Apex: You were born in Taloyoak, Nunavut, the northernmost community in mainland Canada, formerly known as Spence Bay, the community is served only by air and by annual supply sealift.  What was your early childhood like? How did you end up in Calgary?

Jaida: My early childhood was simple – spending time in the outdoors with my family, whether it was fishing, camping, cross-country skiing or bushwalks with my dad and making an open fire to boil water for tea. It was simple but satisfying! I first left the north when I was 17 and I moved to Canmore to train as a cross–country skier, but then I went back for about 10 years, and I moved to Calgary in my late 20-ties to attend massage collage. 

Apex: What motivated you to become a massage therapist?

Jaida: I wanted to go to school and I wanted something different. I knew enough about the massage program that I wanted to try it. I was taking the Fitness Leadership Certification Program in Yellowknife (Fitness Instructor Certificate) and I was intrigued when we studied a bit of anatomy. I loved it! I was so fascinated about human anatomy. That was the first thing that steered me in that direction. I also thought I could help people in a positive way.  I graduated from the Foothills Collage of Massage Therapy in 1999 and I have been with Apex on and off since 2003.

Apex: You have been with Apex, as you just mentioned on and off since 2003. During that time we moved from Kensington to Briar Hill and have grown quite significantly as a clinic. Can you tell us about your early years at Apex? What were they like?

Jaida:  I used to pick up shifts when Apex was still in Kensington and I worked quite a lot with Spagoes, because my kids were young and it was very flexible. That is why I got my first Smartphone - so that I could check my emails, when I was out and about! Or else everybody was getting the mobile jobs, and I would get home and check my emails, and it was too late!

I also remember quite often not being able to find a parking spot in Kensington before my shift. I laugh about it now, but I would get a parking ticket almost every time I worked there… I would do laps around the JugoJuce building trying to find a parking spot. My shifts were usually on Friday nights - all the pubs were packed, it was impossible to find parking!

Apex: I know that outside of work you have another passion – sport. My first memory of spending time with you outside of work was going to a yoga class, drinking some red wine after yoga and making sure you have the right outfits for you Ms Fit competition organized by Sandra Bueckert from OneOnOne Fitness. I know how important keeping fit and exercising is for your overall health and wellbeing. Tell us what you do to stay active.

Jaida:  It really depends on what is on the horizon… First of all I keep it as simple as possible, because if there are roadblocks then it doesn’t seem to happen as often as I need it to happen. For example: I call my yoga “pajama yoga” because I try to keep my yoga mat on my basement floor and I just use the Youtube (just over 3 minutes long, Yoga with Luna - Sun salutations) and it is perfect – if I want to hold a pose I just pause the video. It is free, it’s easy. It’s nice and cool in my basement, especially in the summer and I love the Sun Salutations! But also I try very hard not to short myself on sleep. It just doesn’t work for me. Especially because of my job as a massage therapist. It is a physical job; it would not be fair to my clients - I need to be in top form.

I try to commute on my bike whenever I can (for example going to the store to buy groceries) and walk my dog as often as I can (as opposed to driving to the dog park) - incorporate different activities into my daily routine.

I do a lot of running (it does not get any simpler or basic than that). Before our trail-running race (Sinister 7), my son Declan and I were trying to run 3 or 4 times a week. We would run in the opposite direction around the reservoir. We started at Weasle Head North Glenmore Park. It was his idea to run in the opposite direction; he actually guessed where we would meet! He said I think it will be Heritage Park. He was right! He had $5 and bought himself a slurpy – that was his “carrot”! 

Apex: You are a mom to a 15-year-old son Declan (an excellent swimmer) and a 13-year-old daughter Bronwyn ( who loves to play volleyball and is an incredible activist against animal cruelty - I know because I sat next to her at a function a couple of years ago and we had a chance to chat!) Only a couple of weeks ago Declan was on your team and completed Sinister 7 race with you and few other women on your team. Your team completed the 100 miles in 24:00:56.7 Congratulations again! I know that Declan told you already that he wants to sign up for next year. What do you do to engage your kids to participate with you in sports in the era of technology? How do you inspire them to participate in sport activities with you?

