Since graduating, I have completed courses in acupuncture and Thai massage. I will continue to further my knowledge in these and related fields for I believe that the more I learn, the more efficient and effective my treatments become.

Volunteer Work

• 5 years helping children participating in Dutch Boy Drum and Bugle Corps, Kitchener, Ont.
• 2006, 2007 – ISC Men’s World Fastball Tournament – sports massage.

Certificates

• Massage Therapy Diploma, Canadian College of Massage and Hydrotherapy, 2002
• Certified Acupuncture Certificate, College of Acupuncture and Therapeutics, 2004
• Level 1 Thai Massage, 2007
• Level 2 Thai Massage, 2008