Lively

04/23/2026

BLOOM where you are PLANTED

🌱

Here we feel grounded.
Here we breathe.
Here we leave the tension, the aches, and the worries.

💆‍♂️💆‍♀️

04/21/2026

Tone up Tuesday! 💪
The vastus lateralis is one of your quadriceps muscles, running along the outer part of your thigh.

It plays a big role in:

straightening the knee

supporting walking, standing, and daily movement

stabilizing the leg during activity

It’s a muscle that works hard—often without much attention.

You might notice it when:

the outer thigh feels tight or dense

there’s tension through the hips or knees

squatting, lunging, or even walking feels a little restricted

This area can become overworked from:

repetitive movement

long periods of standing

or even how we carry ourselves day to day

A helpful thing to understand—
the vastus lateralis often feels like it’s “stuck” to the IT band.

This is usually the area we’re actually trying to release when we foam roll or receive massage.

The IT band itself is not a muscle—it’s a thick band of connective tissue, which means it’s naturally going to feel tight.

But when things get really restricted, you might notice that defined line running down the outer leg—
often referred to as IT band tightness or contracture, and commonly seen in runners.

So instead of trying to “loosen” the IT band,
we bring attention to the muscle beside it.

It responds well to:

massage (especially deeper, targeted work)

gentle stretching of the quads and hips

slowing down and bringing awareness to how you move

A small check-in:
Can you feel the outer line of your leg… and how much it’s holding for you?

04/17/2026

04/14/2026

How NASA astronaut Christina Koch's yoga practice keeps her grounded—even in microgravity.

04/11/2026

Sun on my skin, baby in my belly, dog by my side 🌞

04/04/2026

Enjoy the fresh air this Easter weekend 🐣🐰🌞

04/03/2026

April arrives 🌱and so does this next chapter of my third trimester
Holding it all with gratitude.
Happy Good Friday 🫶

03/27/2026

Registration is now OPEN for Couch to 5km! Learn to walk or run safely! All ability levels are welcome!

Thursday from May 7th to June 25th
7 to 8pm
Anderson Park

Hop online to secure your spot at www.elantivephysio.ca

Let’s reach milestones together AND have fun while we do it 💪🏻😃

03/27/2026

Cupping therapy may leave temporary pink, red, or purple marks on the skin. This is a normal response to the suction of the cups bringing blood to the surface, and they will typically fade within a week.

Many people find myofascial cupping extremely relaxing and a valuable addition to massage therapy to help alleviate musculoskeletal tension.

With deep-tissue, stationary techniques, you may feel a temporary stinging or burning sensation as the skin and connective tissues stretch. However, you should always let your practitioner know if something feels painful or uncomfortable during treatment.

Cupping should only be performed by a trained practitioner who is a member of a professional association like the NHPC. Find an NHPC practitioner in your area using our member directory: https://www.nhpcanada.org/member-directory

03/24/2026

Muscle(s) Monday Serratus Posterior Superior & Serratus Posterior Inferior.

The serratus posterior superior is a thin, often overlooked muscle located in the upper back beneath the rhomboids and trapezius. It originates from the spinous processes of the lower cervical and upper thoracic vertebrae and travels outward to attach along the upper ribs (typically ribs 2–5).

From a massage therapy perspective, this muscle often becomes involved when the upper back feels tight, restricted, or fatigued, especially in people who spend long periods sitting, typing, or holding tension through the shoulders. Because it sits underneath larger muscles, it can quietly contribute to that familiar feeling of stiffness between the shoulder blades.

Functionally, the serratus posterior superior assists in elevating the ribs during inhalation. When we take a deep breath in, this muscle helps lift the ribs upward and outward, allowing the lungs to expand more fully.

This is one reason why full, intentional breathing can make such a difference in how the upper back feels. When the ribs move freely, the muscles that support them can do their job with much less strain.

Further down the back sits its partner muscle: the serratus posterior inferior.

Like the superior portion, it also runs from the spine outward to the ribs, but it lives lower in the body. It originates from the lower thoracic and upper lumbar vertebrae and attaches to the lower ribs (typically ribs 9–12).

While the serratus posterior superior helps lift the ribs during inhalation, the serratus posterior inferior helps depress the ribs during exhalation. Together, these muscles help coordinate the rhythm of breathing — one assisting the ribs to rise, the other helping them settle back down.

From a therapeutic perspective, this lower muscle can sometimes contribute to tightness through the thoracolumbar region, the area where the rib cage meets the low back. When breathing becomes shallow or restricted, these muscles may not move through their full range of motion.

To support these muscles well, the key is surprisingly simple: big, full breathing.

📷: The Trail Guide to the Body

03/18/2026

Hearing clients share how I envision myself to be, as an RMT, is pure gold. ✨️
Pinch me, for I am living my dream 🍀🌈🌟
Plus... I forgot to wear green today.

03/15/2026

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