Our Massage Student Graduate Bios
Alana Cotton, Massage Student Graduate
Alana an RMT from Alberta and graduated with a 3000 hour certificate at Makami College. She is currently working in BC as an SMT (not registered) and has been a therapist since 2017. Her experience allows her to meet the needs of her clients whether it be therapeutic or relaxation. Alana listens to the needs of her clients to helps provide a solution during and after treatment. The treatment style is a balance between therapeutic and Swedish relaxation. A range of techniques are used , such as trigger point therapy, myofascial release, deep tissue and active release. Alana excels in treatments related to frozen shoulder, migraine/tension headaches and sciatica. She is motivated to help heal each one of her clients to the best of her ability. Outside of work, she enjoys hiking and relaxing with her cat Jax.
Melissa Lawrence, Massage Student Graduate
Melissa attended Western College of Remedial Massage Therapists in 2012. Her interest in massage therapy was piqued by helping a family member with note taking who was enrolled in the massage therapy program. Courses she has taken include anatomy, exercise rehabilitation, kinesiology, physiology, hydrotherapy and nutrition. She has additional training in the modalities of muscle fascia cupping and manual lymph drainage which she potentially will offer once she becomes an RMT. Her style of treatment is a mixture of Swedish and therapeutic massage, letting her hands guide her in finding trigger points and releasing them. Melissa is a member of the Natural Health Practitioners of Canada. With two young sons, it is hard to find spare time, but when she does, Melissa likes to paint.
Catherine Hu, Massage Student Graduate
As a 5th term student at West Coast College of Massage Therapy, Catherine enjoys problem solving and helping people so it felt natural to put the two together. She is on track to graduate in April 2026. Some of her training includes muscle stripping, Trigger Point therapy, PNF Stretching and more. Her style is a mix of relaxation and therapeutic. In her spare time, she enjoys playing sports and video games. She is open to learning about new interests and trying out things since she is a bit of an adrenaline junkie.
Talia Vandersluys, Massage Student Graduate
Talia is a massage therapy student, currently in full time school to become an RMT. She is working as an intern therapist in her schools clinic and is set to graduate in August 2026. Throughout her school experience she has gained a multitude of knowledge and learned a variety of massage techniques through her in-school clinic as well as outreach, where she goes to senior centres, hospitals, and different clinics to provide massages to people from many different backgrounds with different expectations. Talia is great at hearing her patients needs and goals during a massage and using the right variety of techniques to ensure her patients are happy with the outcome. Her treatment style ranges anywhere from lighter general Swedish massages for relaxation, to deeper techniques such as muscle stripping and trigger point release to decrease any tender or sore muscles you may have. She is very social, and understanding of her patients, and is able to improve their overall comfort to the best of her abilities. Outside of work, she enjoys going to the gym, and snowboarding with her friends.
