The licensed chiropractors and massage therapists who perform daily mini-miracles at Calgary's Healing Touch Health Centre do more than simply preach the gospel of wellness to their many clients. They have made mental and physical wellness the touchstones of their daily lives.

It's more than a philosophy. It's a positive, life-affirming attitude that's 100-per-cent contagious, as their clients will tell you.

Proprietor Shelly MacGregor and her remarkable team of specialists like to say that they provide their customers with the ultimate wellness experience, bringing them a variety of stress-busting and life-enhancing techniques, from chiropractic to massage and craniosacral therapy, soothing aching muscles and calming hyperactive nerve ends.

As owner-operator of Apex Massage in Kensington, MacGregor has helped thousands of grateful Calgarians to feel their best as they go about their daily business.

Shelly MacGregor and her team of wellness experts have helped thousands of Calgarians.

Now, with the Healing Touch Health Centre, she has added a chiropractic component to her comprehensive and economical service package.

"In our view, chiropractic and massage therapy go hand-in-hand, reducing stress in the soft tissue while making necessary adjustments to the spinal column," says MacGregor.

Situated in Calgary's historic Devenish Building (Suite 305, 908 17th Ave. S.W.), Healing Touch's therapeutic services have been designed to satisfy clients with high expectations.

"We have four registered massage therapists and two chiropractors. Everyone in the clinic is an advocate for self-care," MacGregor adds.

Healing Touch attracts an athletic brand of clientele, people who share a passion for a healthy lifestyle. Many have made athletics an important part of their daily regimen and come to the clinic for the diagnosis and treatment of the major and minor ills they encounter as a matter of course. They care about their bodies and also seek the clinicians' advice regarding pain prevention.

For example, dedicated runners frequently develop neck, leg and back pain as normal byproducts of their outdoor activities.

"Many of our clients compete in marathons, half-marathons and triathlons," explains MacGregor. "Naturally, they often find themselves susceptible to lower-back problems, hip pain or shin splints as a result of pushing themselves to accomplish more. We're able to help them maintain the athletic lifestyle that they've chosen while helping them to avoid long-term injuries that could limit their activity in the future."

MacGregor is particularly proud of a trademarked style of treatment known as Active Release Techniques (ART), available via her practitioners. Active Release Techniques can improve strength, speed and endurance within the first few treatments.

Of course, regular sessions with a certified massage therapist have become a standard strategy for Calgary's over-taxed business people, seeking relief from the tensions and pressures they encounter on the job each day. As the therapist attacks knotted muscles with the strength of highly trained fingers, stress and tensions seem to evaporate, and refreshed clients return to their duties with renewed vigour and energy.

Most clients show up for their massage seeking relief from pain or chronic tension. Once the client is committed to a course of treatment, Healing Touch therapists address the underlying causes of the problem and work with clients to keep the condition from returning.

"We work a little bit deeper through the tissue," MacGregor continues. "Then we start looking at strengthening badly damaged areas, such as an injury site. We begin by freeing up tissue which has been subject to repetitive strain, then we work on strengthening the surrounding tissue. Long-term maintenance is also important, one of the first steps of preventive care."

That's why practitioners recommend a massage session every four to six weeks - for the prevention of additional repetitive strains and annoying minor injuries.

Each component of the Healing Touch service package is designed to rehabilitate your nervous system, to reduce the profusion of stress hormones in your body and to help you relax and invigorate your mind and your body.

From the moment you step inside Healing Touch Health Centre, you know you're among trusted friends. MacGregor and her team have worked hard to create a supportive and friendly boutique atmosphere, "a place to call your own," in her words. It's all about extending a helping hand to those who need relief.

Prices are extremely reasonable and the clinic prides itself on prompt service.

Same-day massage service is generally available, as long as your appointment is made prior to 10 a.m. Healing Touch has made it a priority to accommodate the last-minute client.

So make it a point: Be kind to your mind and your body. Don't you think you deserve it?

For appointments, phone: 403.244.8925 or email: admin@hthc.ca. Meanwhile, please feel free to explore the website: www.hthc.ca.