One of the women on my team is a high school teacher and a friend, we met 5 years ago when we were training for a triathlon, and I said to her “Do you think I am crazy to fight this fight against technology?” And her response was “I commend you for not giving up the fight”. I just simply can’t! They are strong, smart, active kids and I can’t see them just going down this drain of technology., I am sure they would love me to give up the fight sometimes and there are days when they spend too much time in front of the screens,  in my opinion, but I think it is because of what I think of them and their potential. Very often, it is not a negotiation – the devices are taken away. When they are with me, they do not put them in their pockets, because it is like an addiction and it has been proven! I do not have forever to try and guide them. I have only now.

It is the best way I know for me to stay connected with my kids. However, having said that, I feel very fortunate because, I have often said, that their fun is the same as my fun – being competitive and active and outdoors. There are no guarantees in that! Just because they are my kids does not mean they like the same things, but they do! Therefore, we are very lucky that way! Now that they are teens, we can participate in certain activities together, and they want to do it!

I did the Calgary Woman’s Race a couple of years ago with my daughter and there is a Calgary Road Runners cross country series, in October before Halloween -  there is a race in Confederation Park. It is a 3 person relay. We signed up for that race few years ago and we have been winning the Family Category ever since, with a good margin, at least a minute! They really love it for a number of reasons, including the big lunch afterwards and because you are encouraged to run through the creek, get your socks wet! You can get to get dirty and wet! They thought that was a great idea! We are called “Triple Threat”!   

Apex: Well, you have the reputation and the name now…!

Jaida: Now they really want to win! It really kills me usually because they want me to go fast! They sandwich me in the middle, so I am not so much of a liability! They always tell me: “Mom, just go fast OK?”  

Apex: You are a senior therapist here at Apex. What has been your biggest success in terms of restoring someone’s health/ well-being? Because of the privacy reasons, we cannot mention any names here, but could you tell us a bit about your massage therapy philosophy or successful stories from your last few years as a massage therapist?

Jaida: Around 2015 (I had two kids by then and was in my forties), I started doing a bit more work through the hip area, the sacroiliac (SI) joint, the gluts and the pelvic girdle in particular on women. Where I was at that time in my life physically guided me to focus more on the hips during my treatments. I found that the pelvic girdle specifically the hips and the SI joints were tight. I saw a consistent pattern in women. I started doing a lot of active release, stretching, mobilization and static pressure work. I just think it helps my clients to bring awareness to the importance of trying to stretch the lower back and the hips especially as we age.

Apex: Can we talk about the longevity of a massage therapist? The brutal statistics say that on average the massage therapist practices for only about 4 years, before moving to a different profession.

Jaida:  Sometimes I struggle with it. I look at the schedule and compare myself to younger therapists – I cannot help it, and I wish I could do 6 clients back to back! Part of that is really being confident in feeling what works for me. I am always checking in. It does not do the clients or me any favors, when I am too tired to deliver a good treatment. They may not come back, they carved out the time to come here and spend their money - they deserve the best treatment. I would just say try to put your ego aside and focus on what works for you and keep the balance so you are ready to do it again next day.

I think self-care is an important part of the longevity in our profession. It is a simple notion, but the more fit I am; the better I can do my job. Recently Danny and Lisa (other therapists at Apex) have started “The Climbing Gang” and I join them once a week. It resolved my hand and wrist pain almost completely. It is a different range of motion and activity and demand on my hands and arms – I can work better because I climb! 

I feel like my philosophy has evolved with me. I really appreciate now how important my job is. When I graduated, I did not understand parenting, real stress and the constant demands of just being an adult not to mention added stressors, whether it is toddlers, job or divorce. I appreciate far more now the good that we do, and how important it is for me to be in top form when delivering treatments to clients. We owe it to our clients!  In my opinion, we need that satisfaction and that fulfillment, and the clients need the self-care time they have committed to themselves!

 Jaida graduated from the Foothills College of Massage Therapy in 2000   with a 2200 hr diploma. Her practice, approach and philosophy to   massage has evolved with her over the years. Now a Mom of two active   teenagers and pursuing her own goals, she has a deep appreciation for   self care and how fundamental it is.
 Jaida is a lifelong athlete who's most recent pursuit is triathlon. Her   treatment is often guided by what she herself has experienced through-   out training and certainly post-race.
 One of the many things Jaida is passionate about when it comes to   massage therapy is connecting with her clients, listening carefully to their   individual needs and teaching so that they're empowered to practice self   care at home and be proactive in their health and wellness